Mid-Day Market Update: GameStop Rises On Upbeat Results; Hewlett-Packard Shares Tumble

Midway through trading Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.44 percent to 14,963.43 while the NASDAQ surged 0.88 percent to 3,631.44. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.74 percent to 1,654.93.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co

reported a 33% drop in its fiscal second-quarter profit and issued a downbeat forecast for the third quarter. For the current quarter, it projects earnings of $0.40 to $0.45 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $1.06 per share. Abercrombie's quarterly profit fell to $11.4 million, or $0.14 per share, from $17.1 million, or $0.20 per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, it earned $0.16 per share, missing analysts' estimates of $0.28 per share. Its sales declined 0.6% to $945.7 million, versus estimates of $996.2 million.

GameStop

shot up 11.27 percent to $52.99 after the company reported upbeat Q2 results and lifted its FY14 forecast. Shares of SunEdison

got a boost, shooting up 15.64 percent to $7.88 after the company announced its plans to spin off its semiconductor business. The Hain Celestial Group

was also up, gaining 11.66 percent to $81.40 on upbeat Q4 profit.

Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch Co

were down 18.27 percent to $38.25 after the company reported

profit and issued a downbeat forecast for the third quarter. Hewlett-Packard Company

shares tumbled 12.86 percent to $22.12 on

Sears Holdings

was down, falling 8.44 percent to $39.62 after the company posted a

loss.

In commodity news,

to $104.66, while gold traded up 0.22 percent to $1,373.10. Silver traded up 0.63 percent Thursday to $23.16, while copper rose 0.83 percent to $3.34.

European shares

today. The Spanish Ibex Index surged 1.98 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index gained 2.56%. Meanwhile, the German DAX jumped 1.36 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 1.10 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.88 percent.

US jobless claims rose by 13,000 to 336,000 in the week ended August 17. However, economists were projecting claims to increase to 330,000 in the week. US flash manufacturing PMI rose to 53.9 in August, versus a reading of 53.7 in July, according to Markit. US home prices rose 0.7% in June versus May, and climbed 7.7% y/y, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The Bloomberg Consumer Confidence Index declined to -28.80 for the week ended August 18, versus a prior reading of -26.60. The leading economic index increased 0.6% in July to 96.0, according to the Conference Board. However, economists were expecting a 0.5% rise. US natural gas supplies rose 57 billion cubic feet for the week ended August 16, the Energy Information Administration reported. However, analysts were expecting a rise between 67 billion cubic feet and 71 billion cubic feet. The Kansas City Fed manufacturing Index surged to 8.00 in August, from a reading of 6.00 in July. However, economists were expecting a reading of 6.00. Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.