United Technologies, American Express: Dow Movers

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stocks finished Thursday on a positive note, buoyed by a surprise decline in initial jobless claims and a Greek debt deal.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 6.51 points, or 0.05%, to 12,890.46 on Thursday. The S&P 500 increased 1.99 points to 1,351.95 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 11.37 points to 2,927.23.

Breadth within the Dow was positive with 16 of the index's 30 components posting gains. Verizon(VZ) ended Thursday flat.

The biggest percentage gainers among the blue chips were United Technologies(UTX) and American Express(AXP).

Shares of United Technologies increased 3.11% to $84.28 amid speculation the company could be looking into selling its compressor and pump units.

TheStreet Ratings gives United Technologies a B+ grade with a buy rating and a $92.42 price target.

American Express rose 1.14% to $52.23. The credit card company gets an A grade from TheStreet Ratings with a buy rating and a $65.58 price target.

The biggest decliners in the Dow were JPMorgan Chase(JPM), Cisco(CSCO) and HP(HPQ).

Shares of Cisco fell 2.1% to $20. Cisco was downgraded Thursday by ISI analysts to neutral from buy following its quarterly earnings report.

TheStreet Ratings gives Cisco a B grade with a buy rating and $22.87 price target.

Shares of JPMorgan Chase dropped 1.15% to $37.86. The bank gets a B grade from TheStreet Ratings with a buy rating and $43.37 price target.

HP shares fell 1.19% to $29.11. TheStreet Ratings gives HP a C grade and hold rating.

--Written by Alexandra Zendrian in New York.

>To contact the writer of this article, click here: Alexandra Zendrian

>To submit a news tip, send an email to: [e-mail].

>To follow the writer on Twitter, go to Alexandra Zendrian.

>To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints