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

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open down -9 points.

Wednesday the Dow was up +78.00 (+0.44%) at 17,918.62.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +2.83%.

There were 23 Dow stocks up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday were led by Merck (MRK) +2.00% and Home Depot (HD) +1.72%.

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Dupont (DD) -1.76% and Visa (V) -0.82%.

Jobless claims dropped by 16,000 to 254,000 in the week ended July 2, a Labor Department report showed Thursday in Washington. The median forecast called for 269,000.

Private sector employment increased by 172,000 jobs from May to June according to the June ADP National Employment Report.

European stocks are higher and Asian markets ended mostly lower.

The national average price of gasoline is down six-tenths of a cent at $2.258 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Nike (NKE) reported earnings on 6/28/16 after the market close of $0.49, beating estimates calling for $0.477 per share.

JPMorgan (JPM) reports earnings on 7/14/2016 before the market open.

IBM (IBM) reports earnings on 7/18/2016 after the market close.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reports earnings on 7/19/2016 before the market open.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reports earnings on 7/19/2016 before the market open.

UnitedHealth (UNH) reports earnings on 7/19/2016 before the market open.

Microsoft (MSFT) reports earnings on 7/19/2016 after the market close.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Procter & Gamble (PG)

Procter & Gamble (PG) is up +7.08%.

Financial Calendar

0730 ET Jun Challenger job cuts, May -26.5% y/y.

0815 ET Jun ADP employment change expected +160,000, May +173,000.

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected -1,000 to 267,000, previous +10,000 to 268,000. Weekly continuing claims expected unch at 2.120 million, previous -20,000 to 2.120 million.

1100 ET EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report.

1100 ET Treasury announces amount of 3-year T-notes (previous $24 billion), 10-year T-notes (previous $20 billion), and 30-year T-bonds (previous $12 billion) to be auctioned Jul 11-13.