Bulls Call Timeout >>> Pfizer Earnings Halt 2 Days Rally

Pfizer & Verizon Fence In The Bulls

After two straight sessions of triple-digit gains, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA – 10,270.55) gave back 26.3 points, or 0.3%, today.

All but nine of the Dow's 30 components ended lower, led by Pfizer and Verizon Communications (VZ). Leading the revolt were Walt Disney and McDonald's Corp., after the latter earned a spot on Goldman Sachs' coveted conviction buy list.

Despite today's defeat, however, the blue-chip barometer maintained its foothold atop its 10-day moving average.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX – 1,097.28) also finished lower, shedding 6 points, or 0.6%, to surrender its perch atop the 1,100 level. Nevertheless, like the Dow, the SPX kept its spot atop its 10-day trendline.

Finally, the Nasdaq Composite (COMP – 2,190.91) fared the best of the three, edging out a fractional gain of 0.9 point, or less than 0.1%, by the closing bell.

Crude Bogged By Strong U.S. Dollar

After two days of big gains, the commodity markets closed lower as the U.S. dollar rose solidly. Crude, which enjoyed its strongest one-day gain since late Sept. 2009 on Tuesday, fell 25 cents a barrel, or 0.32%, to $76.98 after a mixed inventory report. Gold fell $6.00 a troy ounce, or 0.54%, to $1111.40.