August 20, 2014: Markets opened lower on Wednesday after a weak overnight showing in international markets. All three major indexes got a bounce higher after the FOMC released minutes of its last meeting. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded up 0.41% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.33%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.10%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was once again The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) which traded up 3.01% today at $90.88 in a 52-week range of $72.21 to $91.07, a new high after another new high set yesterday. Home Depot clearly won another round in its battle with Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) which reported quarterly results today. Home Depot’s volume was about 3-times the daily average of around 5.5 million shares.

The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) traded higher by 1.52% at $127.46 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $102.57 to $144.57. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 4.2 million shares traded. The company may be about to increase production of its best-selling 737 passenger jets.

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) traded up 1.21% at $26.36. The stock’s 52-week range is $22.92 to $28.09. Share volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 28 million shares traded. The company is expected to build a new aircraft engine plant in Indiana, a move apparently welcomed by investors. GE took jet engine orders valued at about $36 billion at a recent European air show.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) traded up 1.11% at $109.76 in a 52-week range of $99.50 to $120.66. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 3.8 million shares traded. The firm announced a new licensing deal today, but the shares are more likely rising after some strong endorsements yesterday from a couple of analysts.

And just to keep everyone abreast of the latest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), the company set a new all-time high today of $101.09. On a pre-split basis that is $707.63, beating the old high of $705 set in September 2012.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 24 are set to close higher today and just 6 are poised to close lower.

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