Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Wal-Mart (WMT). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open up +2 points.

Wednesday, the Dow closed up +212.88 (+1.23%) at 17,584.52.

Year-to-date the Dow is down -1.34%.

There were 27 Dow stocks up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday included Home Depot (HD) +3.43% ad Wal-Mart (WMT) +2.65%.

Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by International Business Machines (IBM) -0.65% and Verizon (VZ) -0.65%.

Goldman Sachs (GS) was initiated with an ‘Outperform’ at Credit Suisse with a price target of $225.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) was initiated with an ‘Outperform’ at Credit Suisse with a price target of $75.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, adding to signs of a strengthening labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 294,000 for the week ended Jan. 3, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists had forecast claims falling to 290,000 last week. The prior week’s data was unrevised.

European stocks are high and Asian markets ended higher.

The national average price of gasoline is down nine-tenths of a cent at $2.182 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

JPMorgan (JPM) will report earnings on 1/14/2015 before the market open.

American Express (AXP) is expected to report earnings on 1/15/2015 after the market close.

Intel (INTC) will report earnings on 1/15/2015 after the market close.

Caterpillar (CAT) is expected to report earnings on 1/27/2015 before the market open.

Dupont (DD) will report earnings on 1/27/2015 before the market open.

General Electric (GE) will report earnings on 1/23/2015 before the market open.

Goldman Sachs (GS) will report earnings on 1/16/2015 before the market open.

International Business Machines (IBM) is expected to report earnings on 1/20/2015 after the market close.

Johnson & Johnson will report earnings on 1/20/2015 before the market open.

McDonald’s (MCD) will report earnings on 1/23/2015 before the market open.

3M (MMM) will report earnings on 1/27/2015 before the market open.

Microsoft (MSFT) will report earnings on 1/26/2015 after the market close.

Pfizer (PFE) will report earnings on 1/27/2015 before the market open.

Procter & Gamble (PG) is expected to report earnings on 1/27/2015 before the market open.

AT&T (T) will report earnings on 1/27/2015 after the market close.

Travelers (TRV) will report earnings on 1/22/2015 before the market open.

UnitedHealth (UNH) will report earnings on 1/21/2015 before the market open.

United Technologies (UTX) is expected to report earnings on 1/21/2015 before the market open.

Verizon (VZ) will report earnings on 1/22/2015 before the market open.

Notable Stocks Reporting Earnings Today Include:

AngioDynamics Inc. (ANGO) is estimated to report its Q2 earnings at $0.15 per share on revenue of $90.89 million.

Apollo Education Group, Inc. (APOL) is expected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.42 per share on revenue of $728.01 million.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $1.19 per share on revenue of $2.97 billion.

Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) is estimated to report its Q3 earnings at $1.14 per share on revenue of $1.52 billion.

Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO) is projected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.62 per share on revenue of $2.57 billion.

Global Payments Inc. (GPN) is estimated to report its Q2 earnings at $1.20 per share on revenue of $692.55 million.

Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) is projected to post its Q3 earnings at $1.57 per share on revenue of $413.44 million.

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RT) is expected to post a Q2 loss at $0.15 per share on revenue of $268.43 million.

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (SCHN) is expected to report its Q1 earnings at $0.09 per share on revenue of $625.12 million.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) is down -1.12% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

0730 ET Dec Challenger job cuts, Nov -20.7% y/y.

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected -8,000 to 290,000, previous +17,000 to 298,000. Weekly continuing claims expected +7,000 to 2.360 million, previous 53,000 to 2.353 million.

0830 ET USDA weekly Export Sales.

1100 ET Treasury announces amount of 3-year T-notes (previous $25 billion), 10-year T-notes (previous $21 billion), and 30-year T-bonds (previous $13 billion) to be auctioned Jan 12-14.

1500 ET Nov consumer credit expected +$15.0 billion, Oct +$13.226 billion.

2000 ET Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota speaks on monetary policy at an even in Minneapolis, MN.