Stocks mixed to end 2010; Dow up 11% on year, NASDAQ up 17%

Denver Business Journal - by Mark Harden
Date: Friday, December 31, 2010, 3:22pm MST -
Last Modified: Friday, December 31, 2010, 5:53pm MST

Stocks were mixed Friday to end the year, with the Dow up nearly 8 points while the NASDAQ fell 10. In Colorado, BioFuel Energy led actively traded gainers.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished New Year's Eve trading at 11,577.51, up 7.8 points (0.07 percent).

For 2010, the index rose 11.02 percent, with most of that rise coming in the latter quarter of the year. Blue chips have gained 31.92 percent over the last two years.

The Dow's record high close was 14,164.53 on Oct. 9, 2007.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 closed at 1,257.64 Friday, down 0.24 points (0.02 percent). For 2010, the index was up 13 percent.

And the NASDAQ Composite finished at 2,652.87 New Year's Eve, down 10.11 points (0.38 percent). For 2010, the index rose 17 percent.

Among actively traded Colorado stocks, BioFuel Energy Corp. (BIOF) led the day’s gainers percentagewise, up 7.41 percent (12 cents) to close at $1.74.

Other Colorado gainers:

• Dish Network Corp. (DISH) — Up 1.81 percent (35 cents) to $19.66.

• Intrepid Potash Inc. (IPI) — Up 1.19 percent (44 cents) to $37.29.

• Liberty Media Corp. Interactive (LINTA) — Up 0.83 percent (13 cents) to $15.77.

• QEP Resources Inc. (QEP) — Up 0.83 percent (30 cents) to $36.31.

Among actively traded Colorado stocks that declined on the day was Vista Gold Corp. (VGZ), down 3.63 percent (9 cents) to close at $2.39.

Other Colorado decliners:

• General Moly Inc. (GMO) — Down 2.99 percent (20 cents) to $6.48.

• Delta Petroleum Corp. (DPTR) — Down 2.46 percent ...

Stocks were mixed Friday to end the year, with the Dow up nearly 8 points while the NASDAQ fell 10. In Colorado, BioFuel Energy led actively traded gainers.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished New Year's Eve trading at 11,577.51, up 7.8 points (0.07 percent).

For 2010, the index rose 11.02 percent, with most of that rise coming in the latter quarter of the year. Blue chips have gained 31.92 percent over the last two years.

The Dow's record high close was 14,164.53 on Oct. 9, 2007.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 closed at 1,257.64 Friday, down 0.24 points (0.02 percent). For 2010, the index was up 13 percent.

And the NASDAQ Composite finished at 2,652.87 New Year's Eve, down 10.11 points (0.38 percent). For 2010, the index rose 17 percent.

Among actively traded Colorado stocks, BioFuel Energy Corp. (BIOF) led the day’s gainers percentagewise, up 7.41 percent (12 cents) to close at $1.74.

Other Colorado gainers:

• Dish Network Corp. (DISH) — Up 1.81 percent (35 cents) to $19.66.

• Intrepid Potash Inc. (IPI) — Up 1.19 percent (44 cents) to $37.29.

• Liberty Media Corp. Interactive (LINTA) — Up 0.83 percent (13 cents) to $15.77.

• QEP Resources Inc. (QEP) — Up 0.83 percent (30 cents) to $36.31.

Among actively traded Colorado stocks that declined on the day was Vista Gold Corp. (VGZ), down 3.63 percent (9 cents) to close at $2.39.

Other Colorado decliners:

• General Moly Inc. (GMO) — Down 2.99 percent (20 cents) to $6.48.

• Delta Petroleum Corp. (DPTR) — Down 2.46 percent (2 cents) to 76 cents.

• Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG) — Down 2.35 percent ($5.11) to $212.66.

• Crocs Inc. (CROX) — Down 1.95 percent (34 cents) to $17.12.

(This report treats stocks with estimated daily volume greater than about 500,000 shares as “actively traded.â€