April 1, 2016: Markets opened lower on Friday following the monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate ticked up to 5% and job growth was slightly below estimates. The dollar weakened against the euro, and that may have helped push stocks higher by mid-morning. WTI crude oil for May delivery settled at $36.79 a barrel, down nearly 4.1% for the day, and down 6.8% for the week. June gold dropped 1% to settle at $1,223.50 for the day, and down 0.1% compared with last week’s close. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the closing bell as the DJIA traded up 0.70% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.73%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.95%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Friday was The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) which traded up 1.85% at $159.88. The stock’s 52-week range is $139.05to $218.77. Volume was about half the daily average of around 5.1 million shares. The investment bank had no specific news Friday..

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) traded up 1.71% at $77.79. The stock’s 52-week range is $60.00 to $81.01. Trading volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 11 million. The credit card issuer had no specific news, but the earlier announcement of Visa replacing Amex at Costco on June 20th is still helping the stock.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) traded up 1.65% at $30.13. The stock’s 52-week range is $28.25 to $36.46. Trading volume was about 15% below the daily average of around 43 million. The company said this morning that a phase 3 study met its primary endpoints.

The Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) traded up 1.36% at $83.44. The stock’s 52-week range is $65.02 to $84.20. Volume was about half the daily average of around 10.4 million shares traded. The consumer products giant had no specific news Friday.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 23 are set to close higher on Friday and 7 are on track to close lower.

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