What’s new

Japanese stocks moved decisively lower in early Wednesday moves, with techs down sharply after disappointment over earnings results from some of the top U.S. players in the sector. The Nikkei Average and Topix were each 0.9% weaker about 10 minutes into trade, getting no help from a rising yen, as the dollar slipped back below the ¥124 handle to buy ¥123.86. Japanese electronic-component makers associated with Apple Inc. — which posted an outlook that disappointed analysts and was notably mum on its smartwatch sales results — underperformed the market, with Japan Display Inc. down 3.8%, and Murata Manufacturing Co. down 3.3%, while Alps Electric Co. fell 2%, and Renesas Electronics Corp. retreated by 1.8%. On the upside, however, Toshiba Corp. climbed 1.3% after news it had sold off its stake in Finnish elevator maker Kone Corp. , valued at close to $1 billion according to a Dow Jones Newswires report. Meanwhile, financial shares were also a weak spot for the market following sizeable losses on Wall Street overnight, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. down 2%, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. down 2.1% and Daiwa Securities Group Inc. down 1.2%.

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

Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. said Tuesday it priced its initial public offering at $20 a share. The Wilton, Conn. pet food company said it was selling 33.8 million shares in the offering. The stock is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Wednesday under the symbol BUFF.

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

By Liz Gray

We’ve all done it: You drive by that amazing midcentury house or walk by an amazing patterned door, and have the momentary urge to knock and ask, “Can I come in?” Well, consider HGTV’s new digital series your peek inside amazing homes around the country…without that quizzical look from the owners, of course.

First stop: NYC! Home enthusiast Erika Wasserman tracked down 5 living spaces that you won’t believe exist in New York City, like this converted synagogue:

…or this houseboat, affectionally named James Franko, after, you guessed it, actor James Franco made an appearance at the taco shop close to the boat’s marina home. Step inside now:

See more amazing New York City pads, including a bohemian apartment featuring not one but two hammocks and a secret artists’ club, on the Can I Come In? playlist page. And stay tuned for unique homes from more cities coming soon!

…read more

From:: HGTV

Enterprise Bancorp, Inc. said Tuesday its board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of 12.5 cents a share to be paid on Sept. 1 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 11. That’s a 4.2% increase over last year’s dividend, the Lowell, Mass. bank said. Shares of Enterprise Bancorp were flat in after-hours trading Tuesday after ending the regular session up 1.8%.

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 American Petroleum Institute late Tuesday reported that crude supplies climbed by 2.3 million barrels for the week ended July 17, according to sources. Analysts surveyed by Platts forecast a 1.9 million-barrel decline. September crude was at $50.71 a barrel on Globex, down from the $50.86 settlement. The more closely watched Energy Information Administration report is due Wednesday.

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

Corning Inc. said Tuesday R. Tony Tripeny has been elected chief financial officer, Lawrence D. McRae has been elected vice chairman and corporate development officer, and Jeffrey W. Evenson has been elected senior vice president and chief strategy officer effective immediately. All three will report to Chief Executive Office Wendell P. Weeks. Corning’s long-time chief financial office James Flaws will retire in November, the company said. Shares of Corning rose 0.1% in after-hours trading Tuesday after ending the day down 0.9%.

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 Yahoo fell 3% after-hours Tuesday after the company missed second-quarter profit expectations. Yahoo reported a net loss of $21.6 million, or a loss of 2 cents per share, compared to earnings of $270 million, or 26 cents per share in the year-earlier period. Yahoo reported adjusted earnings per share of 16 cents, below the FactSet consensus of 18 cents. The company reported sales of $1.24 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $1.03 billion.The company highlighted its revenue performance and reducing its workforce to less then 11,000 full-time employees as evidence of a “more efficient business.” The stock has fallen 11% in the past three 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

Microsoft Corp.’s stock dropped 3.5% in after-hours trade Tuesday, after the technology giant reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit, excluding a massive one-time charge, and sales that beat expectations, but commercial revenue that came up a bit short. For the quarter ended June 30, the technology giant swung to a net loss $3.2 billion, or 40 cents a share, from earnings of $4.61 billion, or 55 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding non-recurring items, such as a $7.5 billion charge related to the writedown of the handset business it acquired from Nokia less than two years ago, adjusted earnings per share came in at 62 cents, above the FactSet consensus of 58 cents. Revenue declined to $22.18 billion from $23.28 billion, but topped the Factset consensus of $22.05. Meanwhile, closely-watched commercial revenue increased slightly to $13.5 billion, just below expectations of $13.63 billion. Commercial cloud revenue grew 88%. The stock has run up 11% over the past three months, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has slipped 0.2%.

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 Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled more than 180 points as the blue-chip index was dragged lower by declines in the shares of IBM and United Technologies Corp. Disappointing quarterly reports from both Dow components sent their shares down sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 181.12 points, or 1%, to 17,919.29. The S&P 500 ended 9.07 points, or 0.4%, lower at 2,119.21. The Nasdaq Composite retreated from the record close set a day earlier, settling 10.74 points, or 0.2%, lower at 5,208.12.

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

ABC’s Denver affiliate KMGH decided not to run a marijuana advertisement that was slated for late Monday night on concerns about the legality of the promotion. The station’s parent company, E.W. Scripps , said in a statement that that KMGH and Scripps had deliberated running what would have been the first television ad for legal marijuana in America, but chose not to for the time being. “We are proud to be a company of free speech and open expression, but we have concerns about the lack of clarity around federal regulations that govern broadcast involving such ads,” the statement said. Marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use in Colorado. The ad was meant to run during “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

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