Morning Update: Precious Metals Gain, IPad Shunned in Japan? (CRYXF, EXK, NOR, DANG, HTM, HES, AAPL, GE, BA, DNKN)

The markets are trading lower on Wednesday. Investors may be reacting to the durable goods report that showed orders fell 2.1% in June, which is the second decline in the past three months.

Today’s Top tickerspy Indexes:

Gold and Silver Stocks (up 1.1%, see graph): Shares of Crystallex International (CRYXF) are leading the Index higher on above average volume. Also performing well today is the Canadian Mining Stocks Index. Shares of Endeavour Silver (EXK) are trading higher on average volume. As the U.S. government continues to resolve the debt ceiling it appears investors are seeking precious metals as a way to reduce risk.

Aluminum Stocks (up 0.9%, see graph): Shares of Noranda Aluminum Holding (NOR) are leading the Index higher after the company reported earnings of 46 cents per shares, which was 4 cents better than analyst estimates.

Dotcom Retailer Stocks (up 0.9%, see graph): Shares of E-Commerce China Dangdang (DANG) are leading the Index higher on average volume. The move higher is attributed to Amazon.com (AMZN) reporting second quarter earnings of 41 cents, which was 6 cents better than analyst estimates.

Geothermal Stocks (up 0.8%, see graph): Shares of U.S. Geothermal Inc. (HTM) are leading the Index higher on below average volume.

Today’s Top Market Headlines

U.S. May Lose AAA Rating Even With a Debt Deal, BlackRock, Templeton Say: BlackRock Inc., Loomis Sayles & Co. and Franklin Templeton Investments said the U.S. faces losing its top-level debt rating as officials struggle to raise the $14.3 trillion borrowing limit.

Hess, Petroceltic to Explore Two Iraqi Fields in Kurdistan: Hess (HES), the New York-based oil company, and Petroceltic International agreed to explore two fields in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.

Apple IPad Shunned by Japanese Salarymen Hanging on to Laptops: When Yuta Moriya was offered Apple’s (AAPL) 22-ounce iPad by his employer last summer, he envisioned a future free of lugging his laptop around for client visits.

GE Plugs Boeing 787 Engines’ Fuel Vapor Leak, Preventing Further Delays: General Electric (GE) agreed to modify engines on Boeing’s (BA) 787 Dreamliner by the end of 2012 to stop fuel-vapor leaks, avoiding the possibility of further delays to the new plane.

Dunkin’ Brands Raises $422.8 Million in IPO: Dunkin Brands Group (DNKN), the operator of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee shops, raised $422.8 million in its U.S. initial public offering, pricing its shares above the top end of the marketed range.

South African Oil Workers Could End Strike Over Pay, State Mediator Says: A 17-day strike over pay by workers at the South African units of oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell and Petroliam Nasional may end, a state mediator said.

Tags: AAPL, BA, CRYXF, DANG, DNKN, EXK, GE, HES, HTM, NOR