September 16, 2014: Markets opened slightly lower again on Tuesday as the FOMC meeting began today with a report in the WSJ that any raise to the fed funds rate remains well into the future. Only the telecom sector traded lower today. The energy sector bounced back as well following a comment by OPEC’s secretary general that he expects crude prices to rise later this year on lower production. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.64% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.80%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.81%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) which traded up 1.39% at $87.23 in a 52-week range of $66.72 to $88.85. There was no news on the stock, but healthcare stocks were among today’s best performers. Trading volume was about 35% below the daily average of around 3.7 million shares.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded higher by 1.21% at $88.44 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $72.08 to $96.24. Volume was about 25% above the daily average of around 3.4 million shares. There was no news on Amex today, either, but it and Visa are expected to fare well in the drive to sign up customers who want to take advantage of the new Apple Pay feature on the new iPhones.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) traded up 1.16% at $217.16 in a 52-week range of $180.11 to $235.50. Volume was about a quarter lower than the daily average of  2.4 million shares. There was no news on the company today, but the credit card issuer also got the nod from investors today likely due to the expected success of Apple Pay.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded up 1.34% at $97.56n a 52-week range of $84.79 to $104.76. Trading volume was about 8% below the daily average of 9.3 million shares. The comment by OPEC’s secretary general that production could be reduced next year sent crude oil prices up today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 29 stocks are set to close higher today and just one — Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) — is on track to close lower.

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