Dow Moves Above 17,000

On the back of a strong monthly jobs report, the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed above 17,000 for the fist time ever. The popular average last traded up 63 points to 17,039. Meanwhile, the broader S&P 500 index is up 5 points to 1,980.

Today, June nonfarm payrolls were reported at 288,000 additions, well ahead of the expected 215,000 job gains. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate declined to 6.1 percent. In addition, April and May employment gains were revised 29,000 higher than previously reported.

Year-to-date leaders in the Dow include, Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE: CAT) (+22%), Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) (+20%), Merck (NYSE: MRK) (+18%), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (+15%).

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