September 23, 2015: Markets opened higher on Wednesday, but weakness in basic materials, industrials, and energy weighed the indexes down. Commodities also struggled as a report on manufacturing in China posted a six-and-a-half-year low this morning. The report on U.S. crude oil inventories sent oil prices tumbling 4% after a brief rise, and gold settled up 0.6% at $1,131.50. Equities were headed for a mixed close shortly before the closing bell as the DJIA traded down 0.14% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.06%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.08%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Tuesday was Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) which traded down 1.94% at $70.29. The stock’s 52-week range is $70.16 to $71.81, and the low was posted today. Trading volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 6.6 million. The company had no specific news today.

The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) traded down 1.53% at $131.95. The stock’s 52-week range is $92.00 to $134.54. Trading volume was about equal to the daily average of around 3.7 million. The company announced an order for 300 jets today.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) traded lower by 1.37% at $87.00. The stock’s 52-week range is $85.90 to $124.45, and the low was posted today. Trading volume was about 10% above the daily average of around 5.6 million. The company had no specific news today.

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD) traded down 1.29% at $47.94. The stock’s 52-week range is $47.37 to $76.59. Trading volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 6.5million. The company had no specific news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 16 are set to close lower today and 14 are on track to close higher.

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