The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 68 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected today and it feels a little humid as well.

  At 8:50 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher.

  I just read where first time weekly layoffs are at a 7 year low with 298,000. That's good news for people seeking jobs, there's a little optimism that there is economic percolation for Main Street. Also note that the price of oil per barrel is down under $93. That is a big surprise on a day when some indexes might face record highs. It's not translating too much at the pump prices but on the other hand our dependency on the stuff has never been greater and with intensely serious consequences.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is also not too far from its record high of 17138.20, which it hit in mid-July.