Mid-Day Market Update: Precious Metals Take a Beating as Markets Recover

Midway through trading Friday, the Dow traded down 0.04 percent to 14,858.98 while the NASDAQ fell 0.34 percent to 3,289.44. The S&P also fell, decreasing 0.39 percent to 1,587.51. Top Headline
Two of the big banks, Wells Fargo WFC and J.P. Morgan JPM released earnings this morning, both missing on the top line and beating on the bottom line. The performance lead many traders to question how this earnings season will pan out, with two of the top banks seemingly unable to expand revenues, and helped send markets lower this morning. Equities Trading UP
Rite Aid RAD continued its march upwards this morning, gaining 9.43 percent to $2.32 after the company raised guidance and crushed on earnings Thursday morning. Shares of Sinclair Broadcast Group SBGI were also up, gaining 13.44 percent to $26.87 after acquiring Fisher Communications for $373.3 million after the close yesterday. Ashland ASH was up as well, gaining 6.63 percent to $84.06, riding a wave of gains in the coal sector. Equities Trading DOWN
Yamana Gold AUY traded down 6.67 percent to $13.16 as gold prices continue to melt down throughout today's session. NovaGold Resources NG was also down, falling 9.34 percent to $2.73 as gold and other precious metals got hammered this morning. Shares of MannKind MNKD were down as well, dropping 9.07 percent to $3.90 after a Seeking Alpha article stated that one of its primary drugs was likely to fail. Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 2.94 percent to $90.76, while gold traded down 3.89 percent to $1,504.50. Silver traded down 4.47 percent Friday to $26.42, while copper fell 2.40 percent to $3.35. Eurozone
European markets fell this morning on reiterated fears over Cyprus and a weak industrial production report. The fall was lead by the Italian FTSE MIB index, which was down 1.6 percent while the French CAC lost 1.08 percent. Economics
In economic news for Friday, retail sales came in down at -0.4 percent, below the projected 0.0 percent and the prior release of 1.10 percent. Retail sales ex autos and gas came in at -0.10 percent, missing expectations of 0.30 percent and the prior figure of 0.40 percent. PPI year over year was also released, coming in at 1.10 percent, missing the anticipated 1.40 percent and the prior release of 1.70 percent, while Core PPI year over year came in at 1.70 percent, inline with expectations. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment was also out, coming in at 72.30, much lower than the expected 78.60 and the prior release of 78.60.