Markets Right Now: Plunging oil price sinks energy stocks

NEW YORK – The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

4 p.m.

An early rally on the stock market was largely gone by the closing bell as another plunge in the price of oil sank energy stocks.

U.S. crude fell to its lowest price since August 2017 Tuesday and is now down nearly 40 per cent since early October. Exxon Mobil gave up 2.8 per cent.

Oil prices have dropped sharply as oil supplies increased and demand weakened as the global economy slows down.

Technology and industrial stocks rose.

The S&P 500 edged up less than a point to 2,546.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 82 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 23,675. It lost just over 1,000 in the previous two days.

The Nasdaq rose 30 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 6,783.

More stocks fell than rose on the New York Stock Exchange.

___

11:45 a.m.

Stocks are moving higher in midday trading as the market regains some of the steep losses it suffered over the previous two days.

Technology companies helped drive stocks higher Tuesday. Facebook added 3 per cent.

The price of oil continued to slide, a day after closing below $50 a barrel for the first time in over a year.

Boeing, which has taken sharp losses recently, rose 3.9 per cent after announcing a stock buyback and a dividend increase.

The S&P 500 rose 13 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 2,559.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 208 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 23,803. It had lost just over 1,000 in the previous two trading days.

The Nasdaq rose 46 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 6,800.

Bond price rose, sending yields lower.

___

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening solidly higher on Wall Street as the market claims back some of the ground it lost in steep drops over the previous two days.

Technology and industrial stocks were among the biggest winners in early trading Tuesday.

Oracle rose 4.2 per cent after the business software maker reported better earnings that analysts were expecting.

Boeing, which has taken sharp losses in recent weeks, rose 3.6 per cent after announcing a stock buyback and a dividend increase.

The S&P 500 rose 18 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 2,563.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 209 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 23,812. It had lost just over 1,000 in the previous two trading days.

The Nasdaq rose 44 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 6,798.

Bond price rose, sending yields lower.