Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Open Higher; Huntsman Earnings Top Estimates

Following the market opening Friday, the Dow traded up 0.40 percent to 25,062.08 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.46 percent to 7,243.26. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.47 percent to 2,716.71.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Friday morning, the utilities shares climbed 0.91 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included OGE Energy Corp. OGE, up 4 percent, and South Jersey Industries Inc SJI, up 4 percent.

In trading on Friday, healthcare shares slipped 0.22 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included LifePoint Health Inc LPNT, down 14 percent, and Anika Therapeutics Inc ANIK down 13 percent.

Top Headline

Huntsman Corporation HUN reported better-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter and increased its quarterly dividend from $0.125 to $0.1625 per share. The company’s board also approved a $450 million buyback plan.

The company said it earned $0.76 per share in the fourth quarter on revenue of $2.2 billion versus expectations of $0.66 per share on revenue of $2.1 billion.

Equities Trading UP

Vicor Corp VICR shares shot up 34 percent to $25.10. Vicor reported Q4 earnings of $0.04 per share on revenue of $58.771 million.

Shares of Financial Engines Inc FNGN got a boost, shooting up 23 percent to $36.72 as the company posted upbeat Q4 earnings.

Universal Electronics Inc UEIC shares were also up, gaining 19 percent to $52.30. Universal Electronics posted in-line Q4 earnings, while sales exceeded estimates.

Equities Trading DOWN

Marin Software Inc MRIN shares dropped 18 percent to $7.50. Marin Software reported Q4 adjusted loss of $0.92 per share on sales of $17.7 million. Marin Software expects Q1 adjusted loss of $1.36 to $1.28 per share, on sales of $14.3 million to $14.8 million.

Shares of Workiva Inc WK were down 19 percent to $21.05. Workiva posted a narrower-than-expected Q4 loss, but issued weak forecast for the current quarter.
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Acacia Communications, Inc. ACIA was down, falling around 18 percent to $34.17 after issuing weak first quarter guidance despite reporting a fourth quarter earnings beat

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.02 percent to $62.76 while gold traded down 0.05 percent to $1,332.10.

Silver traded down 0.05 percent Friday to $16.63, while copper fell 0.98 percent to $3.2295.

Eurozone

European shares were mixed today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 rose 0.09 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index dropped 0.74 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index gained 0.42 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX gained 0.17 percent, and the French CAC 40 fell 0.01 percent while U.K. shares fell 0.16 percent.

Economics

New York Federal Reserve Bank President William Dudley is set to speak in New York at 10:15 a.m. ET.

Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Eric Rosengren will speak in New York at 10:15 a.m. ET.

The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester is set to speak in New York at 1:30 p.m. ET.

San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams will speak in Los Angeles at 3:40 p.m. ET.