April 6, 2015: Markets opened lower on Monday as traders reacted to Friday’s report on non-farm payrolls. Investors likely concluded that the poor report on jobs would push a Fed interest rate hike further out into the future. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.75% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.73%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.69%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Monday was Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) which traded up 3.50% at $41.70. The stock’s 52-week range is $38.51 to $50.05. Trading volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 39.5 million shares. The software giant received an upgrade from Wells Fargo today.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) traded higher by 1.75% at $107.12. The stock’s 52-week range is $98.88 to $135.10. Trading volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 8.6 million shares. Oil prices rose nearly 6% today on expectations of higher demand. Good luck with that idea.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) traded up 1.71% at $127.46. The stock’s 52-week range is $73.05 to $133.60. Trading volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 58 million shares. The pending release of the Apple Watch puts visions of sugar plums in investors’ heads.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) traded up 1.57% at $81.50. The stock’s 52-week range is $78.19 to $111.46. Trading volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 6.6 million shares. The company had no specific news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 25 are set to close higher today and 5 are on track to close lower.

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