Following the market opening Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.02 percent to 18,495.90 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.35 percent to
5,115.67. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.13 percent to 2,171.22.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
On Tuesday, basic materials shares climbed by 1.02 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Allegheny Technologies
Incorporated (NYSE: ATI) and Cliffs Natural Resources
Inc (NYSE: CLF).
In trading on Tuesday, utilities shares fell by 0.22 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Energy Transfer
Partners LP (NYSE: ETP), down 2 percent, and Genie
Energy Ltd (NYSE: GNE), down 1.5 percent.
Top Headline
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) announced
better-than-expected results for the second quarter. The company also provided an upbeat adjusted profit forecast for the current
year.
Caterpillar reported $0.93 a share for the second quarter, down from $1.31 a share in the prior year quarter. Excluding special
items, its earnings would have been $1.09 a share compared to $1.40 a share in the year-ago quarter. This was better than $0.96 a
share predicted by the Street analysts.
The company's revenue dipped 16 percent to $10.3 billion from $12.3 billion in the corresponding period of the last year.
However, this was ahead of the analysts expectations of $10.06 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Alimera Sciences Inc (NASDAQ: ALIM) shares shot up
55 percent to $1.64 after the company reported preliminary Q2 revenue. Alimera Sciences announced preliminary revenue of $9.3
million to $9.5 million.
Shares of EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS) got a boost, shooting up 25 percent to $15.53 after the company announced
upbeat Q2 results.
Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) shares were also
up, gaining 19 percent to $14.20 after the company issued a strong production update. Stone Energy expects Q2 production of 29 MBoe
per day.
Equities Trading DOWN
Tokai Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: TKAI) shares
dropped 71 percent to $1.50 as the company reported that it is planning to discontinue the Phase 3 ARMOR3-SV trial of prostate
cancer treatment.
Shares of CARDIOME PHARMA CORP (NASDAQ: CRME) were
down 43 percent to $3.03. Cardiome priced 10 million shares at $3 per share.
Seadrill Partners LLC (NYSE: SDLP) was down, falling
around 24 percent to $4.47 as the company announced plans to reduce the quarterly cash distribution to $0.10 per unit from $0.25
per unit.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.58 percent to $42.88 while gold traded up 0.06 percent to $1,328.00.
Silver traded up 0.22 percent Tuesday to $19.69, while copper rose 0.38 percent to $2.23.
Eurozone
European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 rose 0.09 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index slipped 0.45
percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index dropped 0.12 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX rose 0.37 percent, and the French CAC 40 rose
0.02 percent, while U.K. shares rose 0.51 percent.
Economics
The Federal Open Market Committee will begin two-day policy meeting today.
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index declined 0.5 percent during the first three weeks of July versus June.
The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index declined 0.1 percent for May.
The Markit Services PMI slipped to 50.90 in July, versus a prior reading of 51.40. However, economists were expecting a reading
of 52.00.
Sales of new homes rose 3.5 percent to an annual rate of 592,000 in June. Economists were expecting a 560,000 pace.
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index declined to 97.30 in July, versus a prior reading of 98.00. Economists were
projecting a reading of 95.50.
The Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index climbed to 10.00 for July, versus a previous reading of -7.00. Economists expected a
reading of -4.00.
The Treasury is set to auction 4-week bills at 11:30 a.m. ET.
The Treasury will auction 5-year notes at 1:00 p.m. ET.
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