Mid-Afternoon Market Update: Cracker Barrel Drops Following Q4 Results; Intra-Cellular Therapies Shares Jump

Toward the end trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.42 percent to 16,669.87 while the NASDAQ climbed 0.06 percent to 4,863.33. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.40 percent to 1,986.04.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

In trading on Wednesday, energy shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.29 percent. Top gainers in the sector included QEP Resources Inc QEP, up 11 percent, and Denbury Resources Inc. DNR, up 10 percent.

Healthcare shares fell by 0.03 percent in Wednesday’s trading. Meanwhile, top losers in the sector included Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. FOLD, down 10 percent, and Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc IDRA, off 8 percent.

Top Headline

FedEx Corporation FDX reported downbeat earnings for its fiscal first quarter and lowered its forecast for the full year.

The Memphis, Tennessee-based company posted quarterly net profit of $692 million, or $2.42 per share, compared to $653 million, or $2.26 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Its revenue rose to $12.3 billion from $11.7 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $2.46 per share on revenue of $12.3 billion.

Equities Trading UP

Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc ITCI shares shot up 75 percent to $45.82 following the announcement of positive top line results for ITI-007 first Phase 3 trial.

Shares of Adept Technology Inc ADEP got a boost, shooting up 62 percent to $12.92 after the company agreed to be acquired by OMRON for $13 per share.

Molson Coors Brewing Company TAP shares were also up, gaining 13 percent to $82.13 following confirmation of Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) BUD proposal to acquire SABMiller plc (ADR) SBMRY.

Equities Trading DOWN

Paycom Software Inc PAYC shares tumbled 7 percent to $37.82 after the company priced 4.5 million shares at $37.95 per share.

Shares of Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. SIRO were down 4 percent to $95.05. DENTSPLY International Inc. XRAY and Sirona Dental Systems reported that the companies will combine in an all-stock merger deal. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Sirona Dental Systems from Buy to Hold.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. CBRL was down, falling 4 percent to $145.01. Cracker Barrel reported better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter, but the company’s sales missed analysts’ estimates.

The company issued a mixed guidance for FY 2016.

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded up 5.11 percent to $46.87, while gold traded up 1.56 percent to $1,119.80.

Silver traded up 4.01 percent Wednesday to $14.90, while copper rose 1.03 percent to $2.45.

Eurozone

European shares closed higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 climbed 1.53 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 1.99 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index jumped 0.71 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX gained 0.38 percent, and the French CAC 40 jumped 1.67 percent, while U.K. shares rose 1.49 percent.

Economics

The MBA reported that its index of mortgage application activity declined 7 percent for the week ended September 11, 2015.

The Consumer Price Index declined 0.1 percent in August, versus economists’ expectations for a 0.1 percent drop. However, core consumer prices increased 0.1 percent in August.

The NAHB housing market index rose to 62.00 in September, versus a prior reading of 61.00. However, economists were expecting a reading of 61.00.

Crude supplies declined 2.1 million barrels for the week ended September 11, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. However, analysts were expecting a drop of 200,000 barrels. Gasoline supplies gained 2.8 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles rose 3.1 barrels.

The Fed begins its two-day meeting today.