Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded down
0.04 percent to 12,927.54 while the NASDAQ fell 0.15 percent to
2,932.99. The S&P also fell, decreasing 0.06 percent to
1,393.68.
Top Headline
McDonald's (NYSE:
MCD
) shocked some investors this morning after the company announced
that its global comp sales had declined 1.8 percent, with US and
European comps falling 2.2 percent. The announcement caused
McDonald's shares to fall roughly one percent in early
trading.
Equities Trading UP
Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:
WLL
) saw an early boost and a subsequent drop, remaining up 3.78
percent to $43.63 on renewed chatter that Statoil (NYSE:
STO
) had offered $65 per share for the company. Following the
rumour, Statoil came out denying the rumour, causing the
subsequent drop. Stay tuned to Benzinga for more up to the second
news on the possible deal.
Monster Worldwide (NYSE:
MWW
) traded up 10.86 percent to $6.33 after the company reported an
earnings beat Thursday morning and was reported to be seeking the
sale of ChinaHR as part of its restructuring.
Shares of SandRidge Energy (NYSE:
SD
) also gained in early trading Thursday, rising 7.67 percent to
$6.46 following a letter from TPG-Axon calling for a realignment
of the company's board of directors, resignation of the CEO, and
a potential sale of the company.
Equities Trading DOWN
Universal Display (NASDAQ:
PANL
) dropped 16.08 percent to $23.65 following a downgrade at
Wedbush Securities.
Windstream (NASDAQ:
WIN
) also fell, declining 7.01 percent to $8.76 after the company
posted an earnings miss Thursday morning.
Shares Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:
MNST
) dropped in early trading as well, but recovered some of the
loss, remaining down 3.70 percent at $43.31 following an earnings
miss after the close Thursday.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.84 percent to $85.15, while
gold traded down 0.06 percent to $1,717.20.
Silver traded down 0.14 percent Thursday to $31.89.
Eurozone
In the eurozone, amid sweeping violent protests, Greece passed
its latest round of austerity measures, securing a new round of
bailout money for the ailing country.
The ECB also made headlines, deciding to leave rates
unchanged, despite hints from some economists that they may be
coming down. Following the decision, ECB president Mario Draghi
made some comments about the expected near future performance of
the euro zone economy, and the message was bleak.
Following in the footsteps of the ECB, the Bank of England
also decided to hold rates flat.
Economics
In economic news, initial jobless claims were reported at 355
thousand, below the forecasted 370 thousand and the prior figure
of 363 thousand, while continuing jobless claims came in at 3.127
million, better than the expected 3.253 million, and the previous
report of 3.262 million.
Trade balance was also reported, coming in at -41.5 billion,
better than the expected -45 billion and the prior figure of
-44.2 billion.
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