Looking at the action in individual growth stocks, the assumption might be that Thursday was a bad day for the stock market, but that wasn't quite the case as major averages ended with modest gains.
The Dow Jones industrial average outperformed for the second straight session, rising 0.5%, led by Caterpillar (CAT) and United Technologies (UTX). The S&P 500 added nearly 0.2% and the Nasdaq edged up 0.1%. Preliminary data showed NYSE and Nasdaq volume coming in lower than Wednesday's levels in the stock market today.
The Nasdaq 100 lost 0.1%, weighed down by weakness in Monster Beverage (MNST), Alphabet (GOOGL), Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and Facebook (FB).
At the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTI crude oil for March delivery lost 56 cents, or 1.7%, to settle at $31.72 a barrel. It hit an intraday high of $33.60.
In economic news, productivity at U.S. businesses fell at an annualized rate of 3% in Q4, the biggest drop since Q1 2014.
Shares of Mattel (MAT) added close to 2% after Bloomberg reported the company and Hasbro (HAS) have held talks about a possible merger. Shares of Hasbro rose 1%.
Small-cap Lumentum Holdings (LITE) tried to clear a base with a 22.74 buy point ahead of its earnings report after the close, but an early gain faded. Shares still rose 2%. The company provides optical communication and photonic products for manufacturing, inspection and life-science applications.
LinkedIn (LNKD) also reports after the close. Since hitting a high of 258 in November, shares are down about 26%. Q4 profit is seen rising 28% to 78 cents a share.
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