The US dollar index fell today, now down -0.04% at 82.233. The GSCI commodity index rose by about 0.4% to 650.34, with commodities prices mostly lower again today. WTI crude oil rose 1.6% today, closing at $93.67/barrel. Brent crude trades up 2.18% at $111.94/barrel. Natural gas is up 2.3% today to $2.974/thousand cubic feet. Gold settled at $1,612.80/ounce, down -0.2% for the day.
The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up more than 50 points to 13,168.22 (0.39%), the NASDAQ rose nearly 26 points (0.87%) to 3,015.86, and the S&P 500 rose 0.50% or about 7 points to 1,401.31.
There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) started as ‘overweight’ at Stephens; Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) started as ‘sell’ at UBS; Sanmina-SCI Corp. (NASDAQ: SANM) cut to ‘sell’ at Goldman Sachs; Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) raised to ‘buy’ at Canaccord Genuity; and VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS) raised to ‘buy’ at Lazard.
Earnings reports since markets closed last Friday have led to some price changes as of the last half hour of trading today: Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) is up 9.2% at $19.33; Broadsoft Inc. (NASDAQ: BSFT) is up 33.9% at $37.35; Ceasars Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ: CZR) is down -3.4% at $8.18 after posting a new 52-week low of $8.00 earlier today; Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) is down -6.8% at $13.64; Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) is down -19.4% at $4.45 after posting a new 52-week low of $4.28 earlier today; McDermott International Inc. (NYSE: MDR) is down -6.4% at $11.23; Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO) is down -2.2% at $83.75; Amerigas Partners L.P. (NYSE: APU) is down -0.7% at $42.38; Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. (NASDAQ: CRZO) is down -1.1% at $25.75; Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. (NYSE: CDE) is up 5.7% at $18.43; MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is up 7.4% at $10.07; Office Depot Inc. (NYSE: ODP) is down -6.3% at $1.63; Sirius XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is up 3.9% at $2.29 (more coverage here); and Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE: THC) up 8.5% at $5.06.
After markets close today we’re scheduled to hear from Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS), Sotheby’s (NYSE: BID), Demand Media Inc. (NYSE: DMD), Gevo Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN), and Solazyme Inc. (NASDAQ: SZYM).
Before markets open on Wednesday we are scheduled to get earnings results from A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE), Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR), Carlyle Group LP (NASDAQ: CG), CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL), Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC), Dean Foods Inc. (NYSE: DF), DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH), HollyFrontier Corp. (NYSE: HFC), Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE: WFR), and Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL).
Some standouts from today include the following stocks:
Crumbs Bake Shop Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMB) is up 64.9% at $3.38. The bakery chain has signed a deal with Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) to sell Starbucks coffees and teas at its stores.
U.S. Home Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: USHS) is up 37.5% at $12.46. The kitchen and bath supplier is being acquired by The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD). More coverage here.
Fossil Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) is up 31.4% at $91.69. The jewellry and accessories company busted earnings expectations this morning. More coverage here.
Stay tuned for Wednesday. We have noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):
- 7:00 a.m. – Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications
- 8:30 a.m. – Productivity and costs
- 10:30 p.m. – EIA weekly petroleum status report
- 1:00 p.m. – 10-year note auction
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Paul Ausick
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