Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Jump, Tiffany Results Beat Estimates

Following the market opening Tuesday, the Dow traded up 1.28 percent to 15,498.32, while the NASDAQ rose 1.50 percent to 3,510.88. The S&P was also up, rising 1.39 percent to 1,672.58. Top Headline
Tiffany & Co TIF reported a rise in its first-quarter profit. Tiffany's quarterly profit surged to $83.58 million, or $0.65 per share, versus $81.53 million, or $0.64 per share, in the year-ago period. Its adjusted earnings came in at $0.70 per share. Its revenue increased to $895.48 million from $819.17 million. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.53 per share on revenue of $855 million. Tiffany maintained its full-year earnings forecast of $3.43 to $3.53 per share. Equities Trading UP
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International VRX shot up, gaining 11.58 percent to $94.25, after the company announced its plans to buy Bausch + Lomb for $8.7 billion. MAKO Surgical MAKO was also up 7.75 percent to $12.09, after Wells Fargo upgraded the stock from “market perform” to “outperform.” Tiffany & Co TIF got a boost, shooting up 5.45 percent to $80.36 after the company reported upbeat quarterly results. Equities Trading DOWN
Exelon EXC was down, falling 6.35 percent to $32.45, after Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock from “buy” to “hold.” Dole Food Company DOLE shares tumbled 7.33 percent to $10.25 after the company announced update of owned vessel fleet. FirstEnergy FE was down 5.44 percent to $40.30 after Credit Suisse downgraded the stock from “outperform” to “neutral.” Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 1.57 percent to $95.73, while gold dropped 0.70 percent to $1,382.10. Silver traded down 0.64 percent Tuesday to $22.37, while copper rose 0.88 percent to $3.33. Euro zone
European shares were higher for the second consecutive day as U.K. markets reopened Tuesday following a bank holiday on Monday. The Spanish Ibex Index rose 2.45 percent and the Italian FTSE MIB Index gained 2.12 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX rose 1.37 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 1.52 percent while U.K. shares surged 1.83 percent. Economics
The S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index surged 1.4% in March. The consumer confidence index surged to 76.2 in May, versus a revised reading of 69.0 in April, according to the Conference Board. However, economists were expecting the index to increase to 72.3 in May. The Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index rose to -2.00 in May, versus a prior reading of -6.00. However, economists were expecting a reading of -4.00 in May. The Treasury is set to auction 3- and 6-month bills and 2-year notes.