December 19, 2016: Markets opened higher again Monday as investors intent on driving indexes to new highs and the DJIA above 20,000. A look at the S&P sectors shows telecoms and real-estate stocks the leading gainers, while energy and healthcare lag. WTI crude oil for January delivery settled at $52.12 a barrel, up about 0.4% on the day. February gold added 0.5% on the day to settle at $1,142.70. Equities were headed for a higher close shortly before the bell as the DJIA traded up 0.16% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.11%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.23%.

The DJIA stock posting the largest daily percentage gain ahead of the close Monday was United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) traded up 2.08% at $110.78. The stock’s 52-week range is $83.39 to $111.69. Volume was about 10% below the daily average of around 3.6 million shares. The company’s stock was lifted from Neutral to Outperform by Credit Suisse analysts on Monday.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) which traded up 1.85% at $63.45. The stock’s 52-week range is $48.04 to $63.77, a new high set this morning. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 28 million shares. The company had no specific news.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) traded up 1.57% at $36.88. The stock’s 52-week range is $27.68 to $38.36. Volume was 35% below the daily average of around 22 million shares. The semiconductor giant had no specific news Monday.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) traded up 1.27% at $52.94. The stock’s 52-week range is $43.79 to $56.95. Volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 14.5 million shares. The telecom giant had no specific news.

Of the Dow 30 stocks, 19 are on track to close higher Monday and 11 are set to close lower.

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