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October 13, 2017: Markets opened higher Friday following a report showing retails sales up 4.4% year over year in September. Consumer prices also rose last month, thanks in large part to higher gasoline prices. Friday’s best performing sectors were tech and materials, while utilities lagged.  WTI crude oil for November delivery settled at $51.45 a barrel, up about 1.7% on the day and up 4% for the week. December gold added 0.6% on the day to settle at $1,304.60 for a 2.3% weekly gain. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.20% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.19%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.29%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Friday was Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) which traded up 1.51% at $39.78. The stock’s 52-week range is $33.23 to $39.95. Volume was about half the daily average of around 22 million shares. The company had no specific news.

The Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) traded up 0.96% at $93.04. The stock’s 52-week range is $81.18 to $94.67. Volume was less than 10% below the daily average of around 6.5 million. The company had no specific news.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded up 1.26% at $92.76. The stock’s 52-week range is $59.78 to $92.86, a new high set today. Volume was less than 10% below the daily average of around 3.2 million shares. The credit card issuer had no specific news Wednesday.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSC) traded up 0.76% at $33.51. The stock’s 52-week range is $29.12 to $34.60. Volume was less than half the daily average of around 19.6 million shares. The networking giant had no specific news Friday.

Of the Dow stocks, 21 are on track to close higher Friday and 9 are set to close lower.