February 1, 2017: Markets opened higher Wednesday but weren’t able to hold on to the opening highs. The FOMC kept interest rates unchanged this afternoon, and ADP this morning reported a big boost in jobs ahead of Friday’s report from the Labor Department. Only the tech sector traded solidly in the green Wednesday while the big losers were utilities and energy. WTI crude oil for March delivery settled at $53.88 a barrel, up about 2% on the day. April gold dropped 0.3% on the day to settle at $1,208.30. Equities were headed for a higher close close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.19% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.05%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.48%.
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Wednesday was Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) which traded up 7.03% at $129.90. The stock’s 52-week range is $89.47 to $130.49, and the high was posted this afternoon. Volume was more than 3 times the daily average of around 30.4 million shares. The company reported very good numbers after markets closed Tuesday and analysts responded strongly this morning.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD) traded up 1.11% at $76.34. The stock’s 52-week range is $55.94 to $78.36. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 2.9 million shares. The company had no specific news.
The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) traded up 0.59% at $111.30. The stock’s 52-week range is $86.25 to $111.99, and the high was posted this morning. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 8.3 million shares. The company had no specific news Wednesday.
The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) traded up 0.68% at $230.89. The stock’s 52-week range is $138.20 to $247.77. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 4.3 million shares. The company had no specific news Wednesday.
Of the Dow 30 stocks, 11 are on track to close higher Wednesday and 19 are set to close lower.
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