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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Baidu, Sohu.com, QUALCOMM, China Unicom and China Telecom - Press Releases

For Immediate Release
 
Chicago, IL – February 13, 2015 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Baidu, Inc. (BIDU-Free Report), Sohu.com Inc. (SOHU-Free Report), QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM-Free Report), China Unicom (CHU-Free Report) and China Telecom (CHA-Free Report).
 
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

China Stock Roundup

Markets enjoyed a good week following three successive weeks of losses. Stocks moved upward on Monday as financial and consumer staples stocks led gains. The Shanghai Composite Index surged on Tuesday after speculation increased that further monetary stimulus was in the offing.

Stocks gained again on Wednesday following speculation that telecom companies would gain from the settlement of a major antitrust dispute. The Shanghai Composite Index moved up today as well after consumer shares surged following the prospect of higher sales before the Chinese New Year holiday.

Baidu, Inc. (BIDU-Free Report) reported adjusted fourth-quarter 2014 earnings of $1.45 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.60. Sohu.com Inc. (SOHU-Free Report) reported a loss of 52 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2014, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 46 cents per share.

Last Week’s Developments

Last Friday, the Shanghai Composite Index declined for the second consecutive day, losing 1.9%. Concerns that an economic slowdown was intensifying and IPOs will lure away funds from older stocks led to losses for stocks. The CSI lost 1.6% while the Hang Seng moved down 0.4%. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index declined 0.8%.

Stocks failed to hold on to gains made on Thursday following a long expected cut in reserve ratio requirements. A senior central bank official told the Xinhua News Agency that this cut was not the beginning of vigorous economic stimulus. A sub-index of financial stocks declined though brokerages mopped up gains.

The benchmark index suffered a weekly loss of 4.2%, marking its third consecutive weekly decline. Stocks slumped following dismal manufacturing and services data which indicated that the economic slowdown was intensifying. Fears that new share sales would divert money from existing stocks also triggered losses.

Markets and the Economy This Week

Stocks moved upward on Monday as financial and consumer staples stocks led gains. Speculation that recent losses were excessive in nature and the beginning of options trading will increase demand for large caps led to the first gains for stocks in four days. Analysts opined that the economy remained weak and additional monetary stimulus was likely in the near future.

The benchmark index moved up 0.6% at the end of the trading session, negating a near 0.9% loss triggered by disappointing trade data. Imports slumped 19.9% while exports slipped 3.3% year-over-year. While exports were projected to increase, imports fell more than expected. The CSI 300 moved up 1%.

Sub-indexes of consumer staples and financial stocks gained a minimum of 1.9%, the highest among the 10 industry groups. The Hang Seng moved down 0.6% while the H-share index declined 0.4%.

The Shanghai Composite Index surged 1.5% on Tuesday. Property and technology stocks rallied after inflation declined more than expected. This led to speculation that additional monetary stimulus will be utilized to boost the Chinese economy. Consumer prices increase at the slowest pace in nearly five years even as factory-gate prices declined.

The CSI 300 moved up 1.8% while the Hang Seng ended nearly flat. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index advanced 0.4%. A sub-index of property companies within the benchmark index increased 2.7%, the highest among the five industry groups. Meanwhile, 17 new share sales began, the highest number for any single day since the suspensions of IPOs was revoked at the end of 2014.

Stocks gained again on Wednesday following speculation that telecom companies will gain after QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM-Free Report) reached a settlement with regulators. Meanwhile consumer shares advanced before the Chinese New Year holiday, boosting investor sentiment. Market watchers took the view that trading will be light ahead of the holiday with consumer stocks benefiting the most.

The CSI 300 advanced 0.8% while the Hang Seng declined 0.9%. The H-share index lost 0.4%. Sub-indexes of tech, phone and consumer discretionary stocks within the CSI 300 moved up at least 1.4%, emerging as the highest gainers among the 10 industry groups. Meanwhile China’s central bank said that it would not introduce monetary stimulus to counter fluctuations in oil prices unless the trend price changed or prices affected inflation.

The Shanghai Composite Index increased 0.5% today, gaining for the fourth successive day. Consumer shares moved up following the prospect of higher sales before the Chinese New Year holiday. Additionally, phone stocks advanced following rumors that China Unicom (CHU-Free Report) and China Telecom (CHA-Free Report) would merge to more effectively compete.

The CSI Index advanced 0.3%. The Hang Seng increased 0.4% while the H-share index advanced1.1%. Sub-indexes of industrial and telecom stocks within the CSI 300 surged 1% and 2.7% respectively, the most among the 10 industry groups. However, financial stocks declined ahead of the release of data on money supply and new lending for January.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


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BAIDU INC (BIDU): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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CHINA UNICOM (CHU): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CHINA TELCM-ADR (CHA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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