Dow stocks at 52 week highs include Merck (MRK), Procter & Gamble (PG) and Travelers (TRV). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open up +76 points.

Wednesday the Dow was down -43.68 (-0.17%) at 26,004.83.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +11.48%.

There were 15 Dow stocks up Wednesday.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday were led by Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) +1.36%, Pfizer (PFE) +0.96% and Verizon (VZ) +0.93%.

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Goldman Sachs (GS) -2.32%, Cisco (CSCO) -2.19% and Walgreens (WBA) -1.44%.

Unemployment insurance weekly claims in the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 222,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 217,750, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 215,000 to 215,250. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending June 1, unchanged from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending June 1 was 1,695,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up 11,000 from 1,682,000 to 1,693,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,683,250, an increase of 7,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 2,750 from 1,672,750 to 1,675,500.

The US budget deficit ballooned to a record high in the month of May, as federal spending continued to outpace income despite a solid economy. The gap between the amount the government takes in and spends came in at $207.8 billion last month, nearly 42% higher than a year earlier.

The price of oil surged Thursday after an apparent attack on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 3% to $52.70 a barrel, while Brent crude jumped 3.8% to $62.04. Oil was previously trading at five-month lows.

European stocks are higher and Asian markets ended mostly lower.

The national average price of gasoline is down seven-tenths of a cent at $2.716 per gallon.

Earnings Reports

There are no Dow stocks set to report earnings in the near term.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Caterpillar (CAT)

Caterpillar (CAT) is up +10.48% year-to-date.

Financial Calendar

8:30 AM ET Jobless Claims

8:30 AM ET Import and Export Prices

10:30 AM ET EIA Natural Gas Report

4:30 PM ET Fed Balance Sheet

4:30 PM ET Money Supply