Stocks Split As Dow, Led By Consumer Stocks, Rallies

Having plunged 224 points just before noon, the Dow Jones Industrials seemed destined for a third consecutive losing session on Monday.

Instead, investors sensed opportunity, buying up shares of mostly consumer stocks. Walgreens (WBA, 74.15, +1.64, +2.26%, Walmart (WMT, 94.69 +1.38, +1.48%), and Coca-Cola (KO, 46.48, 0.60, +1.31%) emerged the big gainers on the day as the Dow marched ahead more than 240 points to close marginally in the green.

Following along were the NASDAQ and S&P 500, though neither of those indices were able to punch above the unchanged line. Particularly hard hit was the tech-laden NASDAQ, which, inducing Monday's losses, had shed nearly five percent of its value top to bottom over the past three trading sessions.

With stocks floating close to all-time highs, the buying stint today seems to be of questionable quality. Globally, markets were stunned to open the week, with European bourses losing more than one percent, the German and Belgian markets dipping further below correction levels. To say the least, afternoon trading in US markets was built on shaky ground.

Dow Jones Industrial Average October Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
10/1/18	26,651.21	+192.90	+192.90
10/2/18	26,773.94	+122.73	+315.63
10/3/18	26,828.39	+54.45	+370.08
10/4/18	26,627.48	-200.91	+169.17
10/5/18	26,447.05	-180.43	-11.26
10/8/18	26,486.78	+39.73	+28.47

At the Close, Monday, September 8, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 26,486.78, +39.73 (+0.15%)
NASDAQ: 7,735.95, -52.50 (-0.67%)
S&P 500: 2,884.43, -1.14 (-0.04%)
NYSE Composite: 13,000.13, +8.19 (+0.06%)

Dow Losing Streak Reaches Seven Days; Walgreens To Replace GE In Dow Index

No analysis needed to spot the recurring pattern of trading prominent on Wednesday. The Dow suffered its seventh straight losing session while the NASDAQ powered to new highs, mostly on the backs of the beloved tech stocks known as the FAANGs.

In the news, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is set to replace General Electric (GE) in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, effective prior to the open of trading on June 26. Walgreens is trading for 64.61, down from its all-time high of 86.55, June of 2015.

General Electric, which has been under pressure since near the end of last year, has lost nearly two thirds of its value in the past eight months. Shares have fallen from 31.60 per share in October, 2016, to the current per share price of 12.96. The company has lost over 80 percent of its value since 2000.

General Electric was an original member of the Dow when it was formed by Charles Dow in 1896 and a continuous member since 1907.

Since Walgreens is trading at five times the value of GE, an adjustment will be made to the Dow divisor, lest the index experience a rapid upside explosion due to the change. This is exactly how the Dow works, replacing weaker companies with stronger ones.

The is the 15th change in the structure of the Dow since 2004. Some of the companies formerly a part of the index but since removed in the 21st century include Eastman Kodak, International Paper, AT&T, AIG, Citigroup, Bank of America, General Motors, and Honeywell.

Dow Jones Industrial Average June Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
6/1/18	24,635.21	+219.37	+219.37
6/4/18	24,813.69	+178.48	+397.85
6/5/18	24,799.98	-13.71	+384.14
6/6/18	25,146.39	+346.41	+730.55
6/7/18	25,241.41	+95.02	+825.57
6/8/18	25,316.53	+75.12	+900.69
6/11/18	25,322.31	+5.78	+906.47
6/12/18	25,320.73	-1.58	+904.89
6/13/18	25,201.20	-119.53	+785.36
6/14/18	25,175.31	-25.89	+759.47
6/15/18	25,090.48	-84.83	+674.64
6/18/18	24,987.47	-103.01	+571.63
6/19/18	24,700.21	-287.26	+284.37
6/20/18	24,657.80	-42.41	+241.96

At the Close, Wednesday, June 20, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 24,657.80, -42.41 (-0.17%)
NASDAQ: 7,781.51, +55.93 (+0.72%)
S&P 500: 2,767.32, +4.73 (+0.17%)
NYSE Composite: 12,648.74, +9.76 (+0.08%)