February 5, 2015: Markets opened higher on Thursday on news that the Bank of Greece would continue to be able to access funds from the European Central Bank, at least for a while. New claims for unemployment benefits came in below expectations and the U.S. trade deficit rose. Looking ahead, the non-farm payroll report is out tomorrow morning and estimates call for the addition of 235,000 jobs and the unemployment rate to remain at 5.6%. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 1.20% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.98%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.98%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Thursday was Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) which traded up 2.99% at $33.03. The stock’s 52-week range is $27.51 to $33.50. Trading volume was about double the daily average of around 25 million shares. The company announced this morning that it would acquire Hospira Inc. (NYSE: HSP) for $16 billion.

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD) traded up 2.98% at $75.94. The stock’s 52-week range is $61.93 to $75.99, a new high posted today. Trading volume was about 70% higher than the daily average of around 5.3 million shares. The company named two new board members this morning, neither of which had been nominated by Nelson Peltz and Trian Fund Management.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) traded up 2.47% at $271.44. The stock’s 52-week range is $194.84 to $271.44, a new high set today. Trading volume was about equal to the daily average of around 2.6 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) traded higher by 2.04% at $120.19. The stock’s 52-week range is $97.30 to $120.95. Trading volume was about 15% below the daily average of around 4 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

All 30 DJIA stocks are on track to finish higher for the day.

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