In prior commentary, we discussed the relative strength of the Nasdaq and the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), and the weakness in small- and mid-cap stocks. The S&P 500 is in the middle, beating the little guys but trailing the higher-beta indices. The SPXEW (the equal-weight S&P 500) peaked in early May and has been flat ever since. Since early June, the S&P 500 has beaten the SPXEW consistently.

Stocks edged higher on Thursday as investors weighed a new round of earnings reports along with employment and housing market data. AT&T posted better-than-expected 2Q results, reflecting strong growth in wireless subscribers, and raised its full-year guidance. Texas Instruments also topped consensus estimates, though the shares fell 5% on a lower-than-expected 3Q sales forecast. On the housing front, the National Association of Realtors said that sales of existing homes rose 1.4% to an annualized 5.86 million units in June, slightly below the consensus forecast. First-time jobless claims rose to 419,000, up from the prior week and above consensus. Continuing claims fell by 29,000 to 3.236 million. The Dow rose 0.07%, the S&P 0.20%, and the Nasdaq 0.36%. Crude oil rose 2% to $71.50 per barrel, while gold rose $4 to $1808 per ounce.

Stocks fluctuated near breakeven on Thursday morning amid a new round of earnings reports and weekly employment data. The Labor Department said that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose to 419,000 for the week ended July 17, up from 368,000 a week earlier and above the consensus forecast of 350,000. The Dow fell 0.2%, the S&P was flat, and the Nasdaq rose 0.2%. Crude oil rose slightly to $71 per barrel, while gold traded near $1807 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.

Stocks were down on Wednesday morning. The Labor Department said that U.S. producer prices rose 1.0% in June, following a 0.8% increase in May. The reading marked the largest annual gain in more than 10 years. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P was down 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell less than 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $75 per barrel, while gold rose $3 to $1824 per ounce.

The Vickers Top Buyers & Sellers is a daily report that identifies the five companies the largest insider purchase transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions as well as the five companies the largest insider sales transactions based on the dollar value of the transactions.