Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded down 0.03 percent to 24,456.80 while the NASDAQ declined 0.01 percent to
7,145.34. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.03 percent to 2,671.03.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Monday morning, the utilities shares climbed 0.44 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Vectren
Corporation (NYSE: VVC), up 6 percent, and Korea
Electric Power Corporation (NYSE: KEP), up 3 percent.
In trading on Monday, energy shares fell 0.49 percent.
Top Headline
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) reported
weaker-than-expected results for its first quarter on Monday.
The company said it earned 10 cents per share in the first quarter on revenue of $716.34 million versus expectations of 34 cents
per share and $819.40 million.
Equities Trading UP
McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) shares shot
up 14 percent to $6.87 after the UK-based offshore oil service company Subsea 7 made an unsolicited bid to buy McDermott for $7 per
share. However, the acquisition offer is contingent on McDermot terminating its pending merger with Chicago Bridge & Iron
Company.
Shares of Stars Group Inc. (NASDAQ: TSG) got a
boost, shooting up 9 percent to $32.05. Stars Group Inc (NASDAQ: TSG) announced plans to acquire Sky Betting & Gaming for $4.7 billion.
Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ: INSM) shares were
also up, gaining 9 percent to $25.57. Credit Suisse upgraded Insmed from Neutral to Outperform.
Equities Trading DOWN
Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ: PRTA) shares
dropped 68 percent to $11.79 after a disappointing update relating to the company's treatment for AL amyloidosis. Prothena, a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on therapies in the neuroscience and orphan categories, said a Phase 2b study
of its therapy called NEOD001 failed to achieve its primary or secondary endpoints. Prothena's Phase 2b study explored its NEOD001
therapy versus a placebo in previously-treated patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent cardiac dysfunction. Unfortunately,
there were no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups.
Shares of Akorn, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKRX) were down 33
percent to $13.25 after Fresenius terminated its merger deal with Akorn.
Gridsum Holding Inc. (NASDAQ: GSUM) was down,
falling around 37 percent to $4.575. Gridsum reported suspension of audit report on financial statements.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 1.48 percent to $67.39 while gold traded down 0.87 percent to $1,326.60.
Silver traded down 1.91 percent Monday to $16.835, while copper fell 0.82 percent to $3.1295.
Eurozone
European shares were mixed today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 fell 0.01 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.10 percent, while
Italy’s FTSE MIB Index slipped 0.05 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX rose 0.09 percent, and the French CAC 40 gained 0.08 percent
while U.K. shares fell 0.02 percent.
Economics
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index fell to 0.10 in March, compared to 0.98 in February.
The Markit services PMI rose to 54.40 in April, versus prior reading of 54.00. Economists expected a reading of 54.30.
Existing home sales rose 1.1 percent to an annual rate of 5.60 million in April However, economists were projecting a 5.55
million rate.
The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills at 11:30 a.m. ET.
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