Category: Stock Market News

Pizza Hut, a Yum Brands Inc. subsidiary, said Thursday that it plans to fill about 11,000 jobs in the U.S. Last year, the brand said it planned to grow to 8,500 stores in the U.S. and 20,000 worldwide. The new positions, announced weeks before Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, will range from pizza makers to store managers and delivery drivers. Yum Brands shares are unchanged in premarket trading, and are up 30.2% for the last year. The S&P 500 index is up 20.8% for the past 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

Allergan PLC said early Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration has approved its cream for persistent facial redness in adults. An estimated 16 million Americans have rosacea, which most commonly manifests as persistent facial redness and can be triggered by sun exposure, stress, exercise and more. The treatment, Rhofade, will be available commercially starting in May, Allergan said. Allergan shares, which were up a scant 1.0% in pre-market trade, have dropped 5.4% over the last three months, compared with a 6.0% rise in the S&P 500 .

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. stock futures on Thursday traded slightly lower after the European Central Bank kept its interest rates unchanged as expected. Dow futures were off 0.1% at 19,712, the S&P 500 index futures slipped 0.1% at 2,264, while those for the Nasdaq-100 were near break-even levels at 5,051. The ECB Governing Council left its rate on main refinancing operations at 0%, while holding the rate on its overnight deposit facility at minus 0.4% and the rate on its marginal lending facility at 0.25%. ECB President Mario Draghi is expected to hold a conference call in about half an hour. Last month, the ECB decided to extend its bond-buying program through the end of 2017.

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

The European Central Bank, as expected, left interest rates unchanged Thursday, putting the focus on ECB President Mario Draghi’s news conference. The ECB Governing Council left its rate on main refinancing operations at 0%, while holding the rate on its overnight deposit facility at minus 0.4% and the rate on its marginal lending facility at 0.25%. The decision was expected after the ECB last month decided to extend its bond buying program through the end of 2017. In its statement, the ECB said it would stick to the pace and timetable for purchases laid out in December, but that the Governing Council was ready to “increase the program in terms of size and/or duration” if the outlook “becomes less favorable, or if financial conditions become inconsistent with furhter progress toward a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation.” Draghi’s news conference is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Frankfurt time, or 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

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

Sears Holdings Corp. will replace its associate discount program with a new associates points program that will award points and other perks through the company’s Shop Your Way loyalty program, effective Jan. 29. With the current system, a discount is taken on items at the time of purchase. Under the new points program, associates will receive 20% back in points on softlines categories, such as clothing, and 15% back on hardlines purchases, such as home furnishings and appliances, according to company spokesperson, Howard Riefs. Points can be used toward future purchases. “All of our company initiatives support the company’s transformation from a traditional retailer to a member-centric integrated platform leveraging Shop Your Way,” said Riefs. Sears shares are unchanged in Thursday premarket trading, and down 47.3% for the last year. The S&P 500 index is up 20.8% for the past 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

Shares of Netflix Inc. soared 8.2% toward a record high in premarket trade Thursday, in the wake of a strong fourth-quarter report, which would add about $4.66 billion to video streaming company’s market value. Based on Wednesday’s closing prices, that would push Netflix up eight spots in the S&P 500’s market-cap rankings to 78th, according to FactSet data. The stock’s rally means Chief Executive Reed Hastings’s Netflix stake, which at 5.86 million shares ranks him 13th among shareholders, according to FactSet, could be worth $63.7 million more. The stock has run up 24% over the past 12 months through Wednesday, while the SPDR Technology Sector Sector ETF has climbed 26% and the S&P 500 has gained 21%.

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

Target Corp. will be the official partner of Major League Soccer, marking its largest push into team sports, the company said Thursday. The multi-year partnership includes airtime during broadcasts and in-stadium experiences. Additionally, Target said it will become a partner of the Minnesota United soccer team and will have its logo on the team’s official jersey. Target will also support youth soccer programs. “There are so many things that drew us to soccer — it’s multicultural, watched and played by families and is growing immensely in popularity,” said Rick Gomez, a senior vice president at Target, in the press release. Shares of Target were down 1% in premarket trade Thursday. Shares of Target have fallen 3.4% in the past 12 months, compared to the S&P 500’s gain of 21%.

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

Rescuers were working Thursday to help people caught in an avalanche in the mountains of central Italy, as media reports suggested many had died and up to 30 people buried under snow. “There are many deaths,” said Antonio Crocetta, the head of a mountain rescue team, according to a BBC report. “Around 30 people are unaccounted for, between guests and workers at the Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola,” said Fabrizio Curcio, head of Italy’s civil protection department, according to a Reuters report. The avalanche hit the hotel close to the Gran Sasso mountain in the Abruzzo region after a series of strong earthquakes in the area Wednesday, reports said.

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

Shares of Toshiba Corp. tanked Thursday after reports that losses in its nuclear business may be worse than expected. Japan’s Nikkei business daily reported Thursday that Toshiba was facing a 500-billion-yen ($4.4 billion) loss in its U.S. nuclear power subsidiary. In a statement, Toshiba said it was still calculating those costs. Japan’s NHK also reported that the conglomerate will seek to sell additional assets to raise about 300 billion yen. On Wednesday, Toshiba said it was exploring the spinoff of its core semiconductor business. By midday Thursday, Tokyo time, Toshiba was down more than 22%. Its stock has tumbled more than 50% in the past month.

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

CSX Corp. shares rallied in the extended session Wednesday after reports that departing Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. CEO Hunter Harrison will partner with activist investors to target CSX. CSX shares jumped 11% to $41 a share after hours, following a 3.2% decline in the regular session whenearnings missed Wall Street targets late Tuesday. Last year, CSX turned down Canadian Pacific’s $20 billion offer to acquire the railroad.

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