Thursday, May 27, 2010

Indications: U.S. stock futures' rally pared along with growth

Stock Assault 2.0 - Artificial Intelligence Stock Market Software Alert Email Print

By Barbara Kollmeyer & Kate Gibson, MarketWatch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures trim slightly a sharp rise on Thursday after the government projected the U.S. economy expanded less than previously thought in the first quarter, illustrating the danger to the recovery posed by Europe's debt troubles.

In separate reports, the government revised its estimate of first-quarter economic growth down to 3% and said first-time jobless claims last week fell by 14,000 to 460,000.

Stock futures pared a rally sparked by China's denial that it was mulling sales of holdings in European bonds.

Up nearly 190 points, futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were lately ahead 155 points at 10,076.00, while those for the Nasdaq 100 rose 35.50 points to 1,827.00.

Futures for the S&P 500 rose 21 points to 1,082.20.

On Thursday, the China State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the agency which manages the nation's reserves, said media reports that it is considering selling some of its holdings of bonds in the euro zone were "groundless," according to a statement published on its website.

Global Dow

• MarketWatch Topics: Greece • Asia Markets | Europe Markets | Lat. Am. • Canadian Markets | Israel Stocks | London • U.S.: Market Snapshot | After Hours

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/conga/story/misc/international.html 79118

U.S. stocks on Wednesday gave up a bounce in the afternoon session, after a late-session lapse that coincided with a report in the Financial Times that China was mulling sales of euro-zone bond holdings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed off 69.3 points, or 0.7%, to 9,974.45, the first time the benchmark index closed below 10,000 since early February.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite made similarly sized declines.

"It might be that the market reaction to the story underlines how fragile confidence is at the current time and is a worrying sign that the market is very vulnerable to any negative shock," said Gary Jenkins, head of fixed income research at Evolution Securities. "It may just have been a complete over reaction by a nervous market that is in 'sell first and ask questions later mood' that will be corrected today."

Apart from driving up stock futures, the denial by China triggered a rebound in the euro and gains in European stocks. Asia stocks finished higher as bargain hunters moved in after losses, but euro-related fears lingered.

Wal-Mart /quotes/comstock/13*!wmt/quotes/nls/wmt (WMT 50.49, +0.47, +0.94%) could be active on news its Asda unit reached a deal to buy the U.K. operations of deep discounter Netto in a deal valued at $1.1 billion. Asda is buying the 193 U.K. stores of Dansk Supermarked A/S for 778 million pounds ($1.13 billion) of cash and assumed debt, according to the Danish seller. See related story

BP /quotes/comstock/13*!bp/quotes/nls/bp (BP 45.42, +3.01, +7.09%) rose nearly 5% as the company said its "top-kill" plan for plugging a Gulf of Mexico spill has so far gone according to plan.

Crude-oil futures rallied $1.61 to $73.13 a barrel, while gold futures were little moved.

Barbara Kollmeyer is an editor for MarketWatch in Madrid. Kate Gibson is a reporter for MarketWatch, based in New York.


NYSE Arca Morning Update - 08:30:00 ET

NYSE Arca Morning Update for Thursday, May 27, 2010 :

STOCKS TRADING ON NYSE Arca AT A PRICE 15% OR MORE AWAY FROM
THE PREVIOUS TRADE DAY'S CONSOLIDATED CLOSE PRICE (AS OF 08:30:00 ET)

Stock Wednesday's Close Current Price Pct Change Current NYSE ARCA Vol
NENG $2.66 $3.15 18.4% 5,000


10 MOST ACTIVE STOCKS ON NYSE ARCA AS OF 08:30:00 ET

BASED ON DOLLARS TRADED: | BASED ON SHARES TRADED:
Stock $ Volume Price PctChg | Stock Share Vol Price PctChg
SPY $351497772 $109.21 1.9% | C 12,259,737 $4.03 4.2%
QQQQ $80,017,337 $45.21 2.2% | SPY 3,220,981 $109.21 1.9%
C $49,163,135 $4.03 4.2% | QQQQ 1,773,870 $45.21 2.2%
GLD $31,605,883 $118.18 ( 0.2%) | MSFT 633,790 $25.70 2.7%
IWM $24,209,953 $65.75 2.2% | SDS 573,593 $34.59 ( 3.9%)
BP $20,599,326 $44.47 4.9% | BP 464,042 $44.47 4.9%
SDS $19,887,802 $34.59 ( 3.9%) | BAC 458,077 $15.88 2.8%
AAPL $17,077,775 $249.67 2.3% | IWM 368,268 $65.75 2.2%
MSFT $16,274,397 $25.70 2.7% | F 343,224 $11.78 3.3%
SSO $10,993,639 $36.19 3.9% | SSO 304,473 $36.19 3.9%


Price changes may be affected by symbol splits and dividends.

Consolidated close price is the last print (excluding prints with trade
conditions) prior to 4PM ET.

This information is also updated on our web page every morning at 8:35ET:
http://www.tradearca.com/data/volume/daily_update.asp

This material is for informational purposes only.
NYSE Euronext and its affiliates ("NYSE Arca") are not soliciting any action based upon it.
This material is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any security in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be illegal.
Any opinions expressed in this material are NYSE Arca opinions only.
NYSE Arca undertakes no obligation to update any of the information contained in this material in light of new information or future events.
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Copyright [2010] by NYSE Euronext. All rights reserved. Reproduction and redistribution prohibited without prior express consent.

Indications: U.S. stock futures rally as China denies bond sale

Stock Assault 2.0 - Artificial Intelligence Stock Market Software Alert Email Print

By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

MADRID (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock market futures were sharply higher on Thursday, lifted by China's denial that it was mulling sales of holdings in European bonds.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 200 points, or 2%, to 10,122, while those for the Nasdaq 100 rose 44.50 points, or 2.5% to 1,836. Futures for the S&P 500 rose 26.50 points, or 2.5%, to 1,087.70.

On Thursday, the China State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the agency which manages the nation's reserves, said media reports that it is considering selling some of it holdings of euro-zone government bonds were "groundless," according to a statement published on its Web site.

Global Dow

• MarketWatch Topics: Greece • Asia Markets | Europe Markets | Lat. Am. • Canadian Markets | Israel Stocks | London • U.S.: Market Snapshot | After Hours

Tools • Latin American/Canadian indexes • European indexes | Asian indexes

More on the Markets • Bond Report | Oil News | Earnings Watch • Currencies | U.S. Economic Calendar

/conga/story/misc/international.html 79118

U.S. stocks on Wednesday gave up a bounce in the afternoon session, after a late-session lapse that coincided with a report in the Financial Times that China was mulling sales of euro-zone bond holdings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed off 69.3 points, or 0.7%, to 9,974.45, the first time the benchmark index closed below 10,000 since early February. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite made similarly sized declined.

"It might be that the market reaction to the story underlines how fragile confidence is at the current time and is a worrying sign that the market is very vulnerable to any negative shock," said Gary Jenkins, head of fixed income research at Evolution Securities. "It may just have been a complete over reaction by a nervous market that is in 'sell first and ask questions later mood' that will be corrected today."

Apart from driving up stock futures, the denial by China triggered a rebound in the euro and gains in European stocks, which were already firmer, helped by financials and strong results from U.K. fund group Man. Asia stocks finished higher as bargain hunters moved in after losses, but euro-related fears lingered.

Economic data is also on tap for U.S. markets, with weekly jobless claims and a revision to first-quarter GDP due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Jenkins said data is expected to be revised slightly higher to 3.4% annualized growth, from the previous 3.2% estimate.

Shares of Wal-Mart /quotes/comstock/13*!wmt/quotes/nls/wmt (WMT 50.02, -0.26, -0.52%) could be in focus on news its Asda unit reached a deal to buy the U.K. operations of deep discounter Netto in a deal valued at $1.1 billion. Asda is buying the 193 U.K. stores of Dansk Supermarked A/S for 778 million pounds of cash and assumed debt, according to the Danish seller. See related story

Warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale /quotes/comstock/15*!cost/quotes/nls/cost (COST 55.98, -0.52, -0.92%) reported a 46% rise in fiscal third-quarter net income to $306 million, or 68 cents a share, from $210 million, or 48 cents, in the year-earlier quarter. Net sales rose to $17.39 billion from $15.48 billion. A survey of analysts by FactSet Research produced consensus estimates of 66 cents of profit on $17.54 billion of sales.

Several other retailers are also due to report before the bell with quarterly results include Big Lots /quotes/comstock/13*!big/quotes/nls/big (BIG 35.87, -0.23, -0.64%) and Tiffany /quotes/comstock/13*!tif/quotes/nls/tif (TIF 43.59, +0.99, +2.32%) . H.J. Heinz /quotes/comstock/13*!hnz/quotes/nls/hnz (HNZ 44.26, -0.35, -0.78%) is also due to report.

Crude-oil futures was up 2.3%, or $1.66 to $73.25 a barrel, while gold futures fell $2.50 to $1.210.90 an ounce.

Barbara Kollmeyer is an editor for MarketWatch in Madrid.


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