The U.S. dollar index is higher today, now up 0.08% at 80.320. The GSCI commodity index is up 0.7% today at 676.64, with commodities prices mostly lower on the stronger dollar and corn well below $8.00/bushel again. WTI crude oil closed up 0.1% today, at $96.54/barrel, as prices reacted to some big transactions and more hope for a boost from China’s stimulus deal announced last week (more coverage here). Brent crude trades up 0.3% at $114.59/barrel. Natural gas is up 3% today to $2.76/thousand cubic feet. Gold closed at $1,731.80/ounce, down 0.5% today, as traders wait for Thursday’s Fed meeting.
The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA down more than 52 points to 13,254.29 (-0.39%), the NASDAQ fell more than 32 points (-1.03%) to 3,104.02, and the S&P 500 fell -0.61% or nearly 9 points to 1,429.08.
There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) started as ‘buy’ at Monness Crespi Hardt; Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) started as ‘buy’ at BofA/ML; NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) raised to ‘buy’ at Goldman Sachs; Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ: CELG) cut to ‘neutral’ at UBS; and Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) raised to ‘buy’ at Nomura.
Some companies that reported earnings since markets closed last Friday and have recent share price changes today include Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: PPHM) is down 0.2% at $4.49 after posting a new 52-week high of $5.14 earlier today; RF Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: RFIL) is up 11.9% at $4.47 after posting a new 52-week high of $4.98 earlier today; and John Wiley & Sons Inc. (NYSE: JW-A) is down 5.4% at $48.55.
Earnings releases scheduled before markets open on Tuesday morning include Majesco Entertainment Co. (NASDAQ: COOL), Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Hanwha Solarone Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: HSOL), and Unified Natural Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: UNFI).
Some standouts from today include the following stocks:
Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN) is down 56.9% at $1.25 after posting a new 52-week low of $1.23 earlier today. The biopharmaceuticals maker has stopped a breast cancer drug trial. More coverage here.
Titan Machinery Inc. (NASDAQ: TITN) is down 23.1% at $19.51 (more coverage here). The farm and heavy equipment retailer lowered guidance this morning and badly missed earnings estimates. More coverage here.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is up 8.1% at $30.08. The coffee roasting firm continues to get a boost from a ratings upgrade last Friday that might have been a bit exuberant. More coverage here.
KSW Corp. (NASDAQ: KSW)) is up 22.1% at $4.97 after posting a new all-time high of $5.02 earlier today. The HVAC company is being acquired by Related Companies for $5 a share in a transaction worth $32.1 million.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) put up a new high today of $260.00 before pulling back to $257.63 later.
Apple also put up a new high today of $683.29 before falling back to $665.61.
Stay tuned for Tuesday. We have noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):
- 7:30 a.m. – National Federation of Small Businesses small business optimism index
- 8:30 a.m. – International trade
- 11:30 a.m. – 4-week bill auction
- 1:00 p.m. – 3-year note auction
Paul Ausick
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks