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October 5, 2017: Markets opened higher Thursday and nothing appears able to stop record-setting day after record-setting day. Economic numbers out today were solid and that helped while tomorrow we get the report on non-farm payrolls. Financials and tech were Thursday’s best performing sectors while utilities lagged. WTI crude oil for November delivery settled at $50.79 a barrel, up 1.6% on the day. December gold dropped 0.3% on the day to settle at $1,273.20. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.47% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.55%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.75%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Thursday was The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) which traded up 2.29% at $245.81. The stock’s 52-week range is $164.82 to $255.15. Volume was equal to the daily average of around 2.8 million. The investment bank had no specific news.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) traded up 1.77% at $76.01. The stock’s 52-week range is $56.32 to $76.11, a new high set today. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 20.2 million shares. The company had no specific news.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) traded up 1.19% at $155.32. The stock’s 52-week range is $104.08 to $164.94. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 27.7 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) traded up 1.00% at $258.31. The stock’s 52-week range is $131.39 to $259.30. Volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 3.8 million shares. The reported third-quarter deliveries today that improve its chances of reaching its estimated full-year total of around 760 new commercial jets..

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