Stocks on the move Real-Time Equity news
U.S. stock market report
1730 ET 26Feb2009-US economic indicators for Feb. 27 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic indicators on tap for Friday include the Bureau of Economic Analysis preliminary reading of core PCE prices and the Commerce Department preliminary fourth quarter GDP, both at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT).
Also, the National Association of Purchasing Management New York survey of regional business conditions at 9 a.m. (1400 GMT), the NAPM Chicago measure of U.S. economic activity at 9:45 a.m. (1445 GMT) and the Reuters/University of Michigan survey of consumers at 9:55 a.m. (1455 GMT).
Lastly, the Economic Cycle Research Institute releases its weekly leading index at 10:30 a.m. (1530 GMT)
For details, see
Reuters Messaging: rodrigo.campos.reuters.com@reuters.net
1703 ET 26Feb2009-Health sector leads U.S. stocks lower -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. stocks fell in volatile trade on Thursday as investors sold off shares of healthcare companies such as Merck & Co on worries that President Obama's budget proposal will strangle profits.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 88.81 points, or 1.22 percent, to 7,182.08. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 12.07 points, or 1.58 percent, to 752.83. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 33.96 points, or 2.38 percent, to 1,391.47.
Reuters Messaging: rodrigo.campos.reuters.com@reuters.net
1540 ET 26Feb2009-US Airways draws big bullish option trade -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A bullish investor has made a significant options trade in US Airways Group even as its shares fell 1.52 percent to $3.25 in afternoon trade. 'With hopes for a recovery by June, this trader purchased 10,000 calls at the June $5 strike price for 70 cents per contract,' said Andrew Wilkinson, senior market analyst at Interactive Brokers Group in a note to clients. 'Profits will amass if shares blow through the break even share price of $5.70 by expiration. This move constitutes a significant rise from the share price and 'would need to occur amid declines in the number of passengers utilizing the airlines as a whole, and in spite of shrinking profit margins resulting from discounts on ticket prices to prop up weak demand,' he said.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1501 ET 26Feb2009 Dell call options stir ahead of earnings -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call options volume in Dell Inc , the world's No. 2 PC maker, picked up steam ahead of the company's earnings due after the close. In all, about 62,000 calls compared to 15,000 puts traded, double the normal combined volume, according to Trade Alert. The March $8 and $9 calls are the most actives and recent trades include 5,292 March $8 calls at the offer for 84 cents and 4,871 March $9 calls on the bid for 37 cents a contract, said WhatsTrading.com option strategist at Frederic Ruffy. It looks like opening trades in the $8 strike, with 14,300 contracts traded, or almost double the existing open interest, Ruffy added. Shares fell 5 cents to $8.30 in lateafternoon trade.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1447 ET 26Feb2009-Titanium Metals call options lure traders -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calls were active in Titanium Metals Corp, a supplier of titanium metal products, as its shares rose 3.2 percent to $6.12 in afternoon trade. In all, about 11,000 calls and 899 puts traded, 10 times the normal combine volume, according to Trade Alert. Titanium shares have been holding near $6 with very little options activity trading just over a 1,000 contracts a day until Thursday, said Pete Najarian, a founder of optionmonster in comments on the Web site. Earlier in the session he said more than 3,000 contracts traded in the March $7.50 call strikes which fetched 15 and 20 cents and at smaller sizes at 25 cents a contract. These March calls allow three weeks for a move higher, and the April $7.50 calls at 35 cents allow for another cycle of time. 'Interesting activity that would require the stock to test those upside resistance levels of the 50- and 100-day moving averages, he said.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1422 ET 26Feb2009-Boeing falls, Obama vows to end weapons waste -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares of defense contractors fell on Thursday, after the Obama administration vowed to end cost overruns and schedule delays in the U.S. weapons program, calling acquisition reform one of the Pentagon's highest priorities.
While Obama's newly-unveiled budget calls for an increase of 4 percent in the size of the Pentagon's base budget, it doesn't include any details about specific weapons programs that could be targeted for cancellation or cutback.
Shares of Boeing, a Dow component, fell 1.5 percent to $33.39 while Northrop Grumman lost 1.4 percent to $40.01 and General Dynamics was off 0.3 percent to $46.41.
Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net Keywords: MARKETS STOCKSNEWS
COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
U.S. stock market report
1730 ET 26Feb2009-US economic indicators for Feb. 27 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic indicators on tap for Friday include the Bureau of Economic Analysis preliminary reading of core PCE prices and the Commerce Department preliminary fourth quarter GDP, both at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT).
Also, the National Association of Purchasing Management New York survey of regional business conditions at 9 a.m. (1400 GMT), the NAPM Chicago measure of U.S. economic activity at 9:45 a.m. (1445 GMT) and the Reuters/University of Michigan survey of consumers at 9:55 a.m. (1455 GMT).
Lastly, the Economic Cycle Research Institute releases its weekly leading index at 10:30 a.m. (1530 GMT)
For details, see
Reuters Messaging: rodrigo.campos.reuters.com@reuters.net
1703 ET 26Feb2009-Health sector leads U.S. stocks lower -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. stocks fell in volatile trade on Thursday as investors sold off shares of healthcare companies such as Merck & Co on worries that President Obama's budget proposal will strangle profits.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 88.81 points, or 1.22 percent, to 7,182.08. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 12.07 points, or 1.58 percent, to 752.83. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 33.96 points, or 2.38 percent, to 1,391.47.
Reuters Messaging: rodrigo.campos.reuters.com@reuters.net
1540 ET 26Feb2009-US Airways draws big bullish option trade -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A bullish investor has made a significant options trade in US Airways Group even as its shares fell 1.52 percent to $3.25 in afternoon trade. 'With hopes for a recovery by June, this trader purchased 10,000 calls at the June $5 strike price for 70 cents per contract,' said Andrew Wilkinson, senior market analyst at Interactive Brokers Group in a note to clients. 'Profits will amass if shares blow through the break even share price of $5.70 by expiration. This move constitutes a significant rise from the share price and 'would need to occur amid declines in the number of passengers utilizing the airlines as a whole, and in spite of shrinking profit margins resulting from discounts on ticket prices to prop up weak demand,' he said.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1501 ET 26Feb2009 Dell call options stir ahead of earnings -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call options volume in Dell Inc , the world's No. 2 PC maker, picked up steam ahead of the company's earnings due after the close. In all, about 62,000 calls compared to 15,000 puts traded, double the normal combined volume, according to Trade Alert. The March $8 and $9 calls are the most actives and recent trades include 5,292 March $8 calls at the offer for 84 cents and 4,871 March $9 calls on the bid for 37 cents a contract, said WhatsTrading.com option strategist at Frederic Ruffy. It looks like opening trades in the $8 strike, with 14,300 contracts traded, or almost double the existing open interest, Ruffy added. Shares fell 5 cents to $8.30 in lateafternoon trade.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1447 ET 26Feb2009-Titanium Metals call options lure traders -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calls were active in Titanium Metals Corp, a supplier of titanium metal products, as its shares rose 3.2 percent to $6.12 in afternoon trade. In all, about 11,000 calls and 899 puts traded, 10 times the normal combine volume, according to Trade Alert. Titanium shares have been holding near $6 with very little options activity trading just over a 1,000 contracts a day until Thursday, said Pete Najarian, a founder of optionmonster in comments on the Web site. Earlier in the session he said more than 3,000 contracts traded in the March $7.50 call strikes which fetched 15 and 20 cents and at smaller sizes at 25 cents a contract. These March calls allow three weeks for a move higher, and the April $7.50 calls at 35 cents allow for another cycle of time. 'Interesting activity that would require the stock to test those upside resistance levels of the 50- and 100-day moving averages, he said.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1422 ET 26Feb2009-Boeing falls, Obama vows to end weapons waste -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares of defense contractors fell on Thursday, after the Obama administration vowed to end cost overruns and schedule delays in the U.S. weapons program, calling acquisition reform one of the Pentagon's highest priorities.
While Obama's newly-unveiled budget calls for an increase of 4 percent in the size of the Pentagon's base budget, it doesn't include any details about specific weapons programs that could be targeted for cancellation or cutback.
Shares of Boeing, a Dow component, fell 1.5 percent to $33.39 while Northrop Grumman lost 1.4 percent to $40.01 and General Dynamics was off 0.3 percent to $46.41.
Reuters Messaging: ryan.vlastelica.reuters.com@reuters.net Keywords: MARKETS STOCKSNEWS
COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.