August 26, 2014: Markets opened higher on Tuesday following a huge jump in durable goods orders, a better-than-expected report on consumer confidence, and a slowdown in home price increases. The DJIA hit a new all-time high and the S&P 500 is on track to close above 2,000 for the first time ever. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded up 0.24% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.16%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.33%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) which traded up 1.14% at $29.24 in a 52-week range of $27.76 to $32.96. The drug maker said that it would join with Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) to test a new lung cancer treatment. Pfizer’s volume was about 35% below the daily average of around 23.5 million shares.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) traded up 1.01% at $85.08 in a 52-week range of $66.72 to $87.24. Volume was about half the daily average of around 3.6 million shares traded. The company had no news today.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded higher by 1.01% at $99.73 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $84.79 to $104.76. Volume was about 25% below the daily average of around 9.2 million shares traded. The world’s largest publicly traded oil company had no news today.

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) traded up 0.96% at $192.99. The stock’s 52-week range is $172.19 to $199.21. Share volume was about 25% below the daily average of around 3.7 million shares traded. The company had no specific news today either.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 17 are set to close higher today and 13 are poised to close lower.

ALSO READ: The Best (and Worst) Countries to Find a Full-Time Job

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.