Stocks rise ahead of Fed
Investors eye potential stimulus by the Fed. German court allows ratification of eurozone rescue fund. Wholesale inventories rose in July, beating forecast. Import and export prices climb. Facebook shares jump. Apple is set to launch the iPhone 5.
Updated at 11:47 a.m. ETU.S. stocks were mostly positive Wednesday as the Federal Reserve began its two-day policy meeting and investors hope for additional stimulus measures. Positive US economic data helped solidify gains. Earlier, stocks rose after a German court allowed the country to ratify the eurozone rescue fund, but they wavered when a surprise increase in crude supply caused oil prices to drop.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) was up 29 points at 13,352. The S&P 500 ($INX) was up 3 points at 1,436. The Nasdaq Composite ($COMPX) was up 6 points at 3,110.
Facebook (FB) shares jump 6% after CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke late Tuesday, while Apple (AAPL) is in focus as it is set to launch the iPhone 5 later in the day.
Sigh of relief in Europe
Germany's Constitutional Court on Wednesday allowed the country to ratify the new 700 billion-euro rescue fund and budget, but it gave Parliament veto powers over any future increases in the size of the fund.
With its decision, the court cleared the way for implementation of the European Stability Mechanism, or ESM, a tool that should help Europe contain its 3-year-old debt crisis with its ability to buy bonds directly from governments.
The decision triggered a sigh of relief from financial markets, with European stocks climbing to a 14-month high and the euro continuing to post gains against the dollar. Spanish bond yields declined.
Meanwhile, eurozone factories increased output by 0.6% in July -- more than expected but still worse off than a year ago, the EU's statistics office Eurostat said. In Britain, the number of those on unemployment benefits dropped in August by the largest amount in two years as companies created new jobs, as the economy looks set to grow.
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Hopes of QE3 rise
The Federal Open Market Committee begins a two-day meeting on Wednesday. The central bank looks set to launch a third round of quantitative easing through bond purchases this week.
The measure should lower borrowing costs and breathe more life into an economy that grew only 2% in the second quarter. With the unemployment rate still above 8%, the hope is that the measure will help the economy grow enough to reduce unemployment.
Positive US economic data
Meanwhile, the Commerce Department released import and export prices for August. The prices paid for U.S. imports rose 0.7%, the first increase in five months. That compared with a revised 0.7% decline in July. Excluding fuel costs, import prices fell 0.2%, MarketWatch reported.
The price of U.S.-made goods exported to other nations, meanwhile, rose 0.9% in August after a 0.4% gain in the prior month.
July wholesale inventories increased by 0.7%, much higher than the 0.3% increase economists had expected, according to Briefing.com. In June, inventories dropped by 0.2%. The July increase was the most in five months, indicating perhaps third quarter economic growth may be more solid than expected.
Stocks to watch
Facebook (FB) shares finally registered gains, trading above $20, after CEO Mark Zuckerberg soothed investors late Tuesday in his first interview since the social network's rocky IPO in May. He admitted to misssteps, and said he was disappointed with the stock's performance. But he added he remains optimistic about the company's future. He hinted at new growth areas from mobile to search.
Facebook shares are up despite two brokerage firms lowering their price targets on the stock. Needham & Co. cut its price target from $40 to $25, while Evercore reduced its target to $23 from $34.
Apple (AAPL) is in focus as it unveils its newest iPhone, widely expected to offer 4G wireless technology for the first time and a 4-inch display, longer than the current 3.5 inches.
Chesapeake Energy (CHK) advanced after saying it will sell much of its Permian Basin properties and midstream assets, and certain non-core leasehold, for about $6.9 billion in cash. The move will help the company repay much of its debt and fund operations. The company is selling most of its assets to Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Chevron (CVX), as well as most of its remaining infrastructure network.
McDonald's (MCD) Wednesday said it will post calories for all items on its menu boards and drive-thru menus in the U.S.
APPLE to unveil its new $600 I-Phone. I am sure all of the Occupy Wall Streeters will be in line to get one. Meanwhile, I still have my outdated LG flip phone without a camera, much less a data plan. I call my phone MY Phone - it fits MY needs and it was free 5 years ago.
I have better things to spend my money on then the latest phone. Some economist said the new I Phone would add 1/2% to GDP. Not sure what he/she is smoking, but a new I Phone will probably be out by Christmas for all the the suckers to spend their money on!
Most of these people have no money in the bank and certainly have no retirement saved. I guess since I saved all my life and lived below my means, I should give some of what I have so these people can get a tattoo while learning how to use their new I Phone. I never made a 6 figure yearly income. It is not how much you make, but rather how well you are at first saving money and then making wise chooses about what you spend the remaining money on.
I am in control of my life. - Never ever be a slave to the lender!
A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE LEAST CAPABLE TO LEAD ARE ELECTED BY THE LEAST CAPABLE OF PRODUCING, AND WHERE THE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY LEAST LIKELY TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES OR SUCCEED, ARE REWARDED WITH GOODS AND SERVICES PAID FOR BY THE CONFISCATED WEALTH OF A DIMINISHING NUMBER OF PRODUCERS.
Calling John Galt, emergency, calling John Galt!
Yes, we should all TRUST a president who:
a) Won't show a BC until 2 years AFTER he's elected , then shows a photoshopped, edited, rag of a BC !
b) The first act in office was to seal off ALL his college records, admissions, thesis- the works !
He's totally shrouded in secrecy. I wonder what he's hiding ?
c) Campaigns on "transparency" - Until he wins then becomes the most secretive, back door dealing, POTUSA ever - Pushed Obuma care through IN SPITE of most American's HATING it.
Made back door deals to get it done
d) Campaigns on fiscal responsibility then after elected runs up the deficit 6 TRILLION (after promising to cut it in half)
e) Whispers to a Soviet leader - "It's an election year , I need more time" - FOR WHAT , I WONDER?
f) Campaigns on no pork , no lobbyist - Then gets elected sucks up to Unions (QE 1 and QE 2) and his admin is FULL of lobbyist.
YES, 4 more years of that kind of "trust" we can do without !
LIES YOU CAN BELIEVE IN !
Someone (Wise Acre)
I am not boasting and I have been through some rough waters. I lost my job in banking in Sept. 2008 after 36 years. In July of this year, I was finally able to get work as a contract worker (20 hours a week). I still do not have health insurance and I can not afford it. If I had not been a saver and stayed out of debt except for my house, (which I never missed the first payment on), I would have been in big trouble, like a lot of others.
People must at least try to be prepared to (go it alone in today's economy at some point and time). To do this you have to take care of having something to fall back on in the rough times. It is about setting priorites and way to many people think they are entitled to a lifestyle their income will not support.
Well there you have it, Germany has ruled it is in fact ok to print money. Now the Euro zone can truly participate along with QE 3 and give the markets a last horay before next years big crash.
Retog - This Libya/Egypt incident shows why Syria will get no help. How quickly they forget, I new we should have let them all die in Bengazi when they gang rapped that reporter, these are the people we are helpling? Let them die in the desert as far as I am concerned.
- And to beat anyone to the punch Canadian war planes helped in the Libya mission.
"Obama has managed to destabilize the entire Middle East without firing a single shot, the Arab spring is now bearing its fruit."
LOL, when has the middle east ever been stable? How did Obama, specifically, manage to destabalize a region that was never stable to begin with? Man, some of you are coo coo for Cocoa Puffs...
So the German courts have decided that it’s OK to send more good money to worthless people, so those same people can stay sitting on their worthless a$$e$. How brilliant!!!
And guess what everyone here thinks the Fed’s should print more money so that the worthless investors can see the market climb for no apparent reason other than an influx of faux money.
Oil prices are rising and the media is stating that it’s because of expected future demand because of the QE3 and Europe’s bailout, when in reality it’s because of the devaluation of the currency in the US and Europe.
The sad part about this whole mess is that no one really wants to work, think, or creative anything of value any more, they just suck of the broke system.
Sitting at your computer gambling as to what the market is going to do it not investing, it’s gambling. You can go to a casino and do that at least that way you'll get some exercise moving from machine to machine.
You so called investors if you really want to invest, why don’t you invest in something real. I’m sure that where you live there is someone with an idea or talent that could use not only your money but also any other talent you may possess. By doing so you will be more in control of the investment and you will get a life. Let’s start to build this thing from the ground up and say to hell with the rest of the system!
Got to love the SCAM MARKET, Germany is bailing out broke countries and they are hoping for more help from the FED. So what happens immediately is that the cost oil goes up so all of us throughout the world can pay more for gas and have less spending money.
When will the idiots learn the only people these stimulus are helping is the market.
How does it help the hard working AMERICANS??
i guess if the whole world completes their own refi's, then everything is OK!
debt? does it matter? doesn't seem like anyone in charge is concerned. as long as they keep getting tax money, why would they care?
scary vote coming in california in november. we'll see how many people vote in a tax increase so the state can blow even more of our cash!
what happens out west seems to bleed east
Ever notice how the cheerleader pundits on those droning business channels often say watch the stock markets for clues on where the economy is headed: The stock market knows. It's smart.
Hmm, is that why dow was at an all-time high end of 2007 when the current recession had already started? And now it's nearing an all-time high again during what many call a depression.
Can't have a Mutt the Dog Rant (by a cretin) without a Barrack the RacCOON ode !
(for the sake of "fairness" - LOL)
THIS STORY HAS BEEN EDITED AND APPROVED BY THE ACLU/ ACORN FOR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS !
Barrack the RaCcoon
One day about a decade ago, while driving through Chicago, in my Mercedes S class Convertible, a RaCcoon suddenly jumped into the car.
I was very concerned about getting attacked , rabies, etc but the RaCcoon promptly introduced himself as a Jr. Senator from Chicago. He explained that he had to jump out the window of Tony Rezko's house because the cops were coming to bust poor, old Tony, for embezzlement !
Of Course Barrack the RaCcoon had nothing to do with it , he explained, he was just a guy from the neighborhood .I asked him why he just didn't jump into the beautiful , empty lot right next door to Rezko, instead of my car. He smiled and said don't worry about that , I got that covered! Drive on.
Still in a daze, I asked this RaCcoon how did he ever learn our language ? Barrack the RaCcoon said he has a college degree with very, very high GPA. and he has a very high IQ, to boot ! I became skeptical and I asked him to prove this point , he became very feisty, said sorry, his transcripts were sealed forever! Just take his word for it, he's real smart.
I asked where we are going and he said to Bill Ayers birthday party out in another suburb about 1 hour away.
Silence reigned for a few moments , when Barrack the RaCcoon suddenly asked if I would like to hear his I have a Dream, vision. You means Dreams of Finding My Daddy, Barrack ?
No, no - been there , done that. Didn't you read my book?
no, sorry, I never heard of you or your book until today, Mr RacCoon.
What then, Mr. RaCcoon?
Well, I have a dream ----
Hope and Change would be someday coming to Amerika and a vision of a welfare utopia where no people of color or even white trailer trash, ever needed to work ! His dream of taking the non tax payers from 49% of the population to 70 % of the population ! Illegal's would be welcomed with a red carpet ! Free medical and they never , ever, need to pay a dime in taxes for their entire lifetime ! Not one dime and they don't even need to learn English !
(For the sake of "fairness", we must note Strawberries are only $3.00 a PINT !) Thank you , illegal's, thank you!
Aren't we LUCKY?
To continue on the, I Have a Dream moment, of Barrack the RaCcoon --
No person of color should EVER have to pay one single dollar of taxes !
Of food stamps and welfare increasing 45% under his regime.
Of creating a communists utopia of state run auto industry and health care !
Of racist black people controlling the government. Our attorney general being one of them.
Of lesbian, communist leaning , supreme justices.
He told me our real leader is George Soros, super commie.
When I asked , how in the world can the 30% who work pay for the upkeep of the 70% who do not, he simply smiled and said -- Think , Greece!
But yes, Barrack, Greece is going belly -up, isn't it ?
He smiled and replied, you learn fast, don't you !
We arrived at Bill Ayers house and the "Rev" Wrong came to the car, asked what Barrack was doing with a honky, looked at me and said G DAMM America !
I drove off, hoping to distance myself from Barrack the RaCcoon and his nasty friends.
He never even thanked me for the ride or gave me gas money. Said I made too much money now , anyway.
Yes, I learned many things from Barrack the RaCcoon that day , the best being not to trust him with your money.
After he got out , I noticed my wallet was missing and replaced with small "change" and a little card that said "hope".
Oh, that Barrack the RaCcoon, I wonder where he ended up, these days?
Why no specifics on the increase in crude supply?
Has President Obama been releasing reserves from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gas prices at the pump, in order to get re-elected?
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