Stocks hit session highs at the close, retail stocks lead laggards
Markets reporter Ines Ferre checks out market and sector gains ahead of the closing bell, in addition to the energy space, retailers, and Chinese stocks.
Video Transcript
RACHELLE AKUFFO: We're just minutes away from the closing bell, and all three major indices look like they're touching session highs. Let's get a breakdown for you with our very own Ines Ferre. Ines.
INES FERRE: Yeah, that's right, session highs for the major averages, Rachelle. And if we just take a look at the Dow, it's up 268 points. The NASDAQ up about 1% right now. And the S&P 500 also closed at session high, up about 1%. By the way, the Russell 2000 close to a one-month high as well. Looking at the sector action, we are seeing that today, consumer discretionary was the laggard there, but energy stocks, XLE up more than 3%. In fact, year to date, XLE is up 66%, by far, the biggest outperformer among the sectors.
I also want to show you what's happening with some of these energy stocks because we are seeing ExxonMobil up 4 and 1/2% today, topping the $100 level, its highest since 2014. As I mentioned, consumer discretionary was the laggard today. And just looking at the retail stocks, Target down more than 2%, but off of its session lows from earlier today, in sympathy Walmart falling as well, and some of the home improvement stocks also lower. And looking right now at the Chinese ADRs, those are seeing gains today as well, adding to yesterday's gains. Here's a two-day chart for those Chinese stocks.
