Dow Stocks Decline on Negative Economic Data

Dow stocks were in the red on Thursday after the U.S. Census Bureau reported that durable goods orders declined 1.1% in September. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.18% to 26,787, while the S&P 500 Index rose 0.04% to 3,005 and the Nasdaq Composite Index increased 0.70% to 8,176.

Non-index stocks have also made movements recently. Shares of The Hershey Co. (HSY, Financial) fell almost 2.5% on Thursday after announcing third-quarter results. The company posted earnings of $1.61 per share on $2.13 billion in revenue, topping earnings estimates by 1 cent and revenue expectations by $10 million.

“We are pleased with our third-quarter results and the momentum we are seeing in our core business,” President and CEO Michele Buck said.

The reported gross margin was 44.2%, up from 41.5% in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted gross margin was 44.8%, a slight increase from 44% a year ago.Â

The operating profit grew 13.4% to $460.8 million. The operating margin was 21.6% and the adjusted operating profit was $477 million.

Looking ahead to the full year, the company expects net sales to increase 2.5%. It also projects diluted earnings per share will range from $5.54 to $5.66 and adjusted earnings per share will be between $5.68 and $5.74.

Gainers

• Align Technology Inc. (ALGN, Financial) +14.7%
• Varian Medical Systems Inc. (VAR, Financial) +8.1%
• Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT, Financial) +7.5%
• F5 Networks Inc. (FFIV, Financial) +6.9%
• Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV, Financial) +5.3%

Losers

• Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS, Financial) -13.9%
• Baxter International Inc. (BAX, Financial) -9.3%
• Ford Motor Co. (F, Financial) -6.8%
• Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX, Financial) -5.7%

Global markets

The main European stock markets traded in the green.The U.K.'s FTSE 100 advanced 0.93%, France's CAC 40 gained 0.55%, Germany's Dax increased 0.58% and Spain's IBEX 35 swelled 0.07%.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.55%, India’s BSE Sensex slid 0.10%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.87% and China's Shanghai Composite declined 0.02%.

Disclosure: The author holds no positions in any stocks mentioned.

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