September 10, 2014: Markets opened higher on Wednesday, but no thanks to the energy sector. Crude prices were hammered by reports from OPEC and the U.S. EIA today. Tomorrow’s report on natural gas inventories is expected to show that injections into storage were about 30% higher than normal last week. Also due tomorrow are reports on new claims for jobless benefits and the Treasury budget. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.33% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.36%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.73%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was yesterday’s biggest loser: McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) which traded higher by 2.09% at $92.99 today after posting a new 52-week low (for the second consecutive day) early this morning of $90.53. The stock’s new 52-week range is $90.53 to $103.78. Volume was about double the daily average of around 5 million shares traded. McDonald’s reported weak same-store sales for August yesterday.

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) traded up 1.39% at $179.86 in a 52-week range of $151.85 to $182.07. The shares were down by a similar amount yesterday. The firm made a lot of headlines today, but not news that would move the stock. Trading volume was about 25% below the daily average of 2.4 million shares.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) traded up 1.21% at $216.92 in a 52-week range of $180.11 to $235.50. The credit card company is likely getting a boost from the enthusiasm around yesterday’s announcement of a new payment system from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). Volume was about equal to the daily average of around 2.3 million shares traded.

Johnson & Johnson) traded up 1.21% at $105.06 in a 52-week range of $85.50 to $106.74. Volume was about 15% below the daily average of around 6.2 million shares traded. The company received FDA approval to expand the use of its prostate cancer drug Xtandi.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 22 stocks are set to close higher today and 8 are on track to close lower.

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