February 12, 2015: Markets opened higher on Thursday with the energy and basic materials sectors leading the market higher throughout the day. Crude oil prices rose 5% while natural gas prices tumbled 3% on a lower-than-expected draw on storage last week. Retail sales also came in lower as U.S. consumers appear to be saving the cash they’re receiving from low gasoline prices instead of spending it. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.60% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.93%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 1.13%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Thursday was Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) which traded up 9.45% at $29.48. The stock’s 52-week range is $21.27 to $29.58, and the high was posted today. Trading volume was nearly 4-times the daily average of around 29 million shares. The company reported big earnings Wednesday evening and scored several price target increases this morning.

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded up 1.77% at $92.20. The stock’s 52-week range is $86.03 to $104.76. Trading volume was about 10% below the daily average of around 16 million shares. The company had no specific news today, but a jump of 5% in crude oil prices gets investors interested in big oil companies again.

The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) traded higher by 1.73% at $103.64. The stock’s 52-week range is $76.31 to $103.85, and the high was set today. Trading volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 7.2 million shares. The company had no specific news today, but another big content provider, Time Warner, reported solid earnings this morning and the glow rubbed off on Disney.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) traded up 1.51% at $43.02. The stock’s 52-week range is $37.19 to $50.05. Trading volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 35 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 24 are set to close higher today and 6 are on track to close lower.

ALSO READ: Companies Cutting the Most Jobs

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