Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Apple (AAPL) and Disney (DIS). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open down -56 points.

Wednesday the Dow was up +26.85 (+0.14%) at 19,890.94.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +0.65%.

There were 12 Dow stocks up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday were led by Apple (AAPL) +6.10% and Dupont (DD) +1.11%.

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Microsoft (MSFT) -1.66% and United Technologies (UTX) -1.36%.

Merck (MRK) posted a revenue decline in its latest quarter as generic competition hurt results, though earnings were better than expectations ($0.89 vs $0.88 est).

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 246,000 for the week ended Jan. 28. Data for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 more applications received than previously reported.

European stocks are mostly higher and Asian markets ended mostly lower.

The national average price of gasoline is up one-tenth of a cent at $2.277 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Nike (NKE) reported earnings on 12/20/16 after the market close of $0.50, beating estimates calling for $0.431 per share.

JPMorgan (JPM) reported earnings on 1/13/2016 before the market open of $1.71, beating estimates calling for $1.422 per share.

UnitedHealth (UNH) reported earnings on 1/17/2017 before the market open of $2.11, beating estimates of $2.073 per share.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported earnings on 1/18/2017 before the market open of $5.08, beating estimates of $4.761 per share.

American Express (AXP) reported earnings on 1/19/2017 after the market close of $0.91, lower than estimates calling for $0.979 per share.

IBM (IBM) reported earnings on 1/19/2017 after the market close of $5.01, beating estimates calling for $4.89 per share.

Procter & Gamble (PG) reports earnings on 1/20/2017 before the market open of $1.13, beating estimates calling for $1.065 per share.

General Electric (GE) reported earnings on 1/20/2017 before the market open of $1.08, beating estimates of $1.06 per share.

McDonald’s (MCD) reported earnings on 1/23/2017 before the market open of $1.44, beating estimates calling for $1.407 per share.

Dupont (DD) reported earnings on 1/24/2017 before the market open of $0.51, beating estimates calling for $0.419 per share.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported earnings on 1/24/2017 before the market open of $1.58, beating estimates of $1.556 per share.

3M (MMM) reported earnings on 1/24/2017 before the market open of $1.88, barely beating estimates calling for $1.871 per share.

Travelers (TRV) reported earnings on 1/24/2017 before the market open of $3.20, smashing estimates calling for $2.893 per share.

Verizon (VZ) reported earnings on 1/24/2017 before the market open of $0.86, missing estimates calling for $0.892 per share.

Boeing (BA) reported earnings on 1/25/2017 before the market open of $2.47, beating consensus of $2.336 per share.

United Technologies (UTX) reported earnings on 1/25/2017 before the market open of $1.56, meeting estimates calling for $1.557 per share.

Caterpillar (CAT) reported earnings on 1/26/2017 before the market open of $0.83, beating estimates calling for $0.654 per share.

Intel (INTC) reported earnings on 1/26/2017 after the market close of $0.79, beating estimates calling for $0.755 per share.

Microsoft (MSFT) reported earnings on 1/26/2017 after the market close of $0.83, beating estimates of $0.785 per share.

Chevron (CVX) reported earnings on 1/27/2017 after the market close of $0.22, missing estimates calling for $0.64 per share.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reports earnings on 1/31/2017 before the market open of $0.41, missing estimates calling for $0.724 per share.

Apple (AAPL) reported earnings on 1/31/2017 after the market close of$3.36, beating estimates calling for $3.219 per share.

Pfizer (PFE) reported earnings on 1/31/2017 after the market close of $0.47, missing estimates calling for $0.496 per share.

Merck (MRK) reported earnings on 2/2/2017 before the market open of $0.89, beating estimates calling for $0.88 per share.

Disney (DIS) reports earnings on 2/7/2017 after the market close.

Coca Cola (KO) reports earnings on 2/9/2017 before the market open.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Merck (MRK)

Merck (MRK) is up +5.30% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

0730 ET Jan Challenger job cuts, Dec +42.2% y/y.

0830 ET Weekly initial unemployment claims expected -9,000 to 250,000, previous +22,000 to 259,000. Weekly continuing claims expected -37,000 to 2.063 million, previous +41,000 to 2.100 million.

0830 ET Q4 non-farm productivity expected +1.0%, Q3 +3.1%. Q4 unit labor costs expected +1.9%, Q3 +0.7%.

0830 ET USDA weekly Export Sales.