Melly Alazraki
Toronto, Canada - http://
Before the Bell: Futures Advance on Hopes of Greece's Rescue
U.S. stock futures advanced Tuesday, a day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished below the 10,000 mark for the first time since early November. With investors encouraged by signs the EU could bail out Greece, bargain hunters searched for deals following the selloff.U.S. stocks dropped Monday for the third time in four sessions, with the S&P 500 falling 0.9% and the Dow industrials falling over 100 points, or 1%. Concerns about European debt weighed on Wall Street as was the outlook for the U.S. economy, especially in light of reports that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will begin laying the groundwork for credit tightening later in the year.
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Before the Bell: Futures Pointing to a Higher Start
U.S. stock futures were [Update: So far this morning futures have changed direction several times as investors try to find a firm footing.]
Stocks slumped last as worries mounted over debt problems in Greece, Portugal and Spain and a mixed bag of economic indicators in the U.S. Meanwhile, concerns over Greece abated somewhat as the government worked Monday on a tax overhaul aimed at getting its deficit under control.
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Unemployment Rate Falls, but Payrolls Drop
Unemployment rate in the U.S. unexpectedly declined in January to 9.7%, while the U.S. economy shed 20,000 more jobs during the month. Since the Labor Department released the mixed jobs data, futures recovered from their losses and now point to a higher open.First, the good news. The 9.7% unemployment rate is the lowest level since August. Economists had expected the unemployment to remain at 10% or rise to 10.1%. The so-called underemployment rate -- which includes part-time workers who'd prefer a full-time position and people who want work but have given up looking -- also fell to 16.5% from 17.3%.
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Before the Bell: Futures Higher After Mixed Employment Report
U.S. stock futures were lower this morning, as investors anxiously awaited January's jobs report. Following Wall Street's worst day in more than nine months, and as overseas markets skidded on global economic recovery fear and debt issues at some European countries, investors fretted ahead of key U.S. employment data.[Update: Stock futures recovered after the jobs data and now point to a higher start on Wall Street. The jobs data showed an unexpected decline in the unemployment rate to 9.7%, but payroll fell by 20,000.]
At 8:30 a.m., the Labor Department will report January figures on nonfarm payroll. Job losses during the Great Recession have been huge and they're about to get bigger. Economists expect the report to show 5,000-15,000 jobs created during the month. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 10%.
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Before the Bell: Stocks to Struggle at the Open
U.S. stock futures were lower Thursday following declines in overseas markets as worries about Europe's sovereign debts resumed. Despite Cisco Systems' upbeat report concerns about the economic recovery ahead of the jobs report continued to affect investors' sentiment.Already on Wednesday, several weak economic readings, including a service sector gauge, and disappointing results from Pfizer (PFE) pushed stocks lower. But Wall Street is bracing for the nonfarm payroll report due out Friday morning to get a better feel for the state of the economic recovery and employment.
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Before the Bell: Futures Fall After Jobs Data
U.S. stock futures were nearly flat Wednesday morning, indicating Wall Street may have trouble extending the rally following the prior session's gains. This morning, the parade of earnings reports continues as jobs data is set to take center stage.[Update: Futures fell slightly after the jobs data, despite ADP reporting the smallest job losses in January in two years.]
On Tuesday, stocks finished the day higher after strong housing data and solid earnings reports helped pushed the Dow industrials to its second straight day of triple digit gains.
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Before the Bell: Futures Higher Ahead of Data
U.S. stock futures edged higher Tuesday morning, pointing to a potential second day of gains on Wall Street. As investors look to recover from January's down market, digesting more earnings this morning, they also await some economic data, including housing and auto sales and a Senate hearing on proposed new rules on financial reform.Already on Monday, the tide started turning from January's depressed sentiment following strong manufacturing data and better-than-forecast Exxon Mobil earnings. The Dow industrials, the Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 all finished more than 1% higher.
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Before the Bell: Futures Higher as Wall Street Digests Budget
U.S. stock futures were higher Monday morning as investors try to put January's performance behind them. Wall Street will focus on President Obama unveiled budget, while awaiting results from Exxon Mobil. Also, several economic indicators are due out this morning, including a manufacturing index.President Barack Obama sent Congress a $3.83 trillion budget on Monday that would pour more money into the fight against high unemployment, boost taxes on the wealthy and freeze spending for a wide array of government programs. The deficit for this year would surge to a record-breaking $1.56 trillion. The president is due to speak about the budget at 10:45 a.m. Eastern.
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Before the Bell: Futures Higher Ahead of GDP
U.S. stock futures edged higher Friday following robust results from Amazon and Microsoft and as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was confirmed for a second term. But still ahead are GDP figures, which Wall Street will focus on to get a clearer picture of economic activity.At 8:30 a.m., the government will disclose fourth quarter gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity. Most likely, the economy grew in the fourth quarter for a second straight quarter and possibly at the fastest pace in nearly four years. Analysts estimate the economy grew 4.5% in the final three months of 2009, according to Thomson Reuters. Much of it was due to the stimulus, economists say, and if that stops, they worry growth would slow, or even stop.
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Before the Bell: Futures Higher After Obama's Speech, Amid Earnings
U.S. stock futures were higher on Thursday following the Federal Reserve's outlook for the economy and President Barack Obama's State of the Union address and his pledge to create more jobs. Meanwhile, a stream of earnings is coming in this morning, with Ford posting its first annual profit since 2005. Also on the agenda today are some economic indicators, including data on jobs. All the while, investors will watch as Fed chairman Bernanke's faith is decided.President Barack Obama late Wednesday put job creation at the top of the agenda in his first State of the Union speech. He promised not to abandon health-care reform and promised tough, new rules on Wall Street.
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Apple Ushers in the iPad -- Can It Live up to the Hype?
About an hour ago, Apple (AAPL) finally unveiled its much anticipated and rumored tablet computer -- the iPad. For the past couple of years, many wondered why Apple never got into the netbook market. Steve Jobs, Apple's founder, CEO and visionary explained that netbooks simply are not better than laptops. The iPad, however, according to Jobs is.Specs, from Engadget: The Apple iPad weighs just 1.5 pounds, and has a 9.7-inch touchscreen LCD display. It's running Apple's own 1GHz "A4" chip, with a 10-hour battery life and a month of standby. It'll come in three sizes and prices points: 16GB -- sold for $499, 32GB -- sold for $599, and 64GB -- $699.
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Before the Bell: Futures Higher Amid Upbeat Earnings
U.S. stock market futures were higher Wednesday morning as upbeat earnings report from late Tuesday and early Wednesday boosted sentiment. Meanwhile, investors also awaited the Federal Open Market Committee policy statement later in the day as well as President Barack Obama state of the union address. As Fed chairman Bernanke fights for another term at the helm of the federal bank, the Federal Reserve may take a chance the housing market can stage a comeback without its support and announce today it will stick to the plan to end a $1.25 trillion program of mortgage-debt purchases in March. The Fed will release its policy statement at 2:15 p.m. Eastern.
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Before the Bell: Futures Point to a Lower Start
U.S. stock futures declined Tuesday morning as global growth concerns hit markets following S&P downgrade of Japan's outlook and reports of further tightening in China that could hamper growth. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Federal Reserve begins its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, amid several economic indicators due out.U.S. stocks rose Monday as bargain hunters jumped in. But trading was light as Wall Street awaited news from later in the week regarding the confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, the State of the Union address and bank regulatory developments. Meanwhile, the earnings season continues to give mixed results, not fully convincing investors a recovery is underway.
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Before the Bell: Stocks Set to Rebound as Earnings Season Heats Up
U.S. stock futures moved firmly higher Monday morning, pointing to a rebound after a sharp three-day selloff last week. This morning, it seems, bargain hunters moved. Meanwhile, as earnings season kicks into high gear, investors also await housing data due out after the market open.U.S. stocks skidded on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average pulling back 2.1%. For the week, the Dow lost 4.1% -- the worst week on a percentage basis since March. Fears that the White House plan to curb bank risk-taking would cut profits helped sour sentiment, as did several earnings report that didn't live up to expectations. The situation in China, with its bank tightening policy, didn't help either.
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Before the Bell: Stocks Headed for a Mixed Start
U.S. stock futures were mixed Friday morning as investors mulled results from General Electric and others, and focused on the effects President Obama's plan to overhaul Wall Street would have on banks.On Thursday, Wall Street suffered one of the worst day in month after the Obama administration announced a proposal to increase regulation on the financial industry. Despite several strong earnings, concerns over China's efforts to curb lending, a surprise increase in jobless claims and a drop in manufacturing amounted to the Dow industrials sinking 213 points, or 2%. The broader S&P 500 lost 1.9% and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 1.1%.
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Closing Bell: When We All Love the PIIGS (NBG, SQNM, PG, ERTS, KO)
Serious Money: Cheapest Stocks List Shrinks from 26 to 21
Chasing Value: Hasbro Earnings Makes My Point
