24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (T, AMZN, NOK, GOOG, CMG, FAST, RAD, MSW, CBSH, JBHT, CHKE, JPM, WFC, OAK, MIPS, EGO, AVID)

Paul Ausick — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:05:52 +0000

Markets opened slightly higher this morning and about an hour before the markets close all three major indexes are more than 1% higher. The report on new unemployment claims was weaker than expected (our coverage here), but better news from Europe, especially lower Italian bond yields, gave the market a lift. There is also some expectation that China’s GDP report tonight will be strong, indicating that the world’s second-largest economy is still growing. The US dollar index fell today, now down -0.64% at 79.288. The GSCI commodity index is up about 0.7% at 679.53, with virtually all commodities higher on the lower greenback. WTI crude oil closed up 0.9% at $103.64/barrel, and Brent crude trades up 1.22% at $121.65/barrel. Gold settled up 1.2% today, at $1,680.60/ounce.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up more than 181 points to 12,986.43 (1.41%), the NASDAQ rose more than 39 points (1.3%) to 3,055.55, and the S&P 500 rose 1.38% or nearly 19 points to 1,387.57.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) raised to ‘overweight’ at JPMorgan; Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) started as ‘neutral’ at SunTrust Robinson Humphreys; Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) cut to ‘hold’ at SocGen; Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) started as ‘buy’ at SunTrust Robinson Humphreys; and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) reiterated as ‘buy’ and target price raised to $480 at Argus.

Earnings reports since markets closed last night have led to some price changes as of the last half hour of trading today: Fastenal Corp. (NASDAQ: FAST) is down -1.8% at $48.73; Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) is up 0.03% at $1.71; Mission West Properties Inc. (NASDAQ: MSW) is down -0.06% at $9.55; and Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ: CBSH) is up 2.2% at $40.00. After the markets close today we will hear from Google (earnings preview here), J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT), and Cherokee Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKE) among others. Before the markets open tomorrow morning we get earnings from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) (more coverage here).

Other standouts from today include the following stocks:

Oaktree Capital Group LLC (NYSE: OAK) is down about -1.3% at $42.43. The investment management firm held its IPO today. More coverage here.

MIPS Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS) is up about 27.5% at $6.64. The chip maker is reportedly seeking a buyer. More coverage here.

Eldorado Gold Corp. (NYSE: EGO) is up about 12.5% at $14.45. The junior gold miner announced plans to double production in five years.

Avid Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) is down more than -17% at $8.51. The media tools company announced that it would have an operating loss in the first quarter.

Stay tuned for Friday. New York Fed President William Dudley and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke are giving speeches. We have noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

8:30 a.m. – Consumer price index
8:55 a.m. – University of Michigan/Reuters consumer sentiment index

Paul Ausick

Filed under: HI/LOW, Market Close Tagged: AMZN, AVID, CBSH, CHKE, CMG, EGO, FAST, GOOG, JBHT, JPM, MIPS, MSW, NOK, OAK, RAD, T, WFC

Pre-Market Stock News (December 18, 2007)

247wallst — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:16 +0000

Below is the top news that 247WallSt.com is focusing on that is impacting stocks in pre-market trading activity:

Adobe Systems (ADBE) traded down 2% after beating earnings and slightly raised guidance.
ATS Medical (ATSI) received FDA approval for AP360 mechanical heart valve.
Best Buy (BBY) $0.53 EPS vs $0.41 est. and $9.92 Billion revenues vs. $9.45 Billion est.; shares traded up 4%.
Borg Warner (BWA) trades ex-split to reflect a 2 for 1 stock split today.
Cherokee (CHKE) retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to explore strategic alternatives including possible sale of the company.
Dollar Financial (DLLR) raised fiscal 2008 guidance after formally closing its previously announced acquisition of 82 Florida financial-services stores.
Eli Lilly (LLY) announced that CEO Sidney Taurel will retire in March 2008.
First Solar (FSLR) noted as a stock pick with 5-years earnings visibility by Cramer on MAD MONEY.
Forest Labs (FRX) won FDA approval for its new high blood pressure beta blocker along with Maylan Labs.
Goldman Sachs (GS) set to report earnings with $6.61 EPS estimate (whisper of $7.00 and higher).
Natus Medical (BABY) put Q1 guidance $0.09-0.10 vs $0.12 estimate; sees 2008 EPS $0.68 to $0.70 vs. $0.63 estimate.
MedcoHealth Solutions (MHS) noted as a stock pick with 5-years earnings visibility by Cramer on MAD MONEY.
Mylan Labs (MYL) won FDA approval for its new high blood pressure beta blocker along with Forest Labs.
Range Resources (RRC) to replace Tribune in S&P 500 Index on Thursday after close.
Salix Pharmaceuticals (SLXP) will replace Coherent Inc. (COHR) in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close TODAY.
Synovus (SNV) lowered its guidance.
Thornburg (TMO) reinstated dividend with $0.25 payment, says mortgage uncertainties continue.
Transocean (RIG) noted as a stock pick with 5-years earnings visibility by Cramer on MAD MONEY.

Jon C. Ogg
December 18, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he produces the SPECIAL SITUATION newsletter and he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

24/7 Wall St. » CHKE

24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (T, AMZN, NOK, GOOG, CMG, FAST, RAD, MSW, CBSH, JBHT, CHKE, JPM, WFC, OAK, MIPS, EGO, AVID)

Pre-Market Stock News (December 18, 2007)