Dow stocks at 52 week highs include 3M (MMM).There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open up +65 points.

Wednesday the Dow was down -217.23 (-1.21%) at 17,711.12.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +1.64%.

There was 1 Dow stock up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winner Wednesday was Microsoft (MSFT) +0.06%.

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Disney (DIS) -4.04%, Nike (NKE) -3.70% and Wal-Mart (WMT) -2.75%.

The Labor Department says the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits leaped last week to the highest level since February 2015. Applications for jobless aid rose by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 294,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose by 10,250 to 268,250, highest in nearly three months. Jobless claims are a proxy for layoffs. Despite last week’s increase, they remain low, coming in below 300,000 for 62 straight weeks, longest period since 1973.

European stocks are higher and Asian markets ended mostly lower.

The national average price of gasoline is up one-tenth of a cent at $2.201 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

JPMorgan (JPM) reported earnings on 4/13/2016 before the market open of $1.35, beating estimates of $1.259 per share.

IBM (IBM) reported earnings on 4/18/2016 after the market open of $2.35, beating estimates of $2.085 per share.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported earnings on 4/19/2016 before the market open of $2.68, beating estimates for $2.566 per share.

Intel (INTC) reported earnings on 4/19/2016 after the market open of $0.54, beating estimates for $0.47 per share.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported earnings on 4/19/2016 before the market open of $1.72, beating estimates for $1.639 per share.

UnitedHealth (UNH) reported earnings on 4/19/2016 before the market open of $1.81, beating estimates for $1.721 per share.

Coca Cola (KO) reported earnings on 4/20/2016 before the market open of $0.45, beating estimates of $0.44 per share.

American Express (AXP) reported earnings on 4/20/2016 after the market close of $1.45, beating estimates of $1.355 per share.

Travelers (TRV) reported earnings on 4/21/2016 before the market open of $2.30, missing estimates of $2.568 per share.

Verizon (VZ) reported earnings on 4/21/2016 before the market open of $1.06, meeting estimates of $1.064 per share.

Microsoft (MSFT) reported earnings on 4/21/2016 after the market open of $0.62, almost meeting expectations for $0.625 per share.

Visa (V) reported earnings on 4/21/2016 after the market open of $0.68, beating estimates of $0.663 per share.

Caterpillar (CAT) reported earnings on 4/22/2016 before the market open of $0.46, missing estimates of $0.67 per share.

General Electric (GE) reports earnings on 4/22/2016 before the market open of $0.21, barely beating estimates of $0.206 per share.

McDonald’s reported earnings on 4/22/2016 before the market open of $1.23, beating estimates of $1.169 per share.

Apple (AAPL) reported earnings on 4/25/2016 after the market close of $1.90, missing estimates calling for $1.97 per share.

3M (MMM) reported earnings on 4/26/2016 before the market open of $2.05, beating estimates of $1.924 per share..

Dupont (DD) reported earnings on 4/26/2016 before the market open of $1.26, beating estimates calling for $1.02 per share.

Procter & Gamble (PG) reported earnings on 4/26/2016 before the market open of $0.89, beating estimates of $0.81 per share..

Boeing (BA) reported earnings on 4/27/2016 before the market open of $1.74, missing estimates calling for $1.806 per share.

United Technologies (UTX) reported earnings on 4/27/2016 before the market open of $1.47, beating estimates of $1.387 per share.

Chevron (CVX) reported earnings on 4/29/2016 before the market open of -$0.39, missing estimates for -$0.139 per share.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported earnings on 4/29/2016 before the market open of $0.43, beating estimates of $0.306 per share.

Pfizer (PFE) reported earnings on 5/3/2016 before the market open of $0.67, beating estimates of $0.47 per share.

Merck (MRK) reported earnings on 5/5/2016 before the market open of $0.89, beating estimates calling for $0.853 per share.

Disney (DIS) reported earnings on 5/10/2016 after the market close of $1.36, missing estimates calling for $1.404 per share.

Home Depot (HD) reports earnings on 5/17/2016 before the market open.

Cisco (CSCO) reports earnings on 5/18/2016 after the close.

Wal-Mart (WMT) reports earnings on 5/19/2016 before the market open.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Microsoft (MSFT)

Microsoft (MSFT) is down -7.98% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected -4,000 to 270,000, previous +17,000 to 274,000. Weekly continuing claims expected -1,000 to 2.120 million, previous -8,000 to 2.121 million.

0830 ET Apr import price index expected +0.6% m/m and -5.4% y/y, Mar +0.2% m/m and -6.2% y/y.

0830 ET USDA weekly Export Sales.

1100 ET Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester speaks on monetary policy and inflation dynamics at an event in Reichenau Island, Germany.

1100 ET Treasury announces amount of 10-year TIPS to be auctioned May 19.

1145 ET Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren delivers luncheon speech to the Great Concord Chamber in Concord, NH.

1300 ET Treasury auctions $15 billion 30-year T-bonds.

1330 ET Kansas City Fed President Esther George speaks about the U.S. economy to business and community leaders in Albuquerque, NM.