January 22, 2016: Markets opened higher on Friday following comments yesterday by ECB President Mario Draghi that traders interpreted to mean that more stimulus is just around the corner. Energy and technology posted the biggest gains today, but every sector delivered posittive results. WTI crude oil for March settled up a whopping 9% today, at $32.19 to close the week up 9.4%. February gold for traded down 0.2% to settle at $1,096.30 for the day, but up 0.5% for the week. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the closing bell as the DJIA traded up 1.32% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 2.02%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 2.35%.
The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Friday was Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) which traded up 3.57% at $52.28. The stock’s 52-week range is $39.72 to $56.85. Volume rose to about 30% below the daily average of around 41 million shares. The software giant had no specific news today.
The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) traded up 3.24% at $156.56. The stock’s 52-week range is $151.49 to $218.77. Volume was about 30% higher than the daily average of around 3.3 million shares traded. Oil prices rose more than 4% today and that always cheers up traders. The bank cut CEO Lloyd Blankfein’s 2015 compensation from $24 million in 2014 to $23 million.
The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) traded up 3.23% at $97.06. The stock’s 52-week range is $90.00 to $122.08. Trading volume was equal to the daily average of around 10.4 million. The company’s ‘Star Wars’ movie continues to rake in ticket sales.
Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) traded up 3.16% at $79.45. The stock’s 52-week range is $66.55 to $93.45. Trading volume was about 10% above the daily average of around 16 million. Today’s spike in crude oil prices is the driver for Exxon’s share price today. No surprise there.
Of the Dow 30 stocks 27 are set to close higher today and 3 are on track to close lower.
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