The major averages closed mixed as earnings season gets started. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 17 points to 46,253 after rising over 400 points this morning. The S&P 500 rose 26 points to 6,671 led by the financials. The Nasdaq Composite rose 148 points or 0.6%.
Earnings today were lifted by financials like Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, both up 4%.
Insurance stocks were in the red after insurer, Progressive fell 5%, the worst performer in the S&P 500, after missing earnings estimates even as revenue rose 14% to $20.85 billion. Profits were down 48% year over year due to auto insurance profit caps in Florida. Progressive has around 2.7 million personal auto policyholders in Florida.
In the tech space, high-flying AI stock Nvidia was quiet, but the rest of the chips were higher. Broadcom was up 2% on an upgrade.
Bonds were quiet as the government shutdown persists.
In the commodity space, oil is near a five month low below $60 a barrel. Gold was modestly higher at new all time high. Crypto currencies were lower once again in correction territory.