Tag: stock market

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration Thursday showed that domestic supplies of natural gas fell by 150 billion cubic feet for the week ended March 17. That was slightly less than the decline of 153 billion cubic feet expected by analysts polled by S&P Global Platts. Total stocks now stand at 2.092 trillion cubic feet, down 399 billion cubic feet from a year ago, but 266 billion cubic feet above the five-year average, the government said. April natural gas was up less than a cent, or 0.1%, from Wednesday’s settlement at $3.017 per million British thermal units. It was trading at $3.045 before the 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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News

Volkswagen AG’s return to European debt markets has been met with a warm reception from investors, who’re rushing to participate in Thursday’s expected 7.5 billion euro ($8.1 billion) bond offering, according to a report from the Financial Times. The bond had attracted 22 billion euros ($23.8 billion) in bids by mid-morning, London Time, the FT reported, with debt being sold in four tranches with maturities from two to 10 years. The German automaker was once one of the largest bond issuers in Europe, but it hasn’t sold a benchmark bond denominated in a G-10 currency since August 2015. In January, the company agreed to pay $4.3 billion in criminal and civil fines and pleaded guilty to three criminal felony counts. These fines brought the automakers’ total scandal-related costs in the U.S. to $20 billion. The company’s U.S.-traded shares were off 1.3% at $29.92 in Thursday trade.

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

House Speaker Paul Ryan pushed back his 11:30 a.m. Eastern news conference to 3:30 p.m., in a possible sign that Republicans are still searching for votes on their health-care bill. House leaders have been planning to vote on the American Health Care Act Thursday but reports have said they are short of votes. President Donald Trump is meeting with conservative members Thursday morning to drum up support.

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 Ford Motor Co. shed 1.3% in morning trade Thursday, after the automaker disclosed a first-quarter earnings outlook that was well below expectations. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ford said Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks will host a “Let’s Chat” forum at 10 a.m. ET, where he will say the company established a first-quarter net and adjusted earnings-per-share guidance range of 30 cents to 35 cents, down from adjusted EPS of 68 cents a year ago, and below the FactSet consensus of 47 cents. Ford said the decline from last year is because of higher costs, including for commodities and investments in emerging opportunities; lower volume, primarily fleet volume; and unfavorable currency moves. The stock has not lost 4.2% year to date, while rival General Motors Co. shares have slipped 1.7% and the S&P 500 has gained 4.8%.

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 U.S. stock market opened lower on Thursday, with investors cautious in a day that may deliver a House vote on the health-care bill. A failure to pass the bill may undercut investor confidence in the Trump administration’s ability to implement other policy changes. The S&P 500 opened 2 points, or 0.1%, lower at 2,345. Shares of Ford Motors dropped sharply after downbeat earnings outlook for the first quarter. The Nasdaq Composite opened off 11 points, or 0.2%, at 5,810. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 24 points, or 0.1%, to 20,635.

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

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — New research makes a compelling case that there is a need to think “longer term” about how to prepare people for success in the labor marker, said Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen Thursday. “This research underscores the value of starting young to develop basic work habits and skills,” Yellen said in welcoming remarks at a Fed research conference on community development. Yellen said there is also evidence that growing up poor makes it harder to succeed as an adult. New work is needed on what kinds of interventions could help poor children and are these programs scalable. The Fed chief did not address the economic outlook or interest-rate policy in her remarks.

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

Citi Trends Inc. said Chief Executive Jason Mazzola has resigned after two years in the position, and five years at the company, according to his LinkedIn profile. The Georgia-based apparel retailer said Mazzola resigned to “pursue another opportunity.” The company named Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Bruce Smith as acting CEO until a permanent replacement can be found, and named Ed Anderson as executive chairman. Citi Trends stock, which was still inactive in premarket trade, has lost 2.6% year to date, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has shed 7.2% and the S&P 500 has gained 4.9%.

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

Citi Trends Inc. said Chief Executive Jason Mazzola has resigned after two years in the position, and five years at the company, according to his LinkedIn profile. The Georgia-based apparel retailer said Mazzola resigned to “pursue another opportunity.” The company named Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Bruce Smith as acting CEO until a permanent replacement can be found, and named Ed Anderson as executive chairman. Citi Trends stock, which was still inactive in premarket trade, has lost 2.6% year to date, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has shed 7.2% and the S&P 500 has gained 4.9%.

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 HTG Molecular Diagnostics Inc. rocketed 63% in premarket trade Thursday, after the company said it obtained CE marking in the European Union for its in vitro diagnostic assay used to measure and analyze gene rearrangements in lung tumor specimens. CE marking means a product conforms to requirements for sale in the European economic area. “We are pleased to add the HTG EdgeSeq ALKPlus Assay EU to our diagnostic assay menu in Europe,” said HTG Chief executive TJ Johnson in a statement released late Wednesday. “We plan to offer this assay to selected European early adopters as we seek additional regulatory approvals elsewhere.” The stock’s surge comes less than a month after it nearly tripled, running up 159% on Feb. 27 after the company unveiled a new direct-target sequencing chemistry to be launched in the first quarter. Through Wednesday, the stock had dropped 4.5% year to date, while the S&P 500 had gained 4.9%.

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

Conagra Brands Inc. shares fell 1.5% in Thursday premarket trading after the food company reported a third-quarter sales slip that landed below estimates. Conagra reported third-quarter net income of $179.7 million, or 41 cents per share, down from $204.6 million, or 46 cents per share, for the same period last year. Adjusted EPS was 48 cents, beating the 44-cent FactSet consensus. Revenue was $1.98 billion, down from $2.20 billion last year, and just below the $1.99 billion FactSet consensus. The company now expects fiscal 2017 adjusted EPS to be at or slightly above the high-end of the $1.65 to $1.70 range. The FactSet consensus is $1.70. Sales are expected to be at or slightly below the low-end of a 4% to 5% decline. Conagra shares are up 20.1% for the past year while the S&P 500 index is up 15.3% for the 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.

…read more

From:: Stock Market News