Today's 3 Worst Stocks
Bearish sentiment from the Far East, combined with residual disappointment in Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments yesterday, sent the S&P 500 Index four points, or 0.3%, lower, to close at 1,650. That said, the S&P's three worst stocks of the day all suffered much more severe declines.
Cliffs Natural Resources slipped 3.6%, as the mining company felt the effects of weak industrial data from China today. The rapidly growing Chinese economy is the second largest in the world, and much of its growth relies on its manufacturing and industrial capabilities. The fact that its factory output decreased for the first time in seven months spells some potentially rough times ahead for Cliffs and other industry-reliant industries.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals , which has risen nearly 20% in the last month alone, slumped 2.9% Thursday. There doesn't seem to be much aside from mere profit-taking behind today's slip; yesterday, the stock actually edged higher on positive news from a joint project with Sanofi to develop an anti-asthma drug. The trial data showed a nearly 90% decrease in asthma aggravation in users who took the experimental drug vs. the placebo.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold rounds out the list of today's laggards, with a 2.3% loss. This is the third straight day of declines for the copper miner, which continues to struggle with market repercussions from a deadly mining disaster at one of its locations in Indonesia. The lost production from the closed mine is estimated to be around $15 million per day.
Cliffs Natural Resources has grown from a domestic iron ore producer into an international player in both the iron ore and metallurgical coal markets. It has also underwhelmed investors lately, especially after its dramatic 76% dividend cut in February. However, it could now be looked at as a possible value play due to several factors that are likely to remain advantageous for Cliffs' management. For details on these advantages and more, click here now to check out The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company.
The article Today's 3 Worst Stocks originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor John Divine has no position in any stocks mentioned. You can follow him on Twitter @divinebizkid and on Motley Fool CAPS @TMFDivine.The Motley Fool owns shares of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
