Mid-Day Market Update: LSC Communications Jumps On Acquisition News; McDermott Shares Plunge

Midway through trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 1.11 percent to 25,150.70 while the NASDAQ climbed 1.99 percent to 7,304.08. The S&P also rose, gaining 1.2 percent to 2,714.74.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

On Wednesday, the information technology shares rose 2.3 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Ribbon Communications Inc RBBN up 22 percent, and MaxLinear, Inc. MXK up 16 percent.

In trading on Wednesday, consumer staples shares fell 1.2 percent.

Top Headline

Facebook, Inc. FB reported upbeat earnings for its third quarter, while sales missed estimates.

Facebook reported earnings of $1.76 per share, beating the $1.47 estimate by 19.7 percent. Sales came in at $13.73 billion against a $13.79-billion estimate, but a 32-percent year-over-year increase.

The company reported daily active users for September were up 9 percent year-over-year.

Equities Trading UP

Strongbridge Biopharma plc SBBP shares shot up 58 percent to $6.4101 after it was reported Novo Nordisk will acquire the US and Canadian rights to MACRILEN from the company and acquire 5.2 million shares for $7/share.

Shares of LSC Communications, Inc. LKSD got a boost, shooting up 20 percent to $10.21 after Quad/Graphics, Inc. QUAD announced plans to acquire the company in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.4 billion.

Accuray Incorporated ARAY shares were also up, gaining 35 percent to $4.65 after the company posted Q1 results.

Equities Trading DOWN

Maxar Technologies Ltd. MAXR shares dropped 42 percent to $15.81 after the company reported weak Q3 results.

Shares of Owens & Minor, Inc. OMI were down 40 percent to $8.58 after the company reported downbeat Q3 sales and issued weak FY18 earnings forecast.

McDermott International Inc MDR was down, falling around 42 percent to $7.51 after the company posted downbeat Q3 results and announced plans to divest storage tank business and U.S. pipe fabrication business.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 0.21 percent to $66.32 while gold traded down 0.63 percent to $1,217.60.

Silver traded down 1.12 percent Wednesday to $14.30, while copper fell 0.08 to $2.662.

Eurozone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 climbed 1.63 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.1 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index rose 0.16 percent. Meanwhile the German DAX climbed 1.4 percent, and the French CAC 40 climbed 2.3 percent while U.K. shares rose 1.47 percent.

Economics

Private-sector employers added 227,000 new jobs in October. However, economists were expecting an addition of 189,000 new jobs.

The employment cost index rose 0.8 percent for the third quarter, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.7 percent increase.

The Chicago PMI declined to 58.40 for October, versus prior reading of 60.40. However, economists were expecting a reading of 60.30.

Domestic crude supplies climbed 3.2 million barrels for the week ended October 26, the Energy Information Administration reported. However, analysts projected a gain of 3.3 million barrels. Gasoline stockpiles dropped 3.2 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles declined 4.1 million barrels last week.