Dow Record Remains Elusive

The announcement came as a House of Representatives subcommittee convened on Capitol Hill for a hearing regarding the secret effort to try and determine who on the board was leaking confidential information to reporters.

Baskins' exit comes nearly a week after Chairwoman Patricia Dunn resigned following H-P's probe. Two other executives also stepped down this week. Shares of H-P tacked on 58 cents, or 1.6%, at $35.97, but have fallen more than 2.5% since the beginning of the month.

Also on the Dow, McDonald's (MCD Quote - Cramer on MCD - Stock Picks) closed lower even after A.G. Edwards raised its stock price target to $44 from $40. The firm reiterated a buy rating, citing industry-leading fundamentals, improving yield and an enhanced image worldwide. The firm raised its full-year earnings estimate to $2.30 a share from $2.27 and its 2007 estimate to $2.50 a share from $2.42. McDonald's was off 23 cents, or 0.6%, to $39.59.

Microsoft (MSFT Quote - Cramer on MSFT - Stock Picks) was edging down after it announced its Zune portable media player will be made available on Nov. 14 for a price of $249.99. The online Zune marketplace will offer a subscription that allows unlimited downloads for about $15. The Zune player will come preloaded with audio files and video clips. Shares dipped 4 cents, or 0.2%, to $27.40.

Amgen (AMGN Quote - Cramer on AMGN - Stock Picks) said late Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration approved its colorectal cancer drug Vectibix, a product for which the company has high hopes. Analysts believe the drug could put pressure on sales of Erbitux, the colon cancer treatment from ImClone Systems (IMCL Quote - Cramer on IMCL - Stock Picks) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY Quote - Cramer on BMY - Stock Picks).

Amgen finished down 59 cents, or 0.8%, to $71.55. ImClone gave back 24 cents, or 0.8%, to $28.51, and Bristol-Myers was off 15 cents, or 0.6%, to close at $24.85.