ADVISORY, May 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. stocks have continued to move higher, with all-time closing highs in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 indices yesterday. Biotechnology stocks have been particularly strong, as have homebuilders and healthcare stocks. The NASDAQ BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX (NBI) was up 6.6% over the past 5 days and is up over 35% year-to-date.
"Biotech stocks have been helped by signs of a more accommodating US approvals process and several companies reporting positive news. The tailwinds from the recent market rally are helping the sector as investors look to allocate funds to non-defensive sectors," said Dave Gedeon, Managing Director, NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes. "The housing sector stocks were strong again this week, with a gain of almost 3% after a 4.4% rise last week."
TOP WEEKLY INDEX MOVERS (+ / -) | |
TOP 5 EQUITY INDEXES: | 5/14/13 |
NASDAQ BIOTECHNOLOGY INDEX (NBI) |
+6.6% |
NASDAQ INTERNET INDEX (QNET) |
+3.6% |
PHLX HOUSING SECTOR INDEX (HGX) |
+2.9% |
PHLX UTILITY SECTOR INDEX (UTY) |
-2.4% |
PHLX SEMICONDUCTOR INDEX (SOX) |
+2.1% |
TOP 5 COMMODITY INDEXES: |
5/14/13 |
NASDAQ COMMODITY CORN INDEX ER (NQCICER) |
+2.4% |
NASDAQ COMMODITY NATURAL GAS INDEX ER (NQCINGER) |
+2.4% |
NASDAQ COMMODITY SILVER INDEX ER (NQCISIER) |
-1.8% |
NASDAQ COMMODITY GOLD INDEX ER (NQCIGCER) |
-1.7% |
NASDAQ COMMODITY AGRICULTURAL INDEX ER (NQCIACER) |
+1.5% |
OTHER NOTABLE INDEX MOVES