Stocks finished mixed Monday amid light trading, as strength in basic materials was countered by weakness in the tech sector.
Overall trading, however, was lackluster with no economic reports scheduled for Monday's session to give markets direction. Volumes hovered around 648 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange, while just over 1.6 billion shares changed hands on the Nasdaq.
"The market is responding to silver making new highs and gold approaching record highs. We're seeing a market that's struggling for direction at this time, but, by the same token, not declining," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Avalon Partners. "I think the market is digesting some of the recent Fed speak but is in a holding pattern, waiting for [Fed Chairman] Ben Bernanke's insight."
Dow Jones Industrial Average
(DJI: ^DJI )
| Index Value: | 12,400.03 |
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| Trade Time: | 4:01PM EDT |
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| Change: |  23.31 (0.19%) |
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| Prev Close: | 12,376.72 |
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| Open: | 12,374.60 |
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| Day's Range: | 12,369.15 -12,407.41 |
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| 52wk Range: | 9,596.04 -12,454.50 |
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