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Corn Reserves Expected to Fall to 15-Year Low

cornRising demand for corn from ethanol producers is pushing U.S. reserves to the lowest point in 15 years, a trend that could lead to higher grain and food prices this year.

The Agriculture Department on Friday left its estimate for corn reserves unchanged from the previous month. The reserves are projected to fall to 675 million bushels in late August, when the harvest begins, or roughly 5 percent of all corn consumed in the United States. That would be the lowest surplus level since 1996.

Continue reading Corn Reserves Expected to Fall to 15-Year Low

Bank of America Cuts First-Quarter GDP Forecast

Bank of America (BAC)Fourth quarter GDP ended on a uptrend, coming in at 3.1%. The state of the economy was healthy and it looked like growth would continue to match or exceed Q4. Based on that scenario, Bank of America (BAC) analyst Ethan Harris, forecast first-quarter 2011 GDP to come in at 3.3%.

But in the few short months of 2011, the world is getting turned upside down. The conflict in Libya has cut OPEC oil production and sent oil prices skyrocketing. In turn, the price of gasoline is nearing $4.00 per gallon. And food processors are raising prices due to higher raw commodity prices. These two factors have put a dent in the household budget.

Continue reading Bank of America Cuts First-Quarter GDP Forecast

Week in Preview: Bed Bath & Beyond, Monsanto and Pier 1 Earnings

earnings expectationsThe new earnings season doesn't kick off until Alcoa (AA) reports its first-quarter results on April 11, but a few stragglers are still reporting their earnings for the previous quarter this week. The most prominent earnings reports on tap are Wednesday's results from Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) and from Monsanto (MON). Here's what analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to see.

Bed Bath & Beyond

During its fiscal fourth quarter, the nation's largest domestics retailer opened new stores and its CEO sold shares. Analysts anticipate that the New Jersey-based company will report per-share earnings of 97 cents, an increase of 11.3% from the same quarter of last year. The company also is expected to post revenue of $2.4 billion for the three months that ended in February, a 6.3% rise from a year earlier.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Bed Bath & Beyond, Monsanto and Pier 1 Earnings

Ray of Light: March's Jobs Gain Is More Evidence of Healing Labor Market

job growthThis past week's data point of significance for investors has to be March's job report, which indicated the U.S. economy created a better-than-expected 216,000 jobs, the U.S. Labor Department said.

Also, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 8.8% from 8.9%. A Bloomberg survey had expected the economy to create 200,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 8.9%. Further, job creation totals for February and January were revised higher: February to 194,000 from the initially estimated 192,000 gain; January to 68,000 from 63,000.

Continue reading Ray of Light: March's Jobs Gain Is More Evidence of Healing Labor Market

Dow Hits New 2011 High: What's Next?

Non-farm payrolls came in higher than analysts' forecasts and the unemployment rate fell to 8.8%. That good news sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a new 2011 high. At midday the Dow was up 78 points to 12,397 -- as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Except for a brief sell-off to the 11,500 level, the market has moved quickly to regain lost ground and is now at new highs. Last week the USDA's crop report was bullish for grains. It's not surprising that Caterpillar (CAT) led the charge, up 1.7%. But there are always some losers. Office Depot (ODP) fell 11% after reporting a fourth quarter loss and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (KKD), which also had a fourth quarter loss, fell 17%.

Continue reading Dow Hits New 2011 High: What's Next?

USDA's Crop Report Signals Higher Food Prices

cornHere it is in a nutshell: Prices of grains and cotton have skyrocketed year to date. The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) report released Thursday stated that corn and wheat prices have doubled in the past year. Soybeans were up 50% and cotton was up 155%, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.

What has caused these sharp increases? The key mover has been exports. China, India and countries in the Mideast are stockpiling grains over fears that they will not have enough to feed their people. Corn in storage fell 15% on March 1. Corn has been hit doubly hard because 40% of it is used for ethanol production and a large amount goes for livestock feed.

Continue reading USDA's Crop Report Signals Higher Food Prices

Oil Closes at Two-and-a-Half Year High

rising oil pricesThe conflict in Libya continues to spark concerns over possible supply problems, sending oil prices soaring over the past couple weeks and settling at a two-and-a-half year high this afternoon.

In addition to Libya, oil also got a push today from a falling U.S. dollar. The greenback was down in reaction to speculation the European Central Bank would be raising interest rates, to fight possible inflation.

Continue reading Oil Closes at Two-and-a-Half Year High

Labor Market Continues to Show Signs of Improvement

laborersAccording to the ADP Employer Services Report, the private sector added 201,000 new jobs in March, basically in-line with 203,000 new jobs that analysts had been expecting to see.

February's figures were revised downwards to 208,000 from a previously estimated 216,000 new jobs.

March's employment gains bring the four-month average of new jobs to 211,000, more than enough to keep the labor track on path. Analysts estimate that the economy needs to add 125,000 new jobs each month in order to keep up with population growth, so any jobs over that figure result in a lower unemployment figures.

Continue reading Labor Market Continues to Show Signs of Improvement

Stock Futures Higher Ahead of ADP Employment Data

U.S. stock futures are higher this morning, as investors await ADP employment data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 51 points to 12,276.00, and those for the S&P 500 index gained 6.20 points to 1,322.70. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index added 16.50 points to 2,339.00.

Overseas, positive sentiment ruled the European markets today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has gained 0.79%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved up 0.50%.

Continue reading Stock Futures Higher Ahead of ADP Employment Data

Consumer Confidence Hits Three-Month Low

consumer confidenceConsumer confidence fell more than expected during the month of March, hitting a new three-month low as high gasoline prices weigh on the minds on consumers.

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index read 74 during February, but dipped in March all the way down to 63.4. Going into today's reading, analysts had been expecting to see the consumer confidence index decline, but only to 65.

Continue reading Consumer Confidence Hits Three-Month Low

Stock Futures Slightly Higher Ahead of Data

U.S. stock futures are slightly higher this morning, as investors are awaiting data on home prices and consumer confidence. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 18 points to 12,132.00 and S&P 500 index futures climbed 1.80 points to 1,304.00. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 5 points to 2,300.75.

Negative sentiment ruled the European markets today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has dropped 0.51%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved down 0.30%. Most Asian markets ended lower, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average dropping 0.21%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gaining 0.40% and China's Shanghai Composite falling 0.87%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 0.03% and India's Sensex surged 177.66 points.

Continue reading Stock Futures Slightly Higher Ahead of Data

Closing Bell: Stocks Give Up Gains (ALU, EBAY, GSIC, FSLR, EWJ, CCJ, PKD)

U.S. markets were mixed most of Monday with what felt like very directionless trading on light volume. A selloff late in the day erased the small gains, and markets closed in the red today.

Another weak housing figure did not manage to cause too much harm as -- by now -- investors are conditioned to expect poor housing data. Consumer spending and income rose in February, topping expectations. U.S. investors also continued to expect that oil infrastructure would keep growing based upon Middle East build-outs for expanded production.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Stocks Give Up Gains (ALU, EBAY, GSIC, FSLR, EWJ, CCJ, PKD)

Week in Preview: Mosaic, Family Dollar Earnings and March Unemployment Rate

earnings expectationsThe calendar quarter winds down this week and quarterly reports are due from Apollo Group (APOL), CarMax (KMX), Global Payments (GPN), Krispy Kreme (KKD), Lennar (LEN) and McCormick (MKC). But analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for results from fertilizer and animal feed maker Mosaic (MOS), apparel maker Phillips Van Heusen (PVH) and discount retailer Family Dollar (FDO). So here's a look at what they anticipate from these three companies.

Mosaic

During its fiscal second quarter, Cargill agreed to distribute its stake in Mosaic, and Mosaic also said it would redeem senior notes. Analysts anticipate that the Minnesota-based potash producer will report per-share earnings of $1.07, a jump of 53.3% from the same quarter of last year. Mosaic also is expected to post revenue of $2.4 billion for the three months that ended in February. That's a 35.9% rise from a year earlier.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Mosaic, Family Dollar Earnings and March Unemployment Rate

Inadequate Q4 U.S. GDP Growth Points to Fed's Extension of QE2

Federal ReserveThis past week's data point of significance for investors has to be the revised, final, fourth quarter U.S. GDP report, which indicated the world's largest economy grew 3.1% in the quarter, as well as 2.9% for 2010.

In 2009, the U.S. economy contracted 2.6% during the Great Recession -- the worst downturn since the Great Depression -- and even though the final 3.1% fourth quarter stat was better than the 2.8% previously estimated fourth quarter growth rate, the growth pace still is not strong enough.

Continue reading Inadequate Q4 U.S. GDP Growth Points to Fed's Extension of QE2

Week in Preview: Housing Data and Late Season Earnings (ORCL, DFS, TIF)

earnings expectationsQuarterly reports from Oracle (ORCL), Discover (DFS) and Tiffany (TIF) will highlight news on the earnings front this week.

Elsewhere on the economic calendar, the focus will be on housing, with existing home sales data due from the National Association of Realtors on Monday, new home sales numbers from the Census Bureau on Wednesday and data on housing starts released on Thursday.

Also watch for durable goods orders in February and the final GDP for the fourth quarter.

Continue reading Week in Preview: Housing Data and Late Season Earnings (ORCL, DFS, TIF)

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Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA+33.0712,878.20
NASDAQ+2.092,904.08
S&P 500+2.721,347.05

Last updated: February 07, 2012: 11:29 PM

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