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July 19, 2017: Markets opened higher Wednesday with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both posting new all-time highs. Materials, healthcare, and tech were the session’s leading sectors while telecom was the only sector showing small loss in the last hour of the day. WTI crude oil for August delivery settled at $47.12 a barrel, up 1.6% on the day following an inventory report showing a significant drawdown in petroleum stockpiles. August gold added a dime on the day to settle at $1,242.00. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.23% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.49%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.61%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Wednesday was E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD) which traded up about 1.35% at $85.13. The stock’s 52-week range is $66.02 to $85.21 and the high was set this afternoon. Volume was about 60% below the daily average of around 2.4 million. The company had no specific news Tuesday.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) traded up 1.33% at $31.51. The stock’s 52-week range is $29.12 to $34.60. Volume was about 25% lower than the daily average of about 21.4 million shares. The company had no specific news.

The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) traded up 1.22% at $210.76. The stock’s 52-week range is $126.31 to $210.92, another 52-week high posted this afternoon. Volume was 30% below the daily average of around 2.9 million shares. The company had no specific news, but a former vice-president was confirmed today as deputy secretary of defense in the Trump administration.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) traded up 1.14% at $188.98. The stock’s 52-week range is $132.39 to $189.41, another new 52-week high. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 2.9 million shares. The company posted strong quarterly results Tuesday.

Of the Dow stocks, 25 are on track to close higher Wednesday and 5 are set to close lower.