U.S. stocks higher at close of trade; Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.67%

Investing.com – U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Technology, Utilities and Consumer Services sectors led shares higher.

At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.67%, while the S&P 500 index gained 1.05%, and the NASDAQ Composite index gained 1.64%.

The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT), which rose 2.56% or 5.78 points to trade at 231.83 at the close. Meanwhile, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) added 2.35% or 7.96 points to end at 346.07 and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) was up 2.16% or 0.79 points to 37.29 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA), which fell 2.13% or 0.45 points to trade at 20.63 at the close. Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) declined 1.84% or 1.89 points to end at 100.88 and Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) was down 1.23% or 1.79 points to 143.94.

The top performers on the S&P 500 were Generac Holdings Inc (NYSE:GNRC) which rose 14.29% to 96.08, Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT) which was up 12.17% to settle at 213.47 and Assurant Inc (NYSE:AIZ) which gained 11.83% to close at 166.52.

The worst performers were Paycom Soft (NYSE:PAYC) which was down 38.48% to 150.71 in late trade, Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) which lost 18.92% to settle at 104.49 and Match Group Inc (NASDAQ:MTCH) which was down 15.35% to 29.29 at the close.

The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Cellectis SA (NASDAQ:CLLS) which rose 173.86% to 2.64, Patriot Transportation Holding Inc (NASDAQ:PATI) which was up 103.13% to settle at 15.60 and Aldeyra The (NASDAQ:ALDX) which gained 48.54% to close at 2.54.

The worst performers were CohBar Inc (NASDAQ:CWBR) which was down 47.73% to 0.92 in late trade, Tempo Automation Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:TMPO) which lost 44.46% to settle at 0.05 and Tenon Medical Inc (NASDAQ:TNON) which was down 38.02% to 0.09 at the close.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1906 to 1035 and 54 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 1747 fell and 1717 advanced, while 124 ended unchanged.

Shares in Paycom Soft (NYSE:PAYC) fell to 3-years lows; down 38.48% or 94.26 to 150.71. Shares in Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT) rose to all time highs; rising 12.17% or 23.16 to 213.47. Shares in Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) fell to 5-year lows; losing 18.92% or 24.38 to 104.49. Shares in Assurant Inc (NYSE:AIZ) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 11.83% or 17.62 to 166.52. Shares in Match Group Inc (NASDAQ:MTCH) fell to 5-year lows; falling 15.35% or 5.31 to 29.29. Shares in Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) fell to 5-year lows; losing 2.13% or 0.45 to 20.63. Shares in Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) fell to 52-week lows; down 1.23% or 1.79 to 143.94. Shares in CohBar Inc (NASDAQ:CWBR) fell to all time lows; losing 47.73% or 0.84 to 0.92. Shares in Patriot Transportation Holding Inc (NASDAQ:PATI) rose to 3-years highs; rising 103.13% or 7.92 to 15.60. Shares in Tempo Automation Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:TMPO) fell to all time lows; losing 44.46% or 0.04 to 0.05. Shares in Tenon Medical Inc (NASDAQ:TNON) fell to all time lows; down 38.02% or 0.05 to 0.09.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was down 7.00% to 16.87.

Gold Futures for December delivery was down 0.41% or 8.20 to $1,986.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in December fell 0.12% or 0.10 to hit $80.92 a barrel, while the January Brent oil contract fell 0.01% or 0.01 to trade at $85.01 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.07% to 1.06, while USD/JPY fell 0.47% to 150.96.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.02% at 106.52.