Bloomberg:
- Advertising spending growth may slow from next year as TV networks in the US are forced to cut rates as audience levels fall, Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Roberts said at an industry conference.
- Legg Mason agreed to buy hedge fund company Permal Group and Citigroup’s fund unit in separate deals totaling more than $4.5 billion to become the fifth-largest US asset manager.
- Guidant said it has advised doctors about safety concerns regarding some of its defibrillators and that implants of the devices should be discontinued until further notice.
Wall Street Journal:
- William Foley II said he and a group that includes Thomas H. Lee Partners have made a takeover bid for Callaway Golf.
NY Times:
- A drastic rise in foreign students in the past 20 years is presenting a problem at some US universities as an increasing number of undergraduates cannot understand classes run by foreign graduate teaching assistants.
- US doctors are changing the way they treat lung cancer, after studies showed that chemotherapy, which had often been considered futile in treating the disease, helps many patients live significantly longer.
- Hundreds of artists, hipsters, Web designers, doctors and journalists are moving into industrial lofts and 19th century row houses in the Port Morris and Mott Haven neighborhoods of the South Bronx.
Philadelphia Inquirer:
- Penn National Gaming and other racetrack operators are ready to begin building slots parlors after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a state gambling law.
AP:
- Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and US President Bush will discuss training Iraqi security forces and efforts to draft a constitution when they meet today in Washington.
Reuters:
- Workers at Placer Dome’s Zaldiver copper mine in Chile may strike after voting yesterday to reject a two-year labor contract.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Durables Exceed Estimates, Median New Home Price Fell 6.6%
- Durable Goods Orders for May rose 5.5% versus estimates of a 1.5% increase and a 1.4% gain in April.
- Durables Ex Transportation for May fell .2% versus estimates of a .5% gain and a downwardly revised .7% decline in April.
- New Home Sales for May rose to 1298K versus estimates of 1320K and a downwardly revised 1271K in April.
- Durables Ex Transportation for May fell .2% versus estimates of a .5% gain and a downwardly revised .7% decline in April.
- New Home Sales for May rose to 1298K versus estimates of 1320K and a downwardly revised 1271K in April.
BOTTOM LINE: Orders for durable goods rose in May by the most in more than a year, mainly reflecting a surge in bookings for Boeing aircraft. With inventories fairly high and fuel costs rising, investment in new equipment may be slow to recover in coming months. At the current sales pace, manufacturers have 1.41 months of supply, unchanged from a month earlier and near a two-year high. Transportation equipment orders surged 21.2%, the most since July 2002, after rising 7.8% in April. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a gauge of future business investment, fell 2.3% last month. However, unfilled orders, a proxy of future production rose 1.9%, the most since June 2000.
US new home sales rose to the second-best level in history, boosted by low mortgage rates and an improving job market. Prices declined 6.6%, the most since January 2003. The median price of a new home fell to $217,000 from $232,200 in April. The median price of a new home has increased 2.5% over the last 12 months. The National Association of Realtors said this year would be a record year for sales of both new and existing homes, beating last year’s records. Sales rose 22.9% in the Midwest and fell 24.5% in the Northeast. The supply of homes for sale was unchanged at 4.2 months in May, a relatively low level.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Friday Watch
Late-Night Headlines
Bloomberg:
- Unocal Corp. said it received permission from Chevron Corp. to negotiate with CNOOC Ltd., advancing the prospects of the Chinese oil company's rival $18.5 billion cash bid for Unocal.
- CNOOC Ltd. has enlisted Enron's former chief spokesman to counter public concerns about the company's $18.5 billion bid to buy US oil company Unocal Corp.
- The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons 81-74 in the decisive seventh game of the National Basketball Association Finals.
Financial Times:
- The World Customs Organization's 165 member state may offer support to new global standards designed to ensure safer sea trade and make container transport more secure against terrorists.
China Securities Journal:
- China's fiscal revenue slowed in the first five months after the country cut import tariffs, citing Finance Minister Jin Renqing. Fiscal revenge rose 13.1% year-on-year in the five months ended May 31 to $163 billion, compared with the 32.4% growth of a year ago.
Late Buy/Sell Recommendations
Goldman Sachs:
- Reiterated Outperform on GE, GILD, MCK and DNA.
Business Week:
- Access Integrated Technologies(AIX) is best positioned to profit from an expected switch by movie studios to digital film from analog, citing William Relyea of HC Wainwright.
- Jones Soda(JSDA) is a "solid long-term investment opportunity," citing ThinkEquity Partners analyst Nicole Miller.
- Energy Conversion Corp.(ENER), the No.1 US maker of nickel hydride batteries used in hybrid vehicles, may see its stock price more than double in a year as demand rises.
Night Trading
Asian Indices are -1.0% to -.50% on average.
S&P 500 indicated +.07%.
NASDAQ 100 indicated -.03%.
Morning Preview
US AM Market Call
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator/Heat Map
Pre-market Commentary
Before the Bell CNBC Video(bottom right)
Global Commentary
Asian Indices
European Indices
Top 20 Business Stories
In Play
Bond Ticker
Daily Stock Events
Macro Calls
Rasmussen Consumer/Investor Daily Indices
CNBC Guest Schedule
Earnings of Note
Company/EPS Estimate
HR/.32
TONS/.85
Upcoming Splits
ESRX 2-for-1
Economic Releases
8:30 am:
- Durable Goods Orders for May are estimated to rise 1.5% versus a 1.9% increase in April.
- Durables Ex Transportation for May are estimated to rise .5% versus a .2% decline in April.
10:00 am:
- New Home Sales for May are estimated to rise to 1320K versus 1316K in April.
Bloomberg:
- Unocal Corp. said it received permission from Chevron Corp. to negotiate with CNOOC Ltd., advancing the prospects of the Chinese oil company's rival $18.5 billion cash bid for Unocal.
- CNOOC Ltd. has enlisted Enron's former chief spokesman to counter public concerns about the company's $18.5 billion bid to buy US oil company Unocal Corp.
- The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons 81-74 in the decisive seventh game of the National Basketball Association Finals.
Financial Times:
- The World Customs Organization's 165 member state may offer support to new global standards designed to ensure safer sea trade and make container transport more secure against terrorists.
China Securities Journal:
- China's fiscal revenue slowed in the first five months after the country cut import tariffs, citing Finance Minister Jin Renqing. Fiscal revenge rose 13.1% year-on-year in the five months ended May 31 to $163 billion, compared with the 32.4% growth of a year ago.
Late Buy/Sell Recommendations
Goldman Sachs:
- Reiterated Outperform on GE, GILD, MCK and DNA.
Business Week:
- Access Integrated Technologies(AIX) is best positioned to profit from an expected switch by movie studios to digital film from analog, citing William Relyea of HC Wainwright.
- Jones Soda(JSDA) is a "solid long-term investment opportunity," citing ThinkEquity Partners analyst Nicole Miller.
- Energy Conversion Corp.(ENER), the No.1 US maker of nickel hydride batteries used in hybrid vehicles, may see its stock price more than double in a year as demand rises.
Night Trading
Asian Indices are -1.0% to -.50% on average.
S&P 500 indicated +.07%.
NASDAQ 100 indicated -.03%.
Morning Preview
US AM Market Call
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator/Heat Map
Pre-market Commentary
Before the Bell CNBC Video(bottom right)
Global Commentary
Asian Indices
European Indices
Top 20 Business Stories
In Play
Bond Ticker
Daily Stock Events
Macro Calls
Rasmussen Consumer/Investor Daily Indices
CNBC Guest Schedule
Earnings of Note
Company/EPS Estimate
HR/.32
TONS/.85
Upcoming Splits
ESRX 2-for-1
Economic Releases
8:30 am:
- Durable Goods Orders for May are estimated to rise 1.5% versus a 1.9% increase in April.
- Durables Ex Transportation for May are estimated to rise .5% versus a .2% decline in April.
10:00 am:
- New Home Sales for May are estimated to rise to 1320K versus 1316K in April.
BOTTOM LINE: Asian indices are lower on worries that rising energy prices will dampen economic growth in the region. I expect US equities to open modestly lower. China's oil import data are released tomorrow.
The US dollar will also be of focus for traders. The Portfolio is 50% net long heading into the day.
Stocks Fall on Growth Concerns and Trade Relations with China
Indices
S&P 500 1,200.73 -1.08%
DJIA 10,421.44 -1.57%
NASDAQ 2,070.66 -1.02%
Russell 2000 634.12 -1.45%
DJ Wilshire 5000 11,917.06 -1.04%
S&P Barra Growth 573.14 -1.23%
S&P Barra Value 623.46 -.94%
Morgan Stanley Consumer 575.83 -1.18%
Morgan Stanley Cyclical 722.15 -1.99%
Morgan Stanley Technology 482.06 -.98%
Transports 3,457.46 -3.11%
Utilities 383.42 +.39%
Put/Call .75 -16.67%
NYSE Arms 1.14 +6.89%
Volatility(VIX) 12.13 +9.77%
ISE Sentiment 158.00 -9.20%
US Dollar 89.12 +.63%
CRB 311.45 +.14%
Futures Spot Prices
Crude Oil 59.62 +.34%
Unleaded Gasoline 165.55 -.07%
Natural Gas 7.50 +.36%
Heating Oil 167.50 -.04%
Gold 442.80 -.09%
Base Metals 123.13 -1.51%
Copper 152.00 -.49%
10-year US Treasury Yield 3.95% +.34%
Leading Sectors
Oil Service +.98%
Oil Tankers +.55%
Gold & Silver +.54%
Lagging Sectors
Tobacco -2.09%
Airlines -3.68%
Steel -4.90%
Evening Review
Detailed Market Summary
Market Gauges
Daily ETF Performance
Style Performance
Market Wrap CNBC Video(bottom right)
S&P 500 Gallery View
Economic Calendar
Timely Economic Charts
GuruFocus.com
PM Market Call
After-hours Movers
Real-time/After-hours Stock Quote
In Play
Afternoon Recommendations
Goldman Sachs:
- Reiterated Underperform on DRI and FGP.
Afternoon/Evening Headlines
Bloomberg:
- Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said state and federal probes into his Berkshire’s General Re unit is “costing money” and will weigh further on the company.
- Tata Steel, India’s second-largest steel producer, and Chinese cranemaker Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery were among this week’s Asian borrowers tapping the loan market for funds to boost production.
- Imposing trade sanctions of China would be misguided and put the future of the US economy at risk, Fed Chairman Greenspan told lawmakers who are considering such penalties.
- GM bonds are having their biggest monthly rally in at least eight years, fueled by high-yield and hedge funds attracted by the carmaker’s plan to cut costs and wring concessions out of its unions.
- US home prices set another record in May as previously owned homes continued to sell at a near-record rate, spurred by low borrowing costs and rising incomes.
- Chevron, close to winning regulatory approval for its agreement to buy Unocal, may be forced to increase its bid to counter an $18.5 billion offer from China’s CNOOC Ltd.
- Crude oil prices in NY rose to a record $60 a barrel on speculation supplies won’t be adequate to meet surging demand this fall.
CNBC:
- Bill Gross, who manages the world’s largest bond fund, said yields will likely fall through 2006 and 2007.
Financial Times:
- Rambus is being investigated by the European Commission in connection with patent abuses.
S&P 500 1,200.73 -1.08%
DJIA 10,421.44 -1.57%
NASDAQ 2,070.66 -1.02%
Russell 2000 634.12 -1.45%
DJ Wilshire 5000 11,917.06 -1.04%
S&P Barra Growth 573.14 -1.23%
S&P Barra Value 623.46 -.94%
Morgan Stanley Consumer 575.83 -1.18%
Morgan Stanley Cyclical 722.15 -1.99%
Morgan Stanley Technology 482.06 -.98%
Transports 3,457.46 -3.11%
Utilities 383.42 +.39%
Put/Call .75 -16.67%
NYSE Arms 1.14 +6.89%
Volatility(VIX) 12.13 +9.77%
ISE Sentiment 158.00 -9.20%
US Dollar 89.12 +.63%
CRB 311.45 +.14%
Futures Spot Prices
Crude Oil 59.62 +.34%
Unleaded Gasoline 165.55 -.07%
Natural Gas 7.50 +.36%
Heating Oil 167.50 -.04%
Gold 442.80 -.09%
Base Metals 123.13 -1.51%
Copper 152.00 -.49%
10-year US Treasury Yield 3.95% +.34%
Leading Sectors
Oil Service +.98%
Oil Tankers +.55%
Gold & Silver +.54%
Lagging Sectors
Tobacco -2.09%
Airlines -3.68%
Steel -4.90%
Evening Review
Detailed Market Summary
Market Gauges
Daily ETF Performance
Style Performance
Market Wrap CNBC Video(bottom right)
S&P 500 Gallery View
Economic Calendar
Timely Economic Charts
GuruFocus.com
PM Market Call
After-hours Movers
Real-time/After-hours Stock Quote
In Play
Afternoon Recommendations
Goldman Sachs:
- Reiterated Underperform on DRI and FGP.
Afternoon/Evening Headlines
Bloomberg:
- Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said state and federal probes into his Berkshire’s General Re unit is “costing money” and will weigh further on the company.
- Tata Steel, India’s second-largest steel producer, and Chinese cranemaker Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery were among this week’s Asian borrowers tapping the loan market for funds to boost production.
- Imposing trade sanctions of China would be misguided and put the future of the US economy at risk, Fed Chairman Greenspan told lawmakers who are considering such penalties.
- GM bonds are having their biggest monthly rally in at least eight years, fueled by high-yield and hedge funds attracted by the carmaker’s plan to cut costs and wring concessions out of its unions.
- US home prices set another record in May as previously owned homes continued to sell at a near-record rate, spurred by low borrowing costs and rising incomes.
- Chevron, close to winning regulatory approval for its agreement to buy Unocal, may be forced to increase its bid to counter an $18.5 billion offer from China’s CNOOC Ltd.
- Crude oil prices in NY rose to a record $60 a barrel on speculation supplies won’t be adequate to meet surging demand this fall.
CNBC:
- Bill Gross, who manages the world’s largest bond fund, said yields will likely fall through 2006 and 2007.
Financial Times:
- Rambus is being investigated by the European Commission in connection with patent abuses.
BOTTOM LINE: The Portfolio finished unchanged as gains in my Tech longs and Steel shorts offset losses in my Retail and Gaming longs. I added a few shorts in the afternoon, thus leaving the Portfolio 50% net long. One of my new shorts is PD and I am using a $95 stop-loss on this position. The tone of the market was negative today as the advance/decline finished substantially lower, most sectors fell and volume was above average. Measures of investor anxiety were mostly higher into the close. Overall, today’s market action was negative. Stocks declined on worries over slowing global growth and concerns over issues with China. Tomorrow should be a key day for oil and the markets.
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