Dow Jones Industrial Average Rally Falls Just Short of 20,000

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rallied once again, notching a fresh all-time high, and coming within 13 points of the critical 20,000 mark. While the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) also hit a record high of its own, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) came up short of a new milestone. Echoing a post-election trend, financial stocks led the way once again, though trading volume remained light across Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday. With little in the way of economic data or earnings releases -- save for tonight's quarterly report from blue chip Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) -- stocks shrugged off yesterday's deadly attacks in Europe, as the push for Dow 20,000 continues. 
 
Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• While these 2 real estate stocks could stumble into the new year, these 2 energy stocks are ripe for extended rallies. 
• Why one analyst expects this young cloud stock to surge 50%. 
• Options traders are betting on new highs for Micron Technology, Inc.(NASDAQ:MU) ahead of earnings.
• Plus... Sony's holiday woes, BlackBerry turns tail, and 2 tobacco stocks that got burnt. 
  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 19,974.62) gained 91.6 points, or 0.5%. Twenty-three Dow stocks ended higher, with the biggest jump of 1.8% coming from NKE. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) was the biggest loser for a second straight day, falling 1%. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,270.76) added 8.2 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,483.94) rose 26.5 points, or 0.5%. 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 11.45) shed 0.3 point, or 2.2%. 

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. The families of three people killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando are suing Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB). The families say the companies provided "material support" to the shooter, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. (Reuters)
2. Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) was one of six companies to do away with on-call scheduling for workers. Roughly 50,000 workers will be affected, but the National Retail Federation (NRF) is pushing back. (USA Today)
3. Why Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) is on the brink of a holiday slide. 
4. After BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) flirted with a post-earnings pop, the stock's price action eventually resolved lower -- with BBRY slumping 2.5%.
5. How 2 tobacco giants got burned. 

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

Oil prices gained again today, their third straight up day. The now-expired January-dated crude futures added 11 cents, or 0.2%, to end at $52.23 per barrel. Crude for February delivery -- the new front-month contract -- tacked on 24 cents, or 0.5%, to close at $53.30 per barrel.

A strengthening dollar pressured gold prices today. Gold dated for February delivery lost $9.10, or 0.8%, to $1,133.60 per ounce.