June 19, 2014: Markets opened mixed on Thursday but investors took the opportunity to take some profits (or to cover short positions) following three days of rising equity prices. Volumes were low as well, and markets closed just as mixed as they opened but with small gains after some investors bought the dip. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.04% for the day, the S&P 500 was up 0.08%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.13%.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) posted the largest percentage gain among the Dow 30 today, up 1.51% at around $80.41 in a 52-week range of $63.43 to $83.32. Volume was about 20% lower than the daily average of around 4.5 million shares traded. The company had no news today, but the healthcare sector rose 0.33% today.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) posted a second consecutive 52-week high of $131.90 today and traded higher by 1.14% at $131.77 shortly before the closing bell. The stock’s 52-week low is $109.27. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 5.6 million shares traded. The rising price of crude due to the turmoil in Iraq keeps sending investors Chevron’s way.

Johnson & Johnson) traded higher by 0.89% at $103.75 shortly before today’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $82.12 to $104.15. Volume was about half the daily average of around 7.4 million shares traded. The company added UPS’s CEO to its board of directors today.

McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) traded at $101.94, up 0.57% in a 52-week range of $92.22 to $103.78. Share volume was about 35% lower than the daily average of around 4.8 million shares traded. The company had no good news today, but did snag a rating a the worst restaurant chain.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 17 looked to close higher today and 13 were on their way to a lower finish.

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