Active broad-market exchange-traded funds at mid-day:
SPDR S&P 500 (
SPY
): +1.35%
PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (
QQQ
): +1.3%
iShares Russell 2000 Index (
IWM
): +0.5%
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (
EEM
): +2%
iPath S&P 500 VIX Short Term Futures TM ETN (
VXX
): -6.4%
Broad Market Indicators
Broad-market exchange-traded funds, including SPY, IWM, IVV and
others, continue to be firmer. Actively traded PowerShares QQQ (
QQQ
) is up 1.3%.
U.S. stocks continues to see gains on European Central Bank
President Mario Draghi's vow that ECB will do whatever it takes to
save the beleaguered euro. Many see this as a sign that the ECB is
ready to resume a bond-buying program. Also lifting market
sentiment was the report that U.S. weekly jobless claims fell to
353,000, beating forecasts. Durable-goods orders for June were also
better than expected, climbing 1.6%.
Winners and Losers
Technology -
Tech actives are in the green: Microsoft (MSFT), up 1.4%; Intel
(INTC), up 1.3%; Google (GOOG), up 1.2%; Cisco (CSCO), up 0.8%; and
Yahoo (YHOO), up 2%. Apple (AAPL) has turned slightly positive.
Western Digital (WDC) is up 19% but nearly $2 off day highs
after the company reported Q4 the company revenue of $4.8 billion,
and non-GAAP earnings of $3.35 per share. In the year-ago quarter,
the company reported revenue of $2.4 billion, and non-GAAP EPS of
$0.81 per share.
Zynga, Inc. (ZNGA) is down near 40% and has hit new year lows,
adding to losses of some 36% in yesterday's after hours session
when it reported its Q212 results. ZNGA missed on both earnings and
revenues, pulling in EPS of $0.01 for the quarter, whereas analysts
were expecting earnings of $0.06 per share, and revenue of $332.5
million, under the consensus of $344.12 million. ZNGA also revised
its outlook going forward, lowering its guidance. It is expecting
its EPS to be in the range of $0.04 to $0.09.
Sprint Nextel (S) is up 20% after reporting a Q2 loss per share
of $0.46, although this contains some items and may not be
comparable to the $0.40 per share loss the Street was looking for.
Last year, the company posted a Q2 loss per share of $0.28. Revenue
for the quarter came in at $8.84 billion, ahead of the $8.73
billion consensus.
VASCO Data Security International (VDSI) is up 22% after
reporting Q2 EPS of $0.18, topping estimates for $0.12. Revenue for
the quarter came in at $46.6 million, topping the $44.12 million
consensus.
Other tech stock gaining after reporting their earnings: Akamai
Technologies (AKAM), up 23%; MetroPCS Communications (PCS), up 35%;
and Fortinet (FTNT), up 13.7%.
Stocks gapping down: Synacor (SYNC), down 24.5%; Quality Systems
(QSII), down 32% and hit year lows; and Netflix (NFLX), down 5% and
hit year lows.
ETFs in the space are firmer: iShares Dow Jones US Technology
ETF (IYW), up 1.4%; iShares S&P North American Technology ETF
(IGM), up 1.6%; Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), up 1.5%;
and iShares S&P North American Technology-Software Index (IGV)
up 1.1%.
SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) is up 2% while Semiconductor
Sector Index Fund (SOXX) is up 1.8%.
SPDR S&P International Technology Sector ETF (IPK) is up
1.7%.
Energy -
Dow Jones U.S. Energy Fund (IYE) is up 2%, and Energy Select
Sector SPDR (XLE) is up 2.4%.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDS.A) is down 1.3% following a Bloomberg
report that the company has started discussions with Anadarko
Petroleum Corp. (APC) over a bid for the U.S. producer's gas assets
in Mozambique, where energy companies are looking to tap the
largest discoveries in a decade. Shell has begun informal talks
with Anadarko about a deal for some or all of its 36.5% stake in
the Rovuma-1 offshore gas fields, though Anadarko is reluctant to
sell before further results of exploration in the area are known,
the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks are
private. APC shares are up 1.4%.
Exxon Mobil (XOM) is up 1.4% after reporting Q2 GAAP earnings of
$3.41 per share. This topped analyst expectations of GAAP EPS of
$2.03, according to Capital IQ. Excluding one-time times, the
company posted $1.86 per share. Revenues were $127.36 bln, versus
the analyst estimate of $116.27 bln. In the same period last year,
the company reported EPS of $2.18 on revenues of $125.49 bln.
Commodities -
Crude was up around 0.3%. United States Oil Fund (USO) is up
0.8%. Natural gas futures was up near 0.5%. United States Natural
Gas Fund (UNG) is up 0.5%.
Gold was is up around 0.3%; likewise, silver was up near 0.05%.
Among rare metal funds, SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is up 0.7% and
iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is up 0.5%.
Healthcare -
ETFs are seeing upward movement: Health Care SPDR (XLV), up 1%
to near year highs; iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB), up
1.61%, also to near year highs; Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT), up
1%; and iShares Dow Jones US Healthcare (IYH) up 1%.
AstraZeneca (AZN) is up 0.8% after it today reported Q2 earnings
of $1.53 per share, ex one-time items, versus the Capital IQ
consensus of $1.38. Revenues were $6.66 bln, versus the analyst
estimate of $6.94 bln. For FY12, the company continues to see EPS
of $5.85 - $6.15, excluding non-recurring items, in line with the
consensus of $5.90.
Covidien (COV) is up 4.5% but off day highs of $54.97 after it
reported Q3 earnings of $1.07 per share, ex one-time items, versus
the Capital IQ consensus of $1.06. Revenues were $3.01 bln, in line
with the analyst estimate of $3.01 bln. In the same period last
year, the company reported EPS of $1.01 on revenues of $2.9
bln.
Consumer -
ETFs are mostly firmer at mid-day: Consumer Staples Select
Sector SPDR (XLP), up 1.7% to near year highs; iShares Dow Jones US
Consumer Goods (IYK), up 1.3%; and Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF
(VDC), up 1.8%, near year highs.
SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) is up 0.9%; PowerShares Dynamic Retail
(PMR), up 1.4%; and Market Vectors Retail ETF (RTH), up 1.5% and
hit year highs.
GNC Holdings (GNC) is down 0.5%, changing directions after
gaining some 10% in pre-market trading, when it reported Q2
earnings of $0.62 per share, versus the Capital IQ consensus of
$0.52. Revenues were $619.1 mln, versus the analyst estimate of
$595.95 mln. The company expects FY12 EPS of $2.21, above the
consensus of $2.10; revenues are expected to be $2.43 bln, also
above the Street view of $2.39 bln.
Dunkin Brands Group (DNKN) is down near 5%, reversing earlier
gains after reporting Q2 earnings of $0.33 per share, ex one-time
items, in line with the Capital IQ consensus of $0.33. Revenues
were $172.4 mln, versus the analyst estimate of $169.05 mln.
Comparable store sales in the US increased 4%. DNKN expects FY12
EPS of $1.22 - $1.25, up from the prior guidance of $1.21 - $1.24,
excluding non-recurring items, and in line with the consensus of
$1.25. The company continues to expect revenue growth of 7% - 8%.
It also continues to expect Dunkin' Donuts U.S. comparable store
sales growth to be in the range of 4% to 5%.
Power Play -
Financial -
Select Financial Sector SPDRs (XLF) is up 1.2%. Direxion Daily
Financial Bull 3X shares (FAS) is up 3.5%. Its bearish counterpart,
FAZ, is down 3.5%.
Actives in the sector continue to see gains: Bank of America
(BAC), up 1.3%; Goldman Sachs (GS), up 1.7%; Morgan Stanley (MS),
up 0.4%; and Citigroup (C), up 1.8%.
The NY Times is reporting that Nomura's (NMR) chief executive,
Kenichi Watanabe, has resigned to take responsibility for the
bank's insider trading scandal, together with Takumi Shibata, the
chief operating officer. Shares are up 11%.
Visa (V) is up 3% after it reported in yesterday's after hours
session that Q3 EPS was $1.56, vs. the analyst consensus of $1.45
per share on Capital IQ. Revenue was $2.56 bln, ahead of the Street
view of $2.52 bln. The company also approved a new $1 billion share
buyback program.