Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Boeing (BA) and Nike (NKE). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open down -199 points.

Wednesday the Dow was up +72.50 (+0.28%) at 26,149.39.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +5.79%.

There were 16 Dow stocks up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday were led by Boeing (BA) +4.93% and Microsoft (MSFT) +2.45%.

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) -2.98% and Merck (MRK) -2.31%.

Wednesday the Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged but signaled that it expects to resume raising rates gradually to reflect a healthy job market and economy. This was Janet Yellen’s final meeting as chair and the Fed kept its key short-term rate in a still low range of 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent.

Microsoft (MSFT +2.45%) lost nearly 2% in after-hours trading after it said it took net -82 cents a share loss in Q2 due to a $13.8 billion charge related to taxes owed on overseas cash.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 230,000 for the week ended Jan. 27, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Data for the prior week was revised to show 2,000 fewer claims received than previously reported. Economists had forecast claims rising to 238,000 in the latest week.

European stocks are lower and Asian markets ended mostly lower.

The national average price of gasoline is up four-tenths of a cent at $2.595 per gallon.

Earnings Reports.

Nike (NKE) reported earnings on 12/21/17 after the market close of $0.46, beating estimates of $0.437 per share.

JPMorgan (JPM) reported earnings on 1/12/2018 before the market open of $1.07, missing estimates calling for $1.726 per share.

UnitedHealth (UNH) reported earnings on 1/16/2018 before the market open of $2.59, beating estimates of $2.559 per share.

Goldman Sachs (GS) reported earnings on 1/17/2018 before the market open of -$5.51 (includes tax loss), missing estimates calling for $5.064 per share.

American Express (AXP) reported earnings on 1/18/2017 after the market close of -$1.41, missing estimates calling for $1.564 per share.

IBM (IBM) reported earnings on 1/18/2018 after the market close of $5.01, missing estimates calling for $5.191 per share.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported earnings on 1/23/2018 before the market open of $1.19, beating estimates of $1.166 per share.

Procter & Gamble reports earnings on 1/23/2018 before the market open of $1.74, missing estimates calling for $1.757 per share.

Verizon (VZ) reported earnings on 1/23/2018 before the market open of $0.86, missing estimates of $0.887 per share.

Travelers (TRV) reported earnings on 1/23/2018 before the market open of $2.28, handily beating estimates calling for $1.657 per share.

General Electric (GE) reported earnings on 1/24/2018 before the market open of -$0.35, missing estimates calling for $0.282 per share.

United Technologies (UTX) reported earnings on 1/24/2018 before the market open of $1.60, meeting estimates of $1.597 per share.

Caterpillar (CAT) reported earnings on 1/25/2018 before the market open of $2.16, beating estimates calling for $1.827 per share.

Intel (INTC) reported earnings on 1/25/2018 after the market close of $1.08, beating estimates calling for $0.891 per share.

3M (MMM) reporte earnings on 1/25/2018 before the market open of $2.10, beating estimates of $2.052 per share.

Pfizer (PFE) reported earnings on 1/30/2018 before the market open of $0.62, beating estimates of $0.583 per share.

McDonald’s (MCD) reported earnings on 1/30/2018 before the market open of $0.87, missing estimates calling for $1.616 per share.

Microsoft (MSFT) reports earnings on 1/31/2018 after the close of $0.96, beating estimates of $0.895 per share.

Boeing (BA) reported earnings on 1/31/2018 before the market open of $4.80, beating estimates calling for $2.951 per share.

DowDupont (DWDP) reports earnings on 2/1/2018 before the market open.

Apple (AAPL) reports earnings on 2/1/2018 after the market close.

Visa (V) reports earnings on 2/1/2018 after the market close.

Chevron (CVX) reports earnings on 2/2/2018 before the market open.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reports earnings on 2/2/2018 before the market open.

Merck (MRK) reports earnings on 2/2/2018 at an unspecified time.

Disney (DIS) reports earnings on 2/6/2018 after the market close.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

American Express (AXP)

American Express (AXP) is up +0.09% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

12:30 Challenger Job Cuts (YoY)

12:30 Challenger Job Cuts (Jan)

13:30 Continuing Jobless Claims

13:30 Initial Jobless Claims

13:30 Jobless Claims 4-Week Avg.

13:30 Nonfarm Productivity (QoQ) (Q4)

13:30 Unit Labor Costs (QoQ) (Q4)