Stocks fall before Fed decision
The central bank is expected to announce a plan to stimulate the economy. US companies added 43,000 positions in October. The service sector grows more than forecast. Factory orders rise.
By Melinda Peer, TheStreet
Updated at 1:08 p.m. ET
Stocks were falling after better-than-expected job growth in October failed to boost sentiment among investors awaiting results from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
At 1:08 p.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) was down by 11 points, or 0.1%, at 11,178. The S&P 500 ($INX) was down by 2.2 points, or 0.2%, at 1,191. The Nasdaq ($COMPX) was losing 7.4 points, or 0.3%, at 2,526.
Trading is likely to be light ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee's rate decision at 2:15 p.m. ET. While the overnight lending rate is expected to be unchanged, investors expect the central bank to announce plans to buy back assets to reduce rates. Analysts predict the Federal Reserve will buy $500 billion in bonds.
"My hope is that the Fed will have language in there saying that the Fed will continue to do this as long as necessary," said David Chalupnik, the head of equities at First American Funds. "If it does appear to be a one-time effort, then that might be somewhat disappointing to the market."
Shares across the basic materials and capital goods sectors were showing the largest declines, while consumer cyclical, financial and transportation stocks held mild gains. American Express (AXP), DuPont (DD) and Alcoa (AA) were the Dow's biggest laggards, while Cisco Systems (CSCO), Bank of America (BAC) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) showed the best performance.
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) said U.S. companies added 43,000 jobs in October, more than double the 20,000 economists had expected. The number of positions lost in September was revised to 2,000 from 39,000.
The ADP report came hours after Republicans took control of the House of Representatives by promoting plans to add jobs. The government will issue its employment report Friday.
The Institute for Supply Management's October services index rose to a 54.3 from 53.2 in September, surpassing expectations for a reading of 53.4.
The Commerce Department said factory orders rose 2.1% in September, topping forecasts for growth of 1.7%, according to Briefing.com. Orders were unchanged in August.
In company news, shares of Hartford Financial Services (HIG) were up 8.4% to $25.39 after the insurer posted a third-quarter profit yesterday after a year-earlier loss. The company's core earnings of $1.43 a share beat estimates for 97 cents, according to Thomson Reuters.
Aetna (AET) shares were climbing 2.6% to $30.75 after the health insurer's third-quarter earnings rose 53% to 84 cents a share, topping expectations for a profit of 67 cents.
Rival WellPoint (WLP) also beat expectations, with earnings of $1.74 a share on sales of $14.3 billion. Analysts had expected earnings of $1.57 a share on sales of $14.2 billion. The company's shares were down 1.4% at $54.96.
PulteGroup (PHM) shares were dropping 3.2% to $7.81 after the homebuilder posted a third-quarter loss of $2.63 a share. Sales fell 3% to $1 billion from $1.1 billion a year earlier. Consensus estimates, which exclude nonrecurring items, called for a loss of 5 cents a share, according to Briefing.com.
Time Warner (TWX) shares were losing 2% at $31.75 after the media company's third-quarter sales fell short of forecasts. Revenue rose 2% to $6.38 billion, but analysts had expected sales of $6.4 billion.
Lloyds Banking (LYG) named Antonio Horta-Osorio, the head of Banco Santander's (STD) U.K. business, its new CEO. He replaces Eric Daniels, who is stepping down. Lloyds shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange were rising 3% to $4.43, while Santander's were falling 1.8% to $12.34.
Chesapeake Energy (CHK), Transocean (RIG) and Whole Foods (WFMI) will report results after the closing bell.
October car sales will be released this afternoon. General Motors said sales of its core brands rose 13% in October while overall sales ticked 3.5% higher.
Crude oil for December delivery was adding 79 cents at $84.69 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration said crude oil inventories increased by 2 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 29, meeting the expectations of analysts polled by Platts.
The December gold contract was gaining $1.20 at $1,358.10 an ounce.
The dollar was trading lower against a basket of currencies, with the dollar index down by 0.1%. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note was strengthening by 8/32, diluting the yield to 2.565%.
The FTSE in London was increasing 0.2%, and the DAX in Frankfurt was adding 0.3%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 2% higher, and Japan's Nikkei climbed 0.06%.
Related Articles
Couple that with the fact that about 70% of the Senators running in 2012 will be Dems and the math doesn't look so good for them to hold the Senate. So if you don't like Reid's smiling face as majority leader, you probably only have to stomach it for two more years.
The ideals and values of the tea party do not attach themselves to a party, rather the party needs to attach itself to the values.
The challenge for the tea party is to keep the ideals alive and not let party establishment values extinguish the light
im not a phony - im a working, tax paying lefty by default, who ordinarily would like political balance in our system, but can now see (over the past 20 yrs) that we have an obstinant right wing cadre of undereducated kneejerks who care not for our country but angry control over a future they will never inherit
Deklen - from your posts it is obvious what you personally have to work with intellect-wise, and I must say that I stand in awe of your ability to spell words and make sentences. You go girl!
rtt,
I doubt there will ever be a solution... Those that work want to keep what they earn. Those that do not will always want a bigger handout.
Obviously, we will always have poor people. American poor people are better off than most of the worlds poor. I am all for helping the poor, PROVIDED we pay for the help via EQUAL taxation.
It is mantra of the Donkey Party to want to treat people Unequally when it comes to taxes. You cannot have fairness with inequality.
One of the fundamental controls our founding father had in place to prevent big government was equal taxes. This meant you had to TAX the poor as much as the rich. This was a natural deterrent to big government.
Now we have the become a semi-socialist state. We need to return to small government, and end the socialist mentality.
So the Republicans are being given a 2nd chance...I sincerely hope they do better this time. If they do, They'll have my vote in 2012. They got 2 years...just like the Dem's were given.
Um, Dems had 2 years of holding all 3 branches with huge majorities in the Senate and the House. The Repubs on the other hand, will only control 1 branch for the next 2 years.
As I mentioned yesterday, our firm changed it's strategy with our clients about 2-3 weeks ago based on the concept that a GOP victory was already built into the markets. It was buy and hold advice. We had to change strategy as I mistakenly thought markets would act closer to elections. But, as it became apparent that a tidal wave was happening, we had to change.
Unless something drastic happens the markets should waver around even for now and then end up the year at 1200-1250 S&P (no change).
I believe that the BUSH tax breaks will not be acted upon until next year. But they will not expire with middle class getting a permanent (whatever that means in politics) break and a 1-2 year extension for those with a taxable income of 250K+. However, it may be that payroll deductions increase pending this legislation although that can be avoided if Obama wants to do so.
Bottom line: Obama is a done deal. His Socialist policies will not be enacted. I think there will be some tinkering with Health Care (tort reform) but it will be until 2013 when a Republican President and Senate will start anew and develop a plan that makes sense. Remember, the most costly parts of the plan don't take effect until 2014. Additionally, by then the Communist concept of mandated health insurance will heve been declared unconstitutional by the Conservative leaning Supreme Court. Even if one justice (Ginsberg retires or passes), the Senate can now filibuster any Obama socialist nominee.
What a relief yesterday was. Tank you Americans for seeing the light.
Yesterday was a major victory for true Americans who think that they should work for a living and pay their way through life. Let's hope that the GOP does not repeat it's mistakes and sticks true to form with fiscal responsibility and a pro business outlook.
never was and never will be a ceo,
The dems are for social class movement? Your "Great Society" implemented by dems under Johnson to eliminate poverty has resulted in more of it. It has created generational welfare. It is the symbol of liberal failure. But it has created a whole class of voters dependent and beholden to their liberal elitists for food and shelter. Looks more like the dem idea of class movement is to bring everyone down to their level.
The Tea Party is just getting started. Round 2 is 2012, when the big tumor in the whitehouse is carved out. The little dem tumors like Harry in the senate will also be surrounded and go stand in the corner for time out until their ouster, resignation or expiration. At all times Republicans need to be monitored and held accountable.
The conservative movement will continue until the progressive cancer is weeded out of government at all levels. Then the work of assimiliation of immigrant cultural stragglers can accelerate so we don't end up in another European social experiment disaster.
RELATED ARTICLES
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
RECENT QUOTES
WATCHLIST
MARKET UPDATE
| NAME | LAST | CHANGE | % CHANGE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There’s a problem getting this information right now. Please try again later. | ||||
[BRIEFING.COM] Stocks ended modestly higher as the S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, and the Dow added 0.4% to register its 19th consecutive Tuesday of gains.
The major averages saw little change during morning action, but afternoon buying interest helped lift the indices to session highs. Most cyclical sectors (with the exception of materials and technology) finished among the leaders, but the defensively-geared health care sector settled atop the leaderboard as biotechnology outperformed. ... More
More Market News
Currencies
| NAME | LAST | CHANGE | % CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| There’s a problem getting this information right now. Please try again later. | |||
LATEST MARKET DISPATCHES
- No more Dispatches; here's where to find market news
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
- Dow falls 59 as late-day gloom kills a rally
- Stocks held back by fiscal-cliff worries
- Stocks suffer worst weekly loss in 5 months
- Dow off 121 as post-election swoon continues
- Dow slumps 313 after Obama's re-election
- Dow jumps 133 as Americans head to the polls
TOP STOCKS
As the stock market reaches new highs, Goldman Sachs sees more gains ahead. Fueling the market: An improving economy, growing dividends and low interest rates.
