Live Index – Thu, 06 Mar 2014 Premarket

Thu Mar 06 2014
Live Index (1420 articles)

PREMARKET WORLD NEWS

March E-mini S&Ps (ESH14 +0.19%) this morning are up +0.09% at a fresh all-time high and European stocks are up +0.46%. As expected, the BOE maintained its benchmark interest rate at 0.50% and kept its asset purchase target unchanged at 375 billion pounds. The markets now await the ECB interest rate decision later this morning along with the press conference from ECB President Draghi. European stocks found support on the stronger-than-expected German Jan factory orders. Asian stocks closed mostly higher: Japan +1.59%, Hong Kong +0.55%, China +0.45%, Taiwan +0.94%, Australia -0.01%, Singapore +0.40%, South Korea +0.13%, India +1.11%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Index posted a 5-week high as a slide in the yen to a 1-1/2 week low boosted exporter stocks, while China’s Shanghai Stock Index shook off early losses and closed higher after property developers rallied when government officials speaking at the National People’s Congress in Beijing said the housing market was stable and will get long-term support from urbanization. Commodity prices are mixed. Apr crude oil (CLJ14 -0.64%) is down -0.26%. Apr gasoline (RBJ14 -0.02%) is up +0.07%. Apr gold (GCJ14 -0.41%) is down -0.47%. May copper (HGK14 +0.09%) is up +0.02%. Agriculture and livestock prices are mixed. The dollar index (DXY00 -0.07%) is down -0.02%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.15%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.43% at a 1-1/2 week high. June T-note prices (ZNM14 -0.15%) are down -5.5 ticks.

Speaking Wednesday evening at Seattle University, San Francisco Fed President Williams said recent weakness in the U.S. economic data probably means GDP growth will be “closer to 2.5%” for this year, compared with an earlier expectation of “closer to 3.0% expansion.”

German Jan factory orders rose +1.2% m/m and +8.4% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.9% m/m and +7.5% y/y with the +8.4% y/y gain the largest annual increase in 2-1/2 years.

UK Feb Halifax house prices surged +2.4% m/m, over three times expectations of +0.7% m/m and the fastest pace of growth in 4-3/4 years. On a 3-month y/y basis, prices rose +7.9%, higher than expectations of +7.3% and the fastest pace of increase in 6-1/3 years.

U.S. STOCK PREVIEW

Today’s weekly initial unemployment claims report is expected to show a decline of -12,000 to 336,000, reversing most of last week’s increase of +14,000 to 348,000. Meanwhile, continuing claims are expected to show an increase of +6,000 to 2.970 million, adding to last week’s increase of +8,000 to 2.964 million. Today’s Jan factory orders report is expected to show a decline of -0.5%, adding to December’s decline of -1.5%. There are 5 of the Russell 1000 companies that report earnings today: Joy Global (consensus $ 0.65), Costco Wholesale (1.17), Staples (0.39), Kroger (0.72), H&R Block (-0.11). Equity conferences during the remainder of this week include: Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on Mon-Thu, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Refining Conference on Thu, and Jefferies Industrial Leaders Day on Thu.

PREMARKET U.S. STOCKS

Yum! Brands (YUM +0.23%) was upgraded to ‘Outperform’ from ‘Neutral’ at RW Baird.

Lowe’s (LOW -0.55%) was downgraded to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Outperform’ at Wedbush.

Tiffany (TIF -0.30%) was upgraded to ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ at Citigroup.

Staples (SPLS -0.52%) reported Q4 EPS of 33 cents, below consensus of 39 cents.

Bob Evans (BOBE -8.18%) was upgraded to ‘Buy’ from ‘Hold’ at Miller Tabak.

Joy Global (JOY +0.90%) reported Q1 EPS of 49 cents, weaker than consensus of 65 cents.

Costco Wholesale (COST -0.15%) fell nearly 3% in European trading after it reported Q2 EPS of $ 1.05, below consensus of $ 1.17.

Universal American (UAM -1.20%) reported a Q4 adjusted EPS loss of -5 cents, a bigger loss than consensus of -3 cents.

Barron’s reported that General Electric’s (GE +1.09%) CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, invested his bonus in 104,900 shares of the company’s stock at a price of $ 2.64 million.

Gabelli reported a 17.66% stake in Griffon (GFF +1.27%) .

LHC Group (LHCG +0.53%) lowered guidance on fiscal 2014 EPS to $ 1.15-$ 1.35, below consensus of $ 1.43.

Spartan Stores (SPTN +0.13%) reported Q3 adjusted EPS of 40 cents, well above consensus of 25 cents.

Boyd Gaming (BYD +1.22%) reported a Q4 adjusted EPS loss of -24 cents, a smaller loss than consensus of -25 cents.

MARKET COMMENTS

Mar E-mini S&Ps (ESH14 +0.19%) this morning are up +1.75 points (+0.09%). The S&P 500 on Wednesday posted a new record high but then fell back and settled little changed. The Feb ADP employment change rose +139,000, less than expectations of +155,000, and the Feb ISM non-manufacturing index showed a larger-than-expected decline of -2.4 to a 4-year low of 51.6. A positive factor for stock prices was the upbeat Fed Beige Book that said 8 of the Fed’s 12 districts last month reported modest to moderate improved levels of activity, even with the effects of the harsh winter weather. Closes: S&P 500 -0.01%, Dow Jones -0.22%, Nasdaq 100 +0.20%.

Jun 10-year T-notes (ZNM14 -0.15%) this morning are down -5.5 ticks. Jun 10-year T-note futures prices on Wednesday fell to a 1-week low on reduced safe-haven demand after the S&P 500 posted a record high, but prices recovered after the Feb ADP employment report showed less hiring than expected and after the Feb ISM non-manufacturing index fell to a 4-year low. Closes: TYM4 unch, FVM4 -1.00.

The dollar index (DXY00 -0.07%) this morning is down -0.017 (-0.02%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.0021 (+0.15%). USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is up +0.44 (+0.43%) at a 1-1/2 week high. The dollar index on Wednesday closed slightly lower after the Feb ADP employment and the Feb ISM non-manufacturing index reports were weaker than expected. EUR/USD found support on stronger-than-expected Eurozone Jan retail sales and the upward revision in the Eurozone Feb PMI composite to a 2-3/4 year high. Gains in EUR/USD were limited, however, ahead of Thursday’s ECB meeting. Closes: Dollar index -0.059 (-0.07%), EUR/USD -0.0001 (-0.07%), USD/JPY +0.092 (+0.09%).

Apr WTI crude oil (CLJ14 -0.64%) this morning is down -26 cents (-0.26%) and Apr gasoline (RBJ14 -0.02%) is up +0.0021 (+0.07%). Apr crude and gasoline prices on Wed closed lower on bearish weekly EIA inventory data. Crude inventories rose +1.429 million bbl to a 2-1/4 month high of 363.8 million bbl, more than expectations of +1.078 million bbl and distillate supplies unexpectedly rose +1.414 million bbl, more than expectations for a -1.033 million bbl draw. Losses in gasoline were limited after weekly EIA gasoline stockpiles fell -1.604 million bbl, nearly double expectations for a -880,000 bbl decline. Closes: CLJ4 -1.88 (-1.82%), RBJ4 -0.0450 (-1.51%).

 

GLOBAL EVENT CALENDAR03/06/2014
US0815 ETNew York Fed President William Dudley answers questions at an interview in New York.
0830 ETWeekly initial unemployment claims expected -12,000 to 336,000, previous +14,000 to 348,000. Weekly continuing claims expected +6,000 to 2.970 million, previous +8,000 to 2.964 million.
0830 ETRevised Q4 non-farm productivity expected +2.2%, previous 3.2%. Revised Q4 unit labor costs expected -0.5%, previous -1.5%.
0830 ETUSDA weekly Export Sales.
1000 ETJan factory orders expected -0.5%, Dec -1.5%.
1100 ETTreasury announces amounts of 3-year T-notes (previous $ 30 billion), 10-year T-notes (previous $ 24 billion) and 30-year T-bonds (previous $ 16 billion) to be auctioned Mar 11-13.
1300 ETPhiladelphia Fed President Charles Plosser speaks at a lecture in London on Exiting Unconventional Monetary Policy.
1800 ETAtlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart speaks on his economic outlook at Georgetown University.
GER0600 ETGerman Jan factory orders expected +0.9% m/m and +7.5% y/y, Dec -0.5% m/m and +6.0% y/y.
UK0700 ETBOE announces interest rate decision and asset purchase target (expected no change to the 0.50% benchmark rate or to the 375 billion pound asset purchase target).
EUR0745 ETECB announces interest rate decision.
0830 ETECB President Mario Draghi speaks at monthly press conference following ECB meeting.
U.S. STOCK CALENDAR03/06/2014
Company NameTickerTimeEvent DescriptionPeriodEstimate
Joy Global IncJOY USBef-mktQ1 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ1 20140.648
Kroger Co/TheKR USBef-mktQ4 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ4 20140.723
Costco Wholesale CorpCOST USBef-mktQ2 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ2 20141.167
Staples IncSPLS USBef-mktQ4 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ4 20140.388
CST Brands IncCST USBef-mktQ4 2013 Earnings ReleaseQ4 20130.506
L Brands IncLB US7:30February 2014 Sales and Revenue Call2014
Staples IncSPLS US8:00Q4 2014 Earnings CallQ4 2014
Huntsman CorpHUN US8:00Investor DayY 2014
Agilent Technologies IncA US8:30Analyst MeetingY 2014
Rockwell Collins IncCOL US8:30Investor ConferenceY 2014
Genpact LtdG US8:30Investor and Analyst DayY 2014
Verisk Analytics IncVRSK US8:30Investor DayY 2014
CST Brands IncCST US9:00Q4 2013 Earnings CallQ4 2013
Pinnacle Foods IncPF US9:30Q4 2013 Earnings CallQ4 2013
Kroger Co/TheKR US10:00Q4 2014 Earnings CallQ4 2014
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters IncGMCR US10:00Annual General MeetingY 2014
Joy Global IncJOY US11:00Q1 2014 Earnings CallQ1 2014
Costco Wholesale CorpCOST US11:00Q2 2014 Earnings CallQ2 2014
Landstar System IncLSTR US14:00Q1 2014 Guidance Call – Mid QuarterQ1 2014
AmerisourceBergen CorpABC US14:00Annual General MeetingY 2014
Cooper Cos Inc/TheCOO US16:00Q1 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ1 20141.456
Gap Inc/TheGPS US16:00February 2014 Sales and Revenue Call2014
H&R Block IncHRB US16:30Q3 2014 Earnings CallQ3 2014
Cooper Cos Inc/TheCOO US17:00Q1 2014 Earnings CallQ1 2014
Waddell & Reed Financial IncWDR US17:00Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting
Fresh Market Inc/TheTFM US17:00Q4 2014 Earnings CallQ4 2014
H&R Block IncHRB USAft-mktQ3 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ3 2014-0.111
Gap Inc/TheGPS USFebruary 2014 Sales and Revenue Release2014
L Brands IncLB USFebruary 2014 Sales and Revenue Release2014
Questar CorpSTR USAnalyst Day – Day 1Y 2014
Thor Industries IncTHO USQ2 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ2 20140.337
Apple IncAAPL USU.S. Court of Appeals Hearing on Apple vs VirnetX Holding Corp. Patent Case
Costco Wholesale CorpCOST USFebruary 2014 Sales and Revenue Release2014
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters IncGMCR USAnnual General Meeting
AECOM Technology CorpACM USAnnual General Meeting
Fresh Market Inc/TheTFM USQ4 2014 Earnings ReleaseQ4 20140.423
Pinnacle Foods IncPF USQ4 2013 Earnings ReleaseQ4 20130.583
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