Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), UnitedHealth (UNH), Visa (V), Nike (NKE), 3M (MMM), Travelers (TRV), Microsoft (MSFT) and Procter & Gamble (PG). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open up +76 points.

Wednesday, the Dow closed up +100.69 (+0.58%) at 17,484.53.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +5.48%.

There were 25 Dow stock winners Wednesday.

Dow stock winners Wednesday included Visa (V) +2.70% and Dupont (DD) +1.90%.

Dow stock losers Wednesday included Intel (INTC) -2.26% and Boeing (BA) -0.71%.

The Labor Department today reported initial jobless claims fell by 10,000 to 278,000 in the week ended Nov. 1. That’s the second smallest number since the Great Recession ended and one of the lowest in 35 years. Economists expected claims to total a seasonally adjusted 285,000. The average of new claims over the past month dropped by 2,250 to 279,000, touching a 14-year low.

Friday we get the Labor Department Jobs Report.

European stocks are higher and Asian markets ended mixed.

The national average price of gasoline is down eight-tenths of a cent at $2.955 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Disney (DIS) will report earnings on 11/6/14 after the market close.

Cisco (CSCO) will report earnings on 11/12/14 after the market close.

Wal-Mart (WMT) will report earnings on 11/13/14 before the market open.

Home Depot (HD) will report earnings on 11/18/14 before the market open.

Notable earnings reports from Wednesday include:

Duke Energy Corp (DUK) reported third quarter EPS of $1.40, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.46 on revenue of $6.71 billion.

Genworth Financial Inc (GNW) reported a third quarter loss of $0.64, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.24 on revenue of $2.34 billion.

Prudential Financial Inc (PRU) reported third quarter EPS of $2.20, compared to last year’s EPS of $2.94 on revenue of $10.82 billion.

Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFM) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.35 on revenue of $3.30 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.32 on revenue of $3.98 billion.

Stocks reporting earnings today include:

Walt Disney Co (DIS) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.88 on revenue of $12.37 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.77 on revenue of $11.57 billion.

AstraZeneca plc (AZN) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.04 on revenue of $6.28 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.22 on revenue of $6.25 billion.

Apache Corporation (APA) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.38 on revenue of $3.48 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $2.32 on revenue of $4.41 billion.

DIRECTV (DTV) is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.30 on revenue of $8.30 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.28 on revenue of $7.88 billion.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) is up +7.10% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

0730 ET Oct Challenger job cuts, Sep -24.4% y/y.

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected -2,000 to 285,000, previous +3,000 to 287,000. Weekly continuing claims expected -19,000 to 2.365 million, previous +29,000 to 2.384 million.

0830 ET Q3 non-farm productivity expected +1.5%, Q2 +2.3%. Q3 unit labor costs expected +0.5%, Q2 -0.1%.

0830 ET USDA weekly Export Sales.

1040 ET Chicago Fed President Charles Evans delivers opening remarks at the Chicago Fed banking conference.

1330 ET Fed Governor Jerome Powell speaks on central clearing of over-the-counter derivatives at the Chicago Fed banking conference.

1905 ET Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester speaks to the Money Marketeers of NYU on Federal Reserve Communications and Forward Guidance.