Stocks declined after a volatile session, but ended the month with the best September results for the Dow and the S&P 500 in 71 years.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 47.23 points Thursday, or 0.4 percent, to 10,788.05. For the month, the Dow rose 773.33 points, or 7.72 percent, the best September result since 1939. For the quarter, the Dow rose 1,014.03, or 10.4 percent.
Caterpillar and DuPont were the best Dow performers for the quarterly, rising 31 percent and 29 percent, respectively, Bank of America was the worst performer, dropping 8.8 percent.
The S&P 500 fell 3.53 points, or 3 percent Thursday, to close at 1,141.20. For the month, the S&P 500 rose 91.87 points or 8.8 percent, for the best September performance since 1939. For the quarter, the index rose 110.49 points, or 10.7 percent.
The Nasdaq fell 7.94 points, or 0.3 percent Thursday, to close at 2,368.62. For the month, the Nasdaq rose 254.59 points, or 12 percent. For the quarter, the index rose 259.38 points, or 12.30 percent.
The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, rose above 23.
Technology,consumer staples, and industrials sectors fell, while energy rose.
Despite volatility over the last few sessions, the markets have had a stellar month and a good quarter, posting the biggest gains since the third quarter a year ago.
“We’ve enjoyed such a nice gain in the market over the last few weeks, that I think you have a lot of nervous longs,” said JJ Kinahan, chief derivates strategist at TD Ameritrade. “It’s more than normal profit-taking though, because we’ve had this nice run, and we’re at the high end of the range.”
The market is also experiencing the effects of quarter-end portfolio rebalancing and the quarterly expiration of options and futures contracts, he said.
AIG shares jumped to lead the S&P 500 after news the insurer worked out a plan with the U.S. government to repay taxpayers in full. The company also said it will sell two Japanese life insurance units to Prudential Financial for $4.8 billion. Prudential shares slumped following the news.
Most financial stocks were higher, including Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs . Meanwhile, FBR and Sandler O'Neill cut their third quarter share views on Morgan Stanley while Bernstein cut its price target on the banking giant to $35 from $37.
In the tech sector, Apple fell even after Stifel raised its price target on the iPod maker to $360 from $350. Google was slightly higher after
Qualcomm rose after Canaccord Genuity raised its price target on the tech giant to $59 from $51.
Caterpillar shares were lower after the heavy-equipment manufacturer said it would raise product prices up to 2 percentfrom next year.
Boeing shares rose after the aircraft manufacturer pushed back its deliveryscheduled for its 747-8 freighter to mid-year 2011 to address manufacturing issues. The delay isn't expected to affect Boeing's financial results, the company said.
Shares of Mattel were slightly lower despite news Federal regulators recalled more than 10 million Fischer-Price products. But brokerage BMO raised its price target on the toymaker to $32 from $29.
Johnson & Johnson's chief executive is testifying before a House committeeon the health-care company's recalls of over-the-counter medicines. Shares of the drugmaker declined.
McCormick soared to an all-time high after the maker of spices and herbs issued a quarterly profit that beat expectations.
Dollar Thrifty shareholders rejected a $1.5 billion offer by Hertz to buy the car-rental company, sending Hertz's shares tumbling. Meanwhile Avis said on Wednesday it would include a $20 million break-up feein its offer for the company if Hertz walks away from the deal.