FeedPosted Nov 20th 2009 7:50AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Dell (DELL), Market matters, Economic data, Commodities, Oil
U.S. stock futures fell Friday morning, indicating continued weakness in the stock market. Dell's worse-than-expected earnings reported late Thursday are putting pressure on equities as a whole and technology shares in particular. Investors may be moving toward safer securities in the absence of confidence in the strength of the sector, which has already stumbled the last couple of days.
On Thursday, stocks fell across the board: the Dow industrials were down 0.9%, the S&P 500 declined 1.3% and the Nasdaq composite skidded 1.7%, following an analyst downgrade of semiconductors. This put further pressure on a sector that was already reeling from earnings the day before. Economic reports didn't help to increase investors' confidence Thursday.
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower on Dell's earnings, ECB move
Posted Nov 19th 2009 7:40AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, Microsoft (MSFT), Dell (DELL), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Market matters, JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Sears Holdings (SHLD), Gap Inc (GPS), Economic data, salesforce.com inc (CRM)
U.S. stock futures declined Thursday morning, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street as investors started weighing the possibility that stocks have run up too far and too fast ahead of the economy -- the economic recovery may not be as robust. The retail sector is in focus with several retailers reporting earnings. The tech sector could also experience pressure.
On Wednesday, stocks ended lower with technology shares leading the decline, and the Nasdaq composite down nearly half a percent. Results from Salesforce.com (CRM) and Autodesk (ADSK) weighed on the sector as Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Microsoft (MSFT) were among the leading decliners in the Dow.
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower on economic concerns; retail, tech in focus
Posted Nov 18th 2009 10:00AM by Mark Fightmaster (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, Deals, Boeing Co (BA)
Late Tuesday, aerospace firm Boeing (
BA) announced its
first major deal at the Dubai Airshow. While this is good news for BA, the bad news is that the majority of the $2 billion of deals available at the show went to rival Airbus. BA revealed nearly $900 million of deals with Algerian airlines, while Airbus announced $1.25 billion of confirmed orders.
These orders bring the total dollar amount of orders at the Airshow to $5.67 billion for 42 aircraft. This total is a mere pittance compared to the $155.5 billion worth of deals scored in 2007. BA's Randy Tinseth noted, "it's a completely different market from two years ago," sentiment agreed upon by Airbus's CEO Tom Enders.
Continue reading Boeing receives yet another big plane order
Posted Nov 18th 2009 7:45AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Deals, Market matters, Hershey Co (HSY), Economic data, Kraft Foods'A' (KFT), Commodities, Oil, Housing
U.S. stock futures edged higher Wednesday morning, a little above the 13-month highs they reached Tuesday, as investors await key data figures, including consumer prices and housing starts. As traders take a breather from the recent runup in stocks, the same trends that pushed markets higher on Tuesday remain: the dollar dropped and commodities soared, driving mining stocks higher in overseas markets.
[
Update 8:30 a.m.: October housing starts were down 30% from last year, the weakest since April. CPI rose 0.3% in October on higher energy, car prices. At first glance, these figures may affect the mood negatively.
8:35 a.m.: Stock market futures are declining, indicating a lower start.]
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures fall after housing, inflation data
Posted Nov 17th 2009 7:45AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Home Depot (HD), Market matters, Economic data, Housing
U.S. stock futures edged lower Tuesday morning following yet another strong rally on Monday. This morning, investors await some economic data due out before the opening bell, including an inflation gauge and a housing indicator. The housing market is further in focus with Home Depot's earnings report.
On Monday, stock markets closed about 1.4% higher across the board after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke didn't indicate a change in the Fed's policy any time soon to support the dollar. In fact, as the U.S. economy remains weak and unemployment keeps rising, the Fed will likely extend its low interest rate policy longer. He did mention the central bank policy will ensure that the "dollar is strong." The dollar edged higher from its 15-month lows following Bernanke's speech.
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures edge lower ahead of inflation data
Posted Nov 16th 2009 7:45AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, General Motors (GM), Market matters, Japan, Economic data, Federal Reserve
U.S. stock futures followed global markets higher Monday morning as Japan announced its economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace and governments around the world said they would maintain their stimulus policies. Investors are also awaiting a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, GM's first earnings report since emerging from bankruptcy, as well as more economic data, including retail sales and manufacturing.
Japan's gross domestic product
grew at an annual pace of 4.8% in the third quarter, its largest expansion in more than two years. This was higher than economists' 2.6% projection. The world's second largest economy relies heavily on exports and demand at home and overseas improved, indicating its trading partners are also recovering.
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures higher ahead of retail sales data
Posted Nov 13th 2009 7:45AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Market matters, Walt Disney (DIS), Penney (J.C.) (JCP), Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF), Economic data, Oil
U.S. stock futures were higher Friday morning indicating Wall Street, after taking a two-day rest from its drive upward, was ready to rebound. While investors await several economic releases, including trade balance and consumer sentiment, Walt-Disney's better-than-expected results has helped sentiment.
On Thursday, U.S. stocks declined, after crude inventories were reported higher than expected,
dragging down oil prices, oil companies and the markets. Investors also questioned the sustainability of the recent rally, driving the Dow industrials down nearly 100 points.
Continue reading Before the bell: Stock futures higher ahead of consumer sentiment, trade gap data
Posted Nov 12th 2009 9:30AM by Mark Fightmaster (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, Housing, Financial Crisis
According to RealtyTrac, the number of homeowners facing foreclosure
dropped during October, thanks in part to foreclosure prevention programs that helped borrowers. RealtyTrac stated that more than 332,000 households (one in every 385 homes) were recipients of either a notice of default or a trustee's sale. This number is 3% lower than September, making October the third-straight month with a drop in the number of homeowners facing foreclosure. As for homes actually repossessed, the number dropped to 77,000 in October from 88,000 in September.
RealtyTrac noted that one reason for the lower number of foreclosures is new state programs that require a bank to try and work with the homeowner before seizing property. In addition, some lenders are staving off foreclosures by evaluating which of their close-to-default borrowers may qualify for the new federal loan modification program.
Continue reading Foreclosures fall, but are still higher than a year ago
Posted Nov 12th 2009 8:00AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), General Electric (GE), Wal-Mart (WMT), Market matters, Economic data, United Technologies (UTX), Oil
U.S. stock futures were lower Thursday morning after the Dow industrials hit yet another 13-month high on Wednesday, but the S&P 500 couldn't close above the 1,100 level. Even though Wal-Mart beat earnings and improved its outlook, futures declined as investors await weekly jobs data.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (
WMT) posted
third-quarter profit of 84 cents a share, above Bloomberg's analyst estimates for profit of 81 cents. Wal-Mart also upped its full-year profit above estimates, but fourth quarter guidance barely matched projections. Sales grew by just 1% in the quarter. WMT shares slid over 1% in pre-market trading.
Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks to open lower despite Wal-Mart's beat
Posted Nov 11th 2009 7:40AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Market matters, Amer Intl Group (AIG), United Parcel'B' (UPS), Economic data, Commodities, Oil, Federal Reserve
U.S. stock futures were higher Wednesday morning, indicating stocks will open on an upbeat note after investors expectation that interest rates will remain low for some time increased following speeches from Federal Reserve officials. As the dollar further fell, investors turned to asset buying, pushing stocks higher.
Stocks looked for direction Tuesday, finishing the day mixed and not much changed, as Wall Street took a break from a 6-day rally. Today, U.S. bond markets are closed for Veteran's Day.
Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks ready to climb on hopes of continued low rates
Posted Nov 10th 2009 7:45AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Market matters, Sun Microsystems (JAVA), Oracle Corp (ORCL), Economic data, Housing, MBIA Inc (MBI)
It was to be expected. After Wall Street climbed to 13-months highs with stocks rallying over 2% just on Monday to add to last week's gains, finally U.S. stock futures edged lower Tuesday morning, indicating stocks will are poised to retreat somewhat at the open. There's not much news this morning as investors await some housing data.
Deals and the Group of 20 helped sentiment Monday push stocks for their six straight higher close. Several deals in the making boosted investor confidence as did the Group of 20, which said over the weekend that it would keep economic stimulus measures in place for now. And with the Federal Reserve indicating it would keep rates low, buyers came back in droves Monday taking the Dow industrials up over 200 points.
Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks ready for a lower open after reaching 13-month highs
Posted Nov 9th 2009 7:40AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Deals, General Electric (GE), Market matters, Sprint Nextel Corp (S), Comcast Cl'A' (CMCSA), Economic data, Kraft Foods'A' (KFT), Oil
U.S. stock futures climbed significantly higher Monday morning, pointing to a strong open on Wall Street following gains in overseas stock markets. With little in the way of economics data and earnings, investors mostly are following several potential deal news.
Last week, with mostly encouraging economic data and generally better-than-expected earnings, the Dow reclaimed the 10,000 mark and remained above it despite the unemployment rate reaching 10.2%. It seems for now, the promise of a recovery and a Federal Reserve that's keeping stimulating policies are enough to boost sentiment.
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures climb as Wall Street eyes deals
Posted Nov 6th 2009 10:00AM by Mark Fightmaster (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, Bad news, Employees, Economic data
Is this bad news for the recovery? The Labor Department reported that the U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 10.2% in October, pushing the rate atop the
10% mark for the first time in 26 years. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 190,000 in October, bringing the total number of jobs sacrificed to the recession to 7.3 million. October was the 22nd straight month that saw payrolls decline. According to MarketWatch, expectations were for an unemployment rate of 10% and 150,000 jobs lost.
Yesterday, I took a look at the
weekly jobless claims, suggesting that we could see a substantial drop today if this morning's jobs report came in worse than expected. The report was worse, now let's see if yesterday's "good news" and rally is going to give way to a slump like last Friday.
Continue reading Jobless rate jumps to 10.2% during October
Posted Nov 6th 2009 7:45AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Employees, Market matters, Economic data, DJIA
U.S. stock futures were higher Friday morning, continuing Thursday's strong performance and nearing two-week highs. All eyes this morning will turn to the government's jobs report. While there have been signs of growth and recovery in the economy, the labor market has been one of the biggest concerns, as the Federal Reserve statement just from Wednesday attests.
[
Update 8:33 a.m.: Stock futures changed course after the government reported the unemployment rate rose to 10.2%, above the 9.9% expected. Nonfarm payrolls dropped by 190,000 in October, bringing to total number of jobs lost in the recession to 7.3 million.]
U.S. stock markets surged about 2% on Thursday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reclaiming the 10,000 mark with a 203 point move. Positive economic news, including sales results from retailers and upbeat outlook from tech giant Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO).
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures decline after unemployment rate rises to 10.2%
Posted Nov 5th 2009 7:40AM by Melly Alazraki (RSS feed)
Filed under: Before the bell, International markets, Cisco Systems (CSCO), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Market matters, Economic data, Federal Reserve
U.S. stock futures drifted a little lower (later a little higher) Thursday morning following Wednesday's Federal Reserve's statement that it was keeping rates at record low levels. However, earnings from tech giant Cisco accompanied by an upbeat outlook could give a boost to tech. Also this morning, investors will watch as retail chain-stores report October sales.
[
Update: Futures now point to a higher open following retail sales data, earnings and lower claims numbers.]
On Wednesday, Wall Street ended mixed and relatively flat after the Federal Reserve decided to keep rates steady. While conceding the economy has picked up, policymakers said this was not enough to hike interest rates, saying an increase will instead depend on when the labor market and inflation pickup. Given that there have been no inflationary pressures and that unemployment is expected to rise, the dollar weakened yesterday and short-term Treasury yields fell. The Fed also cautioned consumer spending would remain strained. Of course, the market would have liked to see a stronger show of confidence.
Continue reading Before the bell: Futures higher after data, earnings
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