Dow stocks at 52 week highs include UnitedHealth (UNH). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open down -50 points.

Wednesday, the Dow closed down -114.02 (-0.70%) at 16,222.17.

Year-to-date the Dow is down -2.14%.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen shook the markets yesterday by implying there could be as little as six months between the end of the Fed’s monetary stimulus and an increase in interest rates. Yellen’s comments also came as the Fed removed its unemployment target of 6.5% as one of its objectives in determining its next steps in monetary policy.

Jobless claims increased by 5,000 to 320,000 in the week ended March 15. The median forecast called for an increase to 322,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, fell to the lowest level since late November.

Nike (NKE) reports earnings today after the close.

European stocks are lower and Asian stocks ended lower.

The national average price of gasoline is unchanged at $3.528 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Nike (NKE) is expected to report earnings on 3/20/14 after the market close.

Notable earnings reports from Wednesday include:

FedEx Corporation (FDX) reported third quarter EPS of $1.23 on revenue of $11.30 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.23 on revenue of $10.95 billion.

General Mills, Inc. (GIS) reported third quarter EPS of $0.62 on revenue of $4.38 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.64 on revenue of $4.43 billion.

Jabil Circuit, Inc. (JBL) reported second quarter EPS of $0.10 on revenue of $3.58 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.53 on revenue of $4.42 billion.

Stocks reporting earnings today include:

Nike, Inc. (NKE) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.72 on revenue of $6.70 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.73 on revenue of $6.19 billion.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $0.60 on revenue of $4.35 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.55 on revenue of $3.85 billion.

IHS Inc. (IHS) is expected to report first quarter EPS of $1.24 on revenue of $514.04 million, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.08 on revenue of $382.52 million.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) is down -5.12% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar