Market Opens Lower on Inflation Worries

Elena
13 Sep, 2005
New York City

Asian markets finished mixed with the Nikkei flat on recent gains and China's Shanghai Composite rising to a five-month high of 1.6%. European markets lost ground with the German DAX 30 down 1.7%. Nokia rose 5% on lifted 3Q earnings and sales outlook. Semiconductors led by AMD and SanDisk and FreeScale.

U.S. MARKET AVERAGES

U.S. stock futures are trading below the flat line in pre-market trading and poise to a lower opening on lingering concerns of rising inflation and borrowing costs after Katrina’s devastation, although oil futures keep steady prices in the range of $63 and $64 a barrel.

The inflation data due at 8.30 is expected to exert a significant influence on the market sentiment.
Crude-oil dropped for the third day with prices slightly over $63 a barrel.

Dow Jones futures were recently down 31 points, while Nasdaq futures were off 4 points and S&P futures were down 3.3 points.

Best Buy Inc., electronic chain, is expected Tuesday to report fiscal 2Q earnings of 38 cents a share.
Kroger Co., grocer, is expected to deliver fiscal 2Q earnings at 27 cents a share.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Economists expect the foreign-trade deficit to widen to $60 billion from $58.8 billion. The Commerce Department reveals its hand Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

INTERNATIONAL MARKET NEWS

Asian-Pacific benchmarks finished the trading session mixed, recovering from early losses with the Nikkei flat at 0.04% after recent gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.9% on oil and property stocks. China’s Shanghai Composite gained 1.6%, the highest level in 5 months on optimism over nontradable share reform. South Korea’s Kospi was steady at 0.02%. In currency markets the dollar bought 110.35 yen.

European stocks declined on falling crude-oil prices and forthcoming general elections in Germany, and even the lifted earnings and sales outlook from Nokia could not offset losses. The German DAX 30 slid 1.7% on profit-taking and concerns that economic reforms could be stopped after the election. The French CAC 40 lost 0.7%, London’s FTSE 100 also fell 0.7%.

ENERGY, METALS, CURRENCIES

Oil prices slid for the third consecutive session on expectations of lower demand growth. Light sweet crude for October delivery dropped 19 cents to $63.15 a barrel. Gasoline prices slightly fell to $1.8725 a gallon, while heating oil remained flat at $1.8125. London Brent lost 23 cents to $61.57 a barrel.

Gold price climbed in European trading. In London the precious metal was traded at the recommended price of $448.70 per troy ounce, up from $447.30. In Hong Kong gold fell $1 to $448.35. Silver traded unchanged at $6.97 per ounce.

The U.S. dollar was mixed against its major counterparts in European currency trading. The euro was quoted at $1.2285, up from $1.2281. The greenback changed hands at 110.83 yen, up from 110.16. The British pound was quoted at $1.8216, up from $1.8190.

EARNINGS NEWS

Rural/Metro Corp., ((RURL)) provider of medical-transportation and private fire-protection services, announced that 4Q net income jumped to $2.95 a share from 6 cents a share in the same period last year on account of a tax adjustment on 10% higher revenue. The latest figure includes $71.5 million, or $2.87 a share, from a deferred tax adjustment.

Factory Card Outlet & Party Corp.,((FCPO)) chain-store operator, posted 2Q net income of 30 cents a share, down vs. 56 cents in the same period a year ago despite a slight quarterly sales growth, missing analyst estimate of 59 cents a share. Comparable-store sales shed 0.5%.

Rockwell Collins ((COL)) reaffirmed its guidance for 2005, saying it still expects earnings of $2.15-$2.20 per share on revenues of about $3.45 billion. Looking further ahead, the company predicted earnings for fiscal 2006 of $2.45-$2.55 per share on revenue between $3.8 and $3.9 billion. Wall Street analysts had a consensus earnings forecast of $2.19 per share for 2005 and $2.50 per share for 2006.

Jo-Ann Stores ((JAS)) revealed the resignations of CFO Brian Carney and General Counsel Valerie Gentile Sachs, both effective at the end of the month. The fabric and craft retailer stated that both executives were leaving for jobs at other companies. Jo-Ann Stores said Jim Kerr, VP and controller, and Don Tomoff, treasurer, will lead the finance team during the transition period.

CORPORATE NEWS

Nokia ((NOK)), the world’s largest handset maker, raised its 3Q earnings and sales outlook on better-than-expected cellphones prices and increased volumes. The company released revised earnings of 18 to 19 euro cents per share, up from 14 to 17 euro cents previously projected. Sales are seen between 8.4 billion to 8.5 billion euros, up from 7.9 to 8.2 billion euros.

A buyout group which includes Clayton Dubilier & Rice, as well as Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity agreed to buy Ford Motor Co.'s Hertz unit for $5.6 billion, ending an auction among private-equity firms. The acquiring group will also assume about $10 billion in Hertz debt.