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Amazon.com Inc. launched an answer to Apple Inc.’s smart TV on Tuesday – and it’s much cheaper. The e-commerce giant introduced its latest-generation Amazon FireTV with 4K Ultra HD, which will sell for $99.99, versus $149 for Apple TV. It comes with a remote with voice control, and compatibility with Echo, its voice-assistance technology that competes with Apple’s Siri. The company will also sell a higher-tier gaming edition, which comes with a new Amazon-designed game controller and a 32 GB microSD card. The gaming edition will sell for $139.99. Amazon began taking preorders for both devices on Tuesday. Apple is expected to open up preorders its new TV for preorders next month. Shares of Amazon climbed 1% to $532.45 in recent trade, while those of Apple slumped 0.9% to $115.40.

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

Oshkosh Corporation , a manufacturer of commercial and specialty vehicles, has named Wilson Jones as chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2016. Jones is currently the company’s president and chief operating officer. He will succeed Charles Szews, who announced his retirement. Jones has been with the company since 2005 and was appointed to the COO position in Aug. 2012. Jones has worked in the specialty vehicle industry for 25 years. Oshkosh stock has fallen 17.1% for the year so far. The S&P is down 3.1% for the same period.

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

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced plans to hire 60,000 seasonal workers for the holidays, according to a statement from Walmart U.S. Chief Operating Officer Judith McKenna. That’s the same number the retailer announced in 2014. Seasonal workers will be hired at a starting wage of at least $9 per hour. Wal-Mart plans to have more associates working more hours this season, offering existing workers the first chance to add hours. The company will add department managers in more than 3,500 stores to serve customers who are picking up online orders. And there are plans to have more registers open during peak hours to speed along checkout times.

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

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Thursday that supplies of natural gas rose 73 billion cubic feet for the week ended Sept. 11. Analysts polled by Platts forecast a climb of between 70 billion cubic feet and 74 billion cubic feet. Total stocks now stand at 3.334 trillion cubic feet, up 456 billion cubic feet from a year ago and 125 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. October natural gas was at $2.668 per million British thermal units, up less than a cent for the session. Prices traded at $2.67 before the supply data.

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

Fitbit Inc.’s stock surged 6.2% in active morning trade Thursday, adding to its third-biggest-ever one-day jump in the previous session, as investors continued to cheer about the fitness-tracker’s opportunity in the corporate wellness movement. Volume of 6.5 million shares in the first hour of trade was already above the full-day average of 5.8 million shares, according to FactSet. On Wednesday, the stock soared 12% on volume of 10.1 million shares after Target Corp. said it would give every U.S. employee a free or discounted Fitbit as part of its employee wellness initiative. Target had 326,551 full-time and part-time U.S. employees in 49 states as of April. Analyst Brad Erickson at Pacific Crest said Target’s move reinforces his thesis around the “compelling” corporate wellness opportunity, which he believes is still “underappreciated.” He said the news also highlights Fitbit’s dominant position in that market. “We believe corporate wellness is currently less than 10% of the business, but with 151 million people insured in the United States alone, and that market likely penetrated below 10%, we believe Fitbit is best positioned to capitalize on similar deals going forward,” Erikson wrote in a note to clients.

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

By Farima Alavi

Even though I don’t have a single room in my house decorated with wallpaper, I am a huge fan! It adds that extra oomph to your interior decor, amiright? My favorite is neutral with a fun pattern or texture. But enough about me — we want to know what your wallpaper personality is. If you could have any type in your bathroom, would you go for classic and sophisticated, or would you have a little fun with geometric patterns and contemporary colors?

Take our poll below, and tell us which wallpaper is your favorite and why.

Take Our Poll

Check back next week to see the final tally.

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From:: HGTV

U.S. stocks opened lower Thursday, following two days of solid gains, as investors braced for the Federal Reserve’s rate decision at 2 p.m. Eastern. Opinions about whether the Fed will raise the rates or delay are split, while the Fed funds futures market is predicting a 25% chance for a hike. The S&P 500 opened 3 points, or 0.1%, lower at 1,992. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 15 points, or 0.1%, to 16,721 at the open. The Nasdaq Composite began the day down 8 points, or 0.2% at 4,881.

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

ShopperTrak, the consumer research company, forecasts a 2.4% increase in sales this holiday shopping season, which stretches from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. Kevin Kearns, ShopperTrak’s chief revenue officer, said there are a number of factors contributing to the prediction: a longer shopping season (61 days), an early Hanukkah that will improve November numbers, and “the rise of the educated consumer” who heads to stores less often but spends more. The healthy forecast comes on the heels of a strong back-to-school season, which included a 4.7% increase in sales in August. Shoppers made 2.7% fewer trips to stores during the month, but ShopperTrak said transaction size increased.

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

Verizon Communications Inc.’s stock shed 1.5% in premarket trade Thursday, after Chief Executive Lowell McAdam said full-year 2016 earnings “may plateau” at 2015 levels. The FactSet consensus is for 2016 earnings per share to rise to $4.06 from the 2015 consensus of $3.94. Speaking at an investor conference in New York, said consumer demand was disrupting the communications and cable company’s traditional business models. He said near-term earnings headwinds include the commercial model change in wireless, wireline financial comparisons to year-ago results following the expected sale of assets to Frontier Communications Corp. and the building up of new business models for wireless video and the Internet of Things. McAdams said the company’s aim is to transform around the capabilities of its high-performing networks. The stock has slipped 2.3% over the past three months, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped 6.7%.

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

Sales of GoPro Inc.’s Hero4 are off to a “slow start” and may cause the action camera maker to miss earnings estimates in the third quarter, said Citi analyst Jeremy David in a note to clients on Thursday. The analyst, which cited comments from GoPro CFO Jack Lazar at Citi’s Global Technology Conference last week, said he is also expecting GoPro to reset the bar lower for the fourth quarter, and doesn’t see upside for GoPro’s stock until that happens. Things look brighter for 2016, however, with the launch of new GoPro products, such as its quadcopter and the Hero5, and David said he believes GoPro will benefit the most from virtual reality and drones over the long term. He reiterated a buy rating on the stock and $90 price target. Shares of GoPro fell 1% to $35.40 in premarket trade. They have fallen 39.5% over the last three months, vastly underperforming the broader S&P 500, down 5%. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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