Economy

Earnings News Buoys Buying Interest on Wall Street

Published

5 years ago

18/10/2019

By Investors Hub

The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a slightly higher opening on Friday, with stocks likely to add to the modest gains posted in the previous session.

A positive reaction to the latest batch of earnings news may contribute to initial strength on Wall Street, with Coca-Cola (KO) moving notably higher in pre-market trading after reporting better than expected third quarter results and raised its full-year guidance.

Shares of American Express (AXP) may also move to the upside after the credit card giant reported third quarter results that exceeded analyst estimates on both the top and bottom lines.

Early buying interest may remain subdued, however, with disappointing Chinese economic data offsetting the positive sentiment.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed China’s economy grew at the slowest rate in nearly three decades in the third quarter, raising pressure on policymakers to roll out more stimulus.

China’s GDP grew 6 percent year-on-year in the third quarter after rising 6.2 percent in the second quarter. This was the slowest growth since the early 1990s. Growth was forecast to slow marginally to 6.1 percent.

Lingering uncertainty about a possible U.S.-China trade deal may also weigh on the markets along with doubts about the Brexit deal getting through parliament.

Stocks fluctuated over the course of the trading session on Thursday but eventually ending the day modestly higher. The major averages all closed in positive territory, although buying interest was somewhat subdued.

The Dow bounced back and forth across the unchanged line before closing up 23.90 points or 0.1 percent to 27,025.88. The Nasdaq climbed 32.67 points or 0.4 percent to 8,156.85 and the S&P 500 rose 8.26 points or 0.3 percent to 2,997.95.

Early buying interest was generated in reaction to news that U.K. and European Union negotiators have reached a last-minute Brexit deal.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker described the deal as “fair and balanced” for the EU and the U.K. and urged member nations to back the agreement.

The deal could eliminate some of the Brexit uncertainty hanging over the global markets, although it remains to be seen if the agreement will be approved by U.K. lawmakers.

Uncertainty about final approval of the deal helped to limit the upside for the markets along with the release of some disappointing U.S. economic data.

Just before the start of trading, the Federal Reserve released a report showing a bigger than expected decrease in industrial production, with the strike at General Motors (GM) contributing to a drop in manufacturing output.

The Fed said industrial production fell by 0.4 percent in September after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.8 percent in August.

Economists had expected production to edge down by 0.1 percent compared to the 0.6 percent increase originally reported for the previous month.

A separate report released by the Commerce Department showed a sharp pullback in housing starts in the month of September.

The Commerce Department said housing starts plunged by 9.4 percent to an annual rate of 1.256 million in September after soaring by 15.1 percent to a revised 1.386 million in August.

Economists had expected housing starts to drop by 3.2 percent to an annual rate of 1.320 million from the 1.364 million originally reported for the previous month.

The report said building permits also slumped by 2.7 percent to an annual rate of 1.387 million in September after jumping by 8.2 percent to a revised 1.425 million in August.

Building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, had been expected to tumble by 4.9 percent to a rate of 1.350 million from the 1.419 million originally reported for the previous month.

Tobacco stocks moved sharply higher over the course of the trading session, driving the NYSE Arca Tobacco Index up by 2.8 percent.

The rally by tobacco stocks came as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the death toll from a purportedly vaping-related illness has risen to 33.

Significant strength also emerged among gold stocks, as reflected by the 2.3 percent jump by the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index. The strength in the gold sector came amid an increase by the price of the precious metal.

Networking and telecom stocks also saw some strength on the day, while oil service stocks moved to the downside over the course of the session.

Economy

UBN Property Triggers 0.22% Loss at NASD OTC Exchange

Published

2 hours ago

21/01/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange recorded a 0.22 per cent decline on Monday, January 20, with the market capitalisation shedding N2.35 billion to close at N1.073 trillion compared with the preceding session’s N1.075 trillion and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) going down by 6.79 points to wrap the session at 3,105.12 points compared with 3,111.91 points recorded in the previous session.

It was observed that the loss recorded on the first trading day of the week was triggered by UBN Property Plc, which crashed by 20 Kobo to trade at N2.00 per share versus last Friday’s N2.20 per share.

However, the share price of Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc went up by 4 Kobo to 40 Kobo per unit from 36 Kobo per unit, it could not stop the bourse from going down at the close of transactions.

The activity chart showed that on Monday, the volume of securities traded by investors increased by 57.9 per cent to 767,610 units from the 486,215 units traded in the preceding session, while the value of shares traded yesterday slumped by 17.7 per cent to N2.3 million from the N2.8 million recorded in the preceding trading day, as the number of deals declined by 14.3 per cent to 12 deals from the 14 deals carried out in the previous trading day.

At the close of transactions, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis with the sale of 4.1 million units worth N162.9 million, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with a turnover of 9.1 million units valued at N44.0 million, and 11 Plc with the sale of 55,358 for N14.5 million.

Also, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc closed the day as the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 25.3 million units sold for N5.9 million, Geo-Fluids Plc came next with 9.1 million units valued at N44.0 million, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 4.1 million units worth N162.9 million.

Economy

Naira Weakens to N1,550/$1 at Official Market, Gains N5 at Black Market

Published

2 hours ago

21/01/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The value of the Naira weakened against the US Dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Monday, January 20 amid FX pressures associated with this period.

Most people who came into the country for Christmas and New Year holidays are already going back and are in need of forex, putting pressure on the local currency.

Also, the poor performance of the domestic currency could be attributed to end to the 42-day access granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators to buy forex at official price.

According to data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange, the Nigerian Naira lost 0.16 per cent or N2.47 on the greeback yesterday to sell at N1,550.05/$1, in contrast to last Friday’s rate of N1,547.58/$1.

Similarly, the Naira slumped against the Pound Sterling in the spot market on Monday by N23.39 to trade at N1,906.98/£1 versus N1,883.59/£1 and depreciated against the Euro by N23.14 to sell for N1,613.48/€1 compared with last Friday’s N1,590.34/€1.

However, in the parallel market, the Nigerian currency improved its value against the Dollar during the session by N5 to quote at N1,665/$1 compared with the previous session’s N1,670/$1.

As for the cryptocurrency market, it turned red yesterday as the US President, Mr Donald Trump, didn’t bring up the much-expected subject of crypto in his inauguration speech on Monday afternoon.

Mr Trump had promised a far more friendly crypto policy stance than the previous administration but in the long speech that announced his plans in the coming days, he didn’t make mention of Bitcoin or crypto.

Just over the weekend, the President ignited a speculative frenzy with the Friday evening launch of the Trump meme coin, which was shortly followed by a meme coin associated with his wife, Melania.

Dogecoin (DOGE) crumbled yesterday by 6.3 per cent to $0.3419, Solana (SOL) slumped by 4.7 per cent to $235.32, Cardano (ADA) fell by 3.6 per cent to $0.9777, and Litecoin (LTC) moderated by 1.9 per cent to $114.98.

Further, Ethereum (ETH) went down by 1.7 per cent to $3,241.36, Binance Coin (BNB) retreated by 1.4 per cent to $693.30, Ripple (XRP) depreciated by 1.2 per cent to $3.06, and Bitcoin (BTC) tumbled by 0.8 per cent to $101,746.99, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) remained unchanged at $1.00 each.

Economy

Oil Prices Fall as Trump Announces Changes in US Energy Policies

Published

3 hours ago

21/01/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Oil prices settled lower on Monday after Mr Donald Trump was sworn in for a second time as President of the United States.

On assumption of office, Mr Trump declared a national energy emergency immediately, promising to replenish strategic reserves and export American energy worldwide.

Consequently, Brent crude futures went down by 64 cents or 0.8 per cent to settle at $80.15 per barrel and the US West Texas Intermediate crude futures depreciated by $1.30 or 1.7 per cent to trade at $76.58 per barrel.

Mr Trump and his allies have signalled they would use the authority to rapidly approve new oil, gas, and electricity projects that typically take years to permit, and during his speech said he plans to unleash new oil and gas development on federal lands while reversing the Biden-Harris administration’s de-growth climate regulations.

Market analysts noted that while many of the executive actions will simply kick off a lengthy regulatory process, they extend by a large degree to the US energy industry, from oil fields to car dealerships.

These also underscore Mr Trump’s determination to reorient federal government policy behind oil and gas production, a sharp pivot from Biden’s efforts to curb fossil fuels.

He also said in his inaugural speech that he would impose tariffs and tax countries and promised an overhaul of the trade system.

Last week, prices rose for a fourth-consecutive weekly gain after the Biden administration imposed sanctions on more than 100 tankers and two Russian oil producers. This led to a scramble by top buyers China and India for prompt oil cargoes and a rush for ship supply.

Meanwhile, dealers of Russian and Iranian oil sought tankers not under sanctions for oil shipment.

While the new sanctions could cut supply from Russia by nearly 1 million barrels per day, market analysts noted that recent price gains could be short-lived depending on Trump’s actions as the new American president promised to help end the Russia-Ukraine war quickly.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Mr Trump on taking office hours, saying he was open to dialogue with the new US administration on Ukraine and nuclear arms.

Pressure was reduced based on easing tension in the Middle East after Hamas and Israel exchanged hostages and prisoners on Sunday which marked the first day of a ceasefire after 15 months of war.