Spectra and Other Utilities Stocks Making Big Moves on October 18, 2012

Currently, the Nasdaq has declined 0.3%, the S&P 500 has remained steady and the Dow has moved up 0.1%. The utilities sector is a category of stocks for utilities such as gas and power. It contains companies such as electric, gas and water firms and integrated providers. Because utilities require significant infrastructure, these firms often carry large amounts of debt. With a high debt load, utilities companies become sensitive to changes in the interest rate. As interest rates rise or drop, the debt payments will increase or decrease. The utilities sector performs best when interest rates are falling or remain low.

The Utilities sector (XLU) has risen 0.2% overall, and these are the biggest movers in the sector so far:

Company	Market Cap	Percentage Change
Companhia Energetica Minas Gerais (NYSE:CIG)	$10.67 billion	-2.4%
Companhia de Saneamento Basico (NYSE:SBS)	$9.86 billion	-2.2%
Targa (NYSE:TRGP)	$2.2 billion	-1.8%
Crosstex Energy (Nasdaq:XTXI)	$668.7 million	+1.3%
Spectra (NYSE:SE)	$19.69 billion	-1.1%
NRG (NYSE:NRG)	$5.35 billion	+1.1%
Markwest Energy (NYSE:MWE)	$7.63 billion	-0.9%

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After a decline of 2.4%, Companhia Energetica Minas Gerais (NYSE:CIG) has hit a share price of $12.21. So far today, the company's volume is 1.7 million shares. This is 0.3 times the average volume over the last three months.

Slipping 2.2%, Companhia de Saneamento Basico (NYSE:SBS) is currently trading at $84.63 per share. At 143,570 shares, the company's volume so far today is in keeping with its current daily average.

Targa (NYSE:TRGP) has decreased to $50.87 per share, a 1.8% fall. So far today, 95,726 shares have changed hands.

After an increase of 1.3%, Crosstex Energy (Nasdaq:XTXI) has reached a current price of $14.29. This morning, 28,359 shares have been traded, on pace to finish the day below yesterday's volume of 157,031 shares.

Currently trading at $29.83 per share, Spectra (NYSE:SE) has fallen 1.1%. So far today, 596,944 shares have changed hands. This is 0.2 times its average volume over the past three months.

NRG (NYSE:NRG) has increased to a share price of $23.69, a 1.1% rise. So far today, the company's volume is 1.5 million shares, in line with the current daily average.

Markwest Energy (NYSE:MWE) is down 0.9% to reach $55.30 per share. The company's volume for the day so far is 144,277 shares.

The Bottom Line On any given day, a particular stock may see positive or negative change in its share price. Daily stock performance should be weighed against historical performance and put in context of the market overall. Keep in mind that all these ratios should be compared against historical numbers and industry information in order to get a more complete picture.