These Birmingham stocks manage gains on down day

These Birmingham stocks manage gains on down day

Only eight gainers amounted to an underwhelming day Wednesday on our Birmingham and Alabama Stock Report, but there was some local flavor among the risers.

AT&T led the octet at 2.2%.

Birmingham-based Encompass Health, the nation’s largest system of rehabilitation hospitals, jumped 1.5%. It has seven hospitals across Alabama: Huntsville, Gadsden, Birmingham, Pelham, Montgomery, Phenix City and Dothan.

First US Bancshares, Inc. lifted up 1.2%. It is a Birmingham-based bank holding company that operates one banking subsidiary, First US Bank. It has 12 branches across the state, including Birmingham and Calera.

Medical Properties Trust took the biggest hit, dropping nearly 4% en route to a 52-week low of $5.79.

Overall, U.S. stocks slumped Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it may not cut interest rates next year by as much as it earlier thought, regardless of how much Wall Street wants it.