Category: Stock Market News

U.S. stocks closed little changed Thursday as weak economic data and disappointing earnings weighed against a rise in oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 9 points to close at 17,661. The S&P 500 Index slipped 0.5 point to close at 2,051. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed nearly 9 points to finish at 4,717. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq logged a third straight day of losses. Oil futures for June settled up 1.4% at $44.32 a barrel as a wildfire in Canada’s oil-sands region and fighting in Libya threatened to disrupt production.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Apple Inc. announced another partnership aimed at improving the standing of its iPhones and iPads in office environments Thursday, this time with SAP SE . Like an earlier deal with Cisco Systems Inc. , Apple’s deal with SAP seeks to ensure SAP’s software aimed at businesses works well with Apple devices. Apple has made a big push for enterprise business, leading to $25 billion in revenues last year and hopes for more. “This partnership will transform how iPhone and iPad are used in enterprise by bringing together the innovation and security of iOS with SAP’s deep expertise in business software,” Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in Thursday’s announcement.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Oil futures ended higher Thursday, lifted as a wildfire in Alberta knocked at least 500,000 barrels of Canadian production offline. West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 54 cents, or 1.2%, to close at $44.32 a barrel.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Gold futures succumbed to a rebound in the U.S. dollar to end lower Thursday, a day ahead of a closely watched jobs report, which could influence the path of the yellow metal. Gold had spent much of the session in positive territory, trading as high as $1,288.40 an ounce, before legging lower only a few minutes before it settled on Comex. June gold finished $2.10, or 0.2%, to settle at $1,272.30 an ounce. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index , a gauge of the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was up 0.6% in most recent trade Thursday afternoon. A stronger buck can dull the allure of dollar-priced metals, making them more expensive to buyers using other currencies. An earlier rise in gold prices had been attributed to bargain-hunting ahead of Friday’s closely watched nonfarm-payrolls report set to be released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The U.S. is expected to add 205,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate is forecast to tick lower to 4.9% from 5%.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Apple Inc.’s stock may have snapped a long losing streak this week, but that hasn’t stopped bears from selling, as it fell 0.8% in afternoon trade Thursday toward the lowest close since June 27, 2014. The stock is on track to suffer the 13th loss in 15 sessions–it has tumbled 17% during that stretch–since it closed at a four-month high of $112.10 on April 14. Included in that string of losses was an eight-session losing streak, the longest such stretch since the eight-day streak ending July 28, 1998. In comparison, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost about 287 points, or 1.6%, since April 14, while the Nasdaq 100 Index has shed 5.5%.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Kraft Heinz Co. late Wednesday reported its first-quarter earnings rose to $896 million, or 73 cents a share, from $276 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier, calculated as if the two companies had been combined during the earlier period. On an adjusted basis, it also earned 73 cents a share. Revenue grew to $6.57 billion versus $2.48 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast earnings of 63 cents a share and revenue of $6.5 billion. Kraft Heinz was formed via a merger of H.J. Heinz Co. and Kraft Foods Group Inc. in July and is in the process of reducing its annual spending by $1.5 billion by the end of 2017. Kraft rallied 5% to $84 a share on Thursday after it had risen 5% in Wednesday’s after-hours trading.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Matson Inc.’s stock tumbled 12% to a 16-month low in morning trade Thursday, enough to pull the Dow Jones Transportation Average down into negative territory, on the heels of the shipping company’s disappointing first-quarter report and outlook. The price decline of $4.72 was shaving off about 28 points from the Dow transports index, which was down just 12 points. That compares to the 23-point gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average . Late Wednesday, Matson reported earnings and revenue that missed expectations, and said it expected full-year 2016 ocean transportation earnings to be 15% to 20% below last year. The stock, which was trading at the lowest level since Jan. 8, 2015, has now plunged 23% year to date, while the Dow transports has lost 5.5% and the Dow industrials have gained 1.4%.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Matson Inc.’s stock tumbled 12% to a 16-month low in morning trade Thursday, enough to pull the Dow Jones Transportation Average down into negative territory, on the heels of the shipping company’s disappointing first-quarter report and outlook. The price decline of $4.72 was shaving off about 28 points from the Dow transports index, which was down just 12 points. That compares to the 23-point gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average . Late Wednesday, Matson reported earnings and revenue that missed expectations, and said it expected full-year 2016 ocean transportation earnings to be 15% to 20% below last year. The stock, which was trading at the lowest level since Jan. 8, 2015, has now plunged 23% year to date, while the Dow transports has lost 5.5% and the Dow industrials have gained 1.4%.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

U.S. stocks rose modestly at the open Thursday as oil prices surged on worries that wildfires raging in Alberta could hamstring crude output. The S&P 500 gained 2 points, or 0.1% to 2,053. The Dow industrials rose 29 points, or 0.2%, to 17,673. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 13 points, or 0.1%, to 4,740. Strong earnings from Tesla Motors Inc. and Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. also helped boost shares.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Amazon.com Inc. said Thursday that it has launched the first-ever summer toy list. Selections fall into the following six categories: Teachers’ STEM Picks, toys focused on science, technology, engineering and math; travel and beach; rainy days; backyard adventures; toys with wheels; and epic play sets that contain things like rock walls and slides. Some expected best sellers include Power Wheels Batman Dune Racer by Mattel Inc. and the John Deere Pedal Tractor and Wagon . Amazon shares are up 0.5% in premarket trading and up 59.3% for the past year. The S&P 500 is down 1.8% for the last 12 months.

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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News