Todays Dow Jones Industrial Average Index DJX; BAC Stock Quote; Nasdaq; S&P 500; Stock Market Investing News USA Unemployment Claims Data

The primary stock index composites closed out the last session in the green but
prior to opening bell this morning in the U.S., primary stock future indicators
had dropped lower. The Dow Jones Industrial futures, as well as the Nasdaq and
the S&P 500 futures, were posting red. Stocks in the U.S. were positioned for
the lower open. The initial half of the last trading session gave the indices
the positive push they needed to sustain the positive close, but indices began
dropping back during the latter half of last session and continue to lose ground
today. Although investors are still very concerned with the debt crisis ongoing
in the eurozone, talks and progress pertaining to the European banking problems
have been well received lately and helped indices climb higher yesterday and
over the course of this month overall. The Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 are
still on the positive side of breakeven for the month of October as a whole.
Today, investors will have one eye on the European market news and trends, and
the other on economic news in the U.S. The government released the weekly
unemployment numbers this morning as well as the trade balance data. These
reports were relatively sterile. According to the Labor Department, first time
claims for unemployment benefits dropped lower by 1,000 to 404,000. The U.S.
trade deficit stayed constant at $45.6 billion based on the August report.
Although Asian markets finished their session higher, European stocks were
trending weaker and the primary index composites in the U.S. were posting in the
red as well. At the halfway point of todays session, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average was lower by .82 percent or negative 94.60 at 11,424. The S&P 500 was
lower by .91 percent or negative 11.04 at 1,196 and the Nasdaq was at
approximate break-even at 2,605. The financial sector stocks were noteworthy
drop-offs today. Bank of America continues to trend red. According to Google
stock quotes, BAC was red by 5.62 percent at 6.21. Previous close for BAC was
6.58. The financial stocks are dragging on the DJIA today. The dollar was
gaining strength versus the euro. Oil price per barrel was dropping as were gold
futures at this point. Frank Matto