Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Drop; Mastercard Profit Tops Expectations
Following the market opening Friday, the Dow traded down 0.39 percent to 17,349.02 while the NASDAQ slipped 0.23 percent to 4,672.85. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.49 percent to 2,011.45.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Friday, basic materials shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.03 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector Minerals Technologies Inc. (NYSE: MTX), up 8.2 percent, and Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF), up 3.9 percent.
Non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares dropped by 1.22 percent in the US market on Friday. Top losers in the sector included Align Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN), down 7.8 percent, Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao (NYSE: CBD), off 4.5 percent.
Top Headline
MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) reported better-than-expected profit for its fourth quarter.
The Purchase, New York-based company posted quarterly earnings of $801 million, or $0.69 per share, compared to $623 million, or $0.52 per share, in the year-ago period. Acquisitions had a $0.03 dilutive impact on EPS.
Its revenue surged 14% to $2.42 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.67 per share on revenue of $2.39 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICPT) shares shot up 20.73 percent to $206.08 after the company received "breakthrough therapy designation" from the FDA for obeticholic acid for NASH with liver fibrosis.
Shares of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC) got a boost, shooting up 15.35 percent to $32.83 on better-than-expected quarterly results.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) shares were also up, gaining 10.97 percent to $345.99 after the company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.
Equities Trading DOWN
Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) shares tumbled 24.76 percent to $20.03. Hawaiian Holdings reported Q4 adjusted earnings of $0.40 per share on revenue of $42.4 million. The company also expected a drop in its key revenue figure for the first quarter.
Shares of Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NYSE: DECK) were down 16 percent to $69.11 after the company reported downbeat Q3 results and lowered its Q4 earnings forecast.
Align Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN) was down, falling 7.96 percent to $54.00 after the company reported downbeat Q4 earnings and issued a weak forecast. JMP Securities downgraded Align Technology from Market Outperform to Market Perform.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 2.11 percent to $45.47, while gold traded up 0.38 percent to $1,260.70.
Silver traded up 0.49 percent Friday to $16.86, while copper rose 0.75 percent to $2.47.
Eurozone
European shares were lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 declined 0.04 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index fell 0.07 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index declined 0.10 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX fell 0.11 percent, and the French CAC 40 slipped 0.46 percent while UK shares dropped 0.17 percent.
Economics
The U.S. economy expanded by an annual pace of 2.6% pace in the fourth quarter, versus a 5.0% growth in the third quarter, according to a preliminary estimate. However, economists were estimating a growth of 3%.
The employment cost index rose 0.6% in the fourth quarter, versus a 0.7% gain in the third quarter.
The Chicago PMI climbed to 59.40 in January, versus a prior reading of 58.80. However, economists were expecting a reading of 57.50.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index fell to 98.10 in January, versus a prior reading of 98.20. However, economists were expecting a reading of 98.20.
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