Morning Wire — US Stock-Index Futures Lower
Stock-index futures are wobbling around the flat mark as equity markets return after a day off yesterday. Volume is expected to be light and the markets are waiting to hear the Case-Shiller report on…
All Work
Paul Ausick
Italian Shoppers Close Wallets
Now that the holiday shopping season is mostly behind us — and before the official and semi-official numbers start rolling in on how much consumers spent — the early indications of consumer sentiment are…
Apple iOS is Mobile Shoppers’ Choice (AAPL, GOOG, AMZN)
During this year’s holdiday shopping season, some 92% of all online sales generated by mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) were made from devices running iOS from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). That number represents just 3.74%…
24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (AEO, RAM, TSRX, WAG, SCG, BASI, CAMP, RAM, NOA, FAC, PHH, MJN, SFLY)
Today’s opening on equity markets lifted stocks slightly on mixed economic news. New home and durable goods sales rose more than expected, but personal income and spending didn’t meet expectations, with income growth at…
Payroll Tax Cut Bill’s Pipeline Provision Now Moves Front and Center (TRP)
Now that the US House of Representatives has approved (if unwillingly) the Senate bill providing a two-month extension to lower payroll taxes and extend unemployment benefits, the bill goes to President Obama for signature…
Morning Movers (SPWR, BASI, RMBS, SKY, CAMP)
There are several stocks trading more heavily than usual this morning, and also experiencing large gains or drops in share prices. These include SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), Bioanalytical Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BASI), Rambus Inc.…
Durable Goods Orders Jumped in November
New orders for durable goods like airplanes and refrigerators rose 3.8% in November according to the monthly report from the US Department of Commerce. The largest rise came in transportation equipment, where new orders…
Personal Income & Spending Growth Slow in November
The US Department of Commerce has released its report on personal income and spending for November, and US workers saw an income gain of just 0.1% in the month. Personal spending also rose by…
Malaysia Tries to Attract Investments in Giant Refinery (XOM, RDS-A, DOW)
The national oil company of Malaysia, known as Petronas, announced plans in May to build a $20 billion oil refinery and petrochemical complex on the country’s southern border with Singapore. In addition to motor…
Iraqi Oil Easy to Find, Hard to Make Money On (XOM, BP, RDS-A, HAL, BHI)
When Iraq began offering leases to its vast oil deposits a couple of years ago, there weren’t a lot of big oil companies lined up to buy in. Iraq’s offer of reimbursing development costs,…
Morning Wire — US Stock-Index Futures Rising into Holiday Weekend
Stock-index futures are up again this morning as US markets await reports on durable goods orders and personal income and spending for November. Both are expected to show growth, continuing the nearly unbroken stream…
24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (POT, AGU, SKS, VVUS, MU, AM, CPY, NEOG, TIBX, BBBY, RAM, WCAA, ABIO, PHH, LRE)
A downward revision to third-quarter GDP did not hold down early trading this morning as markets got off to a good start and remained in positive territory throughout the day. A rise in consumer…
New Nuke Design Gets Approval (SCG, SO, TOSBF)
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a new nuclear reactor design that clears the way for construction of the first new US nuclear power plants in nearly 40 years. Both Scana Corp. (NYSE:…
Apple Loses Round to Samsung in German Tablet Dispute (AAPL, GOOG, SSNLF)
In a preliminary ruling today, a German court has said that the design of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Samsung Electronics (OTC: SSNLF) does not infringe on the “legally protected” design of the iPad…
Baby Food, Toy Recalls Mar Holiday (WMT, MJN, TGT)
The death of an infant in Missouri has led Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) to recall Enfamil baby formula manufactured by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. (NYSE: MJN) from more than 3,000 US stores. Target…
Corn Crop Booms, Prices to Fall (ADM, VLO, HML, TSN, GIS, K)
Fears for a supply shortage of corn earlier this year led the world’s farmers to plant more of the crop on expectations of higher prices. Now that the crop is in, it turns out…
Speculation Rampant on First Solar Takeover (FSLR, GE, SI, SSNLF)
Struggling thin-film solar PV maker First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) has seen its stock price fall by about -75% this year, and its enterprise value fall by nearly -90%. But the company is still…
Game Makers Must Battle it Out in Court (ERTS, ATVI)
A California state court has denied a request from Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) to dismiss a suit by Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) related to a dispute over two former Activision employees who…
Morning Movers (RAM, WCAA, AKAM, AM, ABIO, VVUS)
There are several stocks trading more heavily than usual this morning, and also experiencing large gains or drops in share prices. These include RAM Energy Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: RAM), WCA Waste Corp. (NASDAQ: WCAA),…
Patriot Missiles Found in Container Ship
A container ship register in the UK and docked at the port of Mussalo in Finland was searched and found to be carrying 69 US-made Patriot missiles and 160 tons of an explosive called…