The US dollar index rose today, now up 0.23% at 82.401. The GSCI commodity index rose by about 1.1% to 657.51, with commodities prices mostly higher today. WTI crude oil fell -0.3% today, closing at $93.35/barrel. Brent crude trades up 0.14% at $112.16/barrel. Natural gas is down -0.9% today to $2.937/thousand cubic feet. Gold settled at $1,616.00/ounce, up 0.2% for the day.
The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up more than 7 points to 13,175.94 (0.06%), the NASDAQ fell nearly 5 points (-0.15%) to 3,011.25, and the S&P 500 rose 0.06% or less than 1 point to 1,402.22.
There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CBST) started on ‘Conviction Buy List’ at Goldman Sachs; Rackspace Hosting Inc. (NYSE: RAX) raised to ‘buy’ at Jefferies; Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) started as ‘neutral’ at BofA/ML; VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) cut to ‘neutral’ at UBS; and Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) cut to ‘neutral’ at Sterne Agee.
Earnings reports since markets closed last night have led to some price changes as of the last half hour of trading today: Demand Media Inc. (NYSE: DMD) is up 1.5% at $11.80 after posting a new 52-week high of $12.38 earlier today; Gevo Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is down -4.8% at $3.67; Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN) is down -17.2% at $562.85 (more coverage here); Solazyme Inc. (NASDAQ: SZYM) is down -7.7% at $12.58; A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) is up 4.3% at $0.49; Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) is down 9% at $6.28 (more coverage here); Carlyle Group LP (NASDAQ: CG) is down -2.3% at $23.91; Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC) is up 15.6% at $29.50 (more coverage here); DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH) is down -0.6% at $30.50 (more coverage here); HollyFrontier Corp. (NYSE: HFC) is down -0.9% at $39.08; Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) is up 2.5% at $37.94 (more coverage here); MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE: WFR) is up 9.5% at $2.26 (more coverage here); and Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL) is down -1.2% at $151.21 (more coverage here).
After markets close today we’re scheduled to hear from Affymax Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFY), CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL), Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR), Education Management Corp. (NASDAQ: EDMC), Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC), Monster Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: MNST), and Yamana Gold Inc. (NYSE: AUY).
Before markets open on Thursday we are scheduled to get earnings results from Advance Auto Parts Inc. (NYSE: AAP), AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX), Clean Diesel Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CDTI), Hillshire Brands Co. (NYSE: HSH), James River Coal Co. (NASDAQ: JRCC), Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD), and The Wendy’s Co. (NASDAQ: WEN).
Some standouts from today include the following stocks:
Dean Foods Inc. (NYSE: DF) is up 39.7% at $17.35 after posting a new 52-week high of $17.49 earlier today. The grocery store chain smashed estimates and announced a spin-off. More coverage here.
Sirius XM Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is up 8.3% at $2.49. The satellite radio company posted a new 52-week high today. More coverage here.
Orbitz Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: OWW) is down -26.8% at $3.41. The Internet travel company missed estimates and lowered guidance this morning.
Stay tuned for Thursday. We have noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):
- 8:30 a.m. – International trade data
- 8:30 a.m. – New claims for unemployment benefits
- 10:00 a.m. – Wholesale trade
- 10:30 p.m. – EIA weekly natural gas storage report
- 1:00 p.m. – 30-year bond auction
- 4:30 p.m. – Fed balance sheet and money supply
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Paul Ausick
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