IBDaily. Stocks End Mixed; Wal-Mart Makes Gaffe, 3D Plunges

Stocks ended mixed Friday amid mixed economic data and one high-profile dive, while options expiration sent Big Board volume through the roof.

The Nasdaq fell 0.2% and the S&P 500 ceded a scant 0.1%. But the Dow Jones industrial average added a wee bit. Volume dipped 4% on the Nasdaq but soared 47% on the NYSE, according to preliminary data.

The University of Michigan Consumer Confidence Index climbed 2.5 points to 76.3 from January's 73.8. That's better than expected and the highest reading in three months. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed its general business conditions index rated a 10, far higher than November's minus 7.8 reading and well above what most analysts had been expecting.

But industrial production fell 0.1% in January, a cooling from December's 0.4% increase and well below expectations. Even here, though, capacity utilization rose to 79.1% from 78.8% in December, a bit better than expected.

Retail behemoth Wal-Mart ( WMT ) gapped down 2% in almost triple-paced volume — a fat move for this stodgy stock. Bloomberg published an email from a Wal-Mart executive warning his colleagues of bad news. "In case you haven't seen a sales report these days, February sales are a total disaster," said Wal-Mart Vice President Jerry Murray, according to the Bloomberg report.

3D Systems ( DDD ), which has been on the defensive, lost 5% in twice its usual action. This is the stock's second high-volume rush to its 50-day moving average in the past few weeks. The line held that first test, seen in late January. But this does not make for an attractive buying opportunity.

Also from that group, recent IPO ExOne ( XONE ) and Stratasys ( SSYS ) slumped 6% and 3%, respectively.

On Assignment ( ASGN ) tanked 11% in 5-1/2 times its usual action. The decline came as low as 21.11 intraday, just 1% above its 20.84 early buy point from a flat base. Its Q4 report bested consensus estimates. But its full-year EPS guidance was from $1.02 to $1.09 vs. consensus views for $1.23.

Ruckus Wireless ( RKUS ), a November IPO, plunged 14% in torrid trade, slicing its 50-day moving average. Late Tuesday, the maker of Wi-Fi equipment easily beat expectations with Q4 earnings and sales that grew 14% and 51%, respectively. It also gave in-line guidance for the current quarter, but shares dived 12% Wednesday.

Mortgage-servicing company Ellie Mae ( ELLI ) rose 4% in four times its usual volume. But the stock ended near the day's low after earlier putting up a gain of as much as 14%. Ellie Mae was chased higher after showing its Q4 report: EPS soared 108%, well past expectations. Revenue jumped 59%, also comfortably above consensus estimates. And management's Q1 guidance was well above analyst earnings and revenue forecasts.