Dow stocks hitting 52-week highs include Apple (AAPL) 243.04 (+0.01%), Amazon (AMZN) 220.55 (+1.10%), Cisco (CSCO) 60.02 (+0.67%) and Walmart (WMT) 95.30 (+0.90%). There are no Dow stock 52-week lows.

The Market

Premarket today, the Dow was indicated to be up +46 points.

Thursday the Dow closed down -248.33 (-0.55%) at 44,765.71.

Year-to-date the Dow is up +18.77%.

Thursday, (16) Dow stocks were up, none made 52-week lows, and (4) made 52-week highs.

The Dow stock winners Thursday were led by 3M (MMM) 133.33 (+2.21%), Merck (MRK) 103.55 (+2.15%) and McDonald’s (MCS) 299.47 (+1.48%).

The Dow stock losers Thursday were led by UnitedHealth (UNH) 578.97 (-2.21%), Salesforce (CRM) 361.38 (-1.76%) and Sherwin Williams (SHW) 385.24 (-1.74%).

The VIX closed Thursday at 13.54 (+0.67%) and the 10 YR at 4.180 (-0.02%). The VIX is currently at 13.38 (+0.22%). The 10YR is at 4.210 (+0.65%).

Job creation in November rebounded from the prior month as the effects of a significant labor strike and violent storms in the Southeast receded, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 227,000 for the month, compared to an upwardly revised 36,000 in October and the consensus estimate for 214,000. The unemployment rate, however, edged higher to 4.2%, as expected. The unemployment rate rose as the labor force participation rate edged lower and the labor force itself declined. A broader measure that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons edged higher to 7.8%. Job gains were focused in health care (54,000), leisure and hospitality (53,000) and government (33,000), sectors that have consistently led payroll growth for the past few years. At the same time, retail trade saw a decline of 28,000 heading into the holiday season. With Thanksgiving coming later than usual this year, some stores may have held off hiring. Worker pay continued to rise, with average hourly earnings up 0.4% from a month ago and 4% on a 12-month basis. Both numbers were 0.1 percentage point above expectations.

Chances of another rate cut in two weeks increased to 88%.

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

The national average price of gasoline is down six-tenths of a cent at $3.026 per gallon.

Earnings Reports

Nike (NKE) reports earnings on 12/19/24 after the market close.

Today’s Featured Dow Stock

Amazon (AMZN)

Amazon (AMZN) 220.55 (+1.10%) is up +45.16% in 2024.

Financial Calendar

08:30 AM ET Average Hourly Earnings (MoM) (Nov), 0.3%, 0.4%
08:30 AM ET Average Hourly Earnings (YoY) (YoY) (Nov), 4.0%
08:30 AM ET Average Weekly Hours (Nov), 34.3, 34.3
08:30 AM ET Government Payrolls (Nov), 40.0K
08:30 AM ET Manufacturing Payrolls (Nov), 28K, -46K
08:30 AM ET Nonfarm Payrolls (Nov), 202K, 12K
08:30 AM ET Participation Rate (Nov), 62.6%
08:30 AM ET Private Nonfarm Payrolls (Nov), 160K, -28K
08:30 AM ET U6 Unemployment Rate (Nov), 7.7%
08:30 AM ET Unemployment Rate (Nov), 4.2%, 4.1%
09:15 AM ET FOMC Member Bowman Speaks
10:00 AM ET Michigan 1-Year Inflation Expectations (Dec), 2.6%
10:00 AM ET Michigan 5-Year Inflation Expectations (Dec), 3.2%
10:00 AM ET Michigan Consumer Expectations (Dec), 76.9
10:00 AM ET Michigan Consumer Sentiment (Dec), 73.1, 71.8
10:00 AM ET Michigan Current Conditions (Dec), 63.9
10:00 AM ET Total Vehicle Sales (Nov), 16.00M, 16.20M
10:30 AM ET Fed Goolsbee Speaks
13:00 PM ET U.S. Baker Hughes Oil Rig Count, 478, 477
13:00 PM ET FOMC Member Daly Speaks
13:00 PM ET U.S. Baker Hughes Total Rig Count, 582
15:00 PM ET Consumer Credit (Oct), 10.10B, 6.00B
15:30 PM ET CFTC Aluminium speculative net positions, 3.2K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Copper speculative net positions, 9.9K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Corn speculative net positions, 136.9K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Crude Oil speculative net positions, 200.4K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Gold speculative net positions, 250.3K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Nasdaq 100 speculative net positions, 19.5K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Natural Gas speculative net positions, -153.4K
15:30 PM ET CFTC S&P 500 speculative net positions, -78.9K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Silver speculative net positions, 42.8K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Soybeans speculative net positions, -105.9K
15:30 PM ET CFTC Wheat speculative net positions, -52.2K