Live Index – Tue, 22 Apr 2014 Premarket

June E-mini S&Ps (ESM14 +0.01%) this morning are up +0.01% and European stocks are up +0.95% after drug maker stocks rallied as more than $ 28 billion in M&A deals has bolstered speculation of more takeovers. GlaxoSmithKline Plc and AstraZeneca Plc jumped more than 5% after Novartis AG agreed to buy Glaxo’s cancer-drug business for as much as $ 16 billion, and after reports surfaced about a potential AstraZeneca acquisition by Pfizer. The Ukraine deal nears collapse after pro-Russian forces who seized buildings in at least 10 eastern Ukrainian cities said they are not bound by the deal reached last Thursday by Ukraine. Asian stocks closed mixed: Japan -0.85%, Hong Kong -0.13%, China +0.44%, Taiwan +0.26%, Australia +0.46%, Singapore +0.67%, South Korea +0.25%, India -0.03%. Commodity prices are mixed. Jun crude oil (CLM14 -0.37%) is down -0.36%. Jun gasoline (RBM14 -0.43%) is down -0.46%. Jun gold (GCM14 +0.23%) is up +0.26%. May copper (HGK14 -0.36%) is down -0.35%. Agriculture and livestock prices are mixed. The dollar index (DXY00 -0.12%) is down -0.14%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) recovered from a 1-1/2 week low and is up +0.19% on expectations for Eurozone Apr consumer confidence, scheduled to be released later today, will remain unchanged. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.04%. June T-note prices (ZNM14 +0.03%) are up +2 ticks.

The chairman of China Huarong Asset Management, China’s largest manager of bad debt, said that China’s bad-loan ratio rose “significantly” in Q1 as the business environment this year has been “grim and complicated” as lenders face pressures on asset quality, liquidity and lending margins. This increases the risks for China’s entire banking industry.

ECB Executive Board member Coeure said that “all things being equal, a stronger euro justifies accommodative monetary policy, and that the ECB could cut the benchmark rate and/or deposit rate if necessary to counter the strength from the currency.”

Eurozone Feb construction output rose +0.1% m/m and +6.7% y/y, weaker than Jan which was revised to +1.6% m/m and +8.0% y/y from the originally reported +1.5% m/m and +8.8% y/y.

The Japan Feb leading index CI was revised upward to 108.9 from the originally reported 108.5. The Feb coincident index was revised down to 113.0 from the originally reported 113.4.

Today’s March existing home sales report is expected to show a -1.1% decline to 4.55 million, adding to the -0.4% decline to 4.60 million seen in February. Today’s Feb FHFA house price index is expected to show an increase of +0.5% m/m, matching the +0.5% m/m increase seen in January. Today’s Apr Richmond Fed manufacturing index is expected to show a +9 point increase to 2 following the -1 point decline to -7 seen in March. The Treasury today will sell $ 32 billion in 2-year T-notes.

There are 30 of the S&P 500 companies that report earnings today. Notable reports include AT&T (consensus $ 0.70), Yum Brands (0.84), Amgen (1.94), Discover (1.25), Comcast (0.64), Lockheed Martin (2.54), and McDonalds (1.24). The only equity conference this week is the Barclays Chicago Energy CFO Corporate Day on Tuesday.

Lockheed Martin (LMT +0.77%) reported Q1 EPS of $ 2.87, higher than consensus of $ 2.54.

Comcast (CMCSA +1.59%) reported Q1 EPS of 68 cents, better than consensus of 64 cents.

Harley-Davidson (HOG +1.35%) reported Q1 EPS of $ 1.21, stronger than consensus of $ 1.08.

Travelers (TRV -0.32%) reported Q1 EPS of $ 2.95, well ahead of consensus of $ 2.16.

Celanese (CE +0.96%) reported Q1 EPS of $ 1.33, well above consensus of $ 1.21.

Allergan (AGN +6.03%) surged 19% in European trading after Pershing Square reported a 9.7% stake in the company and then said that Valeant (VRX +3.24%) intends to propose a merger with Allergan.

Lone Pine Capital reported a 5.5% passive stake in Michael Kors (KORS +0.83%) .

Rent-A-Center (RCII -1.38%) reported Q1 adjusted EPS of 57 cents, better than consensus of 55 cents, and then raised guidance on fiscal 2014 EPS to $ 2.30-$ 2.50, higher than consensus of $ 2.29.

Werner (WERN -0.08%) reported Q1 EPS of 20 cents, below consensus of 21 cents.

Visium Asset reported a 5.1% passive stake in Brookdale Senior Living (BKD +0.41%) .

Polaris Venture Partners V reported a 17.3% stake in Cerulean (CERU +6.72%) .

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s (LLY +0.71%) Cyramza drug to treat patients with advanced stomach cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Hexcel (HXL unch) reported Q1 EPS of 50 cents, better than consensus of 49 cents.

Waste Connections (WCN -0.02%) reported Q1 adjusted EPS of 44 cents, higher than consensus of 41 cents.

Facebook (FB +3.90%) climbed over 2% in after-hours trading after it was upgraded to ‘Outperform’ from ‘Neutral’ at Credit Suisse.

Netflix (NFLX +0.80%) rose 7% in after-hours trading after it reported Q1 EPS of 86 cents, higher than consensus of 83 cents, and said it expects Q2 EPS of $ 1.12, better than consensus of $ 1.00.

June E-mini S&Ps (ESM14 +0.01%) this morning are up +0.25 of a point (+0.01%). The S&P 500 index on Monday rose to a 1-week high and closed higher. Bullish factors included (1) the +0.8% increase in U.S. Mar leading indicators, stronger than expectations of +0.7% and the largest increase in 4 months, and (2) optimism that U.S. Q1 company earnings results will continue to surprise on the upside as 70% of the 86 S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings results thus far have beaten expectations. Closes: S&P 500 +0.38%, Dow Jones +0.25%, Nasdaq +0.72%.

Jun 10-year T-notes (ZNM14 +0.03%) this morning are up +2 ticks. Jun 10-year T-note futures prices on Monday rebounded from a 2-week low and closed little changed. Bullish factors included (1) concerns over the global economy after Japan Mar exports rose at the slowest pace in a year, and (2) increased safe-haven demand for Treasuries on concern the crisis in Ukraine may escalate after three people were killed in a clash between pro-Russian militants and Ukraine forces in the Ukraine city of Slovyansk. T-note prices fell back from their best levels after strength in stocks undercut safe-haven demand for Treasuries. Closes: TYM4 -20.00, FVM4 -11.00.

The dollar index (DXY00 -0.12%) this morning is down -0.109 (-0.14%). EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.0026 (+0.19%). USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.04 (-0.04%). The dollar index on Monday rallied up to a 1-1/2 week high and closed higher. Supportive factors for the dollar included (1) the stronger-than-expected U.S. Mar leading indicators, which boosts the outlook for the Fed to continue to taper QE3, and (2) weakness in the yen after USD/JPY climbed to a 1-1/2 week high when Japan Mar exports rose +1.8% y/y, weaker than expectations of +6.5% y/y and the slowest pace of increase in a year, which bolsters speculation the BOJ may increase its stimulus measures. Closes: Dollar index +0.109 (+0.14%), EUR/USD -0.00206 (-0.15%), USD/JPY +0.211 (+0.21%).

Jun WTI crude oil (CLM14 -0.37%) this morning is down -37 cents (-0.36%) and Jun gasoline (RBM14 -0.43%) is down -0.0141 (-0.46%). Jun crude and gasoline prices on Monday closed higher with Jun gasoline at a 7-1/2 month high. Bullish factors included (1) the larger-than-expected +0.8% increase in U.S. Mar leading indicators, which signals strength in the U.S. economy and energy demand, (2) the ongoing Ukraine crisis and concern any further escalation of hostilities could lead to a disruption of energy supplies throughout Europe. Closes: CLM4 +0.28 (+0.27%). RBM4 +0.0221 (+0.73%).