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Mexico City hit with magnitude 5.9 earthquake: reports

By Gabriel Madway

Last Update: 11:01 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Mexico City was hit with a magnitude 5.9 earthquake Friday, but there were no initial reports of major damage in the city, according to media reports. Some buildings were evacuated, although electric and telephone service were not interrupted, the Associated Press reported. The epicenter of the quake was not immediately known.

European market down today .... Dow down 30 points, while Nasdaq down 10 points now.

LONDON MARKETS

London falls into negative territory

Schroders, Vodafone among decliners

By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch

Last Update: 10:25 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Stocks couldn't hold early gains on Friday, with disappointing figures from fund manager Schroders, continued profit worries at mobile giant Vodafone Group and a weak start across the Atlantic pulling the FTSE 100 into negative territory.

The FTSE 100 (UK:UKX: news, chart, profile) index dropped 0.3%, or 19 points, at 5,803.

Other European indexes turned lower after early weakness on Wall Street following better-than-forecast U.S. retail sales. See market snapshot.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks open lower; economy in view

Latest monthly retail sales report was stronger than expected

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 9:52 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - U.S. stocks opened lower Friday, as wary investors shifted their focus away from a terror scare to search for clues as to whether the economic slowdown will be mild or harsh.

A strong new retail sales report indicated the slowing will not be extreme, but did little to help prices in the early going.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average last was down 25 points at 11,098.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite were down 3 points at 1,268 and down 8 points at 2,063.

US retail sales up in July, that's why Dow & Nasdaq will open flat or lower in 1 minute time ....... cos investors are afraid of Fed frowning. Strange reactions!

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ECONOMIC REPORT

Retail sales surge 1.4% in July

Excluding cars and gas, sales are strongest in six months

By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch

Last Update: 9:17 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. retail sales increased at the fastest pace in six months in July, rising 1.4% on higher auto and gasoline sales, the Commerce Department reported Friday.

Higher sales were seen across the board, from electronics to clothing. Sales of durable goods were particularly strong.

The retail figures were at odds with the Federal Reserve's forecast for a slowdown in growth, said Robert Brusca, chief economist for FAO Economics. But other economists said it was too early to tell about consumer spending.

Auto sales surged 3.1% in July, also the biggest gain since January. Automakers restored sales incentives to move vehicles off the lots.

Excluding autos, retail sales increased 1%.

Gasoline sales jumped 2.5% on higher prices. Excluding gasoline, retail sales rose 1.3%. The figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Excluding both autos and gas, sales were up 0.7%, also the best since January.

The figures were higher than expected on Wall Street, where economists surveyed by MarketWatch were reckoning on a gain of 0.8% for retail sales and a 0.5% increase in sales excluding autos. See Economic Calendar.

Treasury prices slipped following the report, sending yields higher. Stock futures flattened. See Indications.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks to open at flat levels

Latest monthly retail sales report was stronger than expected

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 9:13 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - U.S. stocks were headed toward a flat opening Friday, as wary investors hope that a strong new retail sales report indicates the current economic slowdown will not be extreme.

The futures contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average last was down 5 points at 11,145.

Futures contracts for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 were up 0.30 point at 1,275.80 and up 1 point at 1,498.5.

On Thursday, stocks closed higher, after investors cheered the fact that U.K. authorities had apparently thwarted a terror plot to blow up U.S.-bound flights, with an accompanying decline in oil prices underpinning gains.

Many analysts believe investors have learned to live with terrorism. Even significant attacks or attempted attacks no longer prompt the heavy selling see in the wake of September 11, 2001.

Dow is depending on tonite is oil direction, oil up, Dow down

INDICATIONS

U.S. stock futures up before retail sales data

Inco bid battle may see Brazilian giant enter the fray

By Steve Goldstein, MarketWatch

Last Update: 6:17 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

LONDON (MarketWatch) - U.S. stock futures on Friday advanced, with traders awaiting data on retail sales that could signal that the second-half economic slowdown will be at a moderate pace.

S&P 500 futures rose 1.3 points at 1,276.80 and Nasdaq 100 futures improved 3.25 points at 1,500.75. Dow industrial futures rose 4 points.

Looks like the terror fears is slowing fading ........ Great!

LONDON MARKETS

London shares recoup some losses

Commodity-sensitive stocks support benchmark as Schroders slides

By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch

Last Update: 5:31 AM ET Aug 11, 2006

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- London shares rose on Friday, clawing back some of Thursday's terrorist-inspired losses, as commodity stocks tracked higher, while fund manager Schroders slipped.

The U.K. FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX: news, chart, profile) rose 0.3% at 5,841. Other European indexes were also trading in the green after a positive end to U.S. equity trading overnight and as airlines recovered some ground. See Europe Markets.

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- London shares rose on Friday, clawing back some of Thursday's terrorist-inspired losses, as commodity stocks tracked higher, while fund manager Schroders slipped.

The U.K. FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX: news, chart, profile) rose 0.3% at 5,841. Other European indexes were also trading in the green after a positive end to U.S. equity trading overnight and as airlines recovered some ground. See Europe Markets.

Green closing for both last nite after all .... Shiok!

Flat like pan cake ........

MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks trade little changed

Analysts think economic weakness is the market's worst problem

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 12:24 PM ET Aug 10, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock prices hovered near the flat line in late morning trading Thursday, as investors took in lower crude-oil prices and a terror plot to blow up U.S.-bound flights uncovered by British authorities.

Investors also remain preoccupied with the state of the economy after the Federal Reserve decision earlier this week to pause in the bank's rate-tightening program. There's concern about a possible slowing of the U.S. economy and corporate earnings.

Light volume in US markets .... high risk of good RED later! Sigh!

Hope Dow & Nasdaq can stay GREEN if not flat as they are now - away from Europe's RED.

NEWSWATCH

U.S. stocks at flattish levels after terror news

By MarketWatch

Last Update: 12:00 PM ET Aug 10, 2006

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock prices hovered near the flat line in late morning trade Thursday, as investors took in lower crude prices and a terror plot to blow up U.S.-bound flights uncovered by British authorities. See full story.

Lets hope Dow & Nasdaq hold up tonite .... they are slipping a bit now.

EUROPE MARKETS

European markets end lower on terror concerns

Airlines, travel stocks hit by renewed terror fears

By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch

Last Update: 11:43 AM ET Aug 10, 2006

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European markets traded sharply lower on Thursday, as renewed terrorist fears hit airline stocks and as Deutsche Telekom's reduced earnings outlook pressured the telecoms sector.

The U.K. FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX: news, chart, profile) lost 0.6% at 5,823, the German DAX Xetra 30 index (DX:1876534: news, chart, profile) declined 1.3% at 5,630 and the French CAC-40 index (FR:1804546: news, chart, profile) fell 1% at 4,976.

Markets finished off lows of the day after U.S. markets shook off early losses in New York trade. See Market Snapshot.

The U.K. FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX: news, chart, profile) lost 0.6% at 5,823, the German DAX Xetra 30 index (DX:1876534: news, chart, profile) declined 1.3% at 5,630 and the French CAC-40 index (FR:1804546: news, chart, profile) fell 1% at 4,976.

Markets finished off lows of the day after U.S. markets shook off early losses in New York trade. See Market Snapshot.

DOW +22 points, NASDAQ and S&P 500 is all in +ve territories.

DOW is swinging to +ve territories, may cross above to test 11,140, now up bt +14 points to 11,090

Not that bad... now Dow is down only slightly.

INDICATIONS

U.S. stock futures lower on terror plot

Target results expected; Viacom results top forecasts

By Steve Goldstein, MarketWatch

Last Update: 5:47 AM ET Aug 10, 2006

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures on Thursday were set for a decline, as renewed terrorism concerns after British authorities foiled a plot to blow up U.S.-bound flights added to lingering concerns about the state of the economy.

S&P 500 futures dropped 3.6 points at 1,267.80 and Nasdaq 100 futures shed 4.75 points at 1,490.25.

Dow & Nasdaq gonna suffer in 3 hours time .... :(

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EUROPE MARKETS

European markets sharply lower on terror concerns

Airlines, travel stocks hit by renewed terror fears

By Sarah Turner, MarketWatch

Last Update: 3:59 AM ET Aug 10, 2006

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European markets started sharply lower on Thursday, as renewed terrorist fears hit airline stocks in a market already under pressure from an overnight sell-off in the U.S. equity markets and some poorly received earnings news from Deutsche Telekom.

The U.K. FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX: news, chart, profile) lost 1.3% at 5,785, the German DAX Xetra 30 index (DX:1876534: news, chart, profile) declined 1.8% at 5,601 and the French CAC-40 index (FR:1804546: news, chart, profile) fell 1.2% at 4,964.

The pan-European Dow Jones Stoxx 600 index (ST:SXXP: news, chart, profile) dropped 1% at 323.39, with travel and telecom stocks leading decliners.

What a disappointing performance ...........

MARKET SNAPSHOT

U.S. stocks close lower after rally fades

Market shifts focus from Fed to strong earnings reports

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch

Last Update: 4:30 PM ET Aug 9, 2006

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks closed lower Wednesday, after a rally sparked by strong earnings from Cisco Systems and Walt Disney was undone by worries about economic strength.

Investors on Wednesday tried to come to terms with an unfolding monetary-policy outlook that could include renewed rate increases in the coming weeks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 97.41 points at 11,076.18 and the S&P 500 down 5.53 points at 1,265.95.

The Nasdaq Composite was nearly flat at the close, ending 0.57 point lower at 2,060.28.

There were a little more than 1.7 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange and about 2.1 billion in the Nasdaq market. Falling shares outnumbered stocks with gains by 19 to 13 on the NYSE and by 17 to 11 in the Nasdaq market.

"The market has been weakening since the opening," said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak. "Stocks have been getting weaker because people are still worried about the economy and earnings. The only reasons they were higher was the earnings from Cisco and Disney."

On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve held back from lifting rates for the first time since June, 2004, keeping the overnight inter-bank lending rate at 5.25%.

However, the accompanying statement made clear the Fed is reserving the right to raise rates again, possibly as early as next month, disappointing investors who had hoped for a clearer signal that the tightening cycle had ended.

While many investors had hoped for a pause in rate hikes, the reasons behind the halt concerned some analysts.

'The implication of the Fed standing aside is that the economy is slowing," said Paul Nolte, director of investments at Hinsdale Associates. "And the question now becomes how much we are slowing."

There were varied reactions to both the pause and the outlook. "The markets certainly haven't shown a clear or decisive reaction," said Robert DiClemente, chief U.S. economist at Citigroup. See full story.

There was limited reaction to news from the Commerce Department that wholesale inventories rose 0.8% in June, while sales increased 1.4%. The increase in inventories was lower than the 0.9% predicted by economists surveyed by MarketWatch, but May inventories were revised upward to show a 0.9% gain from the original estimate of 0.8%.