NYSE Dow Jones finished today at:

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -91.22 points or ▼ -0.52% on Thursday, May 19, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,435.40 ▼ -91.22 ▼ -0.52%
Nasdaq____ 4,712.53 ▼ -26.59 ▼ -0.56%
S&P_500___ 2,040.04 ▼ -7.59 ▼ -0.37%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.63 ▼ -0.05 ▼ -1.83%

NYSE Volume 3,812,548,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,715,419,120

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,053.35 ▼ -112.45 ▼ -1.82%
DAX_____ 9,795.89 ▼ -147.34 ▼ -1.48%
CAC_40__ 4,282.54 ▼ -36.76 ▼ -0.85%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,385.60 ▼ -34.90 ▼ -0.64%
Shanghai_Comp 2,806.91 ▼ -0.61 ▼ -0.02%
Taiwan_Weight 8,095.98 ▼ -63.70 ▼ -0.78%
Nikkei_225___ 16,646.66 ▲ 1.97 ▲ 0.01%
Hang_Seng.__ 19,694.33 ▼ -132.08 ▼ -0.67%
Strait_Times.__ 2,740.11 ▼ -37.00 ▼ -1.33%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,903.62 ▼ -79.01 ▼ -1.13%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-fall-fed-signals-june-142716004.html

Stocks fall over continued worry about possible Fed hike

Stocks drop on Wall Street as traders get used to the idea that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates next month
Associated Press By Bernard Condon, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks dropped on Thursday as investors get used to idea that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates next month.

Major indexes fell from the start of trading, following European markets sharply lower, with banks and industrial companies hit the hardest. By the close, Goldman Sachs had dropped 3 percent and Boeing fell 2 percent, the biggest declines in the Dow Jones industrial average. Several commodities sank for a second day, including gold, silver and copper.

With earnings season mostly over and little news to move prices, the focus remained on the suddenly higher odds that the Fed will increase rates in June, as minutes from its last meeting released Wednesday suggest.

"This is all about the Fed," said Bill Strazzullo, chief market strategist at Bell Curve Trading. "Putting June on the table was something few expected."

With the drop on Thursday, the Standard and Poor's 500 index has now slipped into a loss for year. Both it and the Dow index have fallen in five of the past seven days.

The Dow fell 91.22 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,435.40. The S&P 500 lost 7.59 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,040.04. The Nasdaq composite gave up 26.59 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,712.53.

At the Fed's meeting in April, policymakers indicated an increase in rates was likely, assuming the economy and labor market continued to strengthen. Higher rates diminish the appeal of high-dividend companies to investors seeking income.

"Many of these stocks already had significant moves up and were due for a correction," said Chief Investment Officer Henry Smith of Haverford Trust. "They have decent yields, but high valuations."

That said, some winners from the previous day became losers as investors scrambled to make sense of the new Fed stance.

Banks climbed after Wednesday's release of the Fed minutes on the expectation they will be able to charge more for loans as rates rise. But investors apparently thought the buying went too far, and sold them heavily on Thursday. The sector dropped 0.9 percent.

Among other stocks making big moves, Wal-Mart Stores jumped nearly 10 percent after reporting surprisingly strong sales and releasing an optimistic outlook. The world's largest retailer rose $6.05 to $69.20.

Urban Outfitters jumped $3.42, or 14 percent, to $28.01 after reporting first-quarter sales that exceeded analyst forecasts. The solid results from Urban and Wal-Mart contrasts with dour reports from many other retailers in recent weeks.

Monsanto rose $3.42, or 3.5 percent, to $100.55 after German drug and chemicals company Bayer confirmed it has entered talks with the U.S.-based seed company.

In Europe, Germany's DAX fell 1.5 percent while the CAC-40 in France fell 0.9 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 index was down 1.8 percent.

The Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo ended flat, while South Korea's Kospi lost 0.5 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.7 percent.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 3 cents to close $48.16 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, dropped 12 cents to $48.81 a barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline fell 2 cents to $1.63 a gallon, heating slipped less than a penny to $1.48 a gallon and natural gas rose 4 cents to $2.04 per 1,000 cubic feet.

U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 1.85 percent from 1.86 percent. In currency trading, the dollar slipped to 109.89 yen from 110 yen and the euro fell to $1.1202 from $1.1229.

In metals markets, gold lost $19.60 to $1,254.80 an ounce, silver gave up 64 cents to $16.49 an ounce and copper fell 2 cents to $2.06 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 65.54 points or ▲ 0.38% on Friday, May 20, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,500.94 ▲ 65.54 ▲ 0.38%
Nasdaq____ 4,769.56 ▲ 57.03 ▲ 1.21%
S&P_500___ 2,052.32 ▲ 12.28 ▲ 0.60%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.64 ▲ 0.00 ▲ 0.15%

NYSE Volume 3,496,591,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,910,065,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,156.32 ▲ 102.97 ▲ 1.70%
DAX_____ 9,916.02 ▲ 120.13 ▲ 1.23%
CAC_40__ 4,353.90 ▲ 71.36 ▲ 1.67%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,415.20 ▲ 29.60 ▲ 0.55%
Shanghai_Comp 2,825.48 ▲ 18.58 ▲ 0.66%
Taiwan_Weight 8,131.26 ▲ 35.28 ▲ 0.44%
Nikkei_225___ 16,736.35 ▲ 89.69 ▲ 0.54%
Hang_Seng.__ 19,852.20 ▲ 157.87 ▲ 0.80%
Strait_Times.__ 2,763.82 ▲ 23.71 ▲ 0.87%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,909.86 ▲ 6.24 ▲ 0.09%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-move-higher-led-technology-143749891.html#

Stocks close higher, led by health care and tech companies

Stocks rise on Friday, erasing much of the losses from earlier in the week, as investors adjust to the possibility of higher interest rates next month
Associated Press By Bernard Condon, The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks rose on Friday in a modest but broad rally that erased much of the losses from earlier in the week when investors had sold over fears of rising interest rates.

Health care and technology stocks rose the most, helping to nudge the Standard and Poor's 500 index back to slight gains for the week and year. Nine of the index's 10 sectors closed higher.

Stocks rose from the start of trading, following sizable gains in Europe. Among the winners, Intel climbed nearly 2 percent and Pfizer closed up 1.1 percent.

Investors were spooked earlier in the week when the Federal Reserve released minutes of its last meeting that suggested it may raise rates in June, something the market had not expected. They scrambled to readjust portfolios, selling oil and copper, U.S. Treasury bonds and stocks of steady dividend payers like utilities that tend to fall when rates rise.

But on Friday a measure of calm returned. U.S. bonds barely moved, commodities ended mixed and utilities rose, albeit just 0.2 percent.

The S&P 500 rose 12.28 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,052.32. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day up 65.54 points, or 0.4 percent, to 17,500.94. The Dow lost 0.2 percent for the week.

The Nasdaq composite climbed 57.03 points, or 1.2 percent, to 4,769.56.

Applied Materials led the move higher in technology stocks. The maker of chipmaking equipment jumped $2.75, or 14 percent, to $22.66 after reporting earnings ahead of analysts' forecasts.

Another big gainer for the day, Interoil, jumped $11.92, or 38 percent, to $43.57 after rival Oil Search announced a deal to buy the company for $2.2 billion. The deal still needs approval by shareholders.

Friday's gains notwithstanding, the major indexes have barely moved this year.

Steven Ricchiuto, chief economist at Mizuho Securities, says investors are uncertain about the strength of the economy and that's reflected in their unwillingness to commit themselves to buying.

"There's no conviction," he said. "There is no upside momentum."

Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist for Wells Capital Management, thinks investors will eventually come around. He said he welcomes Fed talk of a rate increase because it shows things are getting better.

"The economy is good enough that even the Fed thinks it might be able to raise rates," he said. "Job creation is there, unemployment is low."

Among other stocks making big moves, Campbell Soup dropped $4.08, or 6 percent, to $59.90 after reporting third-quarter sales that fell short of Wall Street expectations. The company partly blamed challenges in its V8 beverages business and problems with its fresh carrot supply.

The clothes chain Gap rose 73 cents, or 4 percent, to $18.01 after announcing late Thursday that it's closing 75 Old Navy and Banana Republic stores outside North America. The announcement came as the clothes retailer reported a 47 percent drop in first-quarter profits and lower revenue.

In Europe, stock markets reversed losses from the previous day. Britain's FTSE 100 was up 1.7 percent while Germany's DAX rose 1.2 percent. France's CAC 40 advanced 1.7 percent.

Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.5 percent while South Korea's Kospi was flat. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.8 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.5 percent.

Benchmark U.S. oil fell 41 cents to $47.75 a barrel in New York. Brent, used to price international oils, lost 9 cents to $48.72 a barrel in London.

In other energy markets, wholesale gasoline inched up to $1.64 a gallon. Heating oil rose 1 cent to $1.49 a gallon. Natural gas rose 2 cents to $2.06 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Bond prices rose slightly. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 1.85 percent. The euro rose to $1.1219 from $1.1202, while the dollar rose to 110.23 yen from 109.89 yen.

Metals prices were mixed. Gold fell $1.90 to $1,252.90 an ounce. Silver added 4 cents to $16.53 an ounce. Copper remained at $2.06 a pound

0164

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -8.01 points or ▼ -0.05% on Monday, May 23, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,492.93 ▼ -8.01 ▼ -0.05%
Nasdaq____ 4,765.78 ▼ -3.78 ▼ -0.08%
S&P_500___ 2,048.04 ▼ -4.28 ▼ -0.21%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.63 ▼ -0.01 ▼ -0.30%

NYSE Volume 3,045,292,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,838,816,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,136.43 ▼ -19.89 ▼ -0.32%
DAX_____ 9,842.29 ▼ -73.73 ▼ -0.74%
CAC_40__ 4,325.10 ▼ -28.80 ▼ -0.66%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,384.90 ▼ -30.30 ▼ -0.56%
Shanghai_Comp 2,843.65 ▲ 18.16 ▲ 0.64%
Taiwan_Weight 8,344.44 ▲ 213.18 ▲ 2.62%
Nikkei_225___ 16,654.60 ▼ -81.75 ▼ -0.49%
Hang_Seng.__ 19,809.03 ▼ -43.17 ▼ -0.22%
Strait_Times.__ 2,766.93 ▲ 3.11 ▲ 0.11%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,907.77 ▼ -2.09 ▼ -3.00%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stocks-little-changed-investors-wait-fed-141833418.html

US stocks close slightly lower as investors wait for Fed
Associated Press By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK (AP) ”” Stocks ended a quiet day slightly lower on Monday as investors sat on the sidelines waiting for more clues about whether the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates next month. Energy stocks fell along with the price of crude oil.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 8.01 points, or 0.05 percent, to 17,492.93. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 4.28 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,048.04 and the Nasdaq composite lost 3.78 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,765.78.

Investors had little news to interpret and no major economic data to analyze on Monday, so stocks traded in a very narrow range throughout the day. Roughly 3 billion shares traded hands on the New York Stock Exchange, making it one of the slowest trading days so far this year.

Several members of the Federal Reserve will be making speeches this week, which may give insight to investors on what Fed policymakers might do at their meeting in June. Minutes from the Fed's late April meeting showed that policymakers at the nation's central bank seem to believe the U.S. economy has improved enough to warrant higher interest rates.

"Very quiet today," Ryan Larson, head of U.S. equity trading at RBC Global Asset Management, wrote in response to an email query from AP. "The hesitation seems to directly related to what the Fed may or may not do come its June meeting."

Securities that bet on which way the Fed will move interest rates now show that investors believe there is a 26 percent chance that interest rates will climb.

In company news, Monsanto rose $4.48, or 4 percent, to $106 after German company Bayer offered to buy the agricultural products company for $62 billion. The deal would make the combined company the world's largest producer of fertilizers and other agricultural products.

Tribune Publishing fell $2.14, or 15 percent, to $12.09 after the newspaper company rejected a new takeover offer from Gannett. The company also announced a new investor, who bought a $70 million stake in Tribune.

Benchmark U.S. crude shed 33 cents to $48.08 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 37 cents to $48.35 a barrel in London. Energy stocks followed oil prices lower.

In other energy commodities, wholesale gasoline rose 1 cent to $1.65 a gallon, heating oil fell 1 cent to $1.48 a gallon and natural gas fell 1 cent to $2.06 per thousand cubic feet.

U.S. government bond prices rose slightly. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.83 percent from 1.84 percent. The dollar fell to 109.19 yen from 110.23 yen and the euro fell to $1.1221 from $1.1219.

Precious and industrial metals futures closed mostly lower. Gold lost $1.40 to $1,251.50 an ounce, silver fell 11 cents to $16.42 an ounce and copper was little changed at $2.06 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 213.12 points or ▲ 1.22% on Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,706.05 ▲ 213.12 ▲ 1.22%
Nasdaq____ 4,861.06 ▲ 95.27 ▲ 2.00%
S&P_500___ 2,076.06 ▲ 28.02 ▲ 1.37%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.64 ▲ 0.01 ▲ 0.46%

NYSE Volume 3,590,969,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,965,420,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,219.26 ▲ 82.83 ▲ 1.35%
DAX_____ 10,057.31 ▲ 215.02 ▲ 2.18%
CAC_40__ 4,431.52 ▲ 106.42 ▲ 2.46%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,361.90 ▼ -23.00 ▼ -0.43%
Shanghai_Comp 2,821.67 ▼ -21.98 ▼ -0.77%
Taiwan_Weight 8,300.66 ▼ -43.78 ▼ -0.52%
Nikkei_225___ 16,498.76 ▼ -155.84 ▼ -0.94%
Hang_Seng.__ 19,830.43 ▲ 21.40 ▲ 0.11%
Strait_Times.__ 2,750.23 ▼ -16.70 ▼ -0.60%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,872.66 ▼ -35.11 ▼ -0.51%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-jump-rising-interest-142008028.html#

Tech companies take the lead as US stocks surge
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks made their biggest gain since March on Tuesday as technology companies like Apple and Microsoft soared. Homebuilders also climbed after the government said sales of new homes reached an eight-year high last month. That was a sign the housing market and the broader economy are still in pretty good shape.

Stocks opened higher following hefty gains in Europe. Tech stocks made their biggest gain in almost three months, which erased their losses from earlier this year. Banks rose as interest rates continued to inch higher, which lets banks make more money on lending. Stocks have alternated between gains and losses in recent days following a four-week-long string of losses.

"A little bit of good data has reminded people that things are actually OK," said David Lefkowitz, senior equity strategist at UBS Wealth Management. "It's almost like a rubber band. When things get too stretched they snap back."

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 213.12 points, or 1.2 percent, to 17,706.05. The Standard & Poor's 500 index picked up 28.02 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,076.06. The Nasdaq composite index surged 95.27 points, or 2 percent, to 4,861.06.

Tech stocks led the market higher with their biggest jump since March 1. Apple picked up $1.47, or 1.5 percent, to $97.90 and Alphabet, Google's parent company, added $15.78, or 2.2 percent, to $733.03. Microsoft rose $1.56, or 3.1 percent, to $51.59.

Home building stocks jumped after the Commerce Department said sales of new homes reached their highest level since January 2008. Sales of both newly-built and previously-occupied homes grew as job gains and low mortgage rates encourage Americans to keep buying homes. Toll Brothers also reported better first-quarter results than analysts expected, and the company raised its annual projections for home prices and sales. The stock gained $2.36, or 8.7 percent, to $29.46.

Beazer Homes USA added 66 cents, or 9.2 percent, to $7.86 and PulteGroup rose 91 cents, or 5.1 percent, to $18.73.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.86 percent from 1.84 percent. When interest rates go up, as they have been doing recently, banks can make more money from lending. JPMorgan Chase climbed $1.08, or 1.7 percent, to $64.54 and Bank of America gained 21 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $14.68.

Agribusiness giant Monsanto rejected an offer from German conglomerate Bayer worth $62 billion, or $122 per share. However Monsanto said it's open to talks with Bayer about a possible sale. As investors hoped for a richer offer, Monsanto stock rose $3.30, or 3.1 percent, to $109.30.

Streaming video company Netflix jumped after it said it struck deal with Disney. Starting in September, Netflix will have exclusive U.S. rights to new movies from Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm and Pixar. Netflix stock jumped $3, or 3.2 percent, to $97.89.

Fertilizer maker CF Industries ended a deal to buy OCI's distribution networks for about $8 billion. CF planned to reincorporate in the U.K. as part of the deal, which would have reduced its tax bill, but the company said new Treasury Department rules made the combination less appealing. CF Industries will pay OCI $150 million for calling off the deal. CF Industries shed $2.24, or 7.5 percent, to $27.61.

Oil is trading at its highest price since early October, and benchmark U.S. crude picked up 54 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $48.62 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 26 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $48.61 a barrel in London.

Retailers continued to struggle. Electronics chain Best Buy said its quarterly sales kept falling and its outlook was weak. That made Best Buy the latest retailer to disclose disappointing quarterly results. Its stock lost $2.45, or 7.4 percent, to $30.55.

Shoe and accessories retailer DSW cut its outlook, saying it expects weaker sales this year. That came after the company reported disappointing results for its first fiscal quarter. The stock gave up $2.53, or 11.6 percent, to $19.20.

Athletic apparel maker Under Armour rose after it announced a deal with UCLA worth $280 million over 15 years. The stock jumped 95 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $38.22.

Twitter announced a series of format changes that make its 140-character limit a bit more flexible. While that might make Twitter more appealing to new users, Twitter did not abolish that limit entirely, as some had expected. Already trading around all-time lows, the stock declined 38 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $14.03.

France's CAC 40 added 2.5 percent while Germany's DAX gained 2.2 percent. In Britain the FTSE 100 rose 1.3 percent. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.9 percent as the yen continued to strengthen, hurting Japanese exporters. South Korea's Kospi edged down 0.9 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.1 percent.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline gained 1 cent to $1.65 a gallon. Heating oil rose 1 cent to $1.49 a gallon. Natural gas fell 8 cents to $1.98 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Gold fell $22.30, or 1.8 percent, to $1,229.20 an ounce. Silver slid 17 cents, or 1 percent, to $16.25 an ounce. Copper was unchanged at $2.07 a pound.

The dollar rose to 109.98 yen from 109.19 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1143 from $1.1221.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 145.46 points or ▲ 0.82% on Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,851.51 ▲ 145.46 ▲ 0.82%
Nasdaq____ 4,894.89 ▲ 33.84 ▲ 0.70%
S&P_500___ 2,090.54 ▲ 14.48 ▲ 0.70%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.67 ▲ 0.03 ▲ 1.02%

NYSE Volume 3,838,674,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,733,692,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,262.85 ▲ 43.59 ▲ 0.70%
DAX_____ 10,205.21 ▲ 147.90 ▲ 1.47%
CAC_40__ 4,481.64 ▲ 50.12 ▲ 1.13%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,436.80 ▲ 74.90 ▲ 1.40%
Shanghai_Comp 2,815.09 ▼ -6.58 ▼ -0.23%
Taiwan_Weight 8,396.20 ▲ 95.54 ▲ 1.15%
Nikkei_225___ 16,757.35 ▲ 258.59 ▲ 1.57%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,368.05 ▲ 537.62 ▲ 2.71%
Strait_Times.__ 2,766.66 ▲ 16.43 ▲ 0.60%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,908.04 ▲ 35.38 ▲ 0.51%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-climb-second-day-oil-prices-rise-143407438.html

Energy companies lead the way as US stocks keep rising
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks climbed Wednesday as investors continued to recover some confidence in the health of the global economy. That sent oil prices higher and gave energy companies a boost, while materials companies also climbed higher.

In Europe, a round of new rescue loans for Greece was unfrozen, eliminating the risk the country will default on its debts in the next few months. A survey of business sentiment in Germany, the largest economy in Europe, rose more than expected. European stock indexes rose and the U.S. market followed them. Expecting stronger demand for fuel and materials used in industry and construction, investors bought stock in energy and mining and chemicals companies. U.S. stocks had jumped Tuesday after a strong report on home sales.

Investors "feel confident that perhaps we're seeing a stabilization of growth overseas," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial. "Here in the U.S. the economy appears to be pulling out of the first quarter slump."

The Dow Jones industrial average advanced 145.46 points, or 0.8 percent, to 17,851.51. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 14.48 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,090.54. The Nasdaq composite index added 33.84 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,894.89.

Already at their highest levels since October, oil prices ticked higher after the U.S. government said fuel stockpiles decreased last week. Benchmark U.S. crude gained 94 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $49.56 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose $1.13, or 2.3 percent, to $49.74 a barrel in London. That sent energy companies higher. Chevron added $1.58, or 1.6 percent, to $101.77 and Schlumberger rose $2.29, or 3 percent, to $77.91.

German conglomerate Bayer said it's committed to completing its acquisition of Monsanto, and the seed company rose $2.38, or 2.2 percent, to $111.68. Monsanto rejected an offer from Bayer worth $62 billion, or $122 per share, but said Tuesday that it's open to talks.

Elsewhere, chemicals maker LyondellBasell Industries picked up $2.26, or 2.8 percent, to $82.71. Gold and copper miner Freeport-McMoRan added 54 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $11.65.

In other deal news, Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it will sell its business service unit to CSC for $8.5 billion. The company, which was formed when Hewlett-Packard split in two last year, will focus on selling tech products to big organizations, like hardware and software for data centers. Hewlett Packard Enterprise rose $1.10, or 6.8 percent, to $17.35 and Computer Sciences surged $15, or 42.1 percent, to $50.65.

Bank stocks made some of the biggest gains as investors anticipated that interest rates will rise, allowing banks to make more money on lending. The Federal Reserve has said it wants to keep raising interest rates if the economy is strong enough. Bond prices edged lower on Wednesday, and the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.87 percent from 1.86 percent.

Wells Fargo rose $1.30, or 2.6 percent, to $50.50 and Citigroup added $1.08, or 2.4 percent, to $46.94.

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba fell after it said U.S. regulators are investigating its accounting practices. The company said the Securities and Exchange Commission has asked for documents and information related to its consolidated earnings and other items. The stock lost $5.53, or 6.8 percent, to $75.59.

A string of painful quarterly results for retailers continued Wednesday. Clothing and accessories chain Express reported disappointing results and gave weak projections for the rest of the year, and its stock fell $1.35, or 8.4 percent, to $14.68.

French drugmaker Sanofi said it wants to replace the entire board of cancer drug Medivation. Sanofi has offered to buy the company for $9.3 billion, or $52.50 per share, but Medivation rejected that bid and Sanofi says Medivation won't discuss a deal. Sanofi stock gained 76 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $40.97. Medivation fell 43 cents to $61.48.

In European trading, Germany's DAX advanced 1.5 percent. France's CAC gained 1.1 percent while Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.7 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.6 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 2.7 percent. South Korea's Kospi gained 1.2 percent.

Gold fell $5.40 to $1,223.80 an ounce. The price of gold has fallen 4 percent over a six-day losing streak. Silver was unchanged at $16.26 an ounce. Copper rose 4 cents to $2.10 per pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 1 cent to $1.64 a gallon. Heating oil rose 2 cents to $1.51 a gallon. Natural gas picked up 1 cent to $1.99 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The dollar rose to 110.10 yen from 109.98 yen. The euro inched up to $1.1160 from $1.1143.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -23.22 points or ▼ -0.13% on Thursday, May 26, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,828.29 ▼ -23.22 ▼ -0.13%
Nasdaq____ 4,901.77 ▲ 6.88 ▲ 0.14%
S&P_500___ 2,090.10 ▼ -0.44 ▼ -0.02%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.63 ▼ -0.04 ▼ -1.54%

NYSE Volume 3,130,511,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,574,186,250

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,265.65 ▲ 2.80 ▲ 0.04%
DAX_____ 10,272.71 ▲ 67.50 ▲ 0.66%
CAC_40__ 4,512.64 ▲ 31.00 ▲ 0.69%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,451.90 ▲ 15.10 ▲ 0.28%
Shanghai_Comp 2,822.44 ▲ 7.36 ▲ 0.26%
Taiwan_Weight 8,394.12 ▼ -2.08 ▼ -0.02%
Nikkei_225___ 16,772.46 ▲ 15.11 ▲ 0.09%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,397.11 ▲ 29.06 ▲ 0.14%
Strait_Times.__ 2,773.31 ▲ 6.65 ▲ 0.24%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,947.88 ▲ 39.84 ▲ 0.58%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-barely-budge-banks-143306783.html

US stocks finish mixed as 2-day climb comes to an end
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stocks barely budged Thursday as investors moved cautiously after two days of large gains. Utilities and phone companies rose the most thanks to a decline in bond yields, while chemicals companies and banks surrendered some of their recent gains.

Stocks alternated between small losses and gains and moved more on individual news than broad trends. Retailers Dollar Tree and Costco rose after they reported strong quarterly results. That made them exceptions in a difficult quarter for department stores, watch sellers, and clothing companies.

Stocks got a small boost after Jerome Powell, who sits on the Federal Reserve's committee that determines interest rates, suggested the Fed will wait a little longer before it raises rates again.

"That reduces the risk of an unpleasant surprise at the June meeting," said Jim McDonald, chief investment strategist for Northern Trust. Fed Chair Janet Yellen will speak at Harvard University on Friday and McDonald said investors did not want to make big moves before they know her views.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 23.22 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,828.29. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 0.44 points to 2,090.10. The Nasdaq composite index added 6.88 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,901.77.

Bond yields, which have risen over the last few weeks, slumped as prices rose. That sent utility and phone company stocks higher because those stocks are seen as similar to bonds, and the lower yields make them more appealing compared to bonds. NextEra Energy rose $1.59, or 1.3 percent, to $119.82 and Con Edison picked up 94 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $72.73. AT&T added 22 cents to $38.84.

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell to 1.83 percent from 1.87 percent.

Chemicals companies, which posted some of the biggest gains on Wednesday, traded lower. Monsanto, which has jumped on talks about a potential sale to Bayer, lost $2.06, or 1.8 percent, to $109.62. DuPont fell $1.27, or 1.9 percent, to $66.96. Citigroup lead banks lower, giving up 83 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $46.11.

Weak earnings reports have weighed on retailers' stocks in recent weeks. Among other problems, shoppers aren't spending as much on clothes and the strong dollar is hurting their profits and sales overseas. Department stores have been hit the hardest.

But on Thursday several retailers disclosed solid results from the past three months.

Discount retailer Dollar Tree said its first-quarter profit more than tripled and it raised its forecasts for the year. Its stock gained $10.01, or 12.8 percent, to $88.37. Also jumping after a strong report was PVH, the owner of the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands, which added $3.90, or 4.3 percent, to $93.73. And wholesale club operator Costco rose $5.17, or 3.6 percent, to $149.71.

Like the broader market, oil prices were little changed. U.S. crude slipped 8 cents to $49.48 a barrel in New York while Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, fell 15 cents to $49.59 a barrel in London. Oil prices are at their highest level since October, but U.S. crude hasn't closed above $50 a barrel since July.

Stocks have risen to some of their highest levels of 2016, driven by investors encouraged by strong monthly home sales in the U.S. and economic support for Greece. But similar news on Thursday, including a drop in new applications for unemployment benefits and further growth in pending home sales, didn't make much of a difference for Wall Street. And a government report showed that a measurement of business investment fell for the third month in a row. That suggests manufacturing is still under pressure.

Jewelry company Signet Jewelers slumped after it posted weaker-than-expected sales and lowered its projections for sales at older stores. The stock lost $11.37, or 10.5 percent, to $97.

Personal computer and printer maker HP reported a bigger profit than analysts had forecast, and it gave a solid outlook for the year. The stock climbed 84 cents, or 6.9 percent, to $13.04.

U.S. Foods Holding, the second-biggest food service distributor in the country, went public with a $1.02 billion initial public offering. That was one of the largest IPOs of the year, as the market turmoil over the last few months has made companies hesitant to go public. The stock jumped $1.91, or 8.3 percent, to $24.91.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 2 cents to $1.62 a gallon. Heating oil declined 1 cent to $1.50 a gallon. Natural gas fell 3 cents to $1.96 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The price of gold slipped for the seventh day in a row, losing $3.40 to $1,220.40 an ounce. Silver rose 8 cents to $16.34 an ounce. Copper was unchanged at $2.10 a pound.

France's CAC and Germany's DAX both gained 0.7 percent and the FTSE in Britain was little changed. Japan's Nikkei 225 index added nearly 0.1 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index added 0.1 percent.

The dollar slipped to 109.72 yen from 110.10 yen. The euro inched up to $1.1191 from $1.1160.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

NYSE CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY MONDAY MAY 30

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 44.93 points or ▲ 0.25% on Friday, May 27, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,873.22 ▲ 44.93 ▲ 0.25%
Nasdaq____ 4,933.50 ▲ 31.74 ▲ 0.65%
S&P_500___ 2,099.06 ▲ 8.96 ▲ 0.43%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.65 ▲ 0.02 ▲ 0.80%

NYSE Volume 3,055,891,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,470,321,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,270.79 ▲ 5.14 ▲ 0.08%
DAX_____ 10,286.31 ▲ 13.60 ▲ 0.13%
CAC_40__ 4,514.74 ▲ 2.10 ▲ 0.05%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,469.70 ▲ 17.80 ▲ 0.33%
Shanghai_Comp 2,821.05 ▼ -1.40 ▼ -0.05%
Taiwan_Weight 8,463.61 ▲ 69.49 ▲ 0.83%
Nikkei_225___ 16,834.84 ▲ 62.38 ▲ 0.37%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,576.77 ▲ 179.66 ▲ 0.88%
Strait_Times.__ 2,802.51 ▲ 29.20 ▲ 1.05%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,992.55 ▲ 44.67 ▲ 0.64%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-edge-higher-led-143349242.html

Stocks rise to wrap up a strong week as banks move higher

US stocks rise after Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the central bank aims to keep raising interest rates if the economy continues to improve
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks rose Friday to wrap up their strongest week in almost three months. Banks gained ground after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the central bank intends to keep raising interest rates provided the economy continues to improve.

Stocks turned higher over the last few hours of trading to finish at their highest levels of the day. Banks made the largest gains, as they stand to make bigger profits on lending if interest rates rise further. Phone companies traded higher after Verizon reportedly agreed in principle to a new contract with striking employees. Alphabet led technology stocks higher.

Yellen said it will be "appropriate" to raise interest rates in the next few months if the economy continues to improve, and emphasized that the Fed will move slowly and carefully. There were signs of that improvement throughout the week, including increased home sales, leading to big gains for stocks. On Friday the Commerce Department said the U.S. economy grew a bit more in the first quarter than it previously estimated. In recent months stocks have slumped when investors thought the Fed might be about to raise interest rates. That may have changed this week.

"Both inflation and growth are on an upward trend," said Jon Adams, senior investment strategist for BMO Global Asset Management. He said investors may be worrying a bit less about the Fed's plans because the economy could be getting onto more solid footing, but the central bank must remain careful in dealing with investor expectations.

"The Fed's kind of walking a tight rope here," he said.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 44.93 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,783.22. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 8.96 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,099.06. The Nasdaq composite index picked up 31.74 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,933.50.

The Commerce Department said the U.S. economy was a bit stronger in the first quarter than it initially believed. The agency said the gross domestic product grew 0.8 percent in the first three months of the year, above its original estimate of 0.5 percent. That's still sluggish, but experts think the economy will grow about 2 percent in the current quarter.

Bank stocks were led higher by Bank of America, which rose 18 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $14.88, and Citigroup, which picked up 47 cents, or 1 percent, to $46.58. Bank stocks have struggled this year because the Fed has pushed back plans to raise rates. Bond prices dipped and yields rose, another sign investors expect interest rates to increase. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.85 percent from 1.83 percent. The yield on the Treasury note is closely tied to interest rates.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said Verizon and its unions agreed in principle to a new four-year contract. About 39,000 landline and cable employees in the Eastern U.S. went on strike in April. They had been working without a contract since August. Verizon gained 46 cents to $50.62.

Google's parent company Alphabet rose after a federal jury said the company did not need permission to use tools made by Oracle when it built its Android software. Oracle said Google stole its intellectual property and sought $9 billion in damages, and it plans to appeal the ruling. Alphabet stock added $10.67, or 1.4 percent, to $747.60.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil lost 15 cents to $49.33 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, gave up 27 cents to $49.32 a barrel in London.

Machinery maker Terex dropped after Chinese heavy equipment maker Zoomlion abandoned its effort to buy the company. Zoomlion offered to buy Terex at the start of the year, after Terex accepted an offer from Finland's Konecranes. Terex backed out of that deal and will instead sell its crane business to Konecranes. Terex stock sank $3.44, or 14.1 percent, to $20.89.

Scientific equipment maker Thermo Fisher said it will buy electron microscope maker FEI for $107.50 per share in cash, or about $4.2 billion. The deal comes about two months after Thermo Fisher paid $1.3 billion to buy Affymetrix, a company that makes equipment to analyze genetic codes. FEI stock climbed $13.55, or 14.3 percent, to $108.13 and Thermo Fisher added 93 cents to $152.13.

The price of gold fell $6.60 to $1,213.80. Gold has slipped about 5 percent over the last two weeks. Silver fell 7 cents to $16.27 an ounce. Copper rose 1 cent to $2.11 a pound.

Wholesale gasoline rose 1 cent to $1.63 a gallon. Heating oil fell 1 cent to $1.49 a gallon. Natural gas rose 2 cents to $2.17 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Germany's DAX and the FTSE 100 in Britain both rose 0.1 percent, and France's CAC 40 gained a bit less than that. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 0.4 percent and South Korea's Kospi gained 0.6 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 0.9 percent.

The dollar rose to 110.38 yen from 109.72 yen. The euro dipped to $1.1114 from $1.1191.

0891

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

NYSE CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY MONDAY MAY 30
BRITIAN CLOSED FOR BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY MAY 30

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 44.93 points or ▲ 0.25% on Monday, May 30, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,873.22 ▲ 44.93 ▲ 0.25% HOLIDAY
Nasdaq____ 4,933.50 ▲ 31.74 ▲ 0.65% HOLIDAY
S&P_500___ 2,099.06 ▲ 8.96 ▲ 0.43% HOLIDAY
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.65 ▲ 0.02 ▲ 0.80% HOLIDAY

NYSE Volume 3,071,701,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,473,621,120

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,270.79 ▲ 5.14 ▲ 0.08% HOLIDAY
DAX_____ 10,333.23 ▲ 46.92 ▲ 0.46%
CAC_40__ 4,529.40 ▲ 14.66 ▲ 0.32%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,473.60 ▲ 3.90 ▲ 0.07%
Shanghai_Comp 2,822.45 ▲ 1.41 ▲ 0.05%
Taiwan_Weight 8,535.87 ▲ 72.26 ▲ 0.85%
Nikkei_225___ 17,068.02 ▲ 233.18 ▲ 1.39%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,629.39 ▲ 52.62 ▲ 0.26%
Strait_Times.__ 2,796.75 ▼ -5.76 ▼ -0.21%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,019.64 ▲ 27.09 ▲ 0.39%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-stocks-rise-wall-street-gains-090203739--finance.html

Global stocks rise amid increasing optimism about the world economy
Associated Press By JOE McDONALD

BEIJING (AP) ”” Major stock markets edged up on Monday amid greater optimism about the global economy, though trading volumes were low as the U.K. and U.S. markets were closed for a holiday.

KEEPING SCORE: Germany's DAX gained 0.5 percent to close at 10,333.23 while France's CAC-40 rose 0.3 percent to 4,529.40. Earlier, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 1.4 percent to 17,068.02 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.3 percent to 20,629.39. The Shanghai Composite Index held steady at 2,822.45, Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 also was unchanged at 5,408.00 while Seoul's Kospi shed 0.1 percent to 1,967.13.

GLOBAL OPTIMISM: Sentiment has been buoyant since last week, when U.S. Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen sounded confident about the economy. She said the Fed intends to keep raising interest rates as long as growth keeps improving. Bank shares in particular rose on the comments, as financial groups stand to make bigger profits on lending if interest rates rise.

ANALYST'S TAKE: "Janet Yellen's remarks on Friday confirm that at least one increase in the Fed rate is likely this year. Traders will take confidence from the fact that stock markets are firm in the face of this confirmation. As far as the markets are concerned, the timing of the next Fed increase now becomes the central issue," Ric Spooner of CMC Markets said in a report.

EUROPEAN DATA: A rise in economic confidence in the 19-country eurozone also helped buoy markets in Europe. The Economic Sentiment Indicator, a monthly survey by the European Union's executive Commission, rose to a four-month high of 104.7 points in May from 104.0 in April. It was supported by optimism among consumers, industry managers, expectations for stronger hiring as well as rising retail prices.

THE YUAN WEAKENS: In Asia, China's yuan weakened after the central bank set the starting point for the day's trading at its lowest level against the dollar in five years. The People's Bank of China failed to factor a possible U.S. rate hike into its plans and had to change its stance following Yellen's speech, according to Stephen Innes, a trader for OANDA. "I don't think the bank is trying to drive down the yuan," said Innes.

WEEK AHEAD: Investors were looking ahead to China's May manufacturing index due Wednesday as well as OPEC's meeting Thursday. The oil cartel is not expected to change its output levels as oil prices have recovered in recent weeks, but its views on the market will be scrutinized by investors. The European Central Bank will also hold a meeting on Thursday, and is likewise expected to take no action as it waits for past stimulus measures to have an effect on the economy.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude rose 19 cents to $49.52 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract shed 15 cents on Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 27 cents to $50.22 per barrel in London. The contract fell 22 cents the previous session.

CURRENCY: The dollar gained to 111.09 yen from Friday's 110.23. The euro edged up to $1.1132 from $1.1116.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -86.02 points or ▼ -0.48% on Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,787.20 ▼ -86.02 ▼ -0.48%
Nasdaq____ 4,948.05 ▲ 14.55 ▲ 0.29%
S&P_500___ 2,096.96 ▼ -2.10 ▼ -0.10%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.63 ▼ -0.02 ▼ -0.79%

NYSE Volume 4,249,137,000
Nasdaq Volume 2,217,479,250

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,230.79 ▼ -40.00 ▼ -0.64%
DAX_____ 10,262.74 ▼ -70.49 ▼ -0.68%
CAC_40__ 4,505.62 ▼ -23.78 ▼ -0.53%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,447.80 ▼ -25.80 ▼ -0.47%
Shanghai_Comp 2,916.62 ▲ 94.17 ▲ 3.34%
Taiwan_Weight 8,535.59 ▼ -0.28 ▲ 0.00%
Nikkei_225___ 17,234.98 ▲ 166.96 ▲ 0.98%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,815.09 ▲ 185.70 ▲ 0.90%
Strait_Times.__ 2,791.06 ▼ -5.69 ▼ -0.20%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,039.41 ▲ 19.77 ▲ 0.28%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-st...-weigh-economic-data-141354996--finance.html#

US stocks slide following late slump in oil prices
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY and ALEX VEIGA

EW YORK (AP) ”” U.S. stock indexes are falling Tuesday afternoon and energy companies are sliding with the price of oil. Makers of household products are trading lower following mixed reports about consumer behavior in the U.S.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 101 points, or 0.6 percent, to 17,771 as of 3:34 p.m. Eastern time. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,094. The Nasdaq composite index rose 3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,936 as health stocks made small gains. Despite the losses, major U.S. indexes are wrapping up a strong month.

ENERGY: The oil minister of the United Arab Emirates said he is "optimistic" about the state of the energy market. Ministers from OPEC nations will meet in Vienna this week and the comments suggest there isn't a lot of urgency to address a global supply glut.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 23 cents to $49.10 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gave up 7 cents to $49.69 a barrel in London.

Chevron fell $1.21, or 1.2 percent, to $100.81 and Exxon Mobil shed $1.11, or 1.2 percent, to $88.90.

OIL PENNED IN: David Schiegoleit, managing director of investments for the private client reserve at U.S. Bank, said he thinks oil won't go much higher unless the global economy really improves or major nations start spending more.

"We do see $50 as sort of high end," he said.

Schiegoliet said he thinks oil prices will stay between $30 and $50 a barrel until then. The price of oil has almost doubled since early February, but it hasn't closed above $50 a barrel since July.

EYE ON CONSUMERS: The Commerce Department said U.S. consumer spending rose 1 percent in April as purchases of cars and other long-lasting goods increased. Wages and salaries, the most important component of incomes, gained 0.5 percent. The report suggests the U.S. economy could pick up in the second quarter after six months of sluggish growth.

But economists at the Conference Board said consumer confidence fell for the second month in a row and reached its lowest level since November. The group said consumers are feeling cautious about business and job market conditions, and they anticipate little change in the months ahead. That was a surprise since a similar survey by the University of Michigan showed greater optimism among consumers.

CONSUMER GOODS: Companies that make household goods like food, drinks, cleaners and other everyday items fell in afternoon trading. Beer and wine maker Constellation Brands lost $4.45, or 2.8 percent, to $153.38 and Clorox gave up $1.23 to $128.47.

THE QUOTE: Erik Davidson, chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank, said the consumer spending report shows Americans are gradually spending more and getting over the shocks of the financial crisis and Great Recession.

"There's probably never been a better time to be a consumer than right now," Davidson said. He noted that the job market remains solid, wages are inching higher and a strong dollar is making goods produced overseas less expensive.

POWER DEAL: Westar Energy, the biggest utility company in Kansas, surged after Great Plains Energy agreed to buy it for $8.5 billion, or $60 per share in cash and stock. The deal will give Great Plains a total of 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. Westar climbed $3.81, or 7.2 percent, to $56.73 and Great Plains Energy slid $1.78, or 5.8 percent, to $29.22.

NOT READY FOR TAKEOFF: Boeing slumped after the U.S. Air Force announced new delays for the company's KC-46 Pegasus Tanker, a midair refueling plane. Boeing lost $3.02, or 2.3 percent, to $126.20.

JAZZ IT UP: Jazz Pharmaceuticals says it will buy cancer drug developer Celator Pharmaceuticals for $30.25 per share, or $1.28 billion. Celator's most advanced drug is Vyxeos, a potential treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

Jazz gets most of its revenue from Xyrem, a drug used to treat side effects of narcolepsy, but it also makes cancer drugs. Celator soared $12.51, or 71.4 percent, to $30.04 and Jazz stock lost $1.02 to $151.07.

OVERSEAS: Germany's DAX edged 0.7 percent lower, while France's CAC 40 slipped 0.5 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 was down 0.6 percent. Earlier in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 closed 1 percent higher, while South Korea's Kospi added 0.8 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 0.9 percent.

OTHER ENERGY PRICES: Wholesale gasoline fell 2 cents to $1.61 a gallon. Heating oil was unchanged at $1.50 a gallon. Natural gas climbed 12 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $2.29 per 1,000 cubic feet.

METALS: Gold rose 80 cents to $1,217.50 an ounce. Silver fell 28 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $15.99 an ounce. Copper fell 2 cents to $2.10 per pound. That was the end of an eight-day losing streak for gold, which fell 6 percent in May.

BONDS AND CURRENCIES: Bond prices edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 1.84 percent from 1.86 late Friday. The dollar strengthened to 110.59 yen from 110.38 yen. The euro rose to $1.1126 from $1.1114.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 2.47 points or ▲ 0.01% on Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,789.67 ▲ 2.47 ▲ 0.01%
Nasdaq____ 4,952.25 ▲ 4.20 ▲ 0.08%
S&P_500___ 2,099.33 ▲ 2.37 ▲ 0.11%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.63 ▲ 0.00 ▼ -0.08%

NYSE Volume 3,498,535,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,828,629,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,191.93 ▼ -38.86 ▼ -0.62%
DAX_____ 10,204.44 ▼ -58.30 ▼ -0.57%
CAC_40__ 4,475.39 ▼ -30.23 ▼ -0.67%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,395.20 ▼ -52.60 ▼ -0.97%
Shanghai_Comp 2,913.51 ▼ -3.11 ▼ -0.11%
Taiwan_Weight 8,597.16 ▲ 61.57 ▲ 0.72%
Nikkei_225___ 16,955.73 ▼ -279.25 ▼ -1.62%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,760.98 ▼ -54.11 ▼ -0.26%
Strait_Times.__ 2,790.54 ▼ -0.52 ▼ -0.02%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,022.40 ▼ -17.01 ▼ -0.24%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stock-indexes-move-lower-weak-chinese-data-142436483.html

US stocks eke small gains after listless day of trading

U.S. stocks perk up after a downbeat start to eke out a small gain
Associated Press By Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer

U.S. stocks perked up after a downbeat start to eke out a small gain Wednesday.

Consumer companies were among the big gainers on a day when investors sized up a mixed bag of new data on the U.S. manufacturing, housing and automobile industries. Telecommunications stocks lagged the rest of the market.

Investors have been looking for clues in the latest economic figures to gauge the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will raise its key interest rate at the central bank's next meeting of policymakers later this month.

"The market is in a holding pattern," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial. "Everything now is being viewed via the eye of the Fed in order to ascertain whether and if we get a rate hike this summer."

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 2.47 points, or 0.01 percent, to 17,789.67. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 2.37 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,099.33. The index remains within 2 percent of its all-time high set in May 2015.

The Nasdaq composite index gained 4.20 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,952.25.

The latest gains helped nudge the Dow and S&P 500 higher for the year. The Dow is up 2.1 percent, while the S&P 500 is up 2.7 percent. The Nasdaq is off 1.1 percent.

The major stock indexes opened lower on Wednesday, echoing a slide in markets in Europe and Asia as traders considered new reports on China's manufacturing sector, including one suggesting a weaker outlook for the nation's factories.

Investors also got an early look a mix of new U.S. data. The Commerce Department said construction spending fell in April by the biggest amount in five years, dragged down by declines in housing, commercial construction and spending on government projects.

Separately, car shopping site Kelly Blue Book projected that U.S. auto sales slumped 7 percent in May, usually one of the strongest months of the year for the U.S. auto industry. The drop is the biggest monthly sales decline since August 2010.

Most major automakers reported lower sales in May compared to the same month a year ago, including General Motors and Ford Motors. Shares in GM lost $1.06, or 3.4 percent, to $30.22, while Ford slid 38 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $13.11.

Auto dealership chain CarMax also took a hit, dropping $1.57, or about 3 percent, to $52.09.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Supply Management said that U.S. factories expanded for the straight month in May, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar.

"It's another data point in the direction of things being OK," said Jason Pride, director of investment strategy at Glenmede.

Investors' outlook perked up by late afternoon around the time when the Federal Reserve released its latest Beige Book, a snapshot of the U.S. economy that the central bank's policymakers use to inform their actions.

Another key factor: the government's next monthly update on nonfarm hiring, due out Friday.

"It's been a mixed picture, but with enough elements in the picture to keep the Fed in play to raise rates," Krosby said.

Beyond economic data, investors kept an eye on companies reporting quarterly results or outlooks.

Michael Kors led all companies in the S&P 500 index, climbing 6.6 percent after it reported that strong online sales and new store locations helped boost its fiscal fourth-quarter revenue. The retailer's results topped Wall Street's expectations. The stock gained $2.83 to $45.55.

Cracker Barrel vaulted 8.4 percent after the restaurant chain reported strong earnings growth for its fiscal third quarter. The stock added $12.74 to $164.22.

Other companies didn't fare as well.

Under Armour slumped 3.9 percent after the sports apparel maker slashed its full-year revenue guidance, saying that the closure of Sports Authority stores will hurt its sales. A bankruptcy court recently decided to approve the liquidation of privately held Sports Authority, which sold Under Armour goods, rather than a restructuring or sale. Under Armour shed $1.48 to $36.25.

Markets in Europe closed lower. Germany's DAX fell 0.6 percent, while France's CAC 40 slid 0.7 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 lost 0.6 percent. The downbeat data on China's factories weighed on markets in the world's second-largest economy and elsewhere in Asia.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.3 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 finished 1.6 percent lower, while South Korea's Kospi slipped less than 0.1 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slumped 1 percent.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil slipped 9 cents to close at $49.01 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, slid 17 cents to close at $49.72 a barrel in London.

In other energy futures trading, natural gas rose 9 cents, or 4.1 percent, to close at $2.38 per 1,000 cubic feet. Wholesale gasoline was little changed at $1.62 a gallon and heating oil was also flat at $1.50 a gallon.

Among metals, gold fell $2.80 to $1,214.70 an ounce, while silver slid 7 cents to $15.93 an ounce. Copper shed 2 cents to $2.07 a pound.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.84 percent from 1.85 late Tuesday.

In currency markets, the dollar weakened to 109.54 yen from 110.59 yen in Tuesday's trading. The euro rose to $1.1186 from $1.1126.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 48.89 points or ▲ 0.27% on Thursday, June 2, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,838.56 ▲ 48.89 ▲ 0.27%
Nasdaq____ 4,971.36 ▲ 19.11 ▲ 0.39%
S&P_500___ 2,105.26 ▲ 5.93 ▲ 0.28%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.59 ▼ -0.04 ▼ -1.60%

NYSE Volume 3,617,718,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,671,073,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,185.61 ▼ -6.32 ▼ -0.10%
DAX_____ 10,208.00 ▲ 3.56 ▲ 0.03%
CAC_40__ 4,466.00 ▼ -9.39 ▼ -0.21%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,354.20 ▼ -41.00 ▼ -0.76%
Shanghai_Comp 2,925.23 ▲ 11.72 ▲ 0.40%
Taiwan_Weight 8,556.02 ▼ -41.14 ▼ -0.48%
Nikkei_225___ 16,562.55 ▼ -393.18 ▼ -2.32%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,859.22 ▲ 98.24 ▲ 0.47%
Strait_Times.__ 2,795.09 ▲ 4.55 ▲ 0.16%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,003.12 ▼ -19.28 ▼ -0.27%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/energy-companies-lead-slide-us-142917724.html#

After an early wobble, US stocks close higher
Associated Press By ALEX VEIGA

U.S. stocks rebounded from an early slide Thursday, nudging the Standard & Poor's 500 index and Nasdaq composite to their highest close of the year.

Health care companies led the comeback. Energy stocks declined the most following a meeting of OPEC ministers that ended without an agreement on crude production cuts.

A late-afternoon reversal delivered the second gain in two days for the stock market in what's been a muted week of trading. Investors have been on the sidelines waiting for clues as to whether the Federal Reserve will raise its key interest rate at the central bank's next meeting of policymakers later this month.

Many will be looking to Friday, when the Labor Department releases its latest monthly jobs report.

"It is the last major data point for the Fed to digest before they go into their mid-June meeting," said Bill Northey, chief investment officer at the U.S. Bank Private Client Group.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 48.89 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,838.56.

The S&P 500 index added 5.93 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,105.26. The last time it was higher this year was on April 20. The index is now about 1.2 percent below its all-time high set in May last year.

The Nasdaq rose 19.11 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,971.36. That eclipsed its previous high this year on April 18.

Seven of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 posted gains, led by health care companies. Health insurer Humana climbed the most in the index, adding $9.96, or 5.6 percent, to $187.36. Drugmaker Endo International rose 82 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $17.44. And Aetna gained $4.74, or 4.1 percent, to $120.03.

Major stock indexes had been stuck in the red for much of the day as investors monitored the OPEC meeting in Vienna.

Oil ministers ended the meeting without reaching a consensus on regulating supplies. That sent crude oil prices lower initially, but they later reversed course.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 16 cents, or 0.3 percent, to close at $49.17 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, added 32 cents, or 0.6 percent, to close at $50.04 a barrel in London.

"OPEC taking a pause or choosing not to institute any production caps was not surprising given the fact that we've seen oil come up near $50 a barrel," Northey said.

Even so, energy stocks were the biggest laggard in the S&P 500.

Shares in several oil drilling and exploration companies declined, with Diamond Offshore Drilling sliding the most. The stock lost $1.01, or 4 percent, to $24.30.

Investors also weighed the latest company earnings and deal news.

L Brands, the company behind the Victoria's Secret brand, rose 4.3 percent after it reported its latest sales figures. The stock added $2.92 to $71.33.

Johnson & Johnson rose on news that the company agreed to buy privately-held hair care products maker Vogue International for about $3.3 billion. Vogue's hair care products are sold in the U.S. and 38 other countries. Johnson & Johnson shares rose $1.71, or 1.5 percent, to $114.49.

Some companies' results put traders in a selling mood.

Conn's sank 26.3 percent after the retailer reported quarterly results that fell short of analysts' estimates. The stock lost $3.08 to $8.63.

Online storage provider Box tumbled 11.5 percent after the company reported disappointing results late Wednesday. The stock fell $1.47 to $11.34.

European stock indexes were mixed after the European Central Bank said that its stimulus measures are helping the economy of the 19 countries that use the euro and need time to work before any new monetary jolts are added. Germany's DAX was little changed, while France's CAC 40 fell 0.2 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 lost 0.1 percent.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 2.3 percent after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided to postpone a sales tax hike to avoid shocks to the faltering recovery. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.5 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.8 percent. South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.1 percent.

In other energy futures trading, natural gas rose 2 cents, or 1 percent, to close at $2.405 per 1,000 cubic feet. Wholesale gasoline rose 2 cents, or 1.2 percent, at $1.63 a gallon, and heating oil gained a penny to close at $1.51 a gallon.

U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.81 percent from 1.84 late Wednesday.

In currency markets, the dollar fell to 108.91 yen from 109.54 in the previous day's trading. The euro fell to $1.1148 from $1.1186.

Precious and industrial metals futures closed little changed. Gold fell $2.10 to $1,212.60 an ounce, silver gained 10 cents to $16.03 an ounce and copper was flat at $2.07 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -31.5 points or ▼ -0.18% on Friday, June 3, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,807.06 ▼ -31.50 ▼ -0.18%
Nasdaq____ 4,942.52 ▼ -28.85 ▼ -0.58%
S&P_500___ 2,099.13 ▼ -6.13 ▼ -0.29%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.52 ▼ -0.07 ▼ -2.63%

NYSE Volume 3,613,228,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,600,255,000

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,209.63 ▲ 24.02 ▲ 0.39%
DAX_____ 10,103.26 ▼ -104.74 ▼ -1.03%
CAC_40__ 4,421.78 ▼ -44.22 ▼ -0.99%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,392.50 ▲ 38.30 ▲ 0.72%
Shanghai_Comp 2,938.68 ▲ 13.45 ▲ 0.46%
Taiwan_Weight 8,587.36 ▲ 31.34 ▲ 0.37%
Nikkei_225___ 16,642.23 ▲ 79.68 ▲ 0.48%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,947.24 ▲ 88.02 ▲ 0.42%
Strait_Times.__ 2,809.23 ▲ 14.14 ▲ 0.51%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,024.38 ▲ 21.26 ▲ 0.30%


US stocks, dollar slide after weak jobs report
Associated Press By ALEX VEIGA

Banks and other financial companies led a modest decline in U.S. stocks Friday after a report indicating that hiring slowed sharply in May put investors in a selling mood.

The market slide snapped a two-day winning streak and sent bond prices surging as investors sought safety in U.S. government-backed debt. The dollar also fell sharply against several major currencies.

The downbeat jobs data appeared to convince traders that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low longer than previously expected. It also stirred concerns that the economy is slowing.

"What we don't want to see is this number as a beginning of a series of weaker data," said Quincy Krosby, a market strategist at Prudential Financial. "That's going to affect the market."

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 31.50 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,807.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 6.13 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,099.13. The Nasdaq composite index gave up 28.85 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,942.52.

The Labor Department reported that the U.S. economy added only 38,000 jobs in May, the lowest amount in five years. The unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent from 5 percent, but mainly because about half a million unemployed people stopped looking for work.

Separate reports out Friday also showed a mixed snapshot of the economy. The Institute of Supply Management said U.S. services firms grew in May at the slowest pace in more than two years, while the Commerce Department said orders to U.S. factories rose in April by the largest amount in six months.

The weak hiring data fueled speculation that the Fed will hold off on raising its key interest rate this summer, something Wall Street was anticipating could happen as soon as July. That weighed on banks and financial services companies, as low interest rates make it harder for banks to make money from loans.

ETrade Financial slumped $1.44, or 5.1 percent, to $26.69, while Charles Schwab lost $1.62, or 5.3 percent, to $29.22. Bank of America fell 52 cents, or 3.5 percent, to $14.42. Citigroup slid $1.58, or 3.4 percent, to $45.39.

All told, financials sector companies posted the biggest drop in the in the S&P 500, sliding 1.4 percent. It's down 1.7 percent this year and is the only one of the 10 sectors in the index that's negative for 2016.

The prospect of interest rates holding steady made U.S. bonds more attractive, sending their prices sharply higher. That demand spike, in turn, pushed the yield on the 10-year Treasury note down 1.70 percent from 1.80 late Thursday.

"What you're seeing today is bonds are rallying because the thought that we're going to see higher rates in the short term has come off the table a bit," said J.J. Kinahan, chief strategist at TD Ameritrade. "It's about pure yield."

The dollar also fell against other major currencies, falling to 106.68 yen from 108.91 the day before. The euro jumped to $1.1347 from $1.1148.

Traders also piled money into precious and industrial metals. Gold rose $30.30, or 2.5 percent, to $1,242.90 an ounce, while silver gained 34 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $16.37 an ounce. Copper added 4 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $2.11 a pound.

The rally in metals helped polish shares in some mining companies. Newmont Mining jumped $3.05, or 9.4 percent, to $35.40, while Freeport-McMoRan added 45 cents, or 4.2 percent, to $11.11.

Utilities companies, which had been down of late as investors bet on the Fed raising rates sooner, rather than later, surged Friday. The sector was the biggest gainer in the S&P 500, climbing 1.7 percent. It's now up 15 percent this year.

Investors also bid up shares in several companies reporting earnings or sales data.

Broadcom climbed 4.9 percent after the communications chip maker posted a bigger-than-expected profit in its fiscal second quarter. The stock climbed $7.65 to $162.56.

Ambarella jumped 9.4 percent after the video compression chip maker's profit and revenue topped Wall Street's expectations. The stock rose $3.99 to $46.47.

Gap rose 4.1 percent after the clothing chain operator reported late Wednesday that sales at established stores declined 6 percent in May, better than the 7 percent drop forecast by financial analysts. The stock added 76 cents to $19.09.

Traders were not as welcoming to Zumiez. The clothing retailer fell 4.2 percent after sales at older stores slumped in its fiscal first quarter. The stock shed 64 cents to $14.42.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 55 cents, or 1.1 percent, to close at $48.62 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, slid 40 cents, or 0.8 percent, to close at $49.64 a barrel in London.

In other energy futures trading, natural gas dropped 1 cent to close at $2.398 per 1,000 cubic feet. Wholesale gasoline slid 3 cents, or 1.7 percent, to close at $1.61 a gallon. Heating oil shed 2 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $1.49 a gallon.

In Europe, major stock indexes mostly fell. Germany's DAX fell 1 percent, while France's CAC 40 lost 1 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.4 percent.

Earlier in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.5 percent, while South Korea's Kospi inched up 0.04 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4 percent. The S&P/ASX 200 of Australia jumped 0.8 percent.

1643

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 113.27 points or ▲ 0.64% on Monday, June 6, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,920.33 ▲ 113.27 ▲ 0.64%
Nasdaq____ 4,968.71 ▲ 26.20 ▲ 0.53%
S&P_500___ 2,109.41 ▲ 10.28 ▲ 0.49%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.55 ▲ 0.03 ▲ 1.11%

NYSE Volume 3,422,401,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,575,066,250

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,273.40 ▲ 63.77 ▲ 1.03%
DAX_____ 10,121.08 ▲ 17.82 ▲ 0.18%
CAC_40__ 4,423.38 ▲ 1.60 ▲ 0.04%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,431.00 ▲ 38.50 ▲ 0.71%
Shanghai_Comp 2,934.10 ▼ -4.58 ▼ -0.16%
Taiwan_Weight 8,597.11 ▲ 5.54 ▲ 0.06%
Nikkei_225___ 16,580.03 ▼ -62.20 ▼ -0.37%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,030.22 ▲ 82.98 ▲ 0.40%
Strait_Times.__ 2,831.28 ▲ 22.05 ▲ 0.78%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,024.38 ▲ 21.26 ▲ 0.30%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-climb-led-energy-141622996.html

Federal Reserve relief and oil prices send stocks higher

US stocks post solid gains as the price of oil climbs and energy companies trade higher
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks jumped Monday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen again managed to soothe investors' jangled nerves. The Standard & Poor's 500 index made its highest close in 2016, and oil prices also reached their highest levels of the year.

Market indexes were higher all day. They weakened a bit during Yellen's remarks, but rose further as investors concluded that the Fed won't raise interest rates again until it is certain higher rates won't stall the economy. Energy companies made the biggest gains as oil prices increased. Banks rose as investors anticipated that interest rates will eventually rise.

Investment manager Luke Bartholomew of Aberdeen Asset Management said Yellen was noncommittal following a weak jobs report on Friday. But Bartholomew said the Fed's decision won't be based on a single report or economic indicator.

"There's still a lot of data to go," he said.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 113.27 points, or 0.6 percent, to 17,920.33. The S&P 500 rose 10.28 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,109.41. The Nasdaq composite index picked up 26.20 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,968.71. The Nasdaq is close to its highs for the year.

Yellen's remarks come after the government released a surprisingly weak jobs report for May on Friday. Yellen, who called that report "disappointing," had said recently that the Fed would probably raise interest rates in the next few months if the economy kept getting stronger. She did not repeat that comment Monday, and investors concluded that the Fed won't raise interest rates until it is certain that doing so won't stall the economy.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose $1.07, or 2.2 percent, to $49.69 a barrel in New York. That's its highest closing price this year. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, gained 91 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $50.55 a barrel in London. That brought energy companies higher. Exxon Mobil added 97 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $89.34.

Independent energy analyst Jim Ritterbusch said oil prices rose because the dollar has weakened since the disappointing jobs report, and acts of sabotage in Nigeria have sapped the country's oil production, boosting crude prices.

The price of oil has rebounded over the last few months, but it's far lower than it was two years ago. That's causing a lot of pain for energy companies.

Oil and gas exploration company Devon Energy said Monday it will sell almost $1 billion in assets later this year to shore up its financial position. That sent its stock up $1.64, or 4.6 percent, to $37.56. Oilfield services company Hercules Offshore filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than a year. Hercules plans to sell all of its assets to pay off investors, including international divisions. Its stock lost 9 cents, or 6.4 percent, to $1.32.

Rival oilfield service company Halliburton gained $2.04, or 4.8 percent, to $44.89 and Baker Hughes rose $3.28, or 7.1 percent, to $49.52. Drilling rig company Transocean jumped $1.43, or 14.7 percent, to $11.17 after Barron's reported the company won a contract for an operation that will be based off of India.

CF Industries climbed $2.54, or 8.9 percent, to $31.15 and Mosaic rose $1.66, or 6.2 percent, to $28.36. That helped pull materials and chemicals companies higher.

Drugmaker AbbVie slid after investors were disappointed with results from a study of a lung cancer drug AbbVie is acquiring. In April AbbVie agreed to buy StemCentrx for $5.8 billion, gaining the company's stem cell treatment ova-T in the process. But after the results were announced, AbbVie declined $2.18, or 3.4 percent, to $62.82.

Food producer Tyson Foods slumped after a BMO Capital Markets analyst downgraded the food company to "Market Perform." Tyson stock fell $2.33, or 3.7 percent, to $60.88 but is up 49 percent over the last 12 months.

Gold gained $4.50 to $1,247.40 an ounce. Silver rose 8 cents to $16.45 an ounce. Copper was little changed at $2.12 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline lost 2 cents to $1.59 a gallon. Heating oil gained 2 cents to $1.50 a gallon. Natural gas rose 7 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $2.47 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares jumped 1 percent as polls showed voters in the U.K. want the nation to leave the European Union. Britain will hold a referendum on membership in the 28-nation bloc on June 23 and campaigning is heating up. The British pound weakened based on the latest polls. Elsewhere Germany's DAX rose 0.2 percent and France's CAC 40 was little changed. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell nearly 0.4 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4 percent.

Bond yields recovered after a big drop on Friday. As bond prices fell, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.74 percent from 1.70 percent. The dollar rose to 107.40 yen from 106.68 yen. The euro inched up to $1.1373 from $1.1347.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 17.95 points or ▲ 0.10% on Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,938.28 ▲ 17.95 ▲ 0.10%
Nasdaq____ 4,961.75 ▼ -6.96 ▼ -0.14%
S&P_500___ 2,112.13 ▲ 2.72 ▲ 0.13%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.53 ▼ -0.01 ▼ -0.43%

NYSE Volume 3,506,703,500
Nasdaq Volume 1,668,443,380

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,284.53 ▲ 11.13 ▲ 0.18%
DAX_____ 10,287.68 ▲ 166.60 ▲ 1.65%
CAC_40__ 4,475.86 ▲ 52.48 ▲ 1.19%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,441.00 ▲ 10.00 ▲ 0.18%
Shanghai_Comp 2,936.04 ▲ 1.95 ▲ 0.07%
Taiwan_Weight 8,679.90 ▲ 82.79 ▲ 0.96%
Nikkei_225___ 16,675.45 ▲ 95.42 ▲ 0.58%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,328.24 ▲ 298.02 ▲ 1.42%
Strait_Times.__ 2,848.09 ▲ 16.81 ▲ 0.59%
NZX_50_Index_ 7,037.31 ▲ 12.93 ▲ 0.18%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-keep-rising-oil-142737844.html

Late sell-off leaves US stocks barely higher; oil rises

US stocks finish with meager gains after a late sell-off erased much of an early gain
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stock indexes inched upward Tuesday, led by gains in energy companies as the price of oil closed above $50 a barrel for the first time in almost a year.

The market had been on track for its highest close since last July, but an afternoon stumble erased most of the early rally, leaving broad indicators with meager gains for the day.

Slumping bond yields increased the appeal of high-dividend stocks, sending prices for phone companies higher. Health care stocks sank as a series of poor results from clinical trials knocked drugmakers lower.

The Dow Jones industrial average held onto a gain of 17.95 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,938.28. The Dow was up as much as 82 points earlier.

The S&P 500 rose 2.72 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,112.13. The Nasdaq composite, which is heavily weighted with biotech companies, lost 6.96 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,961.75.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil added 67 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $50.36 a barrel in New York. Oil hasn't closed at $50 a barrel or higher since July 21. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, added 89 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $51.44 a barrel in London.

Among energy companies, Chevron rose $2.15, or 2.1 percent, to $103.32 while Newfield Exploration added $1.87, or 4.7 percent, to $41.81. Helmerich & Payne gained $2.61, or 4 percent, to $67.35.

The dollar plunged following Friday's jobs report as investors concluded that the Fed won't raise interest rates any time soon. That has helped energy companies by putting upward pressure on the price of crude oil. Industrial companies have also had a good run.

"When you get a Fed that is now perceived to be lower for longer (on interest rates), with a dollar that is less likely to rally, and an economy that may be slowing but is not in recession, that has tended to be a positive for those stocks in 2016," said Julian Emanuel, U.S. equities and derivatives strategist for UBS.

Bond prices rose, sending the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note down to 1.72 percent from 1.74 percent. That made bonds less appealing, and sent income-seeking investors into phone company stocks. Verizon added $1.04, or 2.1 percent, to $51.75.

Two biotech drugmakers tumbled after important drugs failed in clinical testing. Biogen, which makes several treatments for multiple sclerosis, said a potential drug called opicinumab failed in a mid-stage clinical trial. Its stock dropped $36.98, or 12.8 percent, to $252.86.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals said a study of its drug Soliris failed, and its stock lost $16.86, or 10.9 percent, to $138.13. The company gets almost all of its revenue from Soliris, which is approved to treat two rare blood disorders, and an additional approval could have strengthened its sales. Both Biogen and Alexion have plunged by about one-third since July.

Canadian drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals disclosed its delayed quarterly results and cut its profit and revenue estimates for the year. Its stock gave up $4.21, or 14.6 percent, to $24.64, and it's down 90 percent since mid-September.

Banks took more losses, as the prospect of lower interest rates suggested diminished profits. Goldman Sachs lipped $1.89, or 1.2 percent, to $155.17 and Morgan Stanley gave up 33 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $26.52.

Organic and specialty foods distributor United Natural Foods posted a larger-than-expected profit in its fiscal third quarter, and the company raised its projections for the year. Its stock jumped $5.45, or 14 percent, to $44.28.

Real estate information website Zillow said will pay $130 million to settle a lawsuit brought by competitor Move Inc. Move, which is owned by News Corp., said Zillow hired two of its executives and obtained trade secrets that helped the Zillow buy another rival, Trulia, in 2014. Move said it would seek as much as $1.8 billion in damages. Zillow Group stock gained $1.74, or 5.7 percent, to $32.07.

Surgical implant maker Zimmer Biomet said it will buy spine surgery products maker LDR Holding for $1 billion, or $37 per share. LDR jumped $14.41, or 63.8 percent, to $36.99 and Zimmer fell $2.11, or 1.7 percent, to $119.43.

Metals prices hardly budged. Gold fell 40 cents to $1,247 an ounce. Silver slipped 5 cents to $16.39 an ounce. Copper fell 1 cent to $2.05 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline held steady at $1.59 a gallon. Heating oil added 4 cents to $1.54 a gallon. Natural gas gained 1 cent to $2.47 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Overseas, Germany's DAX rose 1.6 percent and the CAC-40 in France was up 1.2 percent. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares edged up 0.2 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.6 percent and South Korea's Kospi gained 1.3 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 1.4 percent.

The dollar slipped to 107.31 yen from 107.40 yen. The euro fell to $1.1361 from $1.1373.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed HIGHER ▲ 66.77 points or ▲ 0.37% on Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 18,005.05 ▲ 66.77 ▲ 0.37%
Nasdaq____ 4,974.64 ▲ 12.89 ▲ 0.26%
S&P_500___ 2,119.12 ▲ 6.99 ▲ 0.33%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.51 ▼ -0.02 ▼ -0.83%

NYSE Volume 3,552,408,750
Nasdaq Volume 1,639,710,620

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,301.52 ▲ 16.99 ▲ 0.27%
DAX_____ 10,217.03 ▼ -70.65 ▼ -0.69%
CAC_40__ 4,448.73 ▼ -27.13 ▼ -0.61%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,441.10 ▲ 0.10 ▲ 0.00%
Shanghai_Comp 2,927.16 ▼ -8.89 ▼ -0.30%
Taiwan_Weight 8,715.48 ▲ 35.58 ▲ 0.41%
Nikkei_225___ 16,830.92 ▲ 155.47 ▲ 0.93%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,297.88 ▼ -30.36 ▼ -0.14%
Strait_Times.__ 2,862.38 ▲ 14.29 ▲ 0.50%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,991.51 ▼ -45.80 ▼ -0.65%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-rise-weaker-dollar-143056165.html

US stocks extend gains as mining and machinery makers rise
Associated Press By MARLEY JAY

NEW YORK (AP) ”” Stocks rose for the third day in a row Wednesday as machinery and mining companies traded higher. Oil prices also continued their rise, and stocks and oil prices are at their highest in almost a year.

Metals prices jumped as the dollar got weaker. Also trading higher were makers of beverages and other consumer goods. That's because a weaker dollar could mean better sales and bigger profits for U.S. companies that do a lot of business overseas.

Kate Warne, an investment strategist for Edward Jones, said the dollar weakness won't last: the Federal Reserve is preparing to eventually raise interest rates, which will make the dollar stronger, while stimulus policies of central banks in Europe and Japan will cause their own currencies to depreciate.

"The dollar will bounce around," she said. "It's not likely to weaken a whole lot given the gap in central bank policies."

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 66.77 points, or 0.4 percent, to 18,005.05. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 6.99 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,119.12. The Nasdaq composite added 12.89 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,974.64. The S&P 500 and oil prices are both at their highest levels since July, and the Nasdaq hasn't been this high since Dec. 31.

Machinery maker Caterpillar rose $1.30, or 1.7 percent, to $78.11 and engine maker Cummins picked up $1.72, or 1.5 percent, to $118.87. Gold and copper producer Freeport-McMoRan added 34 cents, or 3 percent, to $11.58 and gold producer Newmont Mining gained 43 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $35.38.

The dollar declined to 106.94 yen from 107.31 yen late Tuesday. The euro edged up to $1.1397 from $1.1361. The dollar has been very strong over the last few years but slipped a bit in the wake of Friday's disappointing jobs report.

The dollar declined to 106.94 yen from 107.31 yen late Tuesday. The euro edged up to $1.1397 from $1.1361. The dollar has been very strong over the last few years but slipped a bit in the wake of Friday's disappointing jobs report.

The price of gold jumped $15.30, or 1.2 percent, to $1,262.30 an ounce and silver leaped 59 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $16.99 an ounce. Copper added 1 cent to $2.06 a pound.

Oil prices continued to rise. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 87 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $51.23 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, jumped $1.07, or 2.1 percent, to $52.51 a barrel in London.

Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel's and other liquor brands, gained ground after it reported strong fourth-quarter results. The stock gained $3.45, or 3.5 percent, to $100.80. Competitor Constellation Brands, which makes Corona, Negra Modelo and Pacifico beers, rose $2.95, or 2 percent, to $154.06 and Molson Coors rose $1.89, or 1.9 percent, to $103.60.

Other makers of household goods also rose. Kellogg added 92 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $76.08 and PepsiCo edged up 69 cents to $103.18.

Utility companies gained ground as bond yields fell. Utilities are stable, dividend-paying investments that are often compared to bonds, and investors bought them as yields decreased. NextEra Energy rose $1.81, or 1.5 percent, to $122.92 and Duke Energy added 52 cents to $80.51.

VeriFone Systems, which makes terminals used for electronic payments, slashed its annual forecast after it reported disappointing quarterly results. The company said it will eliminate jobs and review some of its struggling businesses. The stock gave up $6.96, or 24.7 percent, to $21.27.

Restaurant chain Dave & Buster's climbed $4.29, or 10.2 percent, to $46.15 after the company reported strong first-quarter results and raised its outlook for the year.

Headphones maker Skullcandy surged after the company's founder said he might want to take the company private. Rick Alden, Skullcandy's largest shareholder, disclosed the idea in a form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Skullcandy stock climbed 63 cents, or 16 percent, to $4.56.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline gained 3 cents to $1.62 a gallon. Heating oil picked up 3 cents to $1.57 a gallon. Natural gas was unchanged at $2.47 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Germany's DAX was down 0.7 percent and France's CAC-40 shed 0.6 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.3 percent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 0.9 percent and Seoul's Kospi advanced 0.8 percent.

U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-Year U.S. Treasury note fell to 1.70 percent from 1.72 percent.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -19.86 points or ▼ -0.11% on Thursday, June 9, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,985.19 ▼ -19.86 ▼ -0.11%
Nasdaq____ 4,958.62 ▼ -16.03 ▼ -0.32%
S&P_500___ 2,115.48 ▼ -3.64 ▼ -0.17%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.48 ▼ -0.03 ▼ -1.27%

NYSE Volume 3,275,931,250
Nasdaq Volume 1,544,175,120

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,231.89 ▼ -69.63 ▼ -1.10%
DAX_____ 10,088.87 ▼ -128.16 ▼ -1.25%
CAC_40__ 4,405.61 ▼ -43.12 ▼ -0.97%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,437.40 ▼ -3.70 ▼ -0.07%
Shanghai_Comp 2,927.16 ▼ -8.89 ▼ -0.30%
Taiwan_Weight 8,715.48 ▲ 35.58 ▲ 0.41%
Nikkei_225___ 16,668.41 ▼ -162.51 ▼ -0.97%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,297.88 ▼ -30.36 ▼ -0.14%
Strait_Times.__ 2,843.80 ▼ -18.58 ▼ -0.65%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,970.55 ▼ -20.96 ▼ -0.30%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-retreat-banks-mining-companies-fall-141110566--finance.html#

Winning streak for stocks ends as banks and miners slump

US stocks finish a bit lower, ending a three-day string of gains
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- A three-day winning streak for U.S. stocks ended quietly Thursday. A decline in bond yields sent bank stocks lower, while utilities and phone companies moved higher.

Stocks traded lower all day as investors took some profits. Banks took the biggest losses, followed by metals companies. With bond yields down, investors snapped up phone and utility company shares. Household goods makers turned higher late in the day, but that wasn't enough to cancel out losses elsewhere.

"There's just a little lack of confidence in the market," said Steve Quirk, executive vice president of trading for TD Ameritrade. "When you're sitting near 11 month highs and there is uncertainty, people are going to be cautious."

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 19.86 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,985.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 3.64 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,115.48. The Nasdaq composite declined 16.03 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,958.62.

Stocks are still up for the week. Over the last few days the S&P 500 has reached its highest levels since last July. Oil prices have done the same.

Bond prices rose, sending the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note down to 1.68 percent from 1.70 percent a day earlier. Lower bond yields drive down interest rates on mortgages and other kinds of loans, making them less profitable for banks.

Mortgage agency Freddie Mac reported that mortgage rates fell this week after three weeks of increases. Freddie Mac said the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped to 3.60 percent from 3.66 percent last week. A year ago the rate was 4.04 percent.

Bank of America gave up 24 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $14.19 and Capital One fell $1.23, or 1.7 percent, to $70.87.

Mining and chemicals companies also weakened. Copper and gold producer Freeport-McMoRan fell 68 cents, or 5.9 percent, to $10.90 and Eastman Chemical fell $1.84, or 2.5 percent, to $71.78.

Utilities and phone company stocks made modest gains as bond yields fell. Those stocks are seen as similar to bonds because they pay large dividends, so low bond yields make them more appealing by comparison. Ameren advanced $1.21, or 2.4 percent, to $50.89 and PG&E picked up 97 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $62.98. AT&T added 23 cents to $40.09.

Jam and spreads maker J.M. Smucker climbed after it reported strong fourth-quarter sales of coffee products and pet foods. The company also gave an optimistic profit forecast for the current fiscal year. Its stock jumped $10.52, or 7.9 percent, to $143.23.

Other consumer goods makers followed Smucker's lead late in the day. Tyson Foods rose $1.52, or 2.5 percent, to $61.28 and Kellogg picked up $1.61, or 2.1 percent, to $77.69.

U.S. crude shed 67 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $50.56 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, fell 56 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $51.95 a barrel in London.

Other companies tumbled after their earnings disappointing investors. Home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware cut its forecast for the year after it reported weak quarterly results. The company said it's facing weaker sales of luxury goods. Its stock lost $7.66, or 21.2 percent, to $28.41.

Menswear chain Tailored Brands disclosed weak first-quarter results as its Men's Wearhouse brand struggled. The stock tumbled $3.19, or 20.5 percent, to $12.34.

Airlines traded higher as oil prices dropped, which could reduce their fuel costs. American Airlines added 89 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $33.40 and United Continental rose $1.01, or 2.2 percent, to $46.70.

Gold rose $10.40, or 0.8 percent, to $1,272.70 an ounce. Silver added 28 cents to $17.27 an ounce. Copper fell 2 cents to $2.04 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline was unchanged at $1.62 a gallon. Heating oil fell 2 cents to $1.55 a gallon. Natural gas jumped 15 cents to $2.62 per 1,000 cubic feet.

European stock indexes skidded after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned that national governments need to make more reforms to get the regional economy going. Draghi said the central bank can't the economy on its own. Germany's DAX fell 1.3 percent and Britain's FTSE 100 slid 1.1 percent. France's CAC 40 lost 1 percent.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 shed 1 percent after the government reported that domestic and foreign private machinery orders fell in April from the month before, which suggests capital investment remains weak. South Korea's KOSPI was 0.1 percent lower.

The dollar fell to 106.75 yen from 106.94 yen on Wednesday. The euro dropped to $1.1327 from $1.1397.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -119.85 points or ▼ -0.67% on Friday, June 10, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,865.34 ▼ -119.85 ▼ -0.67%
Nasdaq____ 4,894.55 ▼ -64.07 ▼ -1.29%
S&P_500___ 2,096.07 ▼ -19.41 ▼ -0.92%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.45 ▼ -0.03 ▼ -1.37%

NYSE Volume 3,483,899,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,683,269,880

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,115.76 ▼ -116.13 ▼ -1.86%
DAX_____ 9,834.62 ▼ -254.25 ▼ -2.52%
CAC_40__ 4,306.72 ▼ -98.89 ▼ -2.24%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,391.60 ▼ -45.80 ▼ -0.84%
Shanghai_Comp 2,927.16 ▼ -8.89 ▼ -0.30%
Taiwan_Weight 8,715.48 ▲ 35.58 ▲ 0.41%
Nikkei_225___ 16,601.36 ▼ -67.05 ▼ -0.40%
Hang_Seng.__ 21,042.64 ▼ -255.24 ▼ -1.20%
Strait_Times.__ 2,822.97 ▼ -20.83 ▼ -0.73%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,971.78 ▲ 1.23 ▲ 0.02%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/asian-stocks-slip-investors-await-061904198.html

US stocks give up recent gains as oil prices sink

US stocks fall Friday as energy companies are hammered by the largest decline in oil prices in two months
Associated Press By Marley Jay, AP Markets Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stocks skidded Friday in a wave of selling that wiped out most of the market's gains from earlier this week. A drop in oil prices took energy companies sharply lower. Investors were also troubled by a poll showing Britain may be more likely to leave the European Union.

Oil prices fell by the largest amount in two months, and banks slumped as bond yields fell for the second consecutive day, pulling interest rates lower. Machinery, technology and consumer stocks also lost ground. It was the market's biggest loss in more than three weeks.

Eric Wiegand, senior portfolio manager for U.S. Bank's Private Client Reserve, said investors are guessing at the outcome of the British referendum and the Federal Reserve's meeting next week, as well as the impending U.S. presidential election.

"There's just not a good way to handicap the outcome just yet," he said.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 119.85 points, or 0.7 percent, to 17,865.34. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 19.41 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,096.07. The Nasdaq composite shed 64.07 points, or 1.3 percent, to 4,894.55.

U.S. crude shed $1.49, or 2.9 percent, to $49.07 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, fell $1.28, or 2.5 percent, to $50.56 a barrel in London. Oil prices had reached 11-month highs in the last few days.

ConocoPhillips gave up $2.06, or 4.4 percent, to $44.51 and oilfield services company Schlumberger shed $1.43, or 1.8 percent, to $78.53.

As they did Thursday, banks fell along with bond yields. Lower bond yields drive down interest rates on mortgages and other kinds of loans, and that makes them less profitable for banks. Citigroup sank $1.11, or 2.5 percent, to $43.90 and JPMorgan Chase lost 91 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $63.84.

Bond prices rose further and the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note sank to 1.64 percent from 1.69 percent.

The drop in bond yields sent phone companies higher, as those stocks' high dividend yields are comparable to bonds. Verizon Communications rose 72 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $52.67.

Stocks started the week with three days of gains and reached their highest levels in months, but finished back where they started. For the week the Dow was a bit higher, the Nasdaq lower, and the S&P 500 essentially unchanged.

That showed investors are cautiously optimistic, as the U.S. economy is still growing and corporate profits are expected to pick up later in the year. But they're also very sensitive to uncertainty or potential trouble, whether it's from slower global growth or Fed policy or Britain's status in the European Union.

A poll in London's The Independent showed that 55 percent of British citizens want to leave the European Union. Some investors fear Britain's economy will be damaged if it votes to leave the EU, and that other nations might follow Britain's lead.

Consumer stocks also fell, with some of the sharpest losses going to big names. Netflix slid $3.34, or 3.4 percent, to $93.75 and Amazon declined $9.74, or 1.3 percent, to $717.91.

Retailer Urban Outfitters slumped after it said sales at established stores are continuing to fall in the second quarter so far. Those sales are considered an important measure of retailer performance. The company's stock slid $1.61, or 5.8 percent, to $26.32.

Westlake Chemical Corp. said it will buy Axiall for $33 per share, or $2.33 billion. The agreement ends a takeover dispute that had lasted all year, and it will create one of the largest producers of chlorine, plastics and other chemicals. Axiall jumped $6.75, or 26.2 percent, to $32.56 and Westlake rose $1.34, or 3 percent, to $46.40.

Tax preparer H&R Block posted a bigger profit and more revenue than analysts expected, sending its stock up $2.69, or 12.5 percent, to $24.23. That was by far the largest gain among S&P 500 stocks.

Global Blood Therapeutics climbed after it reported positive results from an early clinical study of its most advanced drug, a potential treatment for sickle cell disease. The company's stock gained $2, or 9 percent, to $24.15.

Mattress Firm, the bedding maker behind Serta, Sealy, and other brands, reported a bigger loss and less revenue than expected and cut its estimates for the year. Its stock dropped $4.18, or 12.4 percent, to $29.40.

Gold rose $3.20 to $1,275.90 an ounce. Silver gained 6 cents to $17.33 an ounce. Copper fell 1 cent to $2.03 a pound.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline dropped 6 cents to $1.56 a gallon. Heating oil fell 4 cents to $1.52 a gallon. Natural gas lost 6 cents to $2.56 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Germany's DAX fell 2.5 percent and the CAC 40 in France slumped 2.2 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 lost 1.9 percent. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.4 percent while South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.3 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.2 percent.

The dollar declined to 106.79 yen from 106.83 yen. The euro fell to $1.1259 from $1.1331.

2299

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -132.86 points or ▼ -0.74% on Monday, June 13, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,732.48 ▼ -132.86 ▼ -0.74%
Nasdaq____ 4,848.44 ▼ -46.11 ▼ -0.94%
S&P_500___ 2,079.06 ▼ -17.01 ▼ -0.81%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.43 ▼ -0.01 ▼ -0.53%

NYSE Volume 3,359,003,000
Nasdaq Volume 1,704,941,500

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 6,044.97 ▼ -70.79 ▼ -1.16%
DAX_____ 9,657.44 ▼ -177.18 ▼ -1.80%
CAC_40__ 4,227.02 ▼ -79.70 ▼ -1.85%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,391.60 ▼ -45.80 ▼ -0.84% HOLIDAY MONDAY
Shanghai_Comp 2,833.07 ▼ -94.09 ▼ -3.21%
Taiwan_Weight 8,536.22 ▼ -179.26 ▼ -2.06%
Nikkei_225___ 16,019.18 ▼ -582.18 ▼ -3.51%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,512.99 ▼ -529.65 ▼ -2.52%
Strait_Times.__ 2,785.43 ▼ -37.54 ▼ -1.33%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,924.27 ▼ -47.51 ▼ -0.68%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/asian-shares-fall-ahead-fed-053037365.html#

Stocks fall before Fed meeting; LinkedIn soars on buyout

US and global stocks fell for a third day on Monday, as concerned investors waited to see what the Federal Reserve would do with interest rates later this week and anxiously awaited the fate of Britain's membership in the European Union
Associated Press By Ken Sweet, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. and global stocks fell for a third day on Monday, as concerned investors waited to see what the Federal Reserve would do with interest rates later this week and anxiously awaited the fate of Britain's membership in the European Union.

LinkedIn shares jumped after Microsoft announced plans to buy the company.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 132.86 points, or 0.7 percent, to 17,732.48. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 17.01 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,079.06 and the Nasdaq composite fell 46.11 points, or 0.9 percent, to 4,848.44.

The Federal Reserve had been expected to start raising interest rates, but now appears likely to remain in a wait-and-see mode. The central bank's two-day meeting will start Tuesday, with a decision on interest rates Wednesday afternoon. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to hold a news conference after the interest rate decision.

While last month many investors were betting that the Fed would raise interest rates, the two most recent monthly jobs reports in the U.S. have put a damper on those expectations.

Investors' lack of confidence that the Fed will raise rates could be seen in bonds and the U.S. dollar. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell to 1.61 percent from 1.64 percent on Friday, its lowest yield so far this year. The dollar, while off its lows, is still also trading near its lows for the year against other major currencies.

Combined with the weight of the Fed decision, stocks, particularly in Europe, remain under pressure on investor concerns over whether Britain will choose to remain in the European Union in a June 23 referendum. Recent polls have shown the race is tight, with some polls showing a majority of British voters are in favor of exiting the EU, a development known informally as "Brexit."

"This week's Fed meeting feels like a bit of a sideshow, given the focus on Brexit and the market's appropriate belief that the Fed is unlikely to (raise) ahead of such an ... event," said John Briggs, head of strategy for the Americas at RBS, in a note to investors.

Germany's DAX closed down 1.8 percent, France's CAC-40 fell 1.9 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 fell 1.2 percent.

Shares of professional social networking site LinkedIn soared $61.13, or 47 percent, to $192.21 after Microsoft announced it was purchasing the company for $26.2 billion in cash. Shares of Microsoft fell $1.34, or 2.6 percent, to $50.14 after the deal was announced.

Twitter shares jumped as well, up 53 cents, or 4 percent, to $14.55 on speculation that LinkedIn's buyout could mean better buyout prospects for that social media service.

Security software company Symantec jumped 91 cents, or 5 percent, to $18.21 after the company said it would purchase another security company, Blue Coat, for $4.6 billion. Blue Coat had plans to go public later this year. Symantec was the biggest gainer in the S&P 500.

In currencies, the dollar fell to 106.21 yen from 106.79 yen. The dollar fell slightly against the euro to $1.1291 and rose slightly against the British pound to $1.423.

U.S. crude fell 19 cents to $48.88 a barrel. Brent crude, the benchmark for international oil prices, fell 19 cents to $50.35 a barrel in London. Oil prices had reached 11-month highs in the last few days.

In other energy commodities, heating oil was effectively unchanged at $1.515 a gallon, wholesale gasoline futures fell 2 cents to $1.536 a gallon and natural gas rose 3 cents to $2.585 per thousand cubic feet.

In the metals markets, gold rose $11.00 to $1,286.90 an ounce, silver rose 11 cents to $17.44 an ounce and copper rose two cents to $2.054 a pound.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -57.66 points or ▼ -0.33% on Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,674.82 ▼ -57.66 ▼ -0.33%
Nasdaq____ 4,843.55 ▼ -4.89 ▼ -0.10%
S&P_500___ 2,075.32 ▼ -3.74 ▼ -0.18%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.42 ▼ -0.01 ▼ -0.37%

NYSE Volume 3,747,559,750
Nasdaq Volume 1,708,850,750

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 5,923.53 ▼ -121.44 ▼ -2.01%
DAX_____ 9,519.20 ▼ -138.24 ▼ -1.43%
CAC_40__ 4,130.33 ▼ -96.69 ▼ -2.29%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,282.50 ▼ -109.10 ▼ -2.02%
Shanghai_Comp 2,842.19 ▲ 9.12 ▲ 0.32%
Taiwan_Weight 8,576.12 ▲ 39.90 ▲ 0.47%
Nikkei_225___ 15,859.00 ▼ -160.18 ▼ -1.00%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,387.53 ▼ -125.46 ▼ -0.61%
Strait_Times.__ 2,768.33 ▼ -17.10 ▼ -0.61%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,834.95 ▼ -89.32 ▼ -1.29%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-gl...ak-ahead-fed-meeting-141442217--finance.html#

Stocks fall again as Fed decision, Brexit vote looms
Associated Press By Ken Sweet, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks in the U.S. and other global markets fell for a fourth day Tuesday as jittery investors await for the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates and worried about Britain's expected close vote on whether to leave the European Union.

Credit card company stocks fell sharply after Synchrony Financial, the country's leading issuer of store brand credit cards, warned that more of its customers were falling behind on payments.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 57.66 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,674.82. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.74 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,075.32 and the Nasdaq composite fell 4.89 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,843.55.

As stocks declined, U.S. government bond yields remained at their lowest levels since 2012 as investors sought safety ahead of the Fed meeting and the vote in Britain. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was 1.62 percent, up slightly from a day earlier.

In Europe, benchmark German government bond yields fell below zero percent for the first time, a signal that skittish investors are willing to pay to park their money in investments they consider super-safe.

The Federal Reserve's two-day meeting started Tuesday, with a decision on interest rates to be announced Wednesday. The Fed had been expected to raise interest rates, but following some weak economic data, including the most recent monthly jobs report, it now appears likely to wait.

Most investors are focused overseas right now. There is grave uncertainty about whether British voters will choose to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum. Polls show the vote could go either way and investors are starting to worry about the consequences.

A British exit from the EU, known informally as Brexit, would likely hurt the British economy most and destabilize the rest of Europe. The repercussions, however, are not clear and investors are reacting to the general uncertainty over the situation.

"Investors are 'Brexit' proofing their portfolios right now," said Anastasia Amoroso, a global markets strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management.

Amoroso said that if the U.K. were to leave the EU, both the British and European Central Banks would likely lower interest rates to stabilize the continent's economy, which would put pressure on bonds.

"Expect drastic volatility around this vote, and if it does in fact happen look for more countries to leave the EU as well," said Tom di Galoma, a bond trader and managing director at Seaport Global, in an email.

In individual companies, Synchrony Financial plunged $3.99, or 13 percent, to $26.45 after the company disclosed that more of its customers were falling behind on payments. The company is also taking losses on more accounts than anticipated.

The news hit other credit card companies hard. American Express fell $2.60, or 4 percent, to $61.07 and Capital One Financial fell $4.57, or 6.6 percent, to $64.43.

In commodities, benchmark U.S. crude dropped 39 cents to $48.49 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 52 cents to $49.83 per barrel in London.

Wholesale gasoline futures fell 1 cent to $1.52 a gallon, heating old fell 1 cent to $1.50 a gallon and natural gas rose 2 cents to $2.604 per thousand cubic feet.

Gold rose $1.20 to $1,288.10 an ounce, silver fell 2 cents to $17.42 an ounce and copper fell 1 cent to $2.04 a pound

The dollar fell to 105.97 yen from 106.21 yen. The euro edged down to $1.1205 from $1.1293.

 

[bigdog]

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

The NYSE DOW closed LOWER ▼ -34.65 points or ▼ -0.20% on Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Symbol …........Last …......Change.......
Dow_Jones 17,640.17 ▼ -34.65 ▼ -0.20%
Nasdaq____ 4,834.93 ▼ -8.62 ▼ -0.18%
S&P_500___ 2,071.50 ▼ -3.82 ▼ -0.18%
30_Yr_Bond____ 2.42 ▲ 0.00 ▼ -0.08%

NYSE Volume 3,511,333,750
Nasdaq Volume 1,653,014,750

Europe
Symbol... .....Last ….....Change.......
FTSE_100 5,966.80 ▲ 43.27 ▲ 0.73%
DAX_____ 9,606.71 ▲ 87.51 ▲ 0.92%
CAC_40__ 4,171.58 ▲ 41.25 ▲ 1.00%

Asia Pacific
Symbol...... ….......Last .....Change…......
ASX_All_Ord___ 5,230.40 ▼ -52.10 ▼ -0.99%
Shanghai_Comp 2,887.21 ▲ 45.02 ▲ 1.58%
Taiwan_Weight 8,606.37 ▲ 30.25 ▲ 0.35%
Nikkei_225___ 15,919.58 ▲ 60.58 ▲ 0.38%
Hang_Seng.__ 20,467.52 ▲ 79.99 ▲ 0.39%
Strait_Times.__ 2,774.25 ▲ 5.92 ▲ 0.21%
NZX_50_Index_ 6,869.56 ▲ 34.61 ▲ 0.51%

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-stocks-bounce-back-mining-140709739.html

A late decline erases gains for US stock market indexes
Associated Press By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK (AP) ”” The stock market fell for a fifth straight day Wednesday as investors set aside the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and remained focused on next week's vote on whether Britain will remain in the European Union.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 34.65 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,640.17. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.82 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,071.50 and the Nasdaq composite fell 8.62 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,834.93.

As expected, the Federal Reserve's policymakers voted to keep interest rates unchanged at their current level of 0.25 percent to 0.50 percent.

In their statement, the Fed said that while U.S. economic activity continues to strengthen, "the pace of improvement in the labor market has slowed," a reference to the April and May job reports that were weaker than anticipated.

"After that May jobs report, I think today's decision was a fait accompli," said Kristina Hooper, head of U.S. investment strategies at Allianz Global Investors, after the decision was announced. "They needed to hit the pause button for June, but I think a July rate hike still remains a distinct possibility."

Bond prices remained high, keeping yields low. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell to 1.58 percent from 1.61 percent a day earlier. Bond investors said the uncertainty about the British vote has forced European investors to buy up U.S. government bonds in a search for yield and security, pushing bond yields to their lowest levels in years.

"We are in a rare moment where the highest quality creditor, the United States, is also the creditor with the highest interest rate," said Brandon Swensen, senior portfolio manager and co-head of U.S. fixed income at RBC Global Asset Management.

With the Fed decision revealed, most investors are focused on the other side of the Atlantic. There is grave uncertainty about whether British voters will choose to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum. Polls show the vote could go either way and investors are starting to worry about the consequences.

A British exit from the EU, which investors have taken to referring to as "Brexit," would likely hurt the British economy most and destabilize the rest of Europe. The repercussions, however, are not clear and investors are reacting to the general uncertainty over the situation.

During her press conference, Yellen said Fed policymakers said the upcoming vote was one of the reasons why the central bank kept interest rates unchanged.

"The potential disruption from (a British exit from the EU) has not loomed as large with investors as it should have. Now that the Fed decision over, the (vote will be all they'll be talking about," Hooper said.

Among individual companies, Whole Foods Market fell $1.62, or 5 percent, to $30.90 after the Food and Drug Administration said there were "serious violations" at a kitchen in Massachusetts that may have resulted in contaminated food and the grocery chain hasn't done enough to fix them so far.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 48 cents to close at $48.01 a barrel in New York. The price has fallen 6.3 percent over the last five days. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 86 cents to close at $48.97 a barrel in London.

In other energy commodities, wholesale gasoline futures fell 2 cents to $1.50 a gallon, heating oil closed down 2 cents to $1.48 a gallon and natural gas fell 1 cent to $2.595 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The dollar rose to 105.98 yen from 105.97 yen. The euro edged up to $1.1268 from $1.1205.

Gold prices rose 20 cents to $1,288.30 an ounce. Silver rose 8 cents to $17.50 an ounce and copper closed up five cents to $2.091 a pound.