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January 5, 2017: Markets opened slightly higher again Thursday but by mid-morning sellers had taken over and the DJIA and S&P 500 traded in the red. Financials and industrials weighed on equities today with the best performing S&P sectors being real estate and consumer staples. WTI crude oil for February delivery settled at $53.76 a barrel, up about 0.9% on the day. February gold added 1.4% on the day to settle at $1,181.30. Equities were headed for a mixed close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded down 0.23% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.10%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.23%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage loss ahead of the close Thursday was The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE: TRV) which traded down 1.74% at $118.15. The stock’s 52-week range is $101.23 to $123.09. Volume was about 15% above the daily average of around 1.9 million shares. The insurance giant had no specific news.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded down 1.48% at $88.56. The stock’s 52-week range is $71.55 to $95.55. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 10.3 million shares. Thursday’s nventory reports for both crude oil and natural gas were not supportive of energy firms.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded down 1.32% at $75.25. The stock’s 52-week range is $50.27 to $76.55. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 4.7 million shares. The company traded had no specific news Thursday.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) traded down 1.19% at $85.88. The stock’s 52-week range is $52.50 to $87.76. Volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 17.6 million shares. The big bank had no specific news Thursday..

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