Gun maker stocks rally in premarket trade

Shares of gun makers rallied in premarket trade Monday, to bounce sharply off multi-month lows hit amid concerns over slowing demand. Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.’s stock rose 7.8% ahead of the open, while Sturm Ruger & Co. shares gained 4.3%. On Friday, Smith & Wesson’s stock closed at the lowest level since Feb. 9, while Sturm Ruger shares had closed at the lowest level since Jan. 28. Vista Outdoor Inc.’s stock advanced 2% ahead of the open, after closing at a one-month low on Friday. The early gains in the stocks come in the wake of the deadliest shooting in U.S. history at a night club in Orlando, Fla. over the weekend. Also in Orlando, “The Voice” star Christina Grimmie was shot to death following a concert.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Hanesbrands’ CEO steps down to focus on role as chairman

Hanesbrands Inc. said Chief Executive Richard Noll will step down as CEO, effective Oct. 1, to focus on his role as chairman of the board. The apparel and underwear maker elected Chief Operating Officer Gerald Evans as its CEO. Separately, the company said it expanded the size of its board of directors to 11 members. The stock, which was still inactive in premarket trade, has lost 8.7% year to date, while the S&P 500 has gained 2.6%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Chipotle stock target cut to $340 at Deutsche Bank

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. ticked lower in premarket trade Monday after Deutsche Bank cut the stock’s 12-month price target to $340 from $360 and reiterated a sell rating. Analyst Brett Levy said the reduced target reflects a loss in customers – some of which “may be lost for good” – and other issues that may continue to weigh on average unit volume. AUV has experienced a “dramatic sales decline” over the last year amid the E. Coli outbreak. The stock dipped 0.8% to $401.88 in early-morning trade. It is down more than 20% over the last three months, versus a 4% improvement for the S&P 500. The average rating on the stock is the equivalent to hold, while the median price target among a poll of nearly 20 analysts is $459.76, according to FactSet.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Pound extends losses on Brexit worries

The British pound fell Monday, stuck trading around eight-week lows, as the U.K.’s referendum on whether the country should stay in the European Union approaches. Sterling was buying $1.4123, down from $1.4267 late Friday in New York. The currency has been under pressure as recent polls have shown voters leaning toward backing a U.K.-EU breakup on June 23. This week “will likely be a busy one for [the pound], with releases including inflation and retail sales figures from both the U.S. and the U.K. as well as meetings of both the Fed and the Bank of England,” wrote Alexandra Russell-Oliver, FX analyst at CaxtonFX, in a note.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Penguins beat Sharks to win Stanley Cup

The Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth NHL championship in franchise history Sunday night, beating the San Jose Sharks, 3-1, and winning the Stanley Cup Final series four games to two at San Jose’s SAP Center. Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang gave the Penguins the lead for good with a second-period goal past the Sharks’ Martin Jones, who had 44 saves in Game 5. Patric Hornqvist added an empty-net goal in the final minutes to seal the victory. The Penguins’ tenacious defense held the Sharks to just two shots over the final 20 minutes. Pittsburgh last won the Cup in 2009. This was the first trip to the finals for the Sharks in their 25-year history.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Negative Jobs Report Prompts Drop in Mortgage Rates

By Suzanne De Vita

Average fixed mortgage rates following 10-year Treasury yield lower after the May employment report came in well below expectations, according to the recently released Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®).

According to the PMMS, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.60 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending June 9, 2016, down from last week when it averaged 3.66 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.04 percent.

“Growing optimism about the state of the economy was quickly erased with May’s employment report,” says Sean Becketti, chief economist, Freddie Mac. “The disappointing release caused an immediate flight to quality resulting in the 10-year Treasury yield dropping 10 basis points on Friday. This week marks the 10th consecutive week the 30-year rate has averaged under 3.7 percent, allowing an extended window for homebuyers to take advantage of these historically-low borrowing costs.”

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.87 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.92 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.25 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.82 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.88 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.01 percent.

For more information, visit www.FreddieMac.com.

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From:: Finance and Economy

Negative Jobs Report Prompts Drop in Mortgage Rates

By Suzanne De Vita

Average fixed mortgage rates following 10-year Treasury yield lower after the May employment report came in well below expectations, according to the recently released Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®).

According to the PMMS, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.60 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending June 9, 2016, down from last week when it averaged 3.66 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.04 percent.

“Growing optimism about the state of the economy was quickly erased with May’s employment report,” says Sean Becketti, chief economist, Freddie Mac. “The disappointing release caused an immediate flight to quality resulting in the 10-year Treasury yield dropping 10 basis points on Friday. This week marks the 10th consecutive week the 30-year rate has averaged under 3.7 percent, allowing an extended window for homebuyers to take advantage of these historically-low borrowing costs.”

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.87 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.92 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.25 percent.

The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.82 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.88 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.01 percent.

For more information, visit www.FreddieMac.com.

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From:: Real Estate News

Home Purchase Sentiment Increase Rockets to New High

By Suzanne De Vita

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index™ (HPSI) increased 1.6 points to 85.3 in May, reaching a new all-time survey high and rebounding from an 18-month low in March. Three of the six HPSI components increased in May, led by a 7 percentage point increase on net in the share of consumers reporting that their income was significantly higher than it was 12 months ago. In addition, the net share of consumers who expect that home prices will go up over the next 12 months rose 5 percentage points, followed by a 3 percentage point increase in the net share of consumers who expect mortgage interest rates to go down over the next 12 months. Changes in the HPSI Good Time to Buy, Good Time to Sell, and job security components were minimal in May.

“Continued home price appreciation has been squeezing housing affordability, driving a two-year downward trend in the share of consumers who think it’s a good time to buy a home,” said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “The current low mortgage rate environment has helped ease this pressure, and fewer than half of consumers expect rates to go up in the next year. While the May increase in income growth perceptions could provide further support to prospective home buyers as the spring/summer home buying season gains momentum, the effect may be muted by May’s discouraging jobs report.”

Fannie Mae’s May 2016 Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) rose 1.6 percentage points in May to 85.3. While the Good Time to Sell component fell 2 percentage points in May, selling a home remains an attractive option as 52 percent of consumers believe it is a good time to sell a home. Overall, the HPSI is up 1 point since this time last year.

The net share of Americans who say that it is a good time to buy a house fell 1 percentage point to 29 percent, reaching an all-time survey low for the second straight month.

Selling sentiment fell slightly in May, with the net percentage of those who say it is a good time to sell falling 2 percentage points to 13 percent. However, an all-time survey high (52 percent) continue to believe it is a good time to sell.

The net share of Americans who say that home prices will go up rose 5 percentage points to 42 percent, continuing the rising trend that began in March. The net share of those who say mortgage interest rates will go down rose 3 percentage points to negative 43 percent. The net share of Americans who say they are not concerned with losing their job fell 2 percentage points to 72 percent. The net share of Americans who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago rose 7 percentage points to 18 percent, reaching a new all-time survey high.

For more information, visit www.fanniemae.com.

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From:: Real Estate News

Home Purchase Sentiment Increase Rockets to New High

By Suzanne De Vita

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index™ (HPSI) increased 1.6 points to 85.3 in May, reaching a new all-time survey high and rebounding from an 18-month low in March. Three of the six HPSI components increased in May, led by a 7 percentage point increase on net in the share of consumers reporting that their income was significantly higher than it was 12 months ago. In addition, the net share of consumers who expect that home prices will go up over the next 12 months rose 5 percentage points, followed by a 3 percentage point increase in the net share of consumers who expect mortgage interest rates to go down over the next 12 months. Changes in the HPSI Good Time to Buy, Good Time to Sell, and job security components were minimal in May.

“Continued home price appreciation has been squeezing housing affordability, driving a two-year downward trend in the share of consumers who think it’s a good time to buy a home,” said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “The current low mortgage rate environment has helped ease this pressure, and fewer than half of consumers expect rates to go up in the next year. While the May increase in income growth perceptions could provide further support to prospective home buyers as the spring/summer home buying season gains momentum, the effect may be muted by May’s discouraging jobs report.”

Fannie Mae’s May 2016 Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) rose 1.6 percentage points in May to 85.3. While the Good Time to Sell component fell 2 percentage points in May, selling a home remains an attractive option as 52 percent of consumers believe it is a good time to sell a home. Overall, the HPSI is up 1 point since this time last year.

The net share of Americans who say that it is a good time to buy a house fell 1 percentage point to 29 percent, reaching an all-time survey low for the second straight month.

Selling sentiment fell slightly in May, with the net percentage of those who say it is a good time to sell falling 2 percentage points to 13 percent. However, an all-time survey high (52 percent) continue to believe it is a good time to sell.

The net share of Americans who say that home prices will go up rose 5 percentage points to 42 percent, continuing the rising trend that began in March. The net share of those who say mortgage interest rates will go down rose 3 percentage points to negative 43 percent. The net share of Americans who say they are not concerned with losing their job fell 2 percentage points to 72 percent. The net share of Americans who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago rose 7 percentage points to 18 percent, reaching a new all-time survey high.

For more information, visit www.fanniemae.com.

…read more

From:: Real Estate News