Stocks on the move
Real-time Equity news
U.S. stock market report
1730 ET 26Aug2009
Economic indicators for Aug. 27
Economic indicators on tap for Aug. 27 include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Jobless Claims at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT).
For details, see
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1725 ET 26Aug2009
Earnings diary for Aug. 27
Companies scheduled to report quarterly results on Aug 27 include American Eagle Outfitters Inc, Novell Inc, Toll Brothers and Dell Inc, among others.
For details, see
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1701 ET 26Aug2009-US STOCKS
Indexes end flat; caution lingers after rally
U.S. stocks ended little changed on Wednesday as caution prevailed in the market after a strong rally despite solid new home sales and durable goods orders.
After a five-month run-up that has pushed the broader S&P 500 up more than 50 percent from its closing low on March 9, investors have been questioning the rally's strength even as economic data points to improved demand.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 4.46 points, or 0.05 percent, at 9,543.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added modest gains of 0.14 points, or 0.01 percent, at 1,028.14. The Nasdaq Composite Index was little changed, up 0.20 points, or 0.01 percent, at 2,024.43.
Trading volume on the NYSE continued to be thin with many traders out on vacation.
For more, please click
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1635 ET 26Aug2009-US STOCKS
Wall St slip as cautious mood prevails
U.S. stocks slipped toward the close on Wednesday as investors were cautious about making big bets after a rally this week, overshadowing solid data on durable goods and home sales.
For the third consecutive day, equities bounced after favorable news, but the gains frizzled toward the end of the session.
While the home sales data had a muted impact on the broader market, it proved bullish for the sector, driving the Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction index up nearly 3 percent. D.R Horton Inc advanced 6 percent to $13.80 while Beazer Home climbed 4.5 percent to $4.21.
On the downside, industrial stocks dipped, taking the Dow Jones Heavy Construction index down 1.9 percent.
For more, please click
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1427 ET 26Aug2009-S&P stocks above 50-day average at 3
year high
The proportion of S&P 500 stocks over their 50-day moving average is at its highest level in at least 3 years, pointing to limited upside in the traditionally weak month of September, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
Currently 93 percent of stocks in the broad based index have moved ahead of this widely followed momentum indicator.
'While we didn't get a full correction (of 10 percent or more) following the last time this indicator moved above 90 percent back in mid-May, most stocks allowed their moving averages to catch up by at least stalling out and trading sideways,' said Bespoke Investment Group.
Reuters Messaging: Edward.Krudy.reuters.com@reuters.net
1433 ET 26Aug2009
Option investors seek safety net in Radian
Shares of U.S. mortgage insurer Radian Group fell 1.17 percent to $9.30 in afternoon trade. In the options patch, traders showed an interest in the January 2010 puts at the $2.50 line where 2,800 contracts traded and nearly all hit ask-side, said WhatsTrading.com option strategist Frederic Ruffy. Existing open interest is 801 contracts, suggesting put buyers are buying to open positions in the strike. 'The trades might be a type of 'disaster insurance' but then again, Radian was trading below $2.50 as recently as July 23,' he said. The stock's average implied volatility moved up to 110 percent.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1409 ET 26Aug2009
Traders again favor XL Capital OTM calls
Bullish option traders are favoring out-of-the-money call options in reinsurer XL Capital for the second straight session. The interest was on the Oct $17.50 call strike, said WhatsTrading.com option strategist Frederic Ruffy. The number of existing positions in that strike rose by 4,220 to 7,327 contracts following a day of active trading on Tuesday. XL shares slipped 4 cents to $16.83 in afternoon trade. Earlier in the session, another 2,625 contracts traded in the call strike -- 97 percent hitting ask-side. The two top trades were 471 and 409 contracts for premiums of $1.30 and $1.35 on the International Securities Exchange, which are opening customer buyers, according to ISEE sentiment data, he said. The $17.50 strike is now home to 4,215 contracts, Reuters data show. The stock's average implied volatility is steady at 62 percent.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1308 ET 26Aug2009
Cerus shares soar after upgrade
Shares of Cerus Corp soared on Wednesday, after Avondale Partners upgraded the blood-safety products maker to 'market outperform' from 'market perform,' citing wider product acceptance and regulatory advancements.
Cerus' Intercept blood system, for treating platelet and plasma components, is viewed by the American Association of Blood Banks as an effective way to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases through transfusions, the firm wrote to clients.
For details, see
The stock advanced 12 percent to $2.29.
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.
Real-time Equity news
U.S. stock market report
1730 ET 26Aug2009
Economic indicators for Aug. 27
Economic indicators on tap for Aug. 27 include: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Jobless Claims at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT).
For details, see
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1725 ET 26Aug2009
Earnings diary for Aug. 27
Companies scheduled to report quarterly results on Aug 27 include American Eagle Outfitters Inc, Novell Inc, Toll Brothers and Dell Inc, among others.
For details, see
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1701 ET 26Aug2009-US STOCKS
Indexes end flat; caution lingers after rally
U.S. stocks ended little changed on Wednesday as caution prevailed in the market after a strong rally despite solid new home sales and durable goods orders.
After a five-month run-up that has pushed the broader S&P 500 up more than 50 percent from its closing low on March 9, investors have been questioning the rally's strength even as economic data points to improved demand.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 4.46 points, or 0.05 percent, at 9,543.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index added modest gains of 0.14 points, or 0.01 percent, at 1,028.14. The Nasdaq Composite Index was little changed, up 0.20 points, or 0.01 percent, at 2,024.43.
Trading volume on the NYSE continued to be thin with many traders out on vacation.
For more, please click
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1635 ET 26Aug2009-US STOCKS
Wall St slip as cautious mood prevails
U.S. stocks slipped toward the close on Wednesday as investors were cautious about making big bets after a rally this week, overshadowing solid data on durable goods and home sales.
For the third consecutive day, equities bounced after favorable news, but the gains frizzled toward the end of the session.
While the home sales data had a muted impact on the broader market, it proved bullish for the sector, driving the Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction index up nearly 3 percent. D.R Horton Inc advanced 6 percent to $13.80 while Beazer Home climbed 4.5 percent to $4.21.
On the downside, industrial stocks dipped, taking the Dow Jones Heavy Construction index down 1.9 percent.
For more, please click
Reuters Messaging: angela.moon.reuters.com@reuters.net
1427 ET 26Aug2009-S&P stocks above 50-day average at 3
year high
The proportion of S&P 500 stocks over their 50-day moving average is at its highest level in at least 3 years, pointing to limited upside in the traditionally weak month of September, according to Bespoke Investment Group.
Currently 93 percent of stocks in the broad based index have moved ahead of this widely followed momentum indicator.
'While we didn't get a full correction (of 10 percent or more) following the last time this indicator moved above 90 percent back in mid-May, most stocks allowed their moving averages to catch up by at least stalling out and trading sideways,' said Bespoke Investment Group.
Reuters Messaging: Edward.Krudy.reuters.com@reuters.net
1433 ET 26Aug2009
Option investors seek safety net in Radian
Shares of U.S. mortgage insurer Radian Group fell 1.17 percent to $9.30 in afternoon trade. In the options patch, traders showed an interest in the January 2010 puts at the $2.50 line where 2,800 contracts traded and nearly all hit ask-side, said WhatsTrading.com option strategist Frederic Ruffy. Existing open interest is 801 contracts, suggesting put buyers are buying to open positions in the strike. 'The trades might be a type of 'disaster insurance' but then again, Radian was trading below $2.50 as recently as July 23,' he said. The stock's average implied volatility moved up to 110 percent.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1409 ET 26Aug2009
Traders again favor XL Capital OTM calls
Bullish option traders are favoring out-of-the-money call options in reinsurer XL Capital for the second straight session. The interest was on the Oct $17.50 call strike, said WhatsTrading.com option strategist Frederic Ruffy. The number of existing positions in that strike rose by 4,220 to 7,327 contracts following a day of active trading on Tuesday. XL shares slipped 4 cents to $16.83 in afternoon trade. Earlier in the session, another 2,625 contracts traded in the call strike -- 97 percent hitting ask-side. The two top trades were 471 and 409 contracts for premiums of $1.30 and $1.35 on the International Securities Exchange, which are opening customer buyers, according to ISEE sentiment data, he said. The $17.50 strike is now home to 4,215 contracts, Reuters data show. The stock's average implied volatility is steady at 62 percent.
Reuters Messaging: doris.frankel.reuters.com@reuters.net
1308 ET 26Aug2009
Cerus shares soar after upgrade
Shares of Cerus Corp soared on Wednesday, after Avondale Partners upgraded the blood-safety products maker to 'market outperform' from 'market perform,' citing wider product acceptance and regulatory advancements.
Cerus' Intercept blood system, for treating platelet and plasma components, is viewed by the American Association of Blood Banks as an effective way to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases through transfusions, the firm wrote to clients.
For details, see
The stock advanced 12 percent to $2.29.
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.