While most of the stock market was treading water Tuesday, Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) were giving the Dow industrials a jolt.
- The blue-chip index was up about 90 points, or 0.3% and hit a new intraday peak of 27,560.36 as Boeing (NYSE:BA) shares rose 2.85%, adding 68 points to the index by itself at 2:11 p.m. ET (19:11 GMT). Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) shares were up about 4% on reports the pharmacy giant is thinking of going private. The gain added 16 points to the Dow.
- Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) shares jumped on a Reuters report the company has been exploring going private after inquiries from private-equity companies. The company has hired Evergreen Partners to explore if a deal can be put together, Reuters said.
- Walgreen's market capitalization was about 52.8 billion Tuesday afternoon, and deal might produce the largest leveraged buyout ever, Reuters said. Walgreen's shares are off about 7% this year at a time when the Dow itself is up nearly 18%.
