Post Market Update
Stocks that traded actively in U.S. markets on Thursday include: Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), Texas Industries, Inc. (NYSE:TXI), L Brands Inc (NYSE:LTD), Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO).
Market Levels:
US: Dow: 15460.90 (1.11%), S&P 500: 1675.02 (1.36%), NASDAQ: 3578.30 (1.63%)
Europe: CAC: 3868.98 (0.74%), DAX: 8158.80 (1.13%), FTSE: 6543.41 (0.59%)
Asia-Pacific: Australia: 4965.70 (1.31%), China: 2072.99 (3.13%), Hong Kong: 21437.49 (2.49%), Japan: 14472.58 (0.39%).
Metals: Gold: 1279.90 (2.61%), Silver: 19.96 (4.13%), Copper: 3.18 (2.80%)
Energy: Crude Oil: 104.91 (-1.51%), Natural Gas: 3.61 (-1.82%)
Commodities: Corn: 5.27 (1.05%), Soya Bean: 12.90 (0.47%), Wheat: 6.83 (0.59%)
Currency: EUR/USD: 1.3090 (0.86%), GBP/USD: 1.5183 (1.12%), USD/JPY: 98.9700 (-0.71%)
10-year US Treasury: 2.570% (-0.054)
U.S. markets rally: Stocks soared in trade with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) and the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) closing at record highs following comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that suggested monetary policy will remain accommodative for the foreseeable future. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) rallied 169.26 points, or 1.11 percent, to close at a new all-time high of 15460.92, while the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) jumped 22.40 points, or 1.36 percent, to finish at 1,675.02, logging its sixth-consecutive rally. The NASDAQ (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) gained 57.55 points, or 1.63 percent, to end at 3,578.30, recording its best close since 2000.
Stocks in News:
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)
Shares of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) climbed to a new life-time high after data released by e-commerce firm ChannelAdvisor showed that client sales on Amazon jumped 30.6 percent in June compared with a 25.8 percent rise in May. The company is yet to announce a date for its second-quarter results.
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG)
Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) said a late-stage trial of its flagship blood-cancer drug Revlimid met the primary goal of extending the time that newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients lived without their tumors growing larger. The biopharmaceutical company said it would begin discussions with regulators in the United States and Europe to market the drug as a front-line treatment. Shares soared 8 percent to $134.90.
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) said its board has raised its quarterly dividend by 4.5 percent to 69 cents a share from 66 cents a share, its first increase in more than two years. The dividend is payable on September 3 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 22. The increased payout will cost the oil and gas company about $147 million a year.
Texas Industries, Inc. (NYSE:TXI)
The construction-materials company reported a 27 percent drop in fiscal fourth quarter profit, sending shares lower in Thursday trading. Earnings from continuing operations were 54 cents a share, topping the average analysts’ estimate of 25 cents a share. Revenue jumped 35 percent to $213.5 million, compared to expectations for $199.7 million. Following the results, Jefferies maintained its “Hold” rating on the stock, and the $64 per share price target.
L Brands Inc (NYSE:LTD)
L Brands Inc (NYSE:LTD) posted flat comparable same-store sales for the five weeks ended July 6. Analysts were expecting sales to rise 2 percent. Net sales increased to $1.101 billion from $1.077 billion in the year-ago period. Victoria’s Secret comparable store sales dropped 1 percent from the same period last year, while Bath & Body Works comparable sales gained 2 percent.
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)
The refiner announced plans to spend up to $700 million to build a petrochemical plant at its St. Charles refinery in Louisiana. Construction is scheduled to end by the first quarter of 2016, and post the expansion, the plant will produce 1.6 million tons of methanol a year. Shares of Valero Energy Corp. jumped 3 percent.
