Market Update

Indexes Close Higher, Beer Merger Talk

123jump.com Staff
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

Market traded higher as the Fed Chairman continued his testimony for the second day. He also said that raising minimum wage is not going affect the inflation because a small number of people earn wages at that rate. Hershey plans to cut 1,500 jobs over the next three years. Unemployment claims rose 44,000 at the end of previous week to seasonally adjusted 357,000. United Healthcare rose 4% on stake from Buffett. Anheuser Busch rose 3% on merger talks. Home prices decline in most cities.

Afternoon Rebound in Averages

123jump.com Staff
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

Market traded higher as the Fed Chairman continued his testimony for the second day on Capitol Hill. He continued to review the economic health in optimistic tone. He also said that raising minimum wage is not going affect the inflation because small number of people earn wages at that rate. Hershey plans to cut 1,500 jobs over the next three years. January import price fell 1.2% on lower oil price. Unemployment claims rose 44,000 at the end of previous week to seasonally adjusted 357,000.

Brewers Help Europe

Elena
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

European stocks held near multiyear highs Thursday, supported by gains for Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev on merger speculation and Reed Elsevier on a plan to sell off a division. Shares of brewer InBev rallied 4%. Other beer producers also gained. SABMiller rose 1.9%, Carlsberg rose 2.7%, Heineken added 2.3% and Scottish & Newcastle moved 2.3% higher. Britain''''s FTSE 100 closed 0.2% higher, the German DAX 30 was flat at 6,958.62 and the French CAC 40 lost 0.1%.

Caterpillar Buys Back $7.5 B

Elena
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

U.S. stocks kept showing a mixed performance, with investors cautious on Fed Reserve Chairman''s second day of testimony to Congress and digesting mixed economic data. Caterpillar supported the Dow, rising 2% after its board announced a $7.5 billion stock repurchase plan. Qualcom gave the tech sector a boost with a 2.6% gain on brokerage upgrade to buy from neutral.

Guess Jumps 11% on Earnings

Elena
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

Wall Street opened mixed on Thursday, reflecting mixed earnings, a report about bad loans in the financial sector, and better-than-expected economic data. Caterpillar supported the Dow with a 2.6% advance on the back of $7.5 B repurchase plan. Retail shares slipped with Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond among the top decliners. Guess Inc. jumped 11% after the company posted a better-than-expected profit, announced a two-for-one stock split and set a quarterly dividend.

FTSE Slips as Wolseley Dips

Ivaylo
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

The UK market slipped into the red after hovering around six-year highs on Thursday, with upbeat news boosting Diageo and Reed Elsevier, but ebbing away bid talk around Wolseley led to losses for the stock. Miners have come under selling pressure, overshadowing gains elsewhere. Pendragon was the main advancer among mid-caps on strong earnings results. In early afternoon, the FTSE 100 was down 0.11% at 6,414.

Economic Data Boost Stock Futures

Elena
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

U.S. stock futures advanced on Thursday, bolstered by bigger-than-expected rise in manufacturing activity in the New York area in February and a larger drop in January import prices. The U.S. Labor Department said that prices for imported goods fell 1.2%, vs. expectations of a 1.1% drop. It was also reported that initial jobless claims rose 44,000 during the week ending Feb. 10 to 357,000, the highest level seen since late November.

Japan Rallies to Seven-Year High

Ivaylo
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

Asian markets finished higher on Thursday with Japanese shares surging to their highest level in almost seven years on strong economic growth, while HK stocks soared on the comments of U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday. Retailers led the advance in Japan as the consumer spending of the country was particularly upbeat. In China, institutions bought in large-caps while in Australia strong corporate earnings pushed the market higher.

Baidu Profit Fivefold Higher

Elena
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

China''''s leading Internet search engine reported earnings rise of 122.8 million yuan ($15.7 million), or 3.54 yuan (45 cents) per American Depositary Share, from 24.5 million yuan, or 0.71 yuan per ADS a year ago. The quarterly profit exceeded estimates for earnings of 32 cents per ADS.

Sensex Rallies 2.5%, Idea Cellular IPO

Ivaylo
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

The market opened with a positive bias and rallied following upbeat Asian markets and strong performance of Indian ADRs overnight. The rally was broad-based covering small and mid-caps. Auto, IT, banking and metal sectors advanced. L&T, Satyam, Cipla and Hero Honda jumped. Ranbaxy and NTPC led the decliners. Wholesale inflation hit a two-year high. Citigroup plans setting up a $5 billion infrastructure fund in India.

BNP Paribas Offsets Gains in Europe

Ivaylo
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

Results from french bank BNP Paribas, on Thursday, limited gains in Europe from fashion and luxury goods companies and automakers. Banks retreated taking their cue from BNP Paribas with Societe Generale and Credit Suisse also down. Auto maker Daimler Chrysler surged and so did tyre maker Michelin. By mid morning, Frankfurt Xetra Dax added 0.1%, the CAC 40 in Paris fell 0.1% and London FTSE 100 shed 0.2%.

Gold Gains on Softer Dollar

Ivaylo
15 Feb, 2007
New York City

Gold futures advanced to a six-month high on Wednesday, boosted by a decline in the U.S. dollar caused by congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Silver futures took their cue from gold and gained too. Platinum and palladium also rose. After hitting a two-week high, copper dipped. Energy stocks declined, except for gasoline, which bucked the downtrend and advanced. Arabica coffee and raw sugar gained.

Fed Comments, Earnings Lead Market Higher

123jump.com Staff
14 Feb, 2007
New York City

Popular averages got a triple boost. The Fed Chairman said moderate economic expansion will continue and inflation is on the decline, Chrysler said it will cut 13,000 jobs, and Applied Materials and Deere reported better than expected earnings. DaimlerChrysler reported that Q4 net income fell 40% and announced plans to cut more than 13,000 jobs. Caterpillar rose 2.6%. Chip-equipment maker, Applied Materials rose 4.3% and Deere rose 10%. Financials and material sectors led the gainers.

Garmin and Deere Soar

123jump.com Staff
14 Feb, 2007
New York City

Broader indexex continued to climb in the final hour of trading. The Fed Chairman in his speech suggested that economy will continue to grow at moderate rate this year and inflation is on the decline. Garmin profit doubled and stock rose 7%. Deere reported a profit rise of 31% on improved sales. First Solar jumped 25% on declaring a profit. SPSS jumped on 36% rise in operating profit. Daktronics fell 22% on lowered profit outlook.

Europe Hits Multi-Year Highs

Elena
14 Feb, 2007
New York City

European stocks ended higher on Wednesday, reaching new multi-year highs as autos, mining and technology stocks advanced. Fed Reserve Chairman