September 26, 2014: Markets opened higher on Friday following a solid reading on the second estimate of U.S. GDP for the second quarter. The consumer sentiment index was flat with the preliminary reading of 84.6. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 1.0% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.79%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.88%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the largest percentage gain ahead of the close today was Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) which traded up 12% at $89.34 after posting a new 52-week high of $89.99. The stock’s 52-week low is $69.15. Trading volume was more than 4-times the daily average of around 3.5 million shares. Nike reported strong earnings after markets closed last night and encouraging orders going into the next quarter.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) traded up 1.96% at $25.02. The stock’s 52-week range is $20.22 to $26.08. Cisco had no news today, but the tech sector rose more than 1%. Trading volume was about 5% below the daily average of around 25 million shares.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded up 1.86% at $88.37 in a 52-week range of $72.08 to $96.24. Volume was about equal to the daily average of about 3.6 million shares. The credit card company had no specific news today, but the financial sector was up nearly 1%.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded higher today by 1.12% at $95.31. The stock’s 52-week range is $84.79 to $104.76. Volume was about 15% below the daily average of around 2 million shares. There is a report that a well in the Kara Sea off the north coast of Russia struck oil just before being wound down as a result of sanctions against Russia.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 27 stocks are set to close higher today, and just 3 are on track to close lower.

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