Market Roundup: Markets End Holiday-Shortened Week in the Green

Economy/Stock Market

The markets opened the week finishing to the down side on Tuesday after the Independence Day holiday on Monday. Energy stocks sold off amid retreating crude oil prices. West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 4.9% to settle at $46.60 a barrel. In economic news, U.S. factory orders decreased by one percent in May, versus economist expectations of a 0.8 percent drop. The markets rebounded from early low levels on Wednesday to close in the green zone. Stocks gained on the release of minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting as well as a variety of other economic news. Services industry activity increased in June. The ISM Services Index hit 56.5, up from 52.9 in May. The results exceeded expectations of a reading of 53.3. Additionally, the trade gap ticked up in May as the U.S. trade deficit rose to $41.1 billion from $37.4 billion in April. Indices were mixed on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 indices rebounded from session lows to land slightly in the red while the NASDAQ stepped up. West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 4.9% settling at $45.09 a barrel. Department figures showed initial jobless claims fell by 16,000 to 254,000 last week. The markets ramped up on Friday with stocks gaining on favorable employment data for June. Labor Department figures showed an addition of 287,000 jobs versus expectations of 175,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.9% from 4.7% in May as a result of more people entering the work force. The markets are looking ahead to next week when earnings season kicks off on Monday.