Thursday, November 12, 2009

Stocks slip on improved jobless data

Dow fell 48 decliners over advancers 5-2 & NAZ was off 7. Banks were soft, the Financial Index went below 200.

S&P 500 FINANCIALS INDEX

Value
198.83
Change
-2.38
% Change
-1.2%


High yields were sliding. The MLP index was off pennies still in the 259s & the Dow Jones REIT Index fell 1. Junk bond finds were flattish near their 2009 highs. The yield on the 10 year Treasury bond was off 1 basis point to 3.46%. Not a lot happening here.


Alerian MLP Index --- 2 weeks




Dow Jones REIT Index --- 2 weeks





Oil is lower ahead of the weekly inventory report (delayed one day because of the holiday). Gold is not showing a new price, still at 1114.

CLZ09.NYM...Crude Oil Dec 09...77.68 ...Down 1.60
.......(2.0%)



Claims for unemployment insurance fell more than expected last week. First-time claims for jobless benefits dropped to 502K from an upwardly revised 514K in the prior week, the fewest claims since Jan 3 & below estimates. The 4-week average dropped to 519K, the lowest in almost a year & has fallen by more than 20% since its spring peak. The number continuing to claim benefits dropped by 139K to 5.6M, also below estimates.

Initial Jobless Claims in U.S. Fall More Than Estimated to a 10-Month Low


Weekly Jobless claims - 52 weeks




Number Receiving Benefits - 52 weeks




Jobless Rate (%) - 1 year






Wal-Mart (WMT), Dow stock & Dividend Aristocrat, reported profits in the last qtr rose 3% due to cost cutting & the outlook for Q4 was little changed. Same store sales fell 0.4% in the qtr as tougher times are reaching WMT. The report was viewed as a mixed bag but the stock was up 43¢.

Walmart Profit Rises 3.2%, Sales to Be Little Changed


Wal-Mart --- 1 year





This is turning out to be a quiet day as may be the case tomorrow. Favorable unemployment news drew little response, probably because the dreary unemployment rate over 10% overhangs the markets. Also a mixed & unclear message from WMT was not encouraging.


Dow Jones Industrials --- 2 weeks

No comments: