The Best In Two Years
The Semi Index
(
$SOX |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) has remained mostly
unchanged for the morning session as traders seem to be waiting on the
sidelines ahead of Intel’s
(
INTC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) earnings report after the bell.Â
While many analysts are expecting the chip giant to meet or beat estimates,
there also have been valuation calls over the past couple of weeks. Juniper
(
JNPR |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
is another key tech company reporting after the bell. The networking gear sector
is mixed ahead of the report.
Sales at U.S. retailers fell less than expected
in December, and their business in the final three months of 2001 was the best
for any quarter in almost two years. This could be a sign the economy may soon
emerge from recession. Retail sales decreased 0.1% during the month,
reflecting declines at auto dealers and cheaper gasoline, while business
increased at electronics, department and furniture stores, the Commerce
Department said. The drop was less than the 1.3% decrease expected by
analysts and followed a 3.0% fall a month earlier and October’s 6.4%
surge upward.
The S&P 500
(
$SPX |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is trading higher
by 5.70 at 1146.00. The DJIA
(
$INDU |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is higher at 9937, up 42, and
the Nasdaq
(
$COMPQ |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is trading higher at 1996.62, up 5.88.
Analysts are continuing to pay attention to the Airline sector. Goldman Sachs
raised America West
(
AWA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) to Market Outperform from Market Perform.
Goldman also had positive comments about Midwest Express
(
MEH |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating). They
raised EPS estimates for 2001, 2002 and 2003. In addition, CSFB upgraded UAL
(
UAL |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) to Buy from Hold as part of the firm’s more positive stance on the
airline group.
As the Enron debacle
continues to unfold, Duke Energy
(
DUK |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating), Mirant
(
MIR |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating), and
other energy companies have gained market share from their once dominant rival
which had been the largest energy trader.
Tyco International
(
TYC |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is
lower by 4.95 and is at its low of 47.45. The maker of electronic connectors said
profit in the second quarter ending March 31 will be 80 to 82 cents a
share, less than the 86 cent average estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson
Financial/First Call.
Check
Point Software
(
CHKP |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) has dropped 4.84 to 39.84. The Internet
security software maker was downgraded to “buy” from “strong buy” by analyst
Christopher Russ at Wachovia Securities.
Dynacq International
(
DYII |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
is higher by 1.53 at 24.35. The provider of health care services said in a
statement that net income in the first quarter ended Nov. 30 rose to 23 cents a share
from 17 cents a year earlier.
Rent-A-Center
(
RCII |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) is
higher by 6.04 to 37.03. The operator of rent-to-own stores said fourth
quarter earnings were 68 to 70 cents a share. The average forecast
of seven analysts surveyed by First Call was for 58 cents.
Click
here for
TradingMarkets.com Top Stocks