Higher Open After Data
Stock index futures dipped slightly
after the release of government reports showing strong retail sales and tame
produce price inflation, but stocks still appeared headed higher at the open.
The September S&P futures lost
0.10 points to 1474.20, or 5.93 points above fair value of 1468.27, as
determined by HL Camp & Co., a program-trading outfit. The Nasdaq futures
lost 13.50 to 3617.50.
The government reported retail sales
rose 0.7% in July vs. a revised rate of 0.4% in June. Ex-auto sales rose 0.6%
from 0.3%.
Producer price inflation at the core
ran at 0.1% in July, unchanged from June. Bonds rallied on the news. The yield
on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 5.71% from 5.77%.
Zale
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PowerRating), the No. 1 specialty
jewelry retailer, said it would acquire Piercing Pagoda
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PowerRating), which sells
low-priced earrings and pierces ears at mall-based kiosks, for about $192
million in cash. Zale will make a tender offer of $21.50 for each Piercing
Pagoda share.
Investment services firm Southwest
Securities Group
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PowerRating) and Matrix Bancorp
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PowerRating) said they had
terminated their proposed stock merger plan and will continue to operate
independently.
Speciality finance firm New Century
Financial
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PowerRating) reported a loss of 63 cents per share June 30 quarter vs.
earnings of 73 cents a year ago. The company said profit margins have been
squeezed by higher interest rates. The Fed has raised interest rates six times
since June 1999, making it more expensive for banks to borrow money to fund new
loans and dampening demand for mortgage loans.
Overnight
After Thursday’s close, Dell Computer
reported a earnings of 22 cents per share for the quarter ending July 28 vs. 19
cents a year ago and beating analyst estimates by a penny, according to First
Call/Thomson Financial. Revenue climbed 25% to to $7.7 billion.
Internet incubator Internet Capital Group
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PowerRating) reported a Q2 loss of 70
cents vs. a loss of 6 cent a year ago.
Cookie company Keebler Foods
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PowerRating) posted net income of 37 cents a share in
the second quarter vs. operating net of 27 cents a year ago and two cents above
estimates.
Pixar Animation Studios
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PowerRating) reported second-quarter earnings 16 cents a
share vs. 13 cents a year earlier. Wall Street expected the maker of
computer-animated films to earn 14 cents.