Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Mixed; FedEx Earnings Miss Estimates

Following the market opening Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.07 percent to 16,612.21 while the NASDAQ dropped 0.15 percent to 4,853.25. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.09 percent to 1,979.93.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

In trading on Wednesday, energy shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 1.69 percent. Top gainers in the sector included Comstock Resources Inc CRK, up 11 percent, and Tidewater Inc. TDW, up 10 percent.

Healthcare shares fell by 0.21 percent in Wednesday’s trading. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. FOLD, down 5 percent, and Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. OREX, off 4 percent.

Top Headline

FedEx Corporation FDX reported downbeat earnings for its fiscal first quarter and lowered its forecast for the full year.

The Memphis, Tennessee-based company posted quarterly net profit of $692 million, or $2.42 per share, compared to $653 million, or $2.26 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Its revenue rose to $12.3 billion from $11.7 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $2.46 per share on revenue of $12.3 billion.

Equities Trading UP

Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc ITCI shares shot up 71 percent to $44.64 following the announcement of positive top line results for ITI-007 first Phase 3 trial.

Shares of Adept Technology Inc ADEP got a boost, shooting up 62 percent to $12.94 after the company agreed to be acquired by OMRON for $13 per share.

Xencor Inc XNCR shares were also up, gaining 16 percent to $18.55. Xencor and Amgen, Inc. AMGN reported a strategic collaboration in cancer immunotherapy.

Equities Trading DOWN

Paycom Software Inc PAYC shares tumbled 5 percent to $38.55 after the company priced 4.5 million shares at $37.95 per share.

Shares of Lightinthebox Holding Co Ltd-ADR LITB were down 15 percent to $2.81. Light in the Box reported a Q3 loss of $0.11 per share on revenue of $78.4 million.

Foundation Medicine Inc FMI was down, falling 8 percent to $22.26. Wells Fargo downgraded Foundation Medicine from Outperform to Market Perform.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 2.40 percent to $45.66, while gold traded up 0.93 percent to $1,112.80.

Silver traded up 2.89 percent Wednesday to $14.74, while copper rose 0.39 percent to $2.44.

Euro zone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 climbed 1.27 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.47 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index jumped 0.58 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.50 percent, and the French CAC 40 jumped 1.38 percent, while U.K. shares rose 1.18 percent.

Economics

The MBA reported that its index of mortgage application activity declined 7 percent for the week ended September 11, 2015.

The Consumer Price Index declined 0.1 percent in August, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.1 percent drop. However, core consumer prices increased 0.1 percent in August.

The NAHB housing market index rose to 62.00 in September, versus a prior reading of 61.00. However, economists were expecting a reading of 61.00.

The Federal Open Market Committee will begin its two-day meeting today.