- Friday's star of the day, Markel Corporation, appreciated 2.71% before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday
- Top laggard Delta Air Lines gave up $1.4, or 3.54% Friday
- European markets are sideways.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday means US markets are closed up until today. In the last trading session before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, markets closed higher Friday, as Nasdaq ended the session at 11,079 after a 0.71% gain. S&P 500 gained 0.4% and closed at 3,999.
US traders are set to return to their desks today. Meanwhile, elsewhere in equities, European markets are flat. Asia-Pacific markets ended a mixed session today whilst Nikkei added 1.23% to trade at 26,139.
Today's rise takes place amid mixed market indicators — United States NY Empire State Manufacturing Index (Jan) came out at -32.9, while a consensus of analysts was expecting -8.7.
Also worthy of note, tomorrow at 13:30 UTC data for United States Producer Price Index will be released, with an expected decline to -0.1% from the preceding figure of 0.3%. United States Core Retail Sales projected to decline to -0.4% while previous data was -0.2%; data will be released tomorrow at 13:30 UTC. Projections for United States Retail Sales are set for a continuation of decline with -0.8% while previous data was -0.6%; data will be released tomorrow at 13:30 UTC.
While most stocks did well Friday, some did better than others as Markel Corporation trades at $1,440 having gained 2.71%. TransUnion (up 2.6%).
Friday's bullishness contained stock stragglers as worst performer on Friday before the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day break was Delta Air Lines having shed $1.4 or 3.54%
Markel Corporation | +2.71% at $1,440
Markel Corporation has posted further gains as part of a 5 day trend that has already seen the stock gain $38.77. Friday continued on the same track for Markel Corporation — ending Thursday at $1,402, the insurance conglomerate rallied 2.71% Friday and stayed at the $1,440 level. Daily trading volume (43,635 shares) increased, making up 134% of the 21-day average (32,445).
TransUnion | +2.6% at $68.65
TransUnion has posted further gains as part of a 7 day trend that has already seen the stock gain $7.58. Friday's session pointed in the same direction — the US consumer data business rallied 2.6% and maintained $68.65. Daily trading volume (1.70 million shares) was slightly greater than the current multiday average of 1.43 million. TransUnion disclosed a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on Thursday, November 3rd that was paid on Friday, December 2nd to all shareholders of record up until Thursday, November 17th. Based on current prices, the company's decision thereby provides TransUnion investors with an annual dividend yield of 0.612%.