How major US stock indexes fared Thursday, 4/18/2024
U.S. stock indexes drifted to a mixed close following more reports showing the economy remains stronger than expected.
The S&P 500 index fell 0.2% Thursday. The slight dip sent it to a fifth straight loss for its longest such streak since October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.5% following a mixed set of profit reports from big companies.
Treasury yields rose following the stronger-than-expected economic data. Not only is the number of layoffs across the country remaining relatively low, an index of manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region showed growth unexpectedly accelerated.
On Thursday:
The S&P 500 fell 11.09 points, or 0.2%, to 5,011.12.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 22.07 points, or 0.1%, to 37,775.38.
The Nasdaq composite fell 81.87 points, or 0.5%, to 15,601.50.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 4.99 points, or 0.3%, to 1,942.96.