A Peek Into The Market Before The Trading Starts

Pre-open movers

US stock futures are slightly lower this morning, as investors are awaiting the data on jobless claims and consumer prices. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2 points to 12,250, while S&P 500 futures dropped 0.90 point to 1,332. Nasdaq 100 futures fell 1.50 points to 2,391.

A Peek Into Global Markets

European markets were mixed today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has gained 0.07%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved down 0.09%. Asian markets ended higher, with Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gaining 0.26%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 moving up 0.15% and China's Shanghai Composite gaining 0.11%.

Broker Recommendation

Jefferies downgraded Genzyme

GENZ

from Buy to Hold in a research report published today. In the report, Jefferies states, "Upon announcement of the definite agreement whereby SNY is to acquire GENZ for $74/sh in cash + CVRs worth up to $14/sh, we are downgrading GENZ shares to Hold from Buy." Shares of Genzyme closed Thursday at $75.10, up 1.07% from Wednesday's market close.

Breaking news

The J. M. Smucker Company SJM today announced results for the third quarter ended January 31, 2011, of its 2011 fiscal year. Non-GAAP income per diluted share was $1.27 and $1.17 for the third quarters of 2011 and 2010, an increase of 9 percent, and $3.69 and $3.30 for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010, an increase of 12 percent, respectively. To read the full news, click here.
Lear Corporation LEA today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a $400 million share repurchase program, initiated a $0.25 per share quarterly cash dividend and declared a two-for-one stock split of Lear's common stock, par value $0.01 per share. To read the full news, click here.
Duke Energy DUK reports its Q4 adjusted EPS at $0.21, versus the consensus of $0.23. To read the full news, click here.
Alere Inc ALR reports its Q4 adjusted EPS at $0.71, beating the consensus of $0.67. To read the full news, click here.

from Benzinga's Markets.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Comments