Mittwoch, 10. Dezember 2008

Market Winners & Losers: AK Steel, Lincoln National

News of progress on the auto bailout package and President-elect Barack Obama's massive infrastructure plans sent the markets to start off the week with massive gains. The major indices rose by 3.81% on average.

Here are some of today’s winners and losers.

Winners:

Genworth Financial Inc. (GNW)
Genworth continues to make strides in the right direction, moving upward for the third day in a row. With nearly 45 million shares traded, GNW finished the day up nearly 42%. Shares last traded at $2.44, a gain of 66 cents.

Developers Diversified Realty Corp. (DDR)
Real estate was one of many sectors that saw gains on the day. The mall developer saw gains of 36.29% Monday, but we will have to wait and see if the good times keep on rolling. Shares closed at $6.76, a gain of $1.80.

AK Steel Holding Corp (AKS)
News of a possible massive infrastructure overhaul sent iron and steel up on the day. This may be the turnaround needed to help the company, whose shares were trading as high as $73.00 during the last year. Shares finished up 25.73% or $1.84, last trading at $8.99.

United States Steel Corp (X)
The X factor responsible for this company's 24% surge was, again, news that President-elect Obama has plans for the largest infrastructure spending in more than 50 years. Shares closed the session at $35.79, a gain of $7.03.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK)
Despite gas averaging $1.70 across the country the natural gas provider saw stock rise 24.38% Monday. Investors were reaffirmed with news of a positive cash position and the possible infrastructure implications for the future. The stock last traded at $14.08, a gain of $2.76.

Losers:

LSI Corp (LSI)
The semiconductor developer could not hold on to Friday’s gains, giving nearly all of it back during trading Monday. Shares were down 8.5% on the day, closing at $2.89 a loss of 27 cents.

Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG)
The life insurers were a mixed bag Monday, and PFG was on the losing side of that deal. The stock last traded at $17.79 losing $1.41, or 7.3%, to start the week.

Unum Group (UNM)
Unum was another insurer not feeling the infrastructure or bailout love. Shares closed today down more than 6.4%, finishing the day at $16.19, a loss of $1.11

Lincoln National Corp (LNC)
Thankfully, this insurer did not lose everything it had gained Friday, but shares still fell more than 5.75% on the day. Last trades saw a drop of $1.00, closing at $16.36.

Dynegy Inc. (DYN)
It may have been an oddball stock to suffer big losses Friday, but the falling price of oil continues to toll on share prices. Dynegy shares fell 5.74% on the day, closing at $1.97, a loss of 12 cents.


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