Morning News: Nordstrom, Applied Materials, Kimberly Clark, FedEx

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Stocks that are expected to trade actively in U.S. markets on Friday include: Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN), Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), Kimberly Clark Corp (NYSE:KMB), FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), and Tile Shop Holdings Inc (OTCBB:JWCA).

Market Level

U.S.DJIA 15876.22 (0.35%), S&P 500 1,790.62 (0.48%), NASDAQ 3,972.74 (0.18%).

Europe: FTSE 6,686.75 (0.31%), DAX 9,142.41 (-0.08%), CAC 40 4,281.85 (-0.05%).

Asia Pacific: NIKKEI 15165.92 (1.95%), SHANGHAI 2,135.83 (1.68%), HSI 23032.15(1.69%), ASX 200 5,401.67 (0.86%), KOSPI 2005.64 (1.94%).

Commodities: Oil 93.87 (0.12%), NAT GAS 3.592 (-0.36%), Gold 1,281.10 (-0.40%), Silver 20.585 (-0.66%), Wheat 647.75 (0.47%), Corn 427.75 (0.29%).

Currency: EUR/USD 1.3441 (-0.12%), GBP/USD 1.6062 (-0.01%), USD/JPY 100.34 (0.33%).

10 year Treasury bond: 2.717 (0.025).

Market & economic update

U.S. market to open higher:  Stock futures were up on Friday signaling another positive start. Futures of the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.05%, Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures gained 0.1% while Nasdaq Composite Index futures were up 0.22%.

European market up: The European shares were up on Friday with FTSEurofirst 300 index trading at 1,297.56 points up 0.3% in mid-trade session. The rise was fueled by impressive third quarter results from Vivendi and favorable policies revealed by the central bank.

Asian markets also up: The Nikkei, on Friday, rose 2% to close at 15,165.92, and for the week it gained 7.7%. A marginal rise in the Japanese Yen and strong quarterly results from finance companies led to the rise in the market. The Hang Seng Index gained 1.7% to 23,032.2 points on Friday, which is the biggest gain in the last three months. The increase came after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled an extension of its monetary policy.

Stocks to watch                                 

Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN)

After the close of trading on Thursday, Nordstrom, a Seattle-based department store chain, announced a decrease in its third quarter profit to $137 million or 69 cents a share against the $146 million or 71 cents a share last year. On the other hand, revenue increased from $2.81 billion to $2.88 billion. Analysts expected the company to earn 67 cents a share on revenue of $2.87 billion. Shares of the company were down 1.7% in after-hours trading.

Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT)

Applied Materials reported a profit for the fourth quarter of $183 million or 15 cents a share against the loss of $515 million or 42 cents a share in the same period last year. The company, in the present quarter, is projecting adjusted profit in the range of 20 cents to 24 cents a share. Shares of the company declined 0.6% in after-hours trading.

Tile Shop Holdings Inc (OTCBB:JWCA)

Tile shop Holdings Inc, a tile company, is likely to be in the limelight on Friday owing to claims of improper accounting that halted the trading of its shares. It was reported that the company increased its 2013 earnings by 200%.

Kimberly Clark Corp (NYSE:KMB)

Kimberly-Clark Corp, a paper products maker, gained 4% in after-hours trading on Thursday after news broke that it may spin off its health care business.

FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX)

FedEx Corp. shares are expected to surge after the disclosure of the individual stakes in the transport company by Dan Loeb, George Soros and John Paulson.

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