Market Update

Lincoln National, Hartford Rally; Ryder Plunges

123jump.com Staff
08 Apr, 2009
New York City

Life insurance rallied in trading after media report suggested that companies may have access to cheap financing from the U.S. Treasury. Merger between two home builders lifted Centex. Bed Bath & Beyond and Family Dollar rallied on earnings. Ryder plunged on lowered earnings.

Pulte Home Acquires Centex

123jump.com Staff
08 Apr, 2009
New York City

Pulte Homes agreed to acquire Centex for $1.3 billion and assume debt of $1.8 billion. The merger of two home builders will create the largest home builder with substantial foot print in Texas, California, Florida and in Carolinas. Centex surges 22% after the deal news.

Australian Loans and Sentiment Index Rise

Darlington Musarurwa
08 Apr, 2009
New York City

Australian consumer sentiment index increased in April and home loan approvals rose for the fifth month in a row. The sharp reduction in interest rates since September and government stimulus plan to sustain the economic growth lifted the sentiment. Stocks fell in trading. Equinox Minerals plunged.

Alcoa Loss; Deeper European Recession

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

U.S. stocks closed lower ahead of earnings season. Banks and real estate trusts declined for the second day of trading this week. Eurozone lowered its estimate of economic growth for the fourth quarter. Alcoa after the close reported second quarterly loss in a row on 41% fall in revenues.

HK Stocks Fall After 11% 3-day Rally

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

Stocks in Hong Kong fell as investors locked gains after a three-day rally of 11%. Shanghai stocks rose as Beijing announced health care reforms lifting pharmaceutical and medical shares increased. At the end of March, HK foreign exchange reserve rises to $186.2 billion.

UK Stocks Fall on Weak Output Report

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

U.K. manufacturing output drops 6.5% in the three months ending in February. Royal Bank of Scotland plans to cut 9,000 jobs to save nearly 2.5 billion pounds of cost.

RBS, International Speedway, MGM, Wynn Plunge

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

Casino stocks fell sharply after gambling revenues in February declined at a faster rate than in January. Alcoa dropped ahead of earnings. International Speedway plunged after it lowered its annual earnings estimate. Applied Materials fell after a recently place order was trimmed.

Japan Holds Rate at 0.1%

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

By a unanimous vote the Bank of Japan left its key lending rate unchanged at 0.1% and accepted broader collateral from banks. The move is expected to improve credit access at smaller and regional banks. Stocks fell in the session. Softbank Mobile added 2 million net subscribers in fiscal 2008.

Australian Rates at 50-year Low

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

Australian stocks declined after the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered rate by 0.25% to 3%. The rates have been cut by half in less than six months as the economy is facing its first recession in twenty years. The record low rates in five decades may have to be lowered more if economy remains weak.

Weak U.S. Stocks; Japan, Australia Rate Action

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

Earnings jitters and weakness in banks dragged market indexes lower. Soros predicts recent that recent gains as bear market rally. Central banks in Japan and Australia took steps to arrest falling economies. Japan left its key rate unchanged and Australia lowered its lending rate to 3% from 3.25%.

SAIC Q4 Earnings Call Transcript

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

SAIC fourth quarter revenue rose 0.08% to $2.52 billion with profit rising by 21.2% to $120 million. Earnings per share were 30 cents as against 25 cents in the same period last year. The whole year revenue was $10.1 billion.

Williams-Sonoma Q4 Earnings Call Transcript

123jump.com Staff
07 Apr, 2009
New York City

William-Sonoma fourth quarter net revenue fell 27% to $1.01 billion while profit fell 90.2% to $12.2 million due 22.3% slump in comp store sales. Earnings per share were 12 cents as against $1.15 a year ago.

Ahead of Earnings U.S. Stocks Fall

123jump.com Staff
06 Apr, 2009
New York City

Techs and banks closed lower after rising for nearly a month. Investors now focused on soon to be released earnings are nervous that though stocks are cheaper compared to a year ago but may have a room fall further. Banks fell on beaish views from an analyst.

UK Stocks Fall, HSBC Rises 5%

123jump.com Staff
06 Apr, 2009
New York City

In London trading stocks closed lower tracking losses in miners and financials. HSBC jumped 5% after it managed to place 97% of its rights offering and raise

Australian Job Ads Drop

123jump.com Staff
06 Apr, 2009
New York City

Stocks in Australia closed higher despite a fall in commodities and crude oil prices. Australian job ad placement declined in March indicating a further rise in unemployment. Jobs ads declined 8.5% from February and plunged 54% from a year ago.