Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (-0.1%), Nasdaq Composite (flat), and DJIA (-0.2%) are at session lows at midday, though "flat" is a more accurate description of their standings. 

Gold has reached another record high, currently trading up $71.40 (+1.6%) at $4,574.20 per ozt. The precious metal is now up over 70% year-to-date and almost 10% month-to-date. 

The materials sector (+0.4%) holds the second-widest month-to-date gain of 3.7%. Over that same time span, mining companies Freeport-McMoRan (FCX 53.39, +1.47, +2.83%) (+24.2% MTD) and Newmont Corporation (NEM 105.82, +1.09, +1.04%) (+16.5% MTD) have substantially outperformed the broader market.