Encouraging Economic Data in the U.S., Greek Uncertaintity Clouds Europe

Nichole Harper
12 Jun, 2015
New York City

The latest economic data pointed positive picture as a private survey showed an increase in consumer confidence and a measure of wholesale inflation was within the target range set by the Fed. European leaders gather one more time to discuss Greek bailout as tempers rise and mood sours.

[R]1:35 PM – The latest economic data pointed positive picture as a private survey showed an increase in consumer confidence and a measure of wholesale inflation was within the target range set by the Fed. European leaders gather one more time to discuss Greek bailout as tempers rise and mood sours.[/R]

Stock market and economic data pointed different picture on Wall Street.

The producer price index, a measure of wholesale inflation, increase was less than anticipated and a private survey of consumer confidence increased but market indexes on Wall Street traded down.

The Producer Price Index jumped 0.5% in April on a seasonally adjusted basis followed by decrease of 0.4% in April and increase of 0.2% in March., the U.S. Department of Labor said.

On Wall Street, Tollbooth Strategy Index slid 0.4% or 39.04 to 10,757.18.

S&P 500 index slipped 0.7% or 14.62 to 2,094.25 and the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.6% or 29.54 to 5,052.37.

Crude oil in New York decreased 61 cents to $60.16 a barrel and gold slid 90 cents to $1,179.50 an ounce.

U.S. Movers

Korn/Ferry International ((KFY)) jumped 3% or 99 cents to $33.75 after the recruitment company reported total revenues in the fourth-quarter ending in April climbed 8.2% to $282.2 million in a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter soared 20.3% to $25.5 million or 51 cents per diluted share compared to $21.2 million or 43 cents from the same quarter last year.

The company forecasted revenues for the first-quarter in the range of $258 million to $270 million and diluted earnings per share between 44 cents and 50 cents.

Twitter Inc ((TWTR)) increased 1.4% or 46 cents to $36.30 after the social network’s chief executive officer Richard ‘Dick’ Costolo stepped down on sluggish revenue growth.

Cofounder Jack Dorsey will step in as interim-CEO.

European Markets

The on-again off-again negotiations between international lenders and Greece took a serious turn as two parties remain far apart.

European leaders began formal talks considering a scenario that may see Greece leaving the currency union as time and money is running out for Greece.

Industrial output in March rose 0.1% in the euro area and in EU28 from March. In March production fell 0.4% in euro area and 0.1% in the wider region of EU28.

Compared to year ago, production in March increased 0.8% in the euro area and 1.2% in the EU28, the Statistical Office of the European Communities said.

In London trading, FTSE 100 index dropped 1.1% or 75.04 to 6,771.70 and in Frankfurt the DAX index declined 2.2% or 244.97 to 11,087.81.

In Paris, CAC 40 index slumped 1.8% or 90.03 to 4,863.09.

For the week, FTSE 100 index fell 0.5% and in Frankfurt the DAX index slipped 0.9%.

In Paris, CAC 40 index decreased 1.1%.

Bonmarche Holdings Plc soared 7.4% to 289.98 pence after the U.K.-based women’s wear retailer said revenues in the year ending on March 28 climbed 8.7% to £178.6 million from £164.3 million in a year ago period.

Comparable store sales in the year jumped 4%.

Zodiac Aerospace SA declined 5.4% to €30.99 after the aeronautical company said group revenues in the nine-month period ending in May climbed 19.2% to €3.63 billion from €3.04 billion in a year ago period.

The company increased its euro exchange hedging portfolio for fiscal 2015.

Asian Markets

Nikkei in Tokyo rose and investors digested latest batch of earnings and industrial production increased for the first time in three months in April.

Ateam said third-quarter sales increased 24% and estimated annual sales to increase 29%. Mitsubishi Corp launched a 60-year bond offering.

In choppy trading the Nikkei 225 average closed higher but for the week fell 0.3%.

The seasonally adjusted industrial production in April climbed 1.2% from the revised 1% increase in March, the first increase in three-months. In March, production declined 0.8%, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.

For the year, industrial production in April edged up 0.1% compared to 1.7% decrease in March.

The department added total shipments in April jumped 0.6% from the previous month and revised inventories gained 0.4% from the initial flat estimate.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 24.11 to 20,407.08 and the broader Topix index gained 2.60 to 1,651.48.

For the week, Nikkei 225 decreased 0.3%.

The yen closed at 123.65 against a dollar.

Mitsubishi Corporation slipped 0.5% to 2,797.50 yen after the trading company launched a new 60-year subordinated bond to raise cash for share buybacks of 200 billion yen, doubled the issue amount from the original plan.

Market indexes in India gained on Friday and trimmed weekly losses as takeover and financing activities heat up.

Rupee weakened 9 paisa to 64.06 against one U.S. dollar.

The Sensex Index gained 54.32 to close at 26,425.30. The CNX Nifty increased 17.55 to 7,982.90.

For the week, Sensex Index declined 1.2% and CNX Nifty plunged 1.5%.

Reliance plans to launch Reliance Jio in December this year.

Wipro said it initiated talks with the UK-based outsourcing group Equiniti for takeover valued at £1 billion or ₹9,900 crore.

ABG Shipyard agreed to to sell majority stake in the Germany-based Privinvest Holding.