Another week gone by and -- amazingly -- the market didn't let Friday's frightening jobs numbers rain on its parade. What was a triple-digit selloff became a triple-digit rally, with the major indices gaining 3.71% on average.
Here are some of today’s winners and losers.
Winners
Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG)
It seems that everything went right for the insurer today, so much so that it was able to give other insurers a boost. The company raised its profit guidance, sending shares up more than 102% on the day. The stock doubled to $14.59 from $7.38.
Lincoln National Corp (LNC)
One of many stocks riding the Hartford Financial wave was LNC, which saw shares jump 42% Friday. While it is uncertain if the upswing will hold, the stock was up $5.15, closing at $17.36.
Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG)
There seems to be a trend developing here -- another insurer up more than 40% on the day. PFG last traded at $19.20, gaining $5.56 Friday.
Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU)
It’s an insurance party! Prudential ended the week with gains of nearly 35%. Shares were up $7.35 ,closing at $28.52.
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP)
Someone should send HIG a thank-you card. Ameriprise Financial is another insurer that made major gains Friday, with shares jumping 26.85%. The stock closed at $21.31, a gain of $4.51.
Losers
American Capital Ltd. (ACAS)
With news of recent job cuts and proposed “cost-saving” measures still fresh, the stock had another down day, setting a new 52-week low. Shares lost nearly 9%, closing 31 cents lower at $3.15.
AES Corp. (AES)
With more than 15 million shares traded Friday, the utility provider was another company setting a new 52-week low, losing 7.4% on the day. With volatile trading over the last few weeks the stock settled at $6.40, a loss of 51 cents.
Apache Corp. (APA)
Discouraged by falling commodity prices, analysts downgraded Apache, which sent shares lower by 4.4%. Shares last traded at $62.61, a loss of $2.89 on the day.
Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK)
Chesapeake shares continue to follow the crude trend, losing another 4.4% to end the week. Not even the company’s reported attempts to ensure its cash position could halt the slide. The stock lost 52 cents on the day, closing at $11.32.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX)
With demand and price for precious medals continuing to fall, the stock lost 4% Friday. The stock closed at $16.80, a loss of 71 cents.
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