December 4, 2014: Markets opened higher on Friday after the federal government released a better-than-expected report on employment. Job gains rose to their highest level since 2012, and aggregate wages rose 0.9%, the most since 2006. The rise in income could lead to a better holiday shopping season for retailers. Note also that crude oil closed at a 5-year low today, down 1.5% at $65.84 a barrel. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.25% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.03%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.03%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily gain ahead of the close Friday was The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) which traded up 1.78% at $195.40. The stock’s 52-week range is $151.65 to $196.93, a new high set earlier Friday. Trading volume was about 10% above the daily average of around 2.8 million shares. Chatter related to an early Fed interest rate hike following the strong jobs numbers likely was behind the the rising share price.

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD) traded up 0.82% at $72.96. The stock’s 52-week range is $59.35 to $73.53, and the high was set earlier Friday. Trading volume was half the daily average of around 5.1 million shares. The company had no news today.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) traded higher by 0.88% at $31.94. The stock’s 52-week range is $27.51 to $32.96. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 25 million shares. The drugmaker had no specific news today.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) traded up 0.79% at $263.19. The stock’s 52-week range is $194.84 to $263.48, a new high set earlier Friday. Volume was about half the daily average of around 3 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 15 are set to close lower today and 15 are on track to close higher.

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