Investing

Chevron, American Express Turn DJIA Higher Friday

Paul Ausick

Published: July 28, 2017 4:01 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 9:39 am

July 28, 2017: Markets opened lower Friday and sluggish trading didn’t move stocks much in any direction. Even a first reading on GDP growth rising 2.6% in the second quarter couldn’t shake investors out of their torpor. WTI crude oil for September delivery settled at $49.71 a barrel, up 1.4% for the day and 8.6% for the week, even after Baker Hughes reported a rising rig count. August gold added 0.7% on the day to settle at $1,268.40 to close the week up 1.1%. Equities were headed for a mixed close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.15% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.11%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded down 0.08%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Friday was Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) which traded up 2.01% at $108.24. The stock’s 52-week range is $97.53 to $119.00. Volume was about 5% more than the daily average of about 5.4 million shares. The company reported middling results this morning, but global production was up sharply and that seems to have kept investors happy.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded up 1.26% at $84.91. The stock’s 52-week range is $59.50 to $86.28. Volume was about 25% below the daily average of around 3.4 million shares. The company had no specific news.

The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE: TRV) traded up 1.20% at $127.39. The stock’s 52-week range is $103.45 to $129.60. Volume was about t40% below the daily average of around 1.3 million. The company had no specific news.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH)) traded up 1.14% at $191.09. The stock’s 52-week range is $132.39 to $193.00. Volume was about half the daily average of around 2.8 million shares. The company had no specific news Friday.

Of the Dow stocks, 13 are on track to close higher Friday and 17 are set to close lower.