Futures Flat After GDP
U.S. equity futures were flat in pre-market trade Thursday
following the weak GDP report issued in the U.S. Wednesday. The
Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the economy contracted
0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. However, the underlying growth
rate, excluding volatile terms such as defense spending and
inventories, was much stronger.
Top News
In other news around the markets:
Banco Santander (NYSE:
SAN
) reported a large loss overnight and wrote off a further $25.5
billion worth of assets tied to real estate, showing that the
Spanish financial crisis is nowhere near over. Germany's
unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in January to 6.8 percent from
6.9 percent. Research in Motion (NASDAQ:
RIMM
) unveiled its latest operating system, Blackberry 10, Wednesday
and announced that it is officially changing its name from Research
in Motion to Blackberry. S&P 500 futures were flat at 1,495.30.
The EUR/USD was lower at 1.3562. Spanish 10-year government bond
yields rose to 5.25 percent. Italian 10-year government bond yields
rose to 4.32 percent. Gold fell 0.38 percent to $1,675.20 per
ounce.
Asian Markets
Asian shares were mixed overnight with Japanese shares gaining
on hopes that policy moves to weaken the yen are working to
stimulate the economy. The Japanese Nikkei Index rose 0.22 percent
and the Shanghai Composite Index rose rose 0.12 percent while the
Hang Seng Index fell 0.39 percent. Also, the Korean Kospi declined
0.13 percent and Australian shares were weak, falling 0.37 percent
on decreased hopes of further monetary stimulus.
European Markets
European shares were lower in early trade, led by Spain,
following a slew of weak bank earnings across the continent. The
Spanish Ibex Index declined 1.58 percent, led lower by financials,
and the Italian MIB Index fell 0.91 percent, led lower by
financials and industrial companies. Meanwhile, the German DAX
declined 0.31 percent and the French CAC lost 0.6 percent and U.K.
shares rose 0.4 percent.
Commodities
Commodities were mostly lower overnight in a clear risk-off
market. WTI Crude futures fell 0.2 percent to $97.73 per barrel and
Brent Crude futures lost 0.03 percent to $114.83 per barrel. Copper
futures rose 0.4 percent to $376.45. Gold was lower and silver
futures declined 0.63 percent to $31.97 per ounce.
Currencies
Currency markets were rather quiet overnight with moves in major
crosses tepid at best. The EUR/USD was lower at 1.3562 and the
dollar fell against the yen to 91.02. Overall, the Dollar Index was
flat on strength against the euro, the Canadian dollar, and the
Swiss franc, while weakness was seen against the yen and the pound.
The Aussie dollar was also rather unchanged and the EUR/GBP
declined to 0.8573 after failing to break 0.86.
Pre-Market Movers
Stocks moving in the pre-market included:
Facebook (NASDAQ:
FB
) shares declined 4.71 percent pre-market after the company
reported weaker than expected earnings. Hess (NYSE:
HES
) shares declined 1.06 percent to $67.16 per share after rallying
earlier this week on both stronger than expected earnings and an
activist investor stake. Research in Motion continued its
post-Blackberry 10 decline, falling 4.43 percent pre-market after
declining 12 percent Wednesday. Phillips 66 (NYSE:
PSX
), the refiner recently spun out of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:
COP
), share rose 0.07 percent pre-market after the company reported
strong earnings and announced its intention to convert to an MLP.
Earnings
Notable companies expected to report earnings Thursday
include:
Colgate Palmolive (NYSE:
CL
) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $1.40 vs. $1.30 a
year ago. Dow Chemical (NYSE:
DOW
) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.34 vs. $0.25 a
year ago. Mastercard (NYSE:
MA
) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $4.82 vs. $4.03 a
year ago. NASDAQ OMX Group (NASDAQ:
NDAQ
) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.61 vs. $0.63 a
year ago. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:
OXY
) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $1.67 vs. $2.02 a
year ago. Under Armor (NYSE:
UA
) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.46 vs. $0.31 a
year ago. Viacom (NASDAQ:
VIAB
) is expected to report fiscal first quarter EPS of $0.91 vs. $1.06
a year ago.
Economics
On the economics calendar Thursday, jobless claims, personal
income, and outlays are due out at 8:30 am. Also, the Chicago PMI
is set to be released later this morning. Overnight, Manufacturing
PMI's from China and Europe will be released and should set the
tone of the market. Also, the monthly Non-Farm Payrolls report is
due out Friday.
Good luck and good trading.
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