Following the market opening Friday, the Dow traded down 0.54 percent to 18,065.04 while the NASDAQ declined 0.20 percent to
5,231.44. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.51 percent to 2,130.52.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Friday morning, non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares gained by 0.59 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector
included Reynolds American, Inc. (NYSE: RAI), and
Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO).
In trading on Friday, industrials shares fell by 0.97 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included DXP Enterprises
Inc (NASDAQ: DXPE), down 7 percent, and
Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCCI), down 5
percent.
Top Headline
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) reported
better-than-expected results for the third quarter on Friday.
While net income dipped 3 percent from $1.309 billion to $1.275 billion, EPS grew 7 percent from $1.40 to $1.50 and came in
above the estimates of $1.49 a share.
Similarly, McDonald's revenues fell 3 percent from $6.615 billion to $6.424 billion. However, this is higher than the Street
analysts' expectations of $6.28 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Alkermes Plc (NASDAQ: ALKS) shares shot up 34
percent to $58.50 after the company announced positive topline results from its late-stage clinical study of ALKS 5461 for the
treatment of depression.
Shares of Reynolds American, Inc. (NYSE: RAI) got a
boost, shooting up 19 percent to $55.92. British American Tobacco PLC (ADR) (NYSE: BTI) made a $47 billion takeover offer for the roughly 58 percent of Reynolds American
that it doesn’t already own — a move that would cement the two cigarette giants’ longstanding trans-Atlantic ties and create the
world’s largest listed tobacco company by revenue and market value. BAT owns 42.2 percent of Reynolds, and is offering cash and BAT
stock worth $56.50 a share for the rest of the company.
Cerecor Inc (NASDAQ: CERC) shares were also up,
gaining 23 percent to $4.13 in sympathy to Alkermes depression drug data.
Equities Trading DOWN
Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) shares dropped
36 percent to $6.18 after the company reported a comprehensive restructuring support agreement with senior noteholders and agreed
to sell its Appalachia assets.
Shares of Skechers USA Inc (NYSE: SKX) were down 17
percent to $19.11 after the company reported downbeat results for its third quarter and issued a weak forecast for the fourth
quarter.
Supreme Industries, Inc. (NYSE: STS) was down,
falling around 11 percent to $16.00. Supreme Industries reported Q3 earnings of $0.29 per share on revenue of $74.8 million.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.51 percent to $50.37 while gold traded down 0.03 percent to $1,267.10.
Silver traded down 0.28 percent Friday to $17.50, while copper fell 0.41 percent to $2.09.
Eurozone
European shares were mostly lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 declined 0.14 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.02
percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index dropped 0.11 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX slipped 0.13 percent, and the French CAC 40
fell 0.33 percent while U.K. shares fell 0.04 percent.
Economics
Federal Reserve Governor Daniel Tarullo is set to speak in New York at 10:15 a.m. ET.
The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week will be released at 1:00 p.m. ET.
San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams will speak in San Francisco at 2:30 p.m. ET.
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