U.S. equity markets capped off the first quarter on a mixed note as surging oil prices and a lukewarm unemployment claims report left stocks on rocky footing heading into April. The Dow, which at one point was up about 30 points on the session, finished the day lower by 31 while the S&P 500 finished down 0.2% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq managed to squeak by with a gain of 0.2%. Commodity markets, on the other hand, finished markedly higher in the session as gold gained $10/oz. and oil surged higher by $2.30/bbl. Grains were also extremely active on the day as the USDA released information regarding plantings for all of the major crops, sending prices higher across the board in the sector. However, most traders stayed out of Thursday trading, instead waiting for tomorrow’s key jobs report.“The employment picture is heading in the right direction, and the market is anticipating [...] Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com. Related Posts: Daily ETF Roundup: DBA Continues Surge, EWJ Sinks Daily ETF Roundup: EWJ Slumps On Continued Radioactive Fears, UNG Surges On Weather Daily ETF Roundup: DBA Tumbles On Soft Commodity Slump, GDX Soars On Gold’s Strength IndexIQ Launches Global Agribusiness Small Cap ETF (CROP) Daily ETF Roundup: EWJ Continues Slide, VXX Skyrockets On Meltdown Fears