It was a relatively quiet end to a volatile week on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+0.4% at 34,207) managing a modest gain via a bounce in the energy sector.
"With global transportation demand set to recover sequentially, the upcoming new Iran nuclear deal could be the next bump in the recovery path for oil prices," says Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities, equity derivatives and cross-asset quantitative investment strategies at BofA-Merrill Lynch Global Research.
Indeed, while U.S. crude futures ended with a weekly loss (-2.7%) amid signs of progress on the Iran nuclear deal front, bargain hunters swooped in to boost black gold (+2.7% at $63.58 per barrel) to a daily win.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite weren't so resilient, though, erasing early gains to end down 0.1% at 4,155 and 0.5% to 13,470, respectively.
Other action in the stock market today:
- The small-cap Russell 2000 improved by 0.3% to 2,215.
- Deere & Co (DE, +1.3%) gained ground after a strong earnings report. The farm equipment maker reported higher-than-expected profit and revenues in its fiscal second quarter, but warned of supply chain shortages through the remainder of 2021.
- Boeing (BA, +3.2%) climbed after Reuters reported the company is planning on ramping up production of its 737 Max aircraft by late 2022. BA was the best Dow stock today.
- Gold futures slipped 0.3% to end at $1,876.70 an ounce.
- The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) retreated by 2.5% to 20.15.
- Bitcoin slumped 10.4% to $36,279.07. (Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day; prices reported here are as of 4 p.m. each trading day.)
The Pros' Picks for Cheap Stocks
Share prices in many popular large-cap stocks – Amazon.com (AMZN) at about $3,200, Alphabet (GOOGL) at roughly $2,300, for example – remain arguably lofty.
And downright expensive for many individual investors who may only be spending a few hundred dollars at a time. Small-cap stocks, such as these 11 analyst favorites, generally offer more appealing entry points.
But if you really want to buy low with some extra cash or if you want to own more than one or two shares without spending thousands, check out this list of cheap stocks to buy. All 10 of the stocks earn consensus Buy or Strong Buy rating from analysts, meaning they're not only cheap but good values, too.
-
8 Rules for Choosing the Right Financial AdviserNot all advisers are created equal. Here's how to find one qualified to manage your wealth and protect your legacy. From verifying credentials to trusting your gut, follow these rules to find a financial adviser.
-
A Hated TSA Rule Was Finally Phased OutAfter nearly 20 years, the TSA is ending its shoes-off policy. Travelers will still need a Real ID, and advanced screening remains in place. Here’s what to expect on your next flight.
-
Stock Market Today: Trump's Copper Comments Cause a StirMarkets remain resilient and monetary policy makers stand fast against a rising tide of new terms of trade, including around copper.
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Reextends His Tariff DeadlineWhen it comes to this president, his trade war, the economy, financial markets and uncertainty, "known unknowns" are better than "unknown unknowns."
-
Stock Market Today: President Trump Reboots the Tariff TradeA broad consensus that markets hate uncertainty more than anything else is being tested on an almost daily basis in 2025.
-
The Best Aerospace and Defense ETFs to BuyThe best aerospace and defense ETFs can help investors capitalize on higher government defense spending or hedge against the potential of a large-scale conflict.
-
Stock Market Today: It's 'Most Sectors Go' Ahead of Independence DayThe resilience trade continues to work, even for sectors and stocks with specific uncertainties.
-
Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit New Highs After Vietnam Trade DealAhead of a key July 9 tariff deadline, President Trump said the U.S. has reached a trade deal with Vietnam.
-
Stock Market Today: Another Quarter, More Mixed Price Action"Up and to the right" remains the general trend despite persistent uncertainty around critical policy issues.
-
Stock Market Today: A Historic Quarter Closes on High Notes"All's well that ends well" is one way to describe the second quarter of 2025, at least from a pure price-action perspective.
