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November 2, 2017: Markets opened mixed Thursday following a better-than-expected report on new jobless claims and a solid report on productivity. Tomorrow the report on the monthly employment situation is due out. The energy, telecom, and materials sectors trailed down today while real estate and financials were among the best performers. WTI crude oil for December delivery settled at $54.54 a barrel, up 0.4% for the day and the highest settlement in more than two years. December gold added 80 cents on the day to settle at $1,278.10. Equities were headed for a mixed close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.39% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.04%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.01%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Thursday was The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) which traded up 1.71% at $262.91. The stock’s 52-week range is $138.80 to $267.21. Volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 3.5 million shares. The aircraft and defense company had no specific news today.

McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) traded up 1.12% at $168.24. The stock’s 52-week range is $110.83 to $168.47 and the high was posted today. Volume was about half the daily average of around 3.4 million shares. The company had no specific news.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) traded up 1.07% at $84.07. The stock’s 52-week range is $57.28 to $86.20. Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 19.5 million shares. The company had no specific news.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) traded up 1.05% at $88.86. The stock’s 52-week range is $65.28 to $89.17, a new high posted this afternoon. Volume was about half the daily average of around 8.7 million. A gunman opened fire in a Walmart store in Colorado last night, killing three people.

Of the Dow stocks, 18 are on track to close higher Thursday and 12 are set to close lower.