GM Gains on Upgrade

Elena
27 Jun, 2006
New York City

Stocks traded higher, led by gains in General Motors Corp. and Univision Communications Inc. amid nervous trading ahead of the Fed Reserve''s policy meeting Thursday. Price target upgrade on the shares of Dow component GM sent the stock up 2.3% to $41.02. A 6.4% jump in the shares of Univision also offered support, following a $12.3 billion offer for the largest U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster.

[R]9:45AM Stocks advanced on merger deals.[/R]
Stocks moved higher at the start of trading, as some merger deals and corporate news generated positive sentiment amid cautiousness ahead of FOMC meeting. Stock markets advanced, led by gains in General Motors Corp. ((GM)) and Univision Communications Inc. ((UVN)). Price target upgrade on the shares of Dow component GM sent the stock up 2.3% to $41.02. Shares of Univision also offered support, rising 6.4% after a $12.3 billion offer for the largest U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster. Early gains by commodities-related stocks also contributed to the initial upward, with energy stocks moving higher amid a continued increase by the price of oil. Metal stocks also showed strength, reflecting an increase in the metal prices.

At the same, some weakness emerged in the semiconductor sector, dragged by chip maker Marvell ((MRVL)) which dropped 11.4% after the company agreed to acquire Intel's ((INTC)) communications and application processor business for $600 million. In the first hour of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 6.09, or 0.06%. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 1.26, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite index added 2.74, or 0.13%. Bonds recouped some recent losses but remained at historic lows, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipping to 5.23% from 5.24% late Monday.


CKE Restaurants Inc, ((CKR)), quick-service and fast-casual restaurants company, reported that same-store sales advanced 4.7% for the four weeks ended June 19. The performance broke down to a 4.7% rise for its Carl''s Jr. locations and a 4.6% rise for its Hardee''s locations. The company attributed the positive results in this period for Carl''s Jr. to the continued promotion of its Bacon Swiss Crispy Chicken Sandwich and strong sales of its Jalapeno Burger product. It added Hardee''s benefited from continuing promotion of its Philly Cheesesteak Thickburger.

Eagle Materials Inc, ((EXP)), building materials firm, reported that it is improving its Q1 and fiscal 2007 earnings estimates due to volume growth and stronger pricing in wallboard and cement operations. The company said it''s upping its Q1 guidance by 10 cents a share to a range of $1 to $1.10 a share, and fiscal earnings to a range between $4.40 and $4.70 a share from $3.67 to $4 a share. Analysts expected Q1 earnings of $1.10 and fiscal year earnings of $4.55.

Stride Rite Corp, (SRR)), shoemaker, reported Q2 net income advanced to 46 cents a share, from 32 cents a share on 21.6% net sales growth, topping analysts expectations for earnings of 37 cents a share.. The company backed its full-year earnings forecast of 82 cents to 88 cents a share and said it expects sales growth for the year in a range of 20% to 22%.


[R]8:00AM Univision Communications’s board approved a sale of $12.3 billion.[/R]
Univision Communications Inc. agreed to sell the nation''s largest Spanish-language broadcaster for $12.3 billion in cash to a consortium of investors. The figure agreed upon late Monday equals $36.25 a share, which a 13% premium to Univision''s closing stock price on Monday. The group of investors will also assume about $1.4 billion in debt. The consortium, led by private equity firms Texas Pacific Group Inc. and Thomas H. Lee Partners, also includes Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, Providence Equity Partners Inc., and media mogul Haim Saban. The acquiring group said in a joint statement that Univision ‘is an outstanding media brand with exceptional positions in the fastest-growing markets in the country, world-class assets, strong management, popular programming and unmatched ratings.’ Last week the consortium bid $35.50 a share, or just under $11 billion total, but the broadcaster rejected the group''s initial bid as too low. Each of the private equity groups is expected to invest around $1 billion initially and Saban somewhat less, the person said. The deal, which is subject to the approval of shareholders and regulators, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006 or first quarter of 2007. Univision shares fell 2.79%, to close Monday at $32.03 on the Nymex.


[R]7:15 AM Asian markets finished mixed, Japan gains slightly.[/R]
Asian markets ended mixed Tuesday. The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.13% to 15171.81, with steel shares continuing Monday''s rise on news of the likely merger between Arcelor and Mittal Steel. The merger is expected to accelerate the continuing wave of consolidation in the global steel industry. Japan steelmaker Nippon Steel was among the gainers, adding 1.92%. JFE Holdings also rose 2.84% and Sumitomo Metal Mining gained 3.23%. Hong Kong stocks closed slightly down as investors waited on the Fed''s decision. The Hang Seng Index shed 0.19% to 15774.70. Hong Kong follows U.S. monetary policy because its currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar. South Korean and Taiwan shares led regional gainers, as both indexes advanced 0.8%. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, advanced to 1247.54, extending the previous session''s gain. Taiwan stocks also gained, ending up at 6572.39, as legislators failed to approve an opposition-led effort to hold a referendum to oust the president. China''s shares ended higher Tuesday. The Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.4% to 1639.55. The Shenzhen Composite Index gained 0.2% to 424.66. Australia''s S&P/ASX advanced 0.7% at 5000.50, while New Zealand''s NZX 50 Index gained 0.7% to 3613.417.


[R]6:30AM Europe erases early gains.[/R]
European markets rose slightly in mid-morning trade. London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.1 %to 5,685.3, while Frankfurt’s Xetra Dax was unchanged at 5,514.46 and the CAC 40 in Paris climbed 0.1% to 4,806.5. On the corporate front, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena advanced 1.5% after it announced it was looking to integrate with Finsoe, the holding company which owns a controlling stake in Italian insurer Unipol. Anglo Irish Bank climbed 1.3% as recent losses presented investors with a good buying opportunity. Oil stocks added some weight to European gains. Overnight, US crude advanced to $72 a barrel for the first time in two weeks on fears that increasing demand for gasoline would sap US stockpiles. France’s Total advanced 0.9%, while Norway’s Statoil added 2.1%. France’s Suez climbed 1.2% after the utility was upgraded by UBS from ‘neutral’ to ‘buy’.

Crude oil advanced 51 cents at $72.31 a barrel by 0930 GMT, reaching a two-week high after rising 93 cents on Monday. London Brent crude advanced 52 cents to $71.24. Gold in London traded at $587.70 per troy ounce, up from $579.20 late Monday. The dollar gained against the European currency. The euro traded at $1.2578, down from $1.2580 late Monday in New York. The greenback bought 116.36 Japanese yen, up from 116.28. The British pound traded at $1.8223, down from $1.8234.