Mid-Morning Market Update: Markets Mostly Higher; DISH Network Profit Tops Estimates

Following the market opening Monday, the Dow traded down 0.05 percent to 20,930.92 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.35 percent to 6,068.94. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.10 percent to 2,386.68.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Technology sector was the top gainer in the US market on Monday. Top gainers in the sector included Ultra Clean Holdings Inc UCTT, Pixelworks, Inc. PXLW, and FormFactor, Inc. FORM.

In trading on Monday, utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.43 percent. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included PG&E Corporation PCG, down 1.5 percent, and CMS Energy Corporation CMS, down 1 percent.

Top Headline

DISH Network Corp DISH reported stronger-than-expected earnings for its first quarter, but revenue missed estimates.

DISH said it earned $0.76 per share in the first quarter on revenue of $3.68 billion; Analysts were expecting the company to earn $0.69 per share on revenue of $3.78 billion.

Equities Trading UP

The Ensign Group, Inc. ENSG shares shot up 15 percent to $20.60 after the company reported strong results for its first quarter.

Shares of Medical Transcription Billing Corp MTBC got a boost, shooting up 26 percent to $1.72. Medical Transcription Billing disclosed that it has developed Health Information Exchange interfaces between its clinical platforms and leading hospitals.

Costamare Inc CMRE shares were also up, gaining 7 percent to $7.23. Credit Suisse upgraded Costamare from Underperform to Neutral.

Equities Trading DOWN

First NBC Bank Holding Company FNBC shares dropped 91 percent to $0.250. First NBC Bank was closed by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions.

Shares of AEterna Zentaris Inc. (USA) AEZS were down around 60 percent to $1.33 after the company disclosed that its Phase 3 Zoptec study did not achieve primary endpoint.

ITI Inc ITCI was down, falling around 38 percent to $8.55 after the company issued a corporate update on its schizophrenia program.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 0.73 percent to $48.97 while gold traded down 0.20 percent to $1,265.70.

Silver traded down 0.45 percent Monday to $17.185, while copper rose 0.13 percent to $2.611.

Economics

U.S. consumer spending was flat for March, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.2 percent growth. Personal income rose 0.2 percent in March, versus estimates for a 0.3 percent gain.

The Markit manufacturing PMI came in unchanged at 52.80 for April. Economists expected a reading of 52.80.

U.S. construction spending declined 0.2 percent for March, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.4 percent gain.

The ISM manufacturing index dropped to 54.80 in April, versus a prior reading of 57.20. However, economists were expecting a reading of 56.50.

The Treasury is set to auction 3-and 6-month bills at 11:30 a.m. ET.