US stocks close mixed in 1st session after storm

NEW YORK – US stocks finished mixed Wednesday as trade resumed after the financial sector was shut down for two days by megastorm Sandy, which blasted New York leaving parts of the city flooded and millions without power.

Trade on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq went off mostly smoothly, the NYSE backed up by generators as much of Wall Street remained dark, though many participants were still unable to return to their offices.

Trade was strong and stocks jumped at the opening, only to turn downward as the day progressed.

At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 10.67 points (0.08 percent) at 13,096.54.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.20 (0.01 percent) at 1,412.14, while the Nasdaq was down 10.32 (0.36 percent) at 2,977.23.

“There are still a lot of investors, players, large active investors that haven’t been able to return to work,” said Hugh Johnson of Hugh Johnson Advisors.

“It’s a very disjointed day, and it doesn’t really reflect the views of all investors,” he said.