Four more women describe Roy Moore’s unwanted sexual advances

Four more women came forward Wednesday describing unwanted sexual advances from Roy Moore — three of them when they were teenagers. Two women described their experiences to the Washington Post. One woman said when she was about 18, Moore — then about 30 — unexpectedly called her at her high school. The two eventually went out on a date, and she said Moore gave her an unwanted, “forceful” kiss that left her afraid. Another woman said she complained to her supervisor over Moore’s behavior toward that same woman when he entered the Sears store that both teens worked at in Gadsen, Ala. “Watch out for this guy,” a store manager reportedly told new hires. Separately, another two women told their stories to Alabama’s AL.com. One woman said Moore groped her in 1991, when she was married, and the other said Moore asked her out when she was 17. “I just kind of said, ‘Do you know how old I am?'” she told AL.com. “And he said, ‘Yeah. I go out with girls your age all the time.'” Earlier in the day, Moore’s legal team attempted to discredit other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, calling them part of a partisan attack against his U.S. Senate campaign.

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Koch brothers back Meredith bid to buy Time: report

The billionaire Koch brothers are backing an effort by Meredith Corp. to buy Time Inc. , the New York Times reported Wednesday night. Sales talks between the two companies collapsed earlier this year, but the Kochs’ offer of a $500 million equity injection could reinvigorate new negotiations, the Times reported. It was unclear how much influence the Kochs, known for supporting conservative causes, would have if a deal is made. The Times said a deal may be announced after Thanksgiving. In addition to Time magazine, Time Inc. publishes People, Sports Illustrated, Entertainment Weekly and more than 100 other magazines. Iowa-based Meredith publishes Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart Living, among others.

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Two more women describe Roy Moore’s unwanted advances toward teens

Two more women have come forward describing unwanted sexual overtures from Roy Moore when they were teenagers, the Washington Post reported Wednesday night. One woman said when she was about 18, Moore — then about 30 — unexpectedly called her at her high school. The two eventually went out on a date, and she said Moore gave her an unwanted, “forceful” kiss that left her afraid. Another woman said she complained to her supervisor over Moore’s behavior toward that same woman when he entered the Sears store that both teens worked at in Gadsen, Ala. “Watch out for this guy,” a store manager reportedly told new hires. Earlier in the day, Moore’s legal team attempted to discredit other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, calling them part of a partisan attack against his U.S. Senate campaign.

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Mortgage Lenders Looser Than Year Ago

Home loans closed last month had lower credit scores, higher loan-to-value ratios and higher debt-to-income ratios than a year earlier. While turn times have improved over that same period, closing rates have not.

Two-thirds of all single-family loans that were originated during October were conventional loans. The share thinned from a 68 percent share one year prior.

At one-fifth, here was no change from a year earlier in the share of U.S. mortgage production that was insured by the Federal Housing Administration.


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From:: Financing

L Brands shares down 3.5% after earnings as same-store sales fall

Shares of L Brands Inc. fell 3.5% late Wednesday after the parent company of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works reported third-quarter earnings in line with expectations but falling comparable-store sales, including a 4% decline at flagship Victoria’s Secret brand in the quarter. L Brands said it earned $86 million, or 30 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with $122 million, or 42 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Sales reached $2.62 billion for the quarter, compared with $2.58 billion a year ago. The company’s exit of the swim and apparel categories had a negative impact of about 2 percentage points to both total company and Victoria’s Secret comparable sales, it said. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected earnings of 30 cents a share on sales of $2.62 billion. The company said it expects fourth-quarter per-share earnings between $1.95 and $2.10, and between $3.05 to $3.20 for the full year 2017. The analysts surveyed by FactSet expect fourth-quarter earnings of $2.02 a share and EPS of $3.12 for the year.

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CFPB Director Cordray Leaving Bureau

Amid speculation about gubernatorial aspirations, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has revealed plans to leave the regulator.

Before becoming the first director of the bureau during the Obama administration in 2012, Richard A. Cordray was director of enforcement, where he began his CFPB career in June 2011.

Prior to joining the federal payroll, Cordray was on the Ohio state payroll as attorney general, a position he held started in 2009 and left in 2011 after losing his bid for re-election.


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From:: Financing

RH shares jump after home furnishings company raises guidance

Shares of RH , formerly known as Restoration Hardware, topped 9% late Wednesday after the home furnishings retailer raised its third-quarter and fiscal 2017 guidance thanks to “a dramatically more efficient operating platform,” it said. Adjusted net revenues for the quarter are expected to be up 8%, despite a 1% negative impact from hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the company said in a statement. Adjusted diluted per-share earnings are expected to be in the range of $1.02 to $1.04, compared with a prior guidance of between 68 cents and 80 cents. RH said it expects net revenues for the third quarter to reach about $592.5 million, compared to a previous guidance of adjusted net revenues in the range of $575 million and $590 million. For fiscal 2017, the company called for net income in a range of $82 million and $87 million, from a previous forecast of $70 million to $77 million, and called for fiscal 2017 expenses between $120 million to $130 million, down from between $120 million to $140 million. The company said it expects fiscal 2018 net revenue between $2.58 billion to $2.62 billion, adjusted net income in the range of $125 million to $145 million, and free cash flow of more than $240 million. Shares had ended the regular trading day down 6.1%.

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NetApp shares jump on earnings, sales beat

NetApp Inc. shares jumped in the extended session Wednesday after the company beat fiscal second-quarter earnings and sales expectations. NetApp shares rose 4.6% to $47.96 after hours. The company reported second-quarter net income of $175 million, or 64 cents a share, compared with $109 million, or 38 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings were 81 cents a share. Revenue rose to $1.42 billion from $1.34 billion in the year-ago period. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had estimated adjusted earnings of 69 cents a share on revenue of $1.38 billion. For the third fiscal quarter, analysts model earnings of 85 cents a share on revenue of $1.44 billion. Executives said that they expected fiscal third-quarter earnings of between $1.18 and $1.26 a share on sales of between $1.43 billion and $1.56 billion. NetApp stock has gained 30% this year, with the S&P 500 index rising 15%.

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Cisco Systems shares surge after earnings beat, outlook

Cisco Systems Inc. shares rallied in the extended session Wednesday after the networking company topped Wall Street estimates for the quarter and offered an earnings forecast slightly above the consensus. Cisco shares surged 3.8% to $35.40 after hours. The company reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $2.39 billion, or 48 cents a share, compared with $2.32 billion, or 46 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings were 61 cents a share. Revenue declined to $12.14 billion from $12.35 billion in the year-ago period. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had estimated 60 cents a share on revenue of $12.11 billion. For the fiscal second quarter, Cisco estimates earnings of 58 cents to 60 cents a share on year-over-year revenue growth of 1% to 3%, or $11.7 billion to $11.93 billion. Analysts expect earnings of 58 cents a share on revenue of $11.7 billion.

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Agilent increases dividend to 14.9 cents

Agilent Technologies Inc. said late Wednesday its board of directors has increased the company’s dividend to 14.9 cents a share, payable Jan. 24 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 2. Shares of Agilent were flat in after-hours trading after ending the regular trading day down 0.2%.

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