Tuesday Closing Bell: Stocks Go Green, Wait for FOMC

September 17, 2013: U.S. markets opened higher Tuesday following a report from the Labor Department that the consumer price index (CPI) rose just 0.1% in August, putting to rest any immediate concern about inflation. Lower foreign direct investment in China chilled Asian markets and an increased tax on gold in India. Markets a bit of a boost from the announcement by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) that the company would increase its dividend by 22% and institute a new $40 billion share buyback program.

Asian and European markets closed mostly lower today, while Latin American markets closed mixed.

Wednesday’s calendar includes the FOMC meeting announcement, forecast, and press confenence and the following data releases and events (all times Eastern):

• 7:00 a.m. – Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications
• 8:30 a.m. – Housing starts
• 10:30 a.m. – EIA weekly petroleum status report

Here are the closing bell levels for Tuesday:

• S&P500 1,704.76 (+7.16; +0.42%)
• DJIA 15,529.73 (+24.95; +0.23%)
• NASDAQ 3,745.70 (+27.85; +0.75%)
• 10YR TNOTE 2.852% (+0.0125)
• Gold $1,309.40 (-8.40; -0.6%)
• WTI Crude oil $105.42 (-1.17; -1.1%)
• Euro/Dollar: 1.3360 (+0.0026; +0.20%)

There were no earnings reports of note today.

Stocks on the Move: Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) is up 3.8% at $73.30 after posting a new 52-week high of $73.91. Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) is up 10.4% at $30.96 after the company adopted a poison pill and shares posted a new high of $31.18 just before closing. Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) is up 18.2% at $10.18 following Sycamore Partners’ buy of about 8% of the retailer’s stock. Outerwall Inc. (NASDAQ: OUTR) is down 11.6% at $49.49 after the Redbox video machine owner slashed guidance.

In all, 157 stocks put up new 52-week highs today, while 32 stocks posted new lows.