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Stocks Close Mixed; eBay, These Other 5 Top Stocks Hit Buy Points

The stock market closed mixed Thursday in a dull session that belied a number of bullish breakouts among top-ranked stocks.

X The Nasdaq composite rose 0.1% while the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.1% and the S&P 500 eased a fraction. The three indexes closed above the 50-day moving average, an area that chart readers are watching for signs of support.

The small-cap Russell 2000 fell nearly 0.3%, while the Dow utilities led with a 0.7% increase.

Volume rose across the board, according to preliminary figures.

Despite the sleepy session that saw financial stocks lag badly, several stocks rose past buy points, though low volume left some of those in doubt.

KBR (KBR) broke out of an imperfect cup-with-handle base, surging past the 17.62 buy point in heavy volume. The company provides engineering and consulting services for defense and aerospace in addition to services for energy companies.

Jeld-Wen (JELD) rose above the 33.17 buy point of a double-bottom base in heavy trading. The company, one of the largest makers of windows and doors, gapped up 4% Wednesday as it aimed for today's breakout. Jeld-Wen went public Jan. 27 at 23 a share.

EBay (EBAY) broke out of a cup-without-handle base in active trading. The e-commerce stock is in buy range from the 37.58 buy point.

Boston Scientific (BSX) climbed above the 28.61 buy point of a flat base. But volume was hardly its average. It was a blemish on a breakout that otherwise looked good: The base had tight price behavior and the relative strength line made a new high as well.

Boston Scientific, a major provider of medical devices, wasn't the only stock in the medical sector to break out.

Zoetis (ZTS) broke out of a flat base, surging past the 63.94 buy point. But volume was lackluster, ending right about the average daily turnover of 2.25 million shares. Zoetis, which makes veterinary vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other products, has a middling EPS Rating of 83.

Thinly traded Korn/Ferry International (KFY) cleared the 36.17 buy point of a base but closed below the entry. Still, shares jumped 8% in 4 1/2-times the average volume after the staffing services company beat profit expectations for the July-ended quarter.

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