U.S. indexes lacked direction and crude oil rebounded 3% after Ukraine Russia talks stalled. Benchmark indexes The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite declined 0.3%. Investors also tracked tight spreads between 2- and 10-year U.S. bond yields.

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lululemon athletica reported fourth quarter total revenues increased 23% to $2.1 billion on growth of 21% in North America and 35% in international sales. Total comparable store sales increased 32%. The retailer added 22 new stores in the quarter totaling 574. Net income increased to $434 million from $329.8 million and earnings per share rose to $3.36 from $2.52.

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Broader market indexes gained more than 1% led by strong advances in large cap tech stocks. Apple gained for the 11th day in a row and nearly erased losses of the year. Google and Amazon also nearly touched a positive line for the first time in the year.

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U.S. indexes gained more than 1% and crude oil price declined 5% and traded below $100 a barrel after cease-fire talks between Russia and Ukraine advanced. Auto stocks led the gainers. U.S. bond yields remained elevated and 5- and 30-year yields were only a hair distance apart.

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U.S. stock indexes traded sideways and tech stocks rebounded from the morning doldrums. U.S. bond yields were in focus after 5-year bonds traded at 2.56%, 10-year at 2.46%, and 30-year yield at 2.54%. The ever tightening and rising yields are reflecting growing acceptance of larger rate increases in the coming months.

U.S. indexes turned lower and gave up early gains on the growing worries that the fast rising crude oil and commodities prices are contributing to the latest bout of inflation. Fed is lagging considerably as real rates expands further in negative territory.

Darden Restaurants, the parent of Olive Garden, said quarter sales rose 41.3% from a year ago quarter to $2.45 billion and earnings jumped 90% to $247 million or $1.93 a share. The restaurant operator plans to pass 3% price hike after commodities prices rose 11% in the quarter.

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KB Home said fiscal quarter revenues rose 23% to $1.49 billion and earnings increased 38% to $134.3 million and earnings per share rose 44% to $1.47. The home builder delivered 2,868 new homes, an increase of 22% but said labor shortage and supply chain issues intensified in the quarter.

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Nike said February quarter sales rose 5% to $10.87 billion from a year ago and earnings edged lower to $1.4 billion from $1.45 billion in the previous quarter. Earnings per share fell to 87 cents from 90 cents. The athletic goods maker has increasingly shifted from wholesale to selling direct.

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Stocks in New York Halt 7-Day Advance

Mar 23, 2022
Barry Adams
Stocks in New York struggled to stay in the positive and halted advance for the seventh day in a row. Crude oil prices jumped 5% and producers worry about demand destruction. Home builder stocks declined on the rising mortgage rates. Adobe fell on earnings outlook.

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FedEx said revenues in fiscal third-quarter ending on Feb 28 gained 10% to $23.6 billion from $21.5 billion a year ago. Net income in the period rose to $1.1 billion or $4.20 a share from $892 million or $3.30 a share. The additional fuel surcharge helped to offset reduced customer demand, higher wages, and staff sickouts.

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Tech Heavy Nasdaq Rebounds 2%

Mar 22, 2022
Barry Adams
The battered and tech heavy Nasdaq index rebounded 2% and extended gains of last week after investors looked beyond rate hike worries. The S&P 500 index added 1.1%.

AutoZone first-quarter same store sales jumped. Dollar General declined on lowered fiscal outlook. HD Supply beat sales and profit estimates and lifted fiscal outlook. Movado tumbled despite net tumbled. Toll Brothers profit beats estimates but orders decline.

Accenture declined despite outsourcing services provider lifted fiscal outlook. BlackBerry net swung to profit. Carnival beats earnings estimates. Conagra tumbled after net declined. Herman Miller reported higher-than-expected results. Walgreens reported strong results.



Apple iPhone sales in China declined. Barrick Gold net loss widened on higher cost of sales. Diebold net loss widened despite revenues jumped. FLIR Systems net swung to a loss after revenues declined. Teva Pharma net loss narrowed after revenues plunged.