Dow stocks hitting 52-week highs include Travelers (TRV) 188.05 (-0.24%). Dow stock 52-week lows include Salesforce (CRM) 130.48 (-2.09%).

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to open up +101 points.

Wednesday the Dow closed up +1.58 (+0.00%) at 33,597.92.

Year-to-date the Dow is down -7.54%.

Wednesday, (15) Dow 30 stocks were up, (1) was at 52-week lows and (1) was at 52-week highs.

The Dow stock winners Wednesday were led by 3m (MMM) 126.35 (+1.42%), Merck (MRK) 110.09 (+1.06%) and Amgen (AMGN) 285.76 (+0.87%).

The Dow stock losers Wednesday were led by Salesforce (CRM) 130.48 (-2.09%), Apple (AAPL) 140.94 (-1.38%) and Boeing (BA) 176.50 (-1.08%).

The 10 YR yield closed Wednesday at 3.459 and the VIX at 22.68 (+2.30%). The 10 YR is currently at 3.500 and VIX is at 22.65 (+2.17%).

Investors’ attention has shifted toward next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting, where the central bank is widely expected to issue a 50 basis point interest rate hike. It’s a smaller increase than the prior four rate hikes, but may do little to alleviate concerns over whether the Fed can avoid a recession next year in its attempt to squash surging prices. November’s consumer price index, due Tuesday, should also provide more clarity on the direction of inflation.

Jobless claims showed a slight bounce higher last week to 230,000, which was exactly in line with the Dow Jones estimate, the Labor Department said Thursday. The total for the week ended Dec. 3 represented an increase of 4,000 from the previous period and also matched the four-week moving average computed to smooth out weekly volatility. Continuing claims, which run a week behind, rose 62,000 to 1.671 million, an increase of 62,000 to the highest level since Feb. 5.

U.S. futures are higher, European stocks are lower and Asian markets ended mostly lower.

The national average price of gasoline is down 2.6 cents at $3.329 per gallon.

Earnings Reports

Nike (NKE) will report earnings on 12/20/22 after the market close.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Walgreens (WBA)

Walgreens (WBA) 40.65 (+0.15%) is down -22.07% in 2022.

Financial Calendar

08:30 AM ET Continuing Jobless Claims, 1,600K, 1,608K
08:30 AM ET Initial Jobless Claims, 230K, 225K
08:30 AM ET Jobless Claims 4-Week Avg., 228.75K
10:30 AM ET Natural Gas Storage, -31B, -81B
11:30 AM ET 4-Week Bill Auction, 3.950%
11:30 AM ET 8-Week Bill Auction, 4.080%