U.S. stocks lower at close of trade; Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.19%

Investing.com – U.S. stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Consumer Services, Technology and Financials sectors led shares lower.

At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.19%, while the S&P 500 index lost 0.63%, and the NASDAQ Composite index fell 1.21%.

The best performers of the session on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), which rose 1.98% or 10.09 points to trade at 520.82 at the close. Meanwhile, Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) added 1.79% or 2.64 points to end at 149.87 and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) was up 1.04% or 1.85 points to 179.59 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD), which fell 2.91% or 9.25 points to trade at 308.46 at the close. Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE:CRM) declined 2.87% or 6.35 points to end at 214.94 and Visa Inc Class A (NYSE:V) was down 1.83% or 4.17 points to 223.95.

The top performers on the S&P 500 were Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) which rose 4.76% to 87.44, Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) which was up 3.95% to settle at 100.50 and Paychex Inc (NASDAQ:PAYX) which gained 3.29% to close at 136.89.

The worst performers were PVH Corp (NYSE:PVH) which was down 6.54% to 82.69 in late trade, Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:ETSY) which lost 5.85% to settle at 134.56 and Mohawk Industries Inc (NYSE:MHK) which was down 5.69% to 130.93 at the close.

The top performers on the NASDAQ Composite were Direct Digital Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:DRCT) which rose 60.47% to 4.14, Hillstream Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ:HILS) which was up 39.04% to settle at 2.03 and Adagio Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ADGI) which gained 30.39% to close at 5.02.

The worst performers were Akebia Ther (NASDAQ:AKBA) which was down 66.02% to 0.83 in late trade, Revelation Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:REVB) which lost 38.32% to settle at 1.32 and Calithera Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:CALA) which was down 34.95% to 0.39 at the close.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the New York Stock Exchange by 1909 to 1296 and 113 ended unchanged; on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, 2623 fell and 1183 advanced, while 162 ended unchanged.

Shares in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) rose to 52-week highs; up 3.95% or 3.82 to 100.50. Shares in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) rose to all time highs; gaining 1.98% or 10.09 to 520.82. Shares in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) rose to all time highs; rising 1.04% or 1.85 to 179.59. Shares in Direct Digital Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:DRCT) rose to all time highs; gaining 60.47% or 1.56 to 4.14. Shares in Akebia Ther (NASDAQ:AKBA) fell to all time lows; down 66.02% or 1.61 to 0.83. Shares in Calithera Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:CALA) fell to all time lows; down 34.95% or 0.21 to 0.39.

The CBOE Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 options, was up 2.28% to 19.33.

Gold Futures for April delivery was up 1.11% or 21.30 to $1,933.50 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in May rose 3.02% or 3.15 to hit $107.39 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract rose 2.94% or 3.17 to trade at $110.88 a barrel.

EUR/USD was up 0.67% to 1.12, while USD/JPY fell 0.83% to 121.82.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.56% at 97.89.