Futures Rise Into GDP Report As Metals Meltdown
U.S. equity futures rose in early pre-market trade ahead of the final look at first quarter GDP. Economist expect that the economy grew 2.4 percent in the quarter with PCE inflation rising 1.1 percent.
In other news around the markets:
- European Central Bank President Mario Draghi spoke overnight, saying that monetary policy cannot achieve real economic growth and that this puts a limit on what central banks can do. These comments seem rather cautious and untimely given the markets perceptions of tapering and stimulus withdrawal as of late.
- The German IFO Institute cut its 2013 growth forecast for Germany to 0.6 percent from 0.7 percent but is still above the government's forecast of 0.5 percent and the Bundesbank's forecast of 0.3 percent growth.
- France's economy contracted 0.2 percent in the first quarter, in line with estimates and the same from the prior reading. On an annualized basis, France's economy contracted 0.4 percent.
- S&P 500 futures rose 4.1 points to 1,585.50.
- The EUR/USD was lower at 1.3046.
- Spanish 10-year government bond yields fell 4 basis points to 5.05 percent.
- Italian 10-year government bond yields 4 basis points to 4.82 percent.
- Gold plunged 3.22 percent to $1,234.10 per ounce.
Asian Markets
Asian shares were mixed overnight as Japanese weakness was offset by strength in other regional markets. The Japanese Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.04 percent and the Topix Index declined 0.87 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 2.43 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.06 percent in China. Also, the Korean Kospi rose 0.16 percent and Australian shares rose 1.63 percent despite Prime Minister Gillard losing a confidence vote in Parliament.
European Markets
European shares rose markedly and traded near session highs in early trade. The Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.63 percent and the Italian FTSE MIB Index gained 1.35 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX rose 1.27 percent and the French CAC 40 gained 1.37 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.87 percent.
Commodities were mixed overnight as metals plunged. WTI Crude futures fell 0.29 percent to $95.04 per barrel and Brent Crude futures rose 0.17 percent to $101.43 per barrel. Copper futures dropped 1.37 percent to $303.40 per pound. Gold was much lower and silver futures were by far the weakest, dropping 5.23 percent to $18.53 per ounce.
Currency markets were not to blame for the move in metals overnight as moves in major pairs were rather tepid. The EUR/USD was lower at 1.3046 and the dollar fell against the yen by 0.28 percent to 97.54. Overall, the Dollar Index gained 0.16 percent on strength against the euro, the pound, and the Swiss franc.
Key companies that reported earnings Tuesday include:
- Apollo Group APOL reported third quarter EPS of $1.05 vs. $0.85 expected on revenue of $946.8 million vs. $965.07 million previous.
- Barnes and Noble BKS reported a fourth quarter loss of $2.11 per share vs. the expected loss of $0.99 per share on revenue of $1.28 billion vs. $1.33 billion expected.
- Carnival Corp. CCL reported second quarter EPS of $0.09 vs. $0.06 expected on revenue of $3.5 billion vs. $3.56 billion expected.
- Lennar LEN reported second quarter EPS of $0.43 vs. $0.33 expected on revenue of $1.43 billion vs. $1.33 billion.
- Walgreen's WAG reported third quarter EPS of $0.85 vs. $0.91 a year ago on revenue of $18.31 billion vs. $18.45 billion a year ago.
Pre-Market Movers
Stocks moving in the pre-market included:
- Apollo Group APOL shares declined 4.54 percent pre-market on the revenue miss.
- Newmont Mining NEM shares fell 2.77 percent pre-market as gold prices sank.
- Silver Wheaton SLW shares plunged 4.1 percent pre-market as silver prices dropped more than 5 percent.
- Las Vegas Sands LVS shares declined 1.18 percent pre-market after the company announced that its CFO is leaving the company.
Notable companies expected to report earnings Wednesday include:
- Bed Bath and Beyond BBBY is expected to report is expected to report first quarter EPS of $0.93 vs. $0.89 a year ago.
- General Mills GIS is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.53 vs. $0.60 a year ago.
- Monsanto MON is expected to report third quarter EPS of $1.61 vs. $1.63 a year ago.
- Progress Software PRGS is expected to report EPS of $0.22 vs. $0.21 a year ago.
On the economics calendar Wednesday, Minnesota Fed President Naryana Kocherlakota is set to speak in Seoul overnight and will be a guest on CNBC's Squawk Box at 6:30 am. Later, MBA Purchase Applications and the much-anticipated GDP report are due out. Later, the Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher and the New York Fed President William Dudley are also expected to speak and the Treasury will auction 5-year notes. Overnight, the German Unemployment Report and British GDP are expected.
Good luck and good trading.
Tune into Benzinga's PreMarket Info show with Dennis Dick and Joel Elconin here.
For a recap of Monday's market action, read Benzinga's daily market wrap here.
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