Benzinga Market Primer: Thursday, April 25

Futures Slightly Higher on Earnings, Economy

U.S. equity futures traded slightly higher in early pre-market trade as mixed earnings and economic data kept any bullish sentiment tepid. Key economic reports from Europe continued to point to slow-to-no growth and mixed earnings from key economic bellwethers in the U.S. kept gains minimal.

Top News

In other news around the markets:

• The U.K. avoided a triple-dip recession, according to the government. The U.K. reported that first quarter GDP grew 0.3 percent vs. 0.1 percent expected and better than the previous estimate of 0.2 percent. The report showed the best growth since the fourth quarter of 2011 and notably, construction output rose 2.5 percent in the quarter.


• Spain's unemployment rate rose to a new record in the first quarter, as Spain reported that an astounding 27.2 percent of the labor force is unemployed, more than the fourth quarter of 2012's 26.02 percent.


• The Japanese Ministry of Finance released data on foreign flows of funds, showing slower than expected outflows from the country into foreign assets, weighing on the USD/JPY and keeping the rate below the 100 level.


• S&P 500 futures rose 3.2 points to 1,577.30.


• The EUR/USD was higher at 1.3060.


• Spanish 10-year government bond yields were flat at 4.28 percent.


• Italian 10-year government bond yields were flat at 4.01 percent.


• Gold rose 1.51 percent to $1,445.70 per ounce.

Asian Markets

Asian shares were mostly higher overnight save for Japan as shares following the strength seen in European shares Wednesday. The Japanese Nikkei Index rose 0.6 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.86 percent while the Hang Seng Index rose 0.98 percent. Also, the Korean Kospi rose 0.84 percent while Australian shares rose 1.72 percent on central bank easing hopes.

European Markets

European shares were lower after strong gains yesterday following increased hopes of further ECB easing as well as the U.K. GDP data. The Spanish Ibex Index fell 1.1 percent and the Italian FTSE MIB Index fell 0.06 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX rose 0.22 percent and the French CAC 40 fell 0.17 percent while U.K. shares slipped a mere 0.05 percent.

Commodities

Commodities were mostly higher overnight as the dollar weakened. WTI Crude futures rose 0.26 percent to $91.70 per barrel and Brent Crude futures slipped 0.08 percent to $101.74 per barrel. Copper futures rose 1.2 percent to $320.30 per pound on hopes of RBA easing. Gold was higher and silver futures rose 1.98 percent to $23.37 per ounce.

Currencies

Currency markets were in flux overnight as the dollar weakened against most major trading partners. The EUR/USD was higher at 1.3060 and the dollar fell against the yen to 99.20 while the pound was stronger against the dollar at 1.5427. Overall, the Dollar Index slipped 0.48 percent on weakness against the pound, the euro, the yen, the Swiss franc, and the Canadian dollar.

Earnings Reported Yesterday

Key companies that reported earnings Wednesday include:

• Boeing BA reported first quarter EPS of $1.73 vs. $1.47 expected on revenue of $18.89 billion vs. $18.91 billion expected.


• Ford F reported first quarter EPS of $0.41 vs. $0.39 expected on revenue of $33.9 billion vs. $33.77 billion expected.
• Hess HES reported first quarter EPS of $1.95 vs. $1.59 expected on revenue of $9.3 billion.


• Eli Lilly LLY reported first quarter EPS of $1.14 vs. $1.05 expected on revenue of $5.6 billion vs. $5.66 billion.


• Proctor and Gamble PG reported first quarter EPS of $0.99 vs. $0.96 expected on revenue of $20.6 billion vs. $20.74 billion expected.


• Qualcomm QCOM reported second quarter EPS of $1.17 vs. $1.16 expected on revenue of $6.12 billion vs. $6.07 billion.


• Zynga ZNGA reported first quarter EPS of $0.01 vs. an expected $0.04 loss per share on revenue of $264.00 million vs. $209.79 million expected but lowered guidance.

Pre-Market Movers

Stocks moving in the pre-market included:

• Zynga ZNGA shares fell 9.82 percent pre-market on lower than expected guidance.


• Newmont Mining NEM shares rose 1.22 percent pre-market on higher metals prices this morning.


• Google GOOG shares traded near flat on reports that the company has reached a settlement with the EU on its anti-trust probe.


• General Electric GE shares rose 0.41 percent as the company announced that its financing arm will no longer make financing available for companies in the firearms industry.

Earnings

Notable companies expected to report earnings Thursday include:

• Amazon AMZN is expected to report first quarter EPS of $0.09 vs. $0.28 a year ago.


• Biogen BIIB is expected to report first quarter EPS of $1.59 vs. $1.40 a year ago.


• Expedia EXPE is expected to report first quarter EPS of $0.23 vs. $0.26 a year ago.


• 3M MMM is expected to report first quarter EPS of $1.66 vs. $1.59 a year ago.


• Potash POT is expected to report first quarter EPS of $0.61 vs. $0.56 a year ago.


• Time Warner Cable TWC is expected to report first quarter EPS of $1.40 vs. $1.20 a year ago.


• Exxon Mobil XOM is expected to report first quarter EPS of $2.04 vs. $2.00 a year ago.

Economics

On the economics calendar Thursday, initial jobless claims and the Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index are both expected today. Also, the Treasury is expected to auction 7-year notes. Overnight, the Bank of Japan meeting and press conference could move the yen while Spain will release deficit data.

Good luck and good trading.