Arkansas Index falls 0.59, ends at 412.25

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, closed Thursday at 412.25, down 0.59.

“Stocks opened the session lower following a weak initial jobless claims report but subsequently rallied through the day with the utilities and consumer staples sectors outperforming as Republicans and Democrats both expressed willingness to discuss a stimulus package,” said Leon Lants, managing director at Stephens Inc.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.