Dow Jones Industrial Average Falls 74 Points Amid Sluggish Trading Volume

Strategic Insights -

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 74 points, or 0.6%, to 12,076 as of 9:35 a.m. ET on Wednesday, December 7, 2011. Despite the decline, 26 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands, which is lower than the average daily trading volume of 907 million. The NYSE advances/declines ratio stands at 442 issues advancing versus 2,198 declining with 122 unchanged.

Key Takeaways:

  • Travelers Companies (TRV) leads the Dow higher with a 14-cent gain, or 0.3%, to $55.08 on 206,293 shares traded, ahead of its average daily volume of 4.5 million shares.
  • The company's market capitalization is $22.57 billion, and it operates in the financial sector with a P/E ratio of 14.3, below the average insurance industry P/E ratio of 14.5 and the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.
  • TheStreet Ratings rate Travelers Companies as a buy, citing its solid financial position, attractive valuation levels, and increase in stock price during the past year.
  • Caterpillar (CAT) lags the broader Dow index, declining $1.55, or 1.6%, to $94.41 on 265,657 shares traded, which is lower than its average daily volume of 10.2 million shares.
  • The company's market capitalization is $62.63 billion, and it operates in the industrial goods sector with a P/E ratio of 14.8, equal to the average industrial industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.
  • TheStreet Ratings rate Caterpillar as a buy, citing its robust revenue growth, notable return on equity, and solid stock price performance.

Statistics:

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 74 points, or 0.6%, to 12,076 as of 9:35 a.m. ET on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.
  • 26 million shares of the 30 Dow components have changed hands, which is lower than the average daily trading volume of 907 million.
  • Travelers Companies (TRV) traded 206,293 shares, ahead of its average daily volume of 4.5 million shares.
  • Caterpillar (CAT) traded 265,657 shares, which is lower than its average daily volume of 10.2 million shares.

Sources:

  • TheStreet Wire: "The Dow Jones Industrial Average (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/%5EDJI.html) (^DJI (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/^DJI.html)) is trading down 74 points (-0.6%) at 12,076 as of Wednesday, Dec 7, 2011, 9:35 a.m. ET."
  • TheStreet Wire: "Travelers Companies (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/trv.html) (NYSE:TRV (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/trv.html)) is sporting a 14-cent gain (+0.3%) bringing the stock to $55.08."
  • TheStreet Wire: "Caterpillar (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/cat.html) (NYSE:CAT (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/cat.html)) is lagging the broader Dow index with a $1.55 decline (-1.6%) bringing the stock to $94.41."