Mid-Day Market Update: Red Robin Dips After Downbeat Earnings; Kohl's Shares Jump

Midway through trading Thursday, the Dow traded up 0.26 percent to 16,694.18 while the NASDAQ surged 0.25 percent to 4,445.10. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.29 percent to 1,952.45.

Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Thursday, utilities shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.69 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Chesapeake Utilities CPK, up 3.2 percent, and American Water Works Company AWK, up 2 percent.
Basic materials shares dropped by 0.27 percent in today’s trading. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Silver Wheaton SLW, down 3.7 percent, and Cliffs Natural Resources CLF, off 3.4 percent.

Top Headline
Wal-Mart Stores WMT lowered its full-year earnings forecast.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company posted quarterly profit from continuing operations of $3.92 billion, or $1.21 per share, compared to $4.06 billion, or $1.23 per share, in the year-ago quarter.
Its sales rose 2.8% to $119.34 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $1.21 per share on revenue of $118.98 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Plug Power PLUG shares shot up 2.58 percent to $6.01 after the company posted in-line second-quarter loss. The company also reported upbeat quarterly revenue.
Shares of Kohl's KSS got a boost, shooting up 3.28 percent to $56.92 after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter earnings.
NetApp NTAP shares were also up, gaining 3.94 percent to $40.85 after the company reported upbeat fiscal first-quarter results. Needham upgraded NetApp from Hold to Buy.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers RRGB were down 21.10 percent to $50.93 after the company reported downbeat second-quarter profit.
Noodles & Company NDLS shares tumbled 21.36 percent to $19.82 on disappointing Q2 results and an outlook below expectations.
Energy XXI (Bermuda) EXXI was down, falling 18.20 percent to $16.07 after the company reported a Q4 loss of $0.06 per share.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded down 1.46 percent to $96.17, while gold traded down 0.11 percent to $1,313.10.
Silver traded up 0.05 percent Thursday to $19.86, while copper fell 0.70 percent to $3.11.

Euro zone
European shares were mostly higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 rose 0.33 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index dropped 0.07 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index dropped 0.29 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX rose 0.39 percent and the French CAC 40 surged 0.40 percent while UK shares gained 0.42 percent.

Economics
US jobless claims increased 21,000 to 311,000 in the week ended August 9. However, economists were expecting jobless claim to reach 295,000 in the week.
US Import price index dropped 0.2% in July, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.3% decline. However, export prices were unchanged in the month.
US natural-gas supplies climbed 78 billion cubic feet in the week ended August 8, according to the Energy Information Administration. However, analysts were projecting a rise of 81 bcf to 85 bcf.
Data on money supply will be released at 4:30 p.m. ET.