Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.56 percent to 19,903.66 while the NASDAQ rose 0.56 percent to
5,467.05. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.64 percent to 2,267.79.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Financial shares gained around 0.30 percent in trading on Thursday. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Southwest
Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: OKSB), and LNB Bancorp Inc
(NASDAQ: LNBB).
In trading on Thursday, basic materials shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 1.04 percent. Meanwhile, top
losers in the sector included Coeur Mining Inc (NYSE: CDE), down 6 percent, and Yamana Gold Inc. (USA) (NYSE: AUY), down 6 percent.
Top Headline
Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) reported
stronger-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter on Thursday.
Sanderson Farms posted Q4 earnings of $3.36 per share on revenue of $790.8 million. Analysts were expecting earnings of $2.66
per share on revenue of $791.1 million.
Equities Trading UP
Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE: PIR) shares shot up 27
percent to $8.20 after the company reported stronger-than-expected results for its third quarter and named Terry London as interim
president and CEO.
Shares of athenahealth, Inc (NASDAQ: ATHN) got a
boost, shooting up 24 percent to $117.05 after the company reaffirmed its FY16 guidance. athenahealth projects FY17 non-GAAP
adjusted operating income of $170 million to $190 million and revenue of $1.29 billion to $1.33 billion.
BOS Better OnLine Sol (USA) (NASDAQ: BOSC) shares
were also up, gaining 26 percent to $2.51 after the company reported a $1.6 million order from India.
Equities Trading DOWN
Ocean Rig UDW Inc. (NASDAQ: ORIG) shares dropped
24 percent to $1.72 as the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings for its third quarter on Wednesday.
Shares of Stone Energy Corporation (NYSE: SGY) were
down 21 percent to $4.83 after the company disclosed that it has filed for court approval of restructuring plan. The company has
filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Pacific Biosciences of California (NASDAQ: PACB)
was down, falling around 37 percent to $4.37 after the company reported the termination of agreement with Roche Diagnostics around
the company company's Single Molecule, Real-Time technology.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 1.67 percent to $51.22 while gold traded down 2.60 percent to $1,133.40.
Silver traded down 6.19 percent Thursday to $16.16, while copper fell 0.94 percent to $2.58.
Eurozone
European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 gained 0.42 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.66 percent, while
Italy’s FTSE MIB Index surged 0.80 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX climbed 0.43 percent, and the French CAC 40 gained 0.61
percent while U.K. shares rose 0.08 percent.
Economics
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2 percent for November, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.2 percent growth.
Initial jobless claims slipped 4,000 to 254,000 in the latest week. Economists were expecting claims to reach 250,000 in the
week.
The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index rose to 21.5 in December, versus a reading of 7.6 in November.
The NYSE: Empire State manufacturing index increased to a reading of 9 in December, versus 1.5 in November. Economists were
expecting a reading of 4.
The U.S. current-account deficit narrowed 4.5 percent to $113 billion in the third quarter, versus $118.3 billion.
The Markit flash manufacturing PMI rose to 54.2 in December, compared to a reading of 54.1 in November.
The NAHB housing market index increased to a reading of 70 in December, versus a prior reading of 63. Economists were expecting
a reading of 63.
The Energy Information Administration’s weekly report on natural gas stocks is schedule for release at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The Treasury International Capital data for October will be released at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Data on money supply for the recent week will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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