Stocks are down in mid-day trading while a mixed slate of
economic data coupled with comments from the European Central Bank
president to squelch buyers through the first half of the trading
day.
In data released after the opening bell this morning, U.S.
wholesale inventories rose 1.6% in October, the U.S. Department of
Commerce reported. Wholesale inventory levels are a leading
indicator showing how aggressively business are buying at the
wholesale level. Compared to October last year, inventories have
jumped 10.9% at the wholesale level.
Across the pond, the European Central Bank - as expected -
lowered interest rates by 25 basis points to 1%. The Bank of
England left interest rates at a record low of 0.5%, as was also
expected. ECB President Mario Draghi said at a news conference that
the European Union treaty blocks "monetary financing." The comment
came in response to a question about why the ECB doesn't ramp up
its bond buying program, MarketWatch reported. Instead, Draghi said
EU leaders, who are meeting tonight and on into tomorrow to hammer
out a solution, have ultimate responsibility to address the
crisis.
The nation's employment picture continues to show improvement,
The U.S. Department of Labor reported first-time claims for state
unemployment benefits fell sharply in the latest week to their
lowest level since February.
The number of initial claims in the week ending Dec. 3 fell
23,000 to 381,000. Wall Street Economists had forecast claims would
fall 9,000 to 393,000. The number of initial claims in the week
ending Dec. 3 fell 23,000 to 381,000; Wall Street economists
expected claims would fall 9,000 to 393,000. The four-week average
dropped 3,000 to 393,250.
In company news:
Exxon Mobil (
XOM
) shares are down while MarketWatch reports the oil major sees
demand for electricity will drive the energy industry. The comments
came as a part of its Energy Outlook. The report concluded that
natural gas will gain market share while oil will remain the most
widely-used fuel.
Shares of Roche Holding (
RHHBY
) and Novartis (
NVS
) are mixed while Bloomberg reports that drugs the two companies
are developing that target different drivers of breast cancer
showing in separate studies that they slowed tumor progression. The
research was released at the San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium.
THQ (
THQI
) shares have continued their extended session slide following the
video game publisher's warning on its Q3 results. THQI shares are
down 14.4%. The company said late Wednesday it now expects to
report net sales for the third quarter of approximately 25 percent
below its previously announced guidance of $510 million to $550
million. The Street view is for EPS of $1.37 on sales of $529.43
million.
Shares of McDonald's competitor Yum Brands (
YUM
) is looking to become the "McDonald's" (MCD) of China by
blanketing the country's third- and second-tier cities with
fast-food restaurants, according to a report in the Financial
Times. The restaurant chain is looking to more than double its
China restaurants by 2020, the report said. YUM shares are
unchanged in pre-market trading.
McDonald's shares a firm as the burger chain says that November
global comparative sales increased 7.4%, beating the 5% gain
analysts had expected.
IBM (IBM) today announced that it will acquire DemandTec (DMAN)
in an all cash transaction at a price of $13.20/share, or at a net
price of $440 million, after adjusting for cash. IBM expects that
the acquisition will help expand its Smarter Commerce initiative by
adding DMAN's cloud-based price, promotion and other merchandising
and marketing analytics.
Commodities are down as February gold contracts are down 1.73%
to $1,714 an ounce while January crude oil contacts are down 1.73%
to $98.73 a barrel.
In energy ETFs, the United States Oil Fund (USO) is down 1.46%
to $38.25 and the United States Natural Gas fund (UNG) is up 1.2%,
to $7.64.
In precious metal ETFs, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is down 1.69%
to $166.58. Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) is down 2.8% to
$57.31. iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is down 2.69% to $30.76.
Here's where markets stand at mid-day:
-NYSE down 131.80 (-1.74%) to 7,427.91
-DJIA down 129.84 (-1.06%) to 12,066.53
-S&P 500 down 16.98 (-1.35%) to 1,24.03
-Nasdaq down 23.75 (-0.9%) to 2,625.39
GLOBAL SENTIMENT
Nikkei down 0.66%
Hang Seng down 0.69%
Shanghai Composite down 0.13%
FTSE-100 down 0.20%
DAX-30 down 0.29%
MID-DAY NYSE INDEX WATCH
NYSE Energy down 2.1% at 12,305.21
NYSE Financial down 2.6% at 4,048.89
NYSE Health Care down 0.91% at 6,807.60
NYSE Arca Tech 100 down 0.65% at 1,099.89
UPSIDE MOVERS
(+) MCD, (+1.4%) November global comp sales increased 7.4%
(+) PSUN, (+20%) Upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at Piper
Jaffray
(+) GIII, (+21.4%) Reported Q3 sales better than the analyst
consensus
(+) AFFY, (+40.5%) FDA committee votes in favor of anemia
treatment
DOWNSIDE MOVERS
(-) AIS, (-6.5%) Oxybutynin gel receives FDA approval
(-) CREE, (-6.3%) Downgraded to Equalweight from Overweight at
Morgan Stanley
(-) MEI, (-6.9%) Swings to profit in Q2; reaffirms FY12, FY13
outlook
(-) TSLA, (-10.4%) Cut to Underweight from Overweight at Morgan
Stanley
(-) COST, (-1.6%) Q1 EPS in line, revenue just beats street
view
(-) CLWR, (-5.0%) prices upsized offering.