U.S. creates 156,000 jobs in December; unemployment 4.7%

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – The U.S. added 156,000 jobs in December to cap off the sixth straight year in which the economy created more than 2 million new jobs. Economists polled by MarketWatch had predicted a 180,000 increase in new nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate rose a tick to 4.7% from 4.6% as more people entered the labor force in search of work, the government said Friday. Average hourly wages jumped 0.4% to $26 last month. Hourly pay increased 2.9% from December 2015 to December 2016, marking the fastest 12-month increase since a recovery that began in mid-2009. Hours worked were unchanged at 34.3. Combined employment gains for November and October, meanwhile, were 19,000 higher than previously reported. The government said 204,000 new jobs were created in November instead of 178,000. October’s gain was trimmed to 135,000 from 142,000, however.

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From:: Stock Market News

Momenta stock rises 4% on corporate update

Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. shares rose 3.6% in pre-market trade Friday after the company provided a corporate update, including a Thursday announcement about a research collaboration with CSL Limited , from which Momenta will receive $50 million. The company’s latest update said that its biosimilar for Humira, an anti-inflammatory that is the world’s top-selling treatment, could be up for regulatory submission in mid-2017. A 40 mg product for generic multiple sclerosis drug Glatopa, part of a collaboration with Novartis’ Sandoz , could be approved and launched by the first quarter of 2017, Momenta said. Momenta shares have risen 36.0% over the last three months, compared with a 5.0% rise in the S&P 500 . Momenta shares were trading at $15.50 as of Thursday’s close.

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From:: Stock Market News

Teva Pharmaceutical issues 2017 guidance that is below expectations

Shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries fell more than 5% in premarket trade on Friday after the company issued 2017 guidance that is below Wall Street expectations. Teva forecasts per-share earnings to range from $4.90 to $5.30. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect EPS of $5.40. Revenue for 2017 is expected to be in the range of $23.8 billion to $24.5 billion, Teva said, while analysts surveyed by FactSet expect revenue to hit $24.8 billion for the year. Teva said compared to 2016, currency fluctuations are expected to reduce revenue by $800 million. Shares of Teva are down more than 41% over the last 12 months, underperforming the S&P 500 Index , which is up 14%.

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From:: Stock Market News

JC Penney holiday same-store sales fall 0.8%, weighed down by weakness in women’s apparel

J.C. Penney Co. Inc. said Friday its same-store sales fell 0.8% in the nine-week holiday period, as strength in appliances, outerwear, boots, toys, Sephora and fine jewelry was offset by weakness in women’s apparel. The department store chain said it is still targeting earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $1 billion for 2016. “We are also encouraged by a very strong performance in our e-commerce business, evidenced by double-digit growth,” Chief Executive Marvin Ellison said in a statement. The company is expecting to deliver a fourth straight quarter of positive operating profit, he said. Shares slid 3.6% premarket, but are up 12.3% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained 14%.

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From:: Stock Market News

Penske Automotive to acquire UK retailer of used vehicles CarShop

Penske Automotive Group said Friday it has reached an agreement to acquire CarShop, a U.K. retailer of used vehicles for an undisclosed sum. Penske said it expects the deal to add 7 cents to 9 cents to per-share earnings and generate $340 million in revenue on an annualized basis. CarShop has five large-scale retail locations in Cardiff, Swindon, Northampton, Norwich and Doncaster, as well as a 15-acre vehicle preparation center in Leighton Buzzard, a town in Bedfordshire. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. Penske shares were not yet active in premarket trade, but have gained 41.8% in the last 12 months, while the S&P 500 has gained about 14%.

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From:: Stock Market News

Amgen shares soar as judge blocks sales of Regeneron drug

Shares of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. were halted in the extended session Thursday while shares of Amgen Inc. rallied after a federal judge said Regenron had to pull its competing cholestrol drug off the market as a penalty in a patent lawsuit. Regeneron shares were halted at $376.61, down 1.1% after hours, while shares of Amgen jumped 4.6% to $160. On Thursday, a federal judge blocked sales of Regeneron’s cholesterol treatment Praluent, stating that “irreparable harm” had been done to Amgen’s Repatha.

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From:: Stock Market News

Confirmation hearing for HUD nominee Ben Carson set for Jan. 12

Over the last few days, Ben Carson, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, met with several senators in preparation for his upcoming confirmation hearing. But Carson’s real moment of truth is coming soon, as the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs announced Thursday that it set the date for Carson’s confirmation hearing. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire

Enbridge increases dividend by 10%

Enbridge Inc. said late Thursday its board of directors has authorized a 10% dividend increase, setting the dividend at 58.3 cents a share and payable March 1 to shareholders of record Feb. 15. The increase is independent of the company’s planned acquisition of Spectra Energy Corp. and as previously announced Enbridge expects to increase its dividend by about 15% once the deal closes, the company said. “The merger with Spectra Energy brings together the highest quality liquids and natural gas infrastructure franchises in North America with the largest and most diversified growth projects in the industry,” CEO Al Monaco said in a statement. “The strength of this opportunity set gives us confidence that, following a 15 percent increase in 2017, we will be able to extend our industry leading dividend growth rate of 10-12 percent per annum through 2024.” Enbridge and Spectra Energy announced their intention to merge in September, and the deal is expected to close in the first quarter.

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From:: Stock Market News