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August 14, 2017: Markets opened higher again Monday as last week’s geopolitical cool down. There was no significant economic data released today. Only the energy sector is trading lower today with the tech and financials sectors leading the gainers. WTI crude oil for September delivery settled at $47.59 a barrel, down 2.5% for the day on top of a 1.5% decline last week. December gold dropped 0.3% on the day to settle at $1,290.40. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.63%for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 1.00%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 1.31%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Monday was Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) which traded up 1.83% at $101.93. The stock’s 52-week range is $75.17 to $102.11 and the high was posted this afternoon. Volume was about half the daily average of around 8 million shares. The financial services company had no specific news.

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) traded up 1.56% at $227.65. The stock’s 52-week range is $157.77 to $255.15. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 3.3 million shares. The company had no specific news.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) traded up 1.52% at $159.88. The stock’s 52-week range is $102.53 to $161.83. Volume was about 35% lower than the daily average of around 27 million shares. The company had no specific news.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) traded up 1.39% at $73.51. The stock’s 52-week range is $55.61 to $74.42. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 25 million. The software giant had no specific news.

Of the Dow stocks, 26 are on track to close higher Monday and just 4 are set to close lower.