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Small-cap companies outperformed large firms Thursday, as downbeat economic reports and selling pressure from the energy sector weighed on the benchmark S&P 500.
The S&P 500 SPX, -0.15% closed down 3.12 points, or 0.2% lower, at 2,110.74, while six of its 10 main sectors finished with losses. A 5.5% drop in oil prices prompted investors to dump energy companies.
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index rose to its highest level since 2003 Thursday, as currency traders bet that a stronger-than-expected core consumer-price index number will prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than expected.
The index DXY, -0.13% a measure of the greenback’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, rose 1.15% to 95.1500, according to FactSet data.
The euro EURUSD, +0.13% traded at $1.1998, its lowest level since Jan. 26, compared with $1.1361 Wednesday.
The euro EURUSD, +0.13% traded at $1.1998, its lowest level since Jan. 26, compared with $1.1361 Wednesday.
April platinum PLJ5, -0.03% rose $4.80, or 0.4%, to $1,173.60 an ounce.
June palladium PAM5, -0.18% the most-active contract, gained $1.75, or 0.4, to $811.05 an ounce.
May copper HGK5, -0.56% added 5.1 cents, or 1.9%, to $2.695 a pound.
May silver SIK5, -0.45% also tacked on 15 cents, or 0.9%, to end at $16.624 an ounce — the best settlement for a most-active contract since Feb. 13.
The front-month March gasoline contract down 1.1 cents, or 0.7%, at $1.708 a gallon, pulling back after Wednesday’s 6.1% rally.
March heating oil HOH5, +3.14% ended at $2.136 a gallon, up 3.2 cents, or 1.5%. The March contracts for the products expire at the close of trading on Friday.
