December 24, 2013: Markets opened higher on a shortened Tuesday trading day. The Nasdaq bounced lower a few times in the first 90 minutes of trading, but soon enough sorted itself out. Trading volume was light, as was expected. The DJIA closed up 0.39%, the S&P 500 closed up 0.29%, and the Nasdaq Composite closed up 0.16%.

The big mover among DJIA stocks today was E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD), opened about essentially flat and closed up 1.74% at $63.83 after posting a new 52-week high of $63.85. The 52-week low is $44.10. Volume was about one third of the daily average of nearly 3.9 million shares traded.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) moved higher after opening up about 0.3%. The company’s Xbox One video game console has been in heavy demand for holiday gift giving, and provided Microsoft has been able to meet demand, the company’s results should be solid. Shares are up 1.26% today and closed at $37.08 in a 52-week range of $26.28 to $38.98.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) traded just a quarter of its daily average volume of 5 million shares. The stock opened up about 0.1%, and its heady share price boosted the price-weighted DJIA by about 7%. The stock closed up 1.07% at $90.92 in a 52-week range of $79.49 to $99.70.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) opened about flat this morning and added strength throughout the shortened trading day. An analyst has said that Verizon could benefit from a scaling back of the net neutrality rules expected soon in a court ruling. Volume was about 75% below the daily average of around 13 million. The stock closed up 0.82% at $48.98 in a 52-week range of $41.50 to $54.31.

Of the Dow 30 stocks only 4 closed lower today and 26 closed higher.

Have a Merry Christmas!

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