Better-than-expected results from IBM and Intel, good news from Yahoo despite weak results, help lift futures.
October 18 2006: 9:09 AM EDT
NEW
YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Key economic readings and strong earnings
reports from some tech bellwethers have stocks pointing higher before
the market open Wednesday.
Stock futures, an indication of where stocks will trade in the early going, were up at 8:30 a.m. ET.
On Wednesday, JP Morgan Chase (Charts), the nation's No. 3 financial services company and a Dow component, continued the trend of strong earnings as it reported a better-than-expected results.
After the bell Tuesday, No. 1 chipmaker Intel (Charts) reported lower earnings that nonetheless beat estimates, as the company said it is winning back lost market share. Computer maker IBM (Charts) also beat forecasts
on improved earnings. IBM shares were upgraded by Goldman Sachs to a
"buy" recommendation from neutral early Wednesday. Both Dow components
were higher in Frankfurt trading early Wednesday.
Internet firm Yahoo (Charts)
reported disappointing results, but shares gained in after-hours
trading after its CEO told investors during a conference call that its
long-awaited new search technology was now live.
But analysts at Piper Jaffray downgraded the company's shares to
"market perform" from "outperform" on Wednesday. Still, shares of Yahoo
were up in Frankfurt on Wednesday.
S&P 500 futures edged up 1.4 points at 1,373.10 and Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 4 points at 1,724.25. Dow industrial futures rose 20 points.
On Tuesday, U.S. stocks came under pressure after the latest producer-price report reignited inflation fears. A downgrade of Intel contributed to Tuesday's decline, with the Dow industrials losing 54 points, the Nasdaq Composite dropping 23 points and the S&P 500 losing 7 points.
But Intel may bounce back after the world's largest chipmaker's third-quarter earnings report showed signs it's past the worst of its problems. Intel reported a 35% profit decline, though compared to the second quarter, profit rose 47%.
Intel shares were up 1.4% in Frankfurt.
IBM shares climbed 3.7% in Germany after the company's 47% profit rise exceeded analyst estimates behind global services deals.
Wall Street retreated from attempts to push the Dow Jones industrial average to 12,000, rattled by a fresh batch of inflation data and a downgrade of chip maker Intel Corp.
The Dow was less than three points away on Monday from reaching the psychologically important milestone for the first time. Behind the three-week run up in stocks was optimism that corporate profits will remain robust amid a slowing economy.
However, that confidence was dealt a setback on Tuesday after the U.S. Labor Department reported a bigger-than-expected jump in core wholesale inflation, which unearthed the market's fears of higher interest rates. Also exasperating investors was a downgrade of Dow component Intel ahead of its third-quarter earnings report.
The Labor Department said its producer price index fell 1.3% in September, the biggest decline in three years, while its core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, climbed 0.6%.
Intel tumbled after Goldman Sachs downgraded the world's biggest chip maker to "Neutral" from "Buy." The broker said Wall Street projections for the company are too aggressive heading into the quarter, and that it continues to prefer rival AMD. The world's largest maker of chips for personal computers reports earnings after the closing bell.
The Dow industrials rose 20.09 points to 11,980.60. The benchmark index rose as much as 37 points to reach a fresh all-time intraday high of 11,997.25. Of the 30 Dow stocks, 16 contributed to gains.
The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 6.55 points to 2,363.83 while the S&P 500 Index added 3.44 points to 1,369.06.
"A lot of people missed out on the recent rally, which is leading to a sort of emotional stampede which has nothing to do with fundamentals," according to Michael Metz, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer & Co.
Metz said the Dow Industrials are set to break through the 12,000 mark, barring any major bad news.
On the broader market for equities, advancers outpaced decliners by more than 2 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange and by 19 to 10 on the Nasdaq.
Volume was 1.44 billion on the Big Board and 1.84 billion on the Nasdaq.
On the data front, the New York Federal Reserve reported that its Empire State manufacturing survey showed that regional factory activity accelerated this month. The headline index rose to 22.9 in October from 13.8 in September. Economists were expecting a decline to about 12.6.
Crude-oil futures rose after a decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to hold an emergency meeting. OPEC plans to discuss ways to halt the slide in oil prices against the cartel's lowered forecast for 2006 world-oil demand. Crude for November delivery ended up $1.37 at $59.94 a barrel.
Dow up 8 points and Nasdaq up 5points now .... Dow only just 30 points from 12,000 mark!!! Let's hope old Benny can boost US market later. Or it should close FLATcos no more data for today.
Semicon counters are up due to Samsung's better Q3 earnings today. Intel's Q3 out 17th Oct and AMD Q3 out 18th Oct.
The New York Federal Reserve reported that its Empire State manufacturing survey showed that regional factory activity accelerated this month. The headline index rose to 22.9 in October from 13.8 in September. Economists were expecting a decline to about 12.6.
Both Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke and European Central Bank leader Jean-Claude Trichet are scheduled to speak later in the day.
Stocks look to open higher after oil is unable to hang onto gains, despite early concerns about OPEC production cuts.
October 16 2006: 8:23 AM EDT
NEW
YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Wall Street looked to continue its recent rally
after oil prices fell despite earlier worries about an OPEC oil
production cut.
Stock futures,
a predictor of where U.S. indexes will be in early trading, pointed to
a slightly higher open stocks after being off in early trading.
Oil prices were were lower at about 8 a.m. after being higher in early trading. OPEC announced Saturday it would meet Thursday to discuss production cuts, which had lifted prices in early trading. But oil was unable to hold onto those early gains.
Not trying to pour cold water, but I am worried about the Oct crash - remember it. Do look behind your shoulder and not be carried away by the euphoria. Take care.
October 12 2006: 11:10 AM EDT (to test 12,000 liao)
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) Stocks rallied Thurs morning, pushing the Dow Jones Ind average to a new trading high and within striking distance of 12,000 after oil prices hit their lowest level of 2006.
The 30-share Dow (up 68.75 to 11,920.88, Charts) climbed about 0.5 percent an hour and a half into the session.
Upbeat investors have pushed the Dow to a record and the S&P 500 to a 5-1/2 year high. The momentum should continue - at least for another week. (more)
The world's most widely watched stock market gauge hit a new trading high just above 11,923, climbing within 77 points of the 12,000 milestone.
The S&P 500 (up 6.80 to 1,356.75, Charts) index rose 0.4 percent while the tech-fueled Nasdaq composite (up 18.68 to 2,326.95, Charts) climbed 0.6 percent.
Stocks advanced with the Dow Jones industrial average crossing 11,900 for the first time, after big consumer names like McDonald's Corp. gave investors hope that earnings would be strong despite a slowing economy.
The Commerce Department reported that the country's trade deficit rose to a record high in August. A separate report showed that the number of newly laid off workers seeking unemployment benefits grew by 4,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted total of 308,000. Unemployment remains low, however.
Investors aren't concentrating on the trade deficit and are instead focusing on earnings reports and looking for further signs of how profits will hold up in 2007.
Investors were also awaiting the release, set for later Thursday, of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book, which summarizes regional economic activity.
In corporate news, McDonald's rose after saying systemwide same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, rose 9.8% in September. The world's largest fast-food chain, and one of the 30 stocks that comprise the Dow, said its third-quarter profit would top Wall Street's expectation.
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