Following the market opening Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.03 percent to 17,091.66 while the NASDAQ dropped 0.07 percent to 4,470.50. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.02 percent to 1,987.42.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
Financial sector was the top gainer in today’s trading. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included CoStar Group CSGP, up 11.6 percent, and Intermountain Community Bancorp IMCB, up 10.3 percent.
In trading on Thursday, healthcare shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.34 percent. Top decliners in the sector included Clearfield CLFD, down 15.6 percent, and Invacare IVC, off 8.8 percent.
Top Headline
Ford Motor Co F reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.
The Dearborn, Michigan-based company posted a quarterly profit of $1.31 billion, or $0.32 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $1.23 billion, or $0.30 per share. Its earnings after tax, excluding special items, came in at $0.40 per share.
Its revenue fell to $37.4 billion from $37.9 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.36 per share on revenue of $36.16 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Logitech International SA LOGI shares shot up 14.48 percent to $15.26 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results and raised its operating income forecast.
Shares of Facebook FB got a boost, shooting up 5.13 percent to $74.95 after the company reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results on strong growth in daily users and advertising revenue.
VASCO Data Security International VDSI shares were also up, gaining 14.14 percent to $13.24 after the company reported upbeat quarterly results and issued a strong FY14 revenue forecast.
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Liberty Media LMCA were down 65.20 percent to $49.18 after the company announced adjustment to the conversion rate of its 1.375% cash convertible senior notes due 2023.
TripAdvisor TRIP shares tumbled 9.95 percent to $96.68 after the company reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter profit.
QUALCOMM QCOM was down, falling 6.48 percent to $76.31 after the company issued downbeat earnings forecast for the current quarter. However, the company reported a 42% rise in its fiscal third-quarter net income. Evercore Partners downgraded QUALCOMM from Overweight to Equal-weight and lowered the price target from $88.00 to $83.00.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 0.10 percent to $103.02, while gold traded down 0.51 percent to $1,299.90.
Silver traded down 0.60 percent Thursday to $20.87, while copper rose 1.37 percent to $3.25.
Euro zone
European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 jumped 0.39 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index climbed 1.76 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index rose 1.61 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.47 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 0.67 percent while UK shares rose 0.13 percent.
Economics
US jobless claims fell by 19,000 to 284,000 in the week that ended July 19. However, economists were expecting initial claims of 310,000 in the week.
The flash reading of Markit PMI manufacturing index fell to 56.30 in July, versus a prior reading of 57.30. However, economists were expecting a reading of 57.50.
Sales of new homes dropped 8.1% to an annual rate of 406,000 in June. However, economists were expecting a rate of 475,000.
The Kansas City Fed manufacturing index for July will be released at 11:00 a.m. ET.
The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills. The Treasury will also auction 2-year, 5-year and 7-year notes.
Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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