Dow Jones Industrial Average Takes Back 18,000

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) opened strong and ultimately toppled the 18,000 level for the first time in six weeks, bolstered by surging oil prices and a declining dollar. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) spent its third consecutive day above the 2,100 level, marking its best settlement since July. 

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• Why one brokerage firm thinks the worst is yet to come for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG).
• On the other hand, CNBC's Jim Cramer says "the worst is over" for these stocks.
• Why SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) stock volume skyrocketed today.
• Plus... Elon Musk puts rumors to bed, Yahoo! is selling out, and a banner day for steel stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,005.05) managed to nose its way above the key 18,000 level just before the close, finishing the day with a gain of 66.7 points, or 0.4%. UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) gained 2.5% to lead the 22 Dow winners, while DuPont Co (NYSE:DD) finished last among the eight Dow losers, dropping 0.5%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,119.12) added 7 points, or 0.3%, to finish at another 10 month high. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP – 4,974.64) also advanced 0.3%, gaining 12.9 points.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX – 14.09) ended fractionally higher, up 0.4%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today: 

1. The Labor Department released its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS), which showed a 5.8 million increase in April job openings, beating estimates. (CNBC)
2. Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) is having a patent sale blowout, with over 2,500 patents up for grabs to the highest bidder. Estimates suggest the company's patent portfolio is worth more than $1 billion. (Los Angeles Times)
3. The potential buyout that has Skullcandy Inc (NASDAQ:SKUL) looking especially sweet.
4. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) jumped after CEO Elon Musk quashed yesterday's rumors.
5. Why Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STLD) and this pair of steel stocks surged.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

July-dated oil gained 87 cents, or 1.7%, to finish the day at $51.23 per barrel -- its first close above $51 in 10 months. Continued production shortages out of Nigeria and a U.S. inventories decline, combined with an ailing greenback, pushed oil prices higher.

August-dated gold rose by $15.30, or 1.2%, to end the day at $1,262.30 per ounce. The precious metal rose as expectations of an imminent Fed rate hike continued to fall, and the dollar weakened.