Asian indices are mostly higher, led by Energy stocks in the region. GlaxoSmithKline Plc may be asked by US regulators to stop making medicines at a factory in Puerto Rico due to deficiencies in manufacturing practices, the London-based Times reported. The number of US soldiers in Iraq may decline 30% by early 2006 as more Iraqi troops are trained to handle security and insurgent attacks decrease, the NY Times reported. The Maryland House of Delegates passed a bill barring new drivers from using mobile phones and transporting other teenagers, the Washington Post reported. Carnival Corp., the world's biggest cruise line, and rivals will probably carry a record 11 million travelers on their ships this year, TradeWinds reported. Borders Group is growing faster overseas than in the US because it's finding less competition there, the Wall Street Journal said. Oracle said CFO Harry You resigned after less than a year to become CEO of BearingPoint Inc., Bloomberg reported. Four Seasons Hotels, InterContinental Hotels and Marriott International will join Las Vegas Sands in a $12 billion project to replicate the glitz of the US gambling mecca in the former Portuguese colony of Macau, Bloomberg said. The book-to-bill ratio for North American chip-tool makers was .78, unchanged from January and equaling the lowest since November 2003, Bloomberg reported.
Late Recommendations
- Goldman Sachs: Reiterated Outperform on DTV, DNA and AMGN. Reiterated Underperform on KEA, PVH and BE.
- Banc of America: Upgraded ODP to Buy.
- Business Week: Oshkosh Truck Corp.(OSK) shares may rise as high as $95 in a year, citing Tony Dong of Munder Capital Management. Shares of AMR Corp.(AMR) are projected to rise to $50 in two years by Vince Carino, chief of equity investments at Fidelity National Financial, Business Week said.
Night Trading
- Asian Indices are -.50% to +.50% on average.
- S&P 500 indicated +.16%.
- NASDAQ 100 indicated +.20%.
Morning Preview
US AM Market Call
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator/Heat Map
Pre-market Commentary
Before the Bell CNBC Video(bottom right)
Asian Indices
European Indices
Top 20 Business Stories
In Play
Bond Ticker
Analyst Actions
Macro Calls
Rasmussen Consumer/Investor Daily Indices
CNBC Guest Schedule
Earnings of Note
Company/Estimate
MOVI/.50
PSRC/.04
Splits
None of note
Economic Data
- The Import Price Index for February is estimated to rise .6% versus a .9% increase in January.
- The Preliminary Univ. of Mich. Consumer Confidence reading for March is estimated to rise to 94.9 versus a reading of 94.1 in February.
BOTTOM LINE: I expect US equities to open modestly higher in the morning. However, stocks may trade mixed-to-lower later in the day on a rise in interest rates. The Portfolio is 25% net long heading into tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment