Ford Cuts Jobs, Production

Elena
18 Aug, 2006
New York City

Microsoft Corp. announced that it increased its share buyback plan by about $16.2 billion, lifting its total repurchase authorization to $36.2 billion through June 30, 2011. Ford Motor said that it is planning to partially shut down plants in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter due to reduced production in North America. The company said Q4 production would be down 21%, and Q3 production will be 20,000 units below what was previously announced. Company''s shares dropped 3.2%.

[R]9:45AM Stocks opened mixed as Dell pressured.[/R]
Stock markets opened mixed Friday, pressured by disappointing earnings from Dell and an advance by the oil price. After four straight sessions of gains and little economic data, investors searched for motivation to extend the winning streak. Computer maker Dell ((DELL)) dragged the Nasdaq after reporting Q2 profit drop by 51% and revealing that the SEC has been investigating its accounting for the past year. The Dow advanced after Altria (MO), the parent company of cigarette maker Philip Morris, climbed by 3.7% and moved to a new high after a judge ruled that the tobacco companies deceived smokers about the health risks from smoking.

Microsoft Corp. ((MSFT)) announced it increased its share buyback plan by about $16.2 billion, boosting its total repurchase authorization to $36.2 billion through June 30, 2011. Shares of the company gained 1.3%. Another company in focus was Ford Motor Co. ((F)) after it said that it is planning to partially shut down plants in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter due to reduced production in North America. The company said Q4 production would be down 21%, and Q3 production will be 20,000 units below previous forecasts. For the full year, Ford plans to produce about 9% fewer vehicles than last year. Company’s shares dropped 3.2%. In the first hour of trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 27.86, or 0.25%.The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up .83, or .06%, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 3.38, or 0.16%.


[R]8:30AM Stock futures pointed to a flat opening.[/R]
After four consecutive sessions if gains, U.S. stock equity futures indicated a flat opening, with gains from tobacco companies on a legal victory but losses for Gap Inc. and Dell Inc. due to disappointing quarterly results.

Of companies in focus, Altria Group ((MO)) and Reynolds American ((RAI)) are expected to rise after a judge''s ruling held that tobacco companies including Altria''s Philip Morris USA and Reynolds American violated federal racketeering laws. Apparel retailer Gap Inc. ((GPS)) posted Q2 profit drop of 53% on lower margins, and said it was paring its full-year forecast. Analysts at CIBC, Jefferies and Prudential downgraded the company''s shares. Tech stocks are expected to fall after Dell Inc. ((DELL)) reported a 51% net income drop in the second quarter and revealed SEC probe regarding accounting issues. Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to ''sell'' from ''hold''. Company''s shares dropped 6.7% in pre-market trading.

Chip maker Marvell Technology ((MRVL)) said its net revenue rose 47%t to $574 million, missing expectations for sales of $583 million. The company didn''t report its net income or per-share figures because of an internal review of its stock-option accounting. Autodesk ((ADSK)), design software maker, didn''t report its earnings for the same reason, but reported a 21% growth in quarterly revenue.

In other news, Ford Motor Co. ((F)) is planning to close more factories, cut jobs and benefits by 10% to 30%. Dow Jones futures were recently up 2 points, S&P 500 futures eased 1.7 points, and Nasdaq futures were off 1.5 points.

Alpha Natural Resources Inc, ((ANR)), coal producer, reported its Q2 net income fell to 36 cents a share, from 43 cents a share in the year-earlier period on 19% revenue growth, missing analysts'' forecast for earnings of 44 cents a share.

The Wet Seal Inc, ((WTSLA)), retailer, reported Q2 net income advanced to 4 cents a share, from a loss of 87 cents a share in the year-ago period. Revenue grew to $129.5 million from $126.2 million. If not for items, net income rose to $3 million, or 3 cents a share, from $2.7 million, or 7 cents a share in the year-ago period. The company met analysts'' forecasts for earnings of 4 cents a share and forecast Q3 net income of 6-7 cents a share, including $1.9 million or 2 cents a share for non-cash stock compensation.

J.M. Smucker Co, ((SJM)), maker of peanut butter and jelly, reported that Q1 income fell 50 cents a share, from 51 cents a year ago as results were hurt by restructuring charges related to the sale of the company''s Canadian grain-based food service operations. If not for those charges, earnings would have been 59 cents a share. Sales rose 3% to $526.5 million from $510.3 million. The company missed analysts'' expectations for earnings of 58 cents a share.


[R]7:30AM Asian markets end mixed, while Japan advances on exporters.[/R]
Asian markets closed mixed on Friday. Japan''s Nikkei 225 Average ended the trading session up 0.53% to 16,105.98, its highest close since mid-May. Japanese exporters, depending heavily on sales in the U.S. market for profit growth, led the gainers. Sony Corp. gained 2.71% and Honda Motor advanced 1.28%. Japan Airlines Corp. moved up 4.15% after applying to regulators for permission to increase fuel surcharges, while All Nippon Airways advanced 1.32% on lower oil prices.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index closed down 0.24% to 17,330.70. Clothing retailer Esprit Holdings advanced 3.53%, while oil-related stocks including CNOOC and Petrochina fell, 2.02% and 1.9% respectively. South Korea''s Kospi Index edged up 0.25% on strong blue-chips including Samsung Electronics and steelmaker Posco. Samsung Electronics advanced 2.17%, and Posco rose 0.43%.

The Shanghai Composite fell 0.3%. Air China''s debut was disappointing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Friday, closing unchanged from its IPO price of 2.8 yuan. It was the weakest opening day for a mainland IPO since new offerings resumed in June following a year-long suspension. Elsewhere around the region, Australia''s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.07%, while miner BHP Billiton advanced 0.72% following its statement that it had shut down its Escondida mine in Chile.


[R]6:30AM European markets were mostly lower on profit taking.[/R]
European markets were lower by mid-morning on Friday. The U.K. FTSE 100 index added 0.2% at 5,911, while the German DAX Xetra 30 index lost 0.1% at 5,827 and the French CAC-40 index fell 0.1% at 5,140. BAE Systems advanced 3.5% after it stated that it hails the agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and the U.K. of the commercial principles that will initiate Saudi Arabia''s purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Also, other major gainers included Imperial Tobacco up 1.3% and British American Tobacco rising 1.2%.

The Eurofighter is a joint project between Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Finmeccanica, which rose 1.3% and EADS, Europe’s largest aerospace group, which gained 0.6%. Other defense groups were higher also. Thales, the French defense electronics group, is also in negotiation to supply to the Middle East and gained 1.4%

Oil prices advanced Friday after hitting the bottom at $70 a barrel a day earlier on a wave of good news in the Middle East and an Alaskan oil field. Late Friday morning in Europe, light, sweet crude oil for September delivery rose 68 cents to $70.74 a barrel in electronic trading on the NYME. At London''s ICE Futures exchange, Brent crude for October was up 53 cents to $72.11 a barrel.

The U.S. Dollar traded mixed against other major currencies in European trading on Friday morning. Gold fell. Dealers in London fixed a recommended price of $614.75 at mid-morning, down from $624.80 Thursday. The euro traded at $1.2819, down from $1.2827 Thursday. The British pound bought $1.8840, down from $1.8841. The dollar purchased 115.60 Japanese yen, down from 115.90.