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November 30, 2017: Markets opened higher Thursday and the DJIA blew through 24,000 for the first time ever. As the U.S. Senate moves to approve the tax cut bill, spirits improve among investors. Energy and industrials were Thursday’s leading sectors, but no sector appears headed for a lower close on the day. WTI crude oil for January delivery settled at $57.40 a barrel, up just 10 cents for the day following OPEC’s announcement of an extension to the current production cuts through the end of next year. February gold dropped 0.7% on the day to settle at $1,276.70. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 1.24% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.72%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.56%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Thursday was United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) which traded up 2.86% at $121.54. The stock’s 52-week range is $106.85 to $124.79 Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 3.5 million shares. The announced the hiring of a new chief technology office, Paul Eremenko, who comes from Google by way of Airbus.

The Goldman Sachs Co. Inc. (NYSE: GS) traded up 2.85% at $248.23. The stock’s 52-week range is $209.62 to $255.15. Volume was about 80% higher than the daily average of around 2.6 million shares. The investment bank had no specific news.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) traded up 1.92% at $44.80. The stock’s 52-week range is $33.23 to $47.30. Volume was about less than 10% below the daily average of around 25.7 million shares. The chipmaking giant had no specific news.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) traded up 2.63% at $227.97. The stock’s 52-week range is $156.09 to $228.38 and the high was posted this afternoon. Volume was about 30% above the daily average of around 2.9 million. The healthcare company had no specific news.

Of the Dow stocks, 23 are on track to close higher Thursday and 7 are set to close lower.