Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Dry Bulkers Running as Gold Stocks Take a Hit

Toward the end of trading Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.09 percent to 14,944.02 while the NASDAQ surged 0.35 percent to 3,661.67. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.19 percent to 1,656.60. Top Headline
Conn's CONN reported a 65% rise in its fiscal second-quarter profit. Conn's quarterly profit surged to $19.2 million, or $0.52 per share, from $11.6 million, or $0.35 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue rose 30% to $270.7 million, while same-store sales increased 18%. However, analysts were estimating earnings of $0.60 per share on revenue of $260 million. Equities Trading UP
Kaydon KDN shot up 22.91 percent to $35.52 after the company agreed to be acquired by SKF for $35.50 per share in cash. Shares of Dryships DRYS were also on the rise, gaining 7.63 percent to $2.685 as the sector as a whole moved up sharply today, possibly linked to a 64 point rally in the Baltic Dry index. Groupon GRPN was also up, gaining 4.03 percent to $10.70 after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to Overweight. Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Conns CONN were down 12.00 percent to $60.10 after the company reported downbeat fiscal second-quarter profit. Agnico Eagle Mines AEM was also down, dropping 6.04 percent to $28.78 despite the company being held at a Neutral rating by Zacks. The drop could be attributed to general weakness in the gold sector on today's session. Bazaarvoice BV was down, falling 17.00 percent to $9.32 after the company reported fiscal first-quarter results. Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 1.03 percent to $108.33, while gold traded down 1.47 percent to $1,369.70. Silver traded down 1.07 percent Thursday to $23.24, while copper rose 0.23 percent to $3.24. Euro zone
European shares were higher today. The Spanish Ibex Index gained 0.70 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index rose 0.78 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.48 percent and the French CAC 40 climbed 0.66 percent while U.K. shares rose 0.89 percent. Economics
Monthly job cuts rose 56.50% y/y in August, outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported. The private sector added 176,000 jobs in August, according to Automatic Data Processing Inc. However, economists were expecting a gain of 184,000 jobs. US jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 323,000 in the week ended August 31. However, economists were projecting claims to decline to 330,000. Productivity increased 2.3% in the second quarter, versus a prior reading of 0.9%. However, economists were expecting productivity to rise 1.6%. The Bloomberg Consumer Confidence Index declined to -32.30 for the week ended September 1, versus a prior reading of -31.70. The ISM non-manufacturing index rose to 58.60 in August, versus a prior reading of 56.00. However, economists were expecting a reading of 55.00. US factory orders declined 2.40% in July, versus economists' expectations for a 3.40% drop. Natural-gas supplies rose 58 billion cubic feet for the week ended August 30, the US Energy Information Administration reported. However, analysts were expecting an increase of 53 billion cubic feet to 57 billion cubic feet. Crude oil supplies declined 1.8 million barrels for the week ended August 30. However, analysts were estimating a fall of 2.5 million barrels. Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.