Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Dupont (DD) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open dpwn -33 points.

Wednesday, the Dow closed up +154.19 (+0.90%) at 17.210.06.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +3.82%.

Dow stock winners Wednesday were Dupont (DD) +2.52% and Wal-Mart (WMT) +1.96%.

Dow stock losers Wednesday included Chevron (CVX) -0.54%, General Electric (GE) -0.35% and Exxon Mobil (XOM) -0.22%.

There were 27 Dow stock winners Wednesday.

Applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. increased less than forecast last week. The labor department reported today that first-time jobless claims climbed 12,000 to 293,000 in the week ended Sept. 20. The median forecast called for 296,000. Claims reached a 14-year low of 279,000 in mid-July.

Boeing (BA +0.94%) was awarded a $102 million government contract for full rate production of the Next Generation Automatic Test System.

Nike (NKE) reports earnings today after the market close.

European stocks are higher and Asian markets ended mostly higher.

The national average price of gasoline is up one-tenth of a cent at $3.345 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Nike (NKE) will report earnings on 9/25/14 after the market close.

Notable earnings reports from Wednesday include:

Accenture Plc (ACN) reported fourth quarter EPS of $1.08 on revenue of $8.27 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.01 on revenue of $7.09 billion.

KB Home (KBH) reported third quarter EPS of $0.28 on revenue of $589.20 million, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.30 on revenue of $548.97 million.

Jabil Circuit, Inc. (JBL) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.48 on revenue of $4.06 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.56 on revenue of $4.81 billion.

Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) reported first quarter EPS of $0.47 on revenue of $666.80 million, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.44 on revenue of $607.90 million.

Stocks reporting earnings today include:

Diamond Foods, Inc. (DMND) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.15 on revenue of $208.41 million, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.09 on revenue of $199.80 million.

Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.80 on revenue of $4.15 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.20 on revenue of $2.84 billion.

Nike Inc (NKE) is expected to report first quarter EPS of $0.88 on revenue of $7.80 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.86 on revenue of $6.97 billion.

Thor Industries, Inc. (THO) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $1.22 on revenue of $1.09 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.04 on revenue of $914.00 million.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) is up +5.95% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected +16,000 to 296,000, previous -36,000 to 280,000. Weekly continuing claims expected +11,000 to 2.440 million, previous -63,000 to 2.429 million.

0830 ET Aug durable goods orders expected -18.0% and +0.6% ex transportation, Jul +22.6% and -0.7% ex transportation. Aug non-defense ex-aircraft capital goods orders expected +0.4%, July -0.7%.

0830 ET USDA weekly Export Sales.

0945 ET Preliminary Sep Markit services PMI expected -0.3 to 59.2, Aug -1.3 to 59.5

0945 ET Preliminary Sep Markit composite PMI, Aug -0.9 to 59.7.

1100 ET Sep Kansas City Fed manufacturing activity index expected +3 to 6, Aug -6 to 3.

1300 ET Treasury auctions $29 billion 7-year T-notes.

1320 ET Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart speaks on the economic outlook and monetary policy to the Mississippi Council for Economic Education.