July 16, 2015: Markets opened higher on Thursday following the release of the latest data showing that new claims for unemployment benefits declined week-over-week and came in lower that the consensus estimate had predicted. And the Greek parliament approved the austerity measures placed on the country by the rest of its European neighbors as a condition of a further bailout. Natural gas prices dropped 1.8% after the U.S. EIA reported a larger-than-expected inventory increase. Shortly before the closing bell the DJIA traded up 0.39% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.80%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 1.26%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Thursday was Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) which traded higher by 1.93%% at $46.64. The stock’s 52-week range is $40.12 to $50.05. Trading volume was about 40% below the daily average of around 34 million. The software giant acquired a field service management company today.

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) traded up 1.41% at $170.90. The stock’s 52-week range is $149.52 to $196.40. Trading volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 3.7 million. The company had no specific news today.

E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (NYSE: DD) traded up 1.36% at $59.80. The stock’s 52-week range is $57.87 to $76.59. Trading volume topped 5 million shares, about 20% below the daily average of around 6.3 million. The company has signed a licensing agreement with a Chinese firm to begin development of a cellulosic ethanol plant in Jilin Province.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) traded up 1.29% at $128.45. The stock’s 52-week range is $92.57 to $134.54. Around 30 million shares traded hands today, about 35% lower than the daily average of around 46 million. The company had no specific news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 26 are set to close higher today and 4 are on track to close lower.

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