Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Stock Market Update - Jan. 17, - Jan. 21, 2011 Mixed Economic Data Continues

Stock Market Update
Friday, Jan. 21, 2011
---------------------------------
This will be the last weekly column of the Stock Market Update for a while, as I take a break from the hectic writing and daily deadlines. I’ll still be  writing occasionally. The best part of the column has always been hearing feedback from readers. I will continue to try to respond personally to every e-mail, and read all the comments posted here at the journal.
---------------------------------
Latest US Economic News Headlines:









USA EQUITY INDEXES: (FRIDAY, JAN. 21; 4:00 PM EST)

.(Closing Index Numbers)
Dow Jones 11,871.84 +49.04 (+0.41%)
Nasdaq         2,689.54 -14.75 (-0.55%)
S&P 500       1,283.35  +3.09 (+0.24%)




Dow Jones 2:00 PM Averages: DJIA 11,877.63 UP 54.83
  30 INDUS     11,877.63 UP   54.83 OR    0.46%
  20 TRANSP     5,051.99 DN   28.83 OR    0.57%
  15 UTILS        413.22 DN    0.49 OR    0.12%
  65 STOCKS     4,088.06 UP    2.03 OR    0.05%


US COMMODITY PRICES: (FRIDAY, JAN. 21; 4:00 PM EST)
Crude Oil     89.10     - 0.01%
Natural Gas     4.72     - 0.30%
Gasoline     2.46     +0.12%
Heating Oil     2.66     + 0.37%
Gold     1342.96     - 0.21%
Silver     27.48     +0.12%
Copper     4.30     + 0.8%


US DOLLAR FUTURES INDEX DXY; FRIDAY, JAN. 21, 2011:  
4:05PM EST: 78.49  Down 0.33 (0.42%)

US DOLLAR INDEX DXY (30 MIN DELAY)













EUR/USD
U.S. Dollar Drops, Stocks Mixed Edge Higher, Commodities Rise

FRIDAY, Jan. 21, 2011: The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.41% percent to close at 11,871.84, gaining 49 points. The Nasdaq lost -14.75 points to close lower at 2,689.54. The SPX500 gained 3.09 points to end the week at 1,283.35. U.S. blue-chip stocks gained as encouraging earnings from General Electric boosted industrial stocks, overshadowing a handful of disappointing reports.  

At mid-day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 31 points, or 0.3%, to 11853. GE led the measure, soaring 6.7%, after its profit jumped 51% and revenue also beat Wall Street's estimates, with a pickup in orders for big-ticket equipment and services.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% to 2699. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 0.3% to 1284, led by the industrial sector. Financial and telecommunications stocks were also strong. 


Equity futures are pointing to a higher open. The U.S. dollar declined from overnights high against the Yen and Euro. The dollar weakened against both the euro and the yen. The euro was trading recently at $1.3536. Crude-oil prices eased, while gold futures also declined.   The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66 points, or 0.6%, to 11889. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.5% to 2719. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 0.6% to 1288, led by the industrial sector. 


U.S. BANK FAILURES:
The FDIC Closed Banks Friday After Hours
The U.S. Government FDIC regulators closed additional Banks late Friday and seized all assets.The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp announced it closed additional banks.  

United Western Bank, Denver, CO., January 21, 2011
Bank of Asheville, Asheville, NC., January 21, 2011
CommunitySouth Bank & Trust, Easley, SC., January 21, 2011
Enterprise Banking Company, McDonough, GA., January 21, 2011

To see the complete list of failed banks and credit unions visit:
Online Consultancy Network™ Bank Failure List

http://ocnww.blogspot.com/2011/01/bank-failure-list-updated-january-28.html 

THURSDAY: The U.S. indexes declined Thursday. The Dow settled at 11,822.8, just 2.49 points lower. The Nasdaq lost 21 points to close at 2704, while the SPX500 declined 1.66 points to end the session off at 1280.26.  

The dollar rose. The U.S. Dollar Index, tracking the U.S. currency against a basket of six others, gained 0.3%.  U.S. equities fell Thursday as the dollar strengthened and commodities and blue chips declined on earnings news.  News that China may further restrict borrowing also concerned investors.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 42 points, or 0.4%, to 11783.The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7% to 2706. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped 0.4% to 1276. The materials and energy sectors led the drop in U.S. stocks. Commodities weakened on concerns about the impact to demand if China announces more policy moves after data showed its economy unexpectedly accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2010.  

WEDNESDAY: U.S. equity indexes are lower in mixed trading Wednesday.  The Dow closed 12.64 points lower to end at 11,825.29. The Nasdaq ended 40.49 points lower to close at 2725.36. The SPX500 closed 13.10 points off, to close out the session at 1281.92.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped in and out of positive territory during the session, and was two points higher at 11840 in mid-afternoon trading. The broader Standard & Poor's 500-stock index dropped 0.9% to 1283. Materials also lagged behind as commodity prices sagged, with U.S. Steel off 4.6% and AK Steel Holding falling 4.1%. Monsanto was also down 3.4%. Copper fell 1.2%, while crude-oil prices slipped to below $92 a barrel. Gold futures edged up.  

The lower dollar is driving commodities and providers higher in early trading. The euro was recently up 0.9% to $1.3516, after hitting two-month highs against the greenback. The dollar weakened against both the euro and the yen. The euro was trading recently at $1.3472, up from $1.3385 late Tuesday in New York. The U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks the currency against a basket of others, fell 0.6%.

The day's U.S. economic data was mixed. Blue-chip stocks start the day with slim gains, buoyed by early strength in IBM after it reports sharply higher profit, while the broader market dips modestly after a round of mixed corporate quarterly reports. IBM is up 3% but Goldman dips 2% after its results disappoint. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 4 points to 11834.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.7% to 2747. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index dropped 0.5% to 1288.

TUESDAY: The U.S. equities market moved higher with a lowered dollar and mixed economic data in the equities market. U.S. stocks on Tuesday tallied mild gains, with the Dow industrials boosted by aircraft maker Boeing Co. amid disappointing earnings from Citigroup Inc. and concerns about Apple Inc.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 64.25 points, or 0.6%, to 11,851.56, with 20 of its 30 components higher. Boeing Co. (BA) led the blue chips, its shares rising 3.1% after the company said it now expects to deliver its new 787 jet in the third quarter. 

The Standard & Poor's Index (SPX) was up 1 point at 1,294.17, with energy the best performing of its 10 industry group. Telecommunications fared the worst.Shares of iPod maker Apple (AAPL) slumped 1.7% after news that Jobs would be taking another medical leave. Apple is scheduled to release its earnings after Tuesday's close. 

The Nasdaq 100 lately stood at 2,326.11, up 2.35 points, or 0.2%.The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) rose 3.81 points, or 0.1%, to 2,759.11.Decliners remained just ahead of advancers on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume topped 623 million as of 1:35 p.m. Eastern time.

On Tuesday, banking giant Citigroup (C) reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed Wall Street's expectations, while Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) also reported results that came up short.
"The reports from Delta and Citigroup may bring some sense of reality to Wall Street, reminding investors that there will be some negative earnings surprises this quarter," said Fred Dickson, chief investment strategist at Davidson Cos. 

Shares of Citigroup fell 5.9%, while those of Delta retreated 5.8%.Wall Street offered little reaction to the National Association of Home Builders reporting its housing market index held steady in January, with the trade group's index unchanged at 16 for a third consecutive month.


,____________________________________________________________
CRUDE OIL:



US CRUDE OIL
FRIDAY: $ 112.11 PER BARREL

FRIDAY Jan. 21, 2011 OIL FUTURES: Nymex Crude Settles Down 48c At $89.11 per barrel


 Oil futures were flat Friday as traders paused a day after a steep sell-off prompted by worries about China's economy.

Light, sweet crude for March delivery fell 2 cents at $89.57 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange added 47 cents, or 0.5%, at $97.06 a barrel.

Front-month February reformulated gasoline blend-stock, or RBOB, recently traded up 0.64 cent, or 0.3%, at $2.4289 gallon. February heating oil added 1.04 cent, or 0.4%, at $2.6336 a gallon.
 


THURSDAY OIL FUTURES: Nymex Crude Settles Down $2 at $88.86/Barrel 
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REPORT:
DOE: US Refineries Ran At 83.0%; Seen 85.70%
US Gasoline Stocks +4.443 Mln Bbl At 227.67 Mln Bbl
US Crude Oil Stocks +2.617M Bbl In Wk; Seen -0.9M Bbl

U.S. crude inventories rose by more than analysts' expectations last week, according to data released Thursday by the the U.S. Department of Energy.

Crude oil stockpiles rose by 2.6 million barrels to 335.7 million barrels, compared with an average survey estimate calling for a 900,000-barrel drop. The American Petroleum Institute, an indsutry group, reported on a 3.5-million-barrel build in its weekly report released Wednesday. Distillate stocks, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, rose by 1 million barrels to 165.8 million barrels, compared with analysts' forecast calling for a 500,000-barrel build.

Refining capacity utilization fell 3.4 percentage points to 83%. Analysts had expected a decline of 0.7 percentage point. .

Light, sweet crude futures for February delivery were recently down $2.51, or 2.8%, to $88.35 a barrel following the report, maintaining earlier losses. The February contract expires at settlement Thursday, and March futures were down $2.47 to $89.34 a barrel. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchanges were recently down $1.99 at $96.17 a barrel.

Front-month February reformulated gasoline blend-stock, or RBOB, recently fell 6.91 cents to $2.4125 a gallon. February heating oil lost 4.67 cents to $2.6095 a gallon.


WEDNESDAY  OIL FUTURES: Nymex Crude Settles 52c Lower At $90.86/Barrel   

Thursday's inventory numbers caused concern among investors who drew down the crude futures price in afternoon trading.  

Light, sweet crude for February delivery settled 52 cents, or 0.6%, lower at $90.86 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded 36 cents higher at $98.16 a barrel. Front-month February reformulated gasoline blend-stock, or RBOB, settled 0.24 cent higher at $2.4816 a gallon. February heating oil settled 1.03 cents higher at $2.6562 a gallon.
  


The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, said late Wednesday crude stocks rose by 3.5 million barrels. Gasoline stocks rose by 1.9 million barrels, while stocks of distillates rose by 900,000 barrels. Near-capacity stockpiles of oil in Cushing, Okla., the delivery point for Nymex-traded West Texas Intermediate crude futures, has kept the U.S. benchmark trading at a large discount to Brent, which is used to price much of the oil in Europe and Asia.

Crude futures moved higher in morning trading Wednesday, helped by a weak dollar ahead of key inventory data later this week. U.S. oil inventories are expected to fall by 1.4 million barrels in weekly data from the U.S. Department of Energy. But the expected decline is partly due to the shutdown of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which restarted Monday. 

Light, sweet crude for February delivery recently traded 33 cents, or 0.4%, higher at $91.71 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded 52 cents higher at $98.32 a barrel.


Front-month February reformulated gasoline blend-stock, or RBOB, recently traded 1.61 cents, or 0.7%, higher at $2.4953 a gallon. February heating oil recently traded 2.46 cents higher at $2.6705 a gallon. 

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, is scheduled to release its weekly inventory data later Wednesday.  





TUESDAY OIL FUTURES: Nymex Crude Settles 16c Lower At $91.38/Barrel  

TUESDAY: Oil futures were flat Tuesday. Crude futures settled slightly lower Tuesday, as traders paused following a report from the International Energy Agency that offered a mixed picture on global oil supplies.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery settled 16 cents, or 0.2%, lower at $91.38 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded 31 cents higher at $97.74 a barrel. 

Front-month February reformulated gasoline blend-stock, or RBOB, settled down 1.54 cents at $2.4792 a gallon. February heating oil settled 0.07 cent higher at $2.6459 a gallon. 

U.S. gasoline stockpiles have risen by 12.9 million barrels to 223 million barrels since the beginning of November, reaching the highest level for the first week of January since 1994.

Inventories of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel, sit at 165 million barrels, the highest level since 1983 and 17% higher than the five-year average. 

Early Tuesday, the IEA said the world will need more crude from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries amid faster-than-expected oil demand growth. The Paris-based agency, which represents the world's main energy consuming nations, boosted its 2010 and 2011 demand estimates by 320,000 barrels a day from its December report, due to stronger-than-expected consumption by the U.S. and other industrialized nations.

But the report sounded a note of caution on the recent rise in oil prices.Friday after China's central bank raised its reserve requirements, spurring fears of declining demand in the world's No. 2 oil consumer.

The IEA said Saudi Arabia, which voices a more moderate pricing policy than some other OPEC members, had increased volumes by 100,000 barrels a day in December to 8.6 million b/d - the country's highest output level since November 2008.

"It appears Saudi Arabia has been making more crude available to the market in the past six months, judging by export data from independent tanker trackers," the report said, adding that preliminary data suggested the kingdom's January output would be higher still.

"The Saudis have increased discounts for January and February liftings, which indicates they want to ease some oil onto the market," said Leo Drollas, chief economist of the Centre for Global Energy Studies in London. "Obviously the rising price of oil is a factor that would influence the Saudis."

Saudi Arabia's veteran oil minister Ali Naimi recently insisted that despite the recent increase in oil prices and OPEC's unwillingness to change its official quotas, he still favored a price range of $70-$80 a barrel. Total OPEC December production stood at 29.6 million b/d, a rise of 250,000 b/d from November and around 2.3 million b/d higher than its agreed production ceiling, the report said.


OPEC's own production report, which is based on secondary sources, said Saudi output rose by 63,000 b/d in December, while the Joint Oil Data Initiative, a statistics body representing both oil producers and consumers, said exports in November had increased by 770,000 b/d over October.

Among the other OPEC producers, Nigeria also pushed output higher in December after repairs were carried out on damaged infrastructure. According to the IEA, OPEC might now quietly increase production rather than wait until its next scheduled meeting, due in early June.


Retail Diesel Price Rose 7.4 Cents In Week
To $3.407 A Gallon

The national average price of retail diesel fuel jumped 7.4 cents to $3.407 a gallon in the week ended Monday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Tuesday. Prices remained at their highest level since late October 2008 for the seventh straight week and have risen 24.5 cents, or 7.7%, in that period, in line with stronger crude-oil prices.

The rise in the latest week was the biggest since April 5, 2010. Nationwide, prices are 18.7%, or 53.7 cents, above their levels a year earlier.

The latest price puts retail diesel at 28.5% below the record high level of $4.764 a gallon hit on July 14, 2008. Then, diesel carried a premium to a year earlier of $1.875 a gallon as crude-oil prices soared to record highs near $150 a barrel.

Prices so far in January are averaging $3.332 a gallon. The EIA said in its Jan. 11 monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook it expects prices to set a January record of $3.34 a gallon this month.

Region                Change Week Ago          Price Per Gallon
East Coast              +8.4c                              $3.448
Midwest                   +6.9c                              $3.371
Gulf Coast               +8.2c                              $3.366
Rocky Mountains    +4.0c                              $3.374
West Coast             +6.4c                              $3.509
California                 +4.6c                              $3.562
 

____________________________________________________________
NATURAL GAS:
United States Natural Gas (UNG)




FRIDAY: Natural Gas: $4.74

Natural gas futures on Friday climbed to their highest levels since early August on speculation that cold weather in the forecast would lead to further large inventory draws and help balance a market that has long been pressed by a supply overhang.

  Natural gas for February delivery recently traded 5.1 cents, or 1.1%, higher at $4.746 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures earlier Friday traded as high as $4.757, the highest intraday price since Aug. 5.


THURSDAY: Natural Gas: $4.68

US GAS: Futures Rise On Larger-Than-Expected Storage Draw
Natural gas futures climbed to their highest levels in more than two weeks after a larger-than-average weekly storage draw eased the supply overhang that has pressured prices for the heating fuel.

Natural gas for February delivery recently traded 7.9 cents, or 1.7% higher, at $4.640 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The benchmark contract rose as high as $4.690/MMBtu after the report, the highest intraday price since Jan. 4.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas inventories fell by 243 billion cubic feet last week.  Natural gas in U.S. storage during the week ended Jan. 14 stood at 2.716 trillion cubic feet.


WEDNESDAY US GAS: Futures Close 3.07% Higher At $4.561/MMBtu 
Natural gas futures climbed Wednesday on a cold-weather outlook for major gas-heating markets and anticipation of a large weekly decline in gas stockpiles.

Natural gas for February delivery recently traded 4.3 cents higher, or 1%, at $4.468 a million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Wednesday's forecasts for the next two weeks came in slightly colder than previously expected across much of the eastern U.S.  Futures have traded in a narrow range this month between about $4.30/MMBtu and $4.70/MMBtu as market participants weighed weather forecasts with inventories.  The EIA's report is scheduled for release Thursday at 10:30 a.m. EST.

Inventories as of Jan. 7 stood at 2.959 trillion cubic feet, the EIA said last week, about 5.8% above the five year average. That's down from nearly 10% above average in November, when inventories reached a record high.
 



____________________________________________________________
PRECIOUS METALS:


U.S. Gold
FRIDAY: Gold: $1,344 
FRIDAY:  Silver: $27.28


FRIDAY:  Spot gold falls further in Europe Friday as an improving economic outlook weighs on the precious metal complex, though bargain buying and a weaker dollar is keeping losses at a minimum. The most actively traded gold contract, for February delivery, fell $5.50, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,341 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Thinly traded nearby January gold also fell $5.50, to $1,341, losing 1.4% on the week to close at its softest price since Nov. 17. Silver futures also dropped, with March metal losing 0.2% to settle at $27.427, its lowest close since Nov. 29.

Platinum group metals--with are more widely used in industry than gold--rose. Nymex April platinum gained 0.2% while March palladium on the exchange added 0.1% 


Engelhard Corp's base price for industrial gold bullion was $1346.43 per troy ounce, down $2.01 from previous. It's selling price for gold in fabricated form was $1447.42, down $2.15.
Handy & Harman's base price for gold was $1343.50 per troy ounce, down $2.00. The fabricated form price was $1450.98, down $2.16. 


Friday Settlements (range includes floor and electronic trading):
London PM Gold Fix: $1,343.50; previous PM $1,345.50
Feb gold $1,341.00, down $5.50; Range $1,337.00-$1,349.70
Mar silver $27.427, down 4.6 cents; Range $27.080-$27.630
Apr platinum $1,822.30, up $3.70; Range $1,805.30-$1,832.80
Mar palladium $816.75, up 90 cents; Range $803.00-$824.00



THURSDAY: Gold futures fell to a two-month low Thursday. The most actively traded gold contract, for February delivery, also fell $23.70 to $1,346.50.  The thinly traded gold for January delivery lost $23.70, or 1.7%, to settle at $1,346.50 a troy ounce. Other precious metals traded in New York, which have smaller markets and are subject to greater volatility than gold, also fell. Comex March silver lost $1.328, or 4.6%, to settle at $27.473, its lowest close since Nov. 29. Nymex April platinum fell 1.1% and Nymex March palladium declined 0.5%. Engelhard Corp's base price for industrial gold bullion was $1348.44 per troy ounce, down $26.54 from previous. It's selling price for gold in fabricated form was $1449.57, down $28.54.
Handy & Harman's base price for gold was $1345.50 per troy ounce, down $26.50. The fabricated form price was $1453.14, down $28.62.

Thursday Settlements (range includes floor and electronic trading):
London PM Gold Fix: $1,345.50; previous PM $1,372.00
Feb gold $1,346.50, down $23.70; Range $1,342.40-$1,370.90
Mar silver $27.473, down $1.328; Range $27.375-$28.780
Apr platinum $1,818.60, down $19.50; Range $1,800.60-$1,842.40
Mar palladium $815.85, down $3.90; Range $795.00-$818.85
 


WEDNESDAY: Gold futures gained Wednesday as investors wanted an alternative to the U.S. dollar. 
The most actively traded gold contract, for February delivery, was recently up $7.50, or 0.5%, at $1,375.70 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Engelhard Corp's base price for industrial gold bullion was $1374.98 per troy ounce, up $2.50 from previous. It's selling price for gold in fabricated form was $1478.11, up $2.70.
Handy & Harman's base price for gold was $1372.00 per troy ounce, up $2.50. The fabricated form price was $1481.76, up $2.70.
 




TUESDAY: Gold was supported by a weaker dollar Tuesday. The most actively traded gold contract, for February delivery, settled up $7.70, or 0.6%, at $1,368.20 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Other precious metals traded in New York also settled higher. Comex March silver rose 59.2 cents, or 2.1%, to $28.912 an ounce. Nymex April platinum settled 0.7% higher at $1,828.30 an ounce and Nymex March palladium climbed 2.5% to $810.45 an ounce.

Tuesday Settlements (range includes floor and electronic trading):
London PM Gold Fix: $1,369.50; previous PM $1,360.50
Feb gold $1,368.20, up $7.70; Range $1,356.80-$1,376.00
Mar silver $28.912, up 59.2 cents; Range $28.050-$29.080
Apr platinum $1,828.30, up $12.30; Range $1,803.20-$1,832.30
Mar palladium $810.45, up $19.95; Range $782.50-$813.10



US Oct Gold Output 26,900 Kg, Down 2.2% On Month
U.S. domestic production of mined gold was 26,900 kilograms in October, down 2.2% from 27,500 kg in September, according to the U.S. Geological Survey on Tuesday.


____________________________________________________________
BASE METALS:
FRIDAY: Copper $ 4.30 Per Pound

Copper futures rose Friday as the dollar declined. The most actively traded copper contract, for March delivery, rose 3.7 cents, or 0.87%, to settle at $4.3090 a pound on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.7% shortly after copper closed. A weaker dollar tends to help dollar-denominated copper by making the metal less expensive for foreign buyers, boosting demand. 

Inventories of copper stored in London Metal Exchange warehouses rose 775 metric tons Friday, leaving them at 381,300. Data released on Fridays by the Shanghai Futures Exchange showed a weekly decline of 2,283 metric tons to 130,364. The most recent Comex inventory data, released late Thursday afternoon, were up 317 short tons at 65,873 short tons.

Copper settlements (range include electronic and floor trading):
Mar $4.3090; up 3.7 cents; Range $4.2450-$4.3375
May $4.3130; up 3.65 cents; Range $4.2590-$4.3365


China's December imports of refined copper declined 1.6% from a month earlier to 228,609 metric tons. Chinese imports of copper concentrate in December declined 3.5% from a year earlier to 485,055 metric tons, the General Administration of Customs data showed Friday.

Workers at Zambia's Mopani Copper Mines have agreed an 10.5% pay increment with management after weeks of talks, a union official said Friday.


WEDNESDAY: Copper $ 4.36 Per Pound

Base metals are moving with the market, slightly higher This week. Copper is trading near fresh record highs on the London Metal Exchange Wednesday and, supported by strong fundamentals, industry participants say it is only a matter of time before prices hit $10,000 a metric ton. The global refined copper market recorded a small deficit of 97,000 metric tons during the first 11 months of the year, the World Bureau of Metal Statistics said Wednesday.  
 .



____________________________________________________________ 
U.S. TREASURYS/BONDS:

FRIDAY: Demand for Treasurys was mixed, with the two-year note flat and the 10-year note up.  The yield on the 10-year note fell to 3.43%. 


.  
THURSDAY: Treasurys fell, lifting the yield on the 10-year note up to 3.40%.  The U.S. Treasury plans to auction $35 billion in 2-year notes Tuesday.  The debt will settle on Jan. 31, 2011 and will mature Jan. 31, 2013. The Federal Reserve holds $2.232 billion of maturing securities for its own account. Amounts bid by the Federal Reserve banks for their own account will be in addition to the public offering amount.   

WEDNESDAY: Demand for U.S. Treasurys rose Wednesday. In late afternoon trading, the benchmark 10-year note was 8/32 higher to yield 3.337%. The 30-year bond was 22/32 higher to yield 4.523%.
   

The Fed bought $7.716 billion in notes Wednesday. It only took two notes, with the bulk of the buying was on the note maturing Jan. 15, 2014. Yet the total amount of buying was on the upper band of $7 billion to $9 billion range the Fed intended to buy for this operation. The Fed is scheduled to buy Treasurys Thursday and Friday, targeting longer-dated maturities. 

The U.S. two-year swap spread, which measures the differential between the two-year swap rate and two-year Treasury yield and a main gauge of credit risks, was 0.5 basis point tighter at 22.25 basis points. The 10-year swap spread was 0.25 basis point wider at 6.75 basis points.


TUESDAY: Treasurys fell, lifting the yield on the 10-year note up to 3.32%. In late afternoon trading, Treasurys posted moderate losses on Tuesday as demand for safe assets eased and some investors cut holdings to book profits.

In a day short of major U.S. data, the bond market was jolted during the mid-morning session as talk circulated in the market that an investor made a mistake--known as a "fat finger" error--on a trade inquiry, according to several traders and dealers.

The benchmark 10-year note's yield surged to 3.378% at 9:26 a.m. EST from 3.298% at 9:14 a.m. EST. The yield continued to move higher and hit as high as 3.413%, though it is still below the seven-month peak of 3.568% hit on Dec. 16. 



In late-afternoon trading, the benchmark 10-year note was 8/32 lower to yield 3.364%. The 30-year bond was 16/32 lower to yield 4.566%.

The Treasury market rose earlier Tuesday morning, with traders noting Asian central banks buying overnight, and some investors were disappointed that a finance minister meeting for the euro zone put off a decision on whether to increase the size of the bailout funding mechanism until at least the European Union summit in early February.

BONDS FRIDAY, JAN. 21, 2011; 4:00 PM EST:
3 Month     0.13%     0.00 (0.00%)
6 Month     0.17%     0.00 (0.00%)
2 Year     0.61%     0.00 (0.00%)
5 Year     2.01%     -0.01 (-0.50%)
10 Year     3.41%     -0.01 (-0.29%)
30 Year     4.56%     -0.01 (-0.22%)





____________________________________________________________
U.S. ECONOMIC NEWS:

FRIDAY:  

EPA APPROVES LOWER GAS MILEAGE FOR US AUTO'S
BY APPROVING A HIGHER ETHANOL BLEND
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved higher levels of ethanol in gasoline for model year 2001 through 2006 cars, after months of studying the safety of the fuel. The EPA's decision, which was widely expected, allows owners of those cars to use gasoline made with 15% ethanol, as opposed to the current 10% blend. Last year, the EPA approved the higher ethanol blend for model-year 2007 cars and newer.

LENDERS SEE LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO LAY OFF
The banking industry, racked by the financial crisis and facing slower revenue growth, is starting to cut costs, increasingly at the expense of jobs, writes Matthias Rieker.

JAPAN TO STAND PAT ON RATES
The Bank of Japan's policy board is expected next week to keep its monetary policy unchanged, and maintain its view that the nation's economy will resume a moderate recovery.

BUSINESS GROUP BACKS OVERHAUL OF TAX CODE
A drive to overhaul the U.S. tax code gets off to a quick start at a congressional hearing when an influential business group throws its weight behind the effort and lawmakers of both parties pledge to work together on a fix.


CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 12.5%
California's government and construction sectors shed thousands of positions. L.A. County's unemployment rate hits 13%. California's unemployment rate climbed in December as fallout from real estate downturn and the state's budget woes continued to weigh on the labor market.

The jobless rate rose to 12.5% from 12.4% in November. That stood in contrast to the nation's unemployment rate, which fell to 9.4% in December, from 9.8% the previous month.

California employers added just 4,900 jobs to payrolls in December, the Employment Development Department said Friday, after adding 30,500 the month before. The construction sector lost 3,200 jobs.
The state's construction sector has lost 319,000 jobs since the recession began in December 2007.


The month's biggest loser was the government sector, which shed 15,400 jobs. (The jobless rate rose despite the net increase in jobs because an even greater number of people joined the labor market; the reverse can also be true.)

Economists expect public sector employment to keep shrinking as Gov. Jerry Brown tries to close a budget deficit projected to be $28 billion over the next 18 months. Many of these job losses will be felt in local government payrolls, which account for the lion's share of government employment.

The government sector has had to contract to compensate for lower revenue collections. The sector lost 21,700 jobs in 2010, with most of those positions coming from local government.




THURSDAY:      

US EXISTING HOME SALES RISE 12.3% IN DECEMBER
Sales of previously occupied homes rise more than expected to an annual rate of 5.28 million, ending a rocky year for the housing market on an encouraging note, the National Association of Realtors says. Economists were expecting sales to increase to 4.9 million.

U.S. STATE AND CITY ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report released Thursday says eleven states are reporting new mid-year shortfalls for fiscal year 2011, while 40 have already projected gaps for fiscal 2012 that total roughly $113 billion, according to the CBPP.State and local governments do need to take more immediate steps to resolve projected budget gaps, the non-profit, non-partisan group said. While the revenue picture has improved, the money coming into state coffers is still 12% below pre-recession levels, it added.  

Recent media reports that suggest state and local governments could default on their debt or declare bankruptcy because they face large budget deficits and massive unfunded pension liabilities.state and local governments should have about three decades to address their growing unfunded pension liabilities, the CBPP said. The pension liability problem may also not be as massive as some have predicted, the group added.

One estimate by finance academics Robert Novy-Marx and Joshua Rauh says government pensions in aggregate could be underfunded to the tune of $3 trillion, but the CBPP argues this number is way too high. The $3 trillion figure "is based on valuing future liabilities as if investments in pension trust funds will earn no more than 'riskless' investments such as Treasury bonds," the group said. The CBPP estimates unfunded pension liability figure to be closer to $700 billion, which it called more "manageable though still troubling." 


Also today,  a meeting to determine whether a New York State watchdog should seize control of the finances of Nassau County will be set soon, an official said Thursday.

The Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, or NIFA, can take over the finances of the wealthy county adjacent to New York City if it concludes the $2.6 billion budget for 2011 isn't balanced. The authority required county officials by Thursday to show documents that prove their budgetary fixes create a balanced spending plan.NIFA board members had expected the earliest a meeting could be held would be next week.

Brian Nevin, a senior policy advisor and communications director for County Executive Edward Mangano, said all the county's requested documents were submitted to NIFA by Jan. 14. Nassau County first ran into trouble a decade ago, when it required a $100 million bailout from the state.

Now, the county is facing problems common in other local governments, particularly aging suburban communities: generous union contracts, rising costs, and reluctance to cut services or raise taxes. In November, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the county's credit rating one notch to A1 with a negative outlook. It called its cash-flow projections "aggressive" and said that the 2011 budget had "significant assumptions that may be difficult to meet." Nassau County has about $1.2 billion in outstanding bonds.

Municipal bond investors have recently punished bonds issued by Nassau County, demanding yields higher than similarly rated debt.


On Friday, California Treasurer Bill Lockyer responded angrily to suggestions that states be allowed to declare bankruptcy.

"To the folks in Congress cooking this baloney: Don't bother. States didn't ask for it. We don't want it. We don't need it," Lockyer said in an emailed statement.

The statement by the chief
Treasurer for the nation's most populous state and largest municipal bond issuer apparently was touched off by an article in Friday's New York Times. The article recapped states' huge budget deficits and other fiscal problems and said Washington policymakers are "working behind the scenes" to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts..."

Unlike cities and smaller units of government, states aren't allowed to seek federal bankruptcy protection. Considered sovereign entities, they would have to seek difficult-to-obtain constitutional changes.

  "Advocates of this preposterous idea want one thing above all--to see government go up in flames and, with it, the lives of a certain class of working people they don't like," Lockyer said.

One primary advocate is former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is said to be considering a possible presidential bid in 2012. Pushing to allow state bankruptcy could help break or at least punish Democratic-friendly unions while burnishing his credentials with the right wing of the Republican party.

Just the mention of state bankruptcy could send shivers through the $2.9 trillion market for state and local government debt, which already has been attracting media attention that it wishes would somehow go away. A Bay Area California city--Vallejo, the most populous in Solano County--filed for bankruptcy two years ago, while other cities facing tough times have been put under the auspices of some form of state control board.
     



404,000 MORE AMERICAN'S LOST 
THEIR JOBS LAST WEEK- THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS
The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits falls 37,000, more than expected, last week, indicating a stronger economy is leading to a slow improvement in the jobs market. Economists had expected claims to drop to 420,000. Net job gains in December were modest. Employers added only 103,000 jobs, less than half of the total needed to reduce the unemployment rate.The unemployment rate fell to 9.4 per cent from 9.8 per cent last month.
.
EURO-ZONE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WEAKENS
Consumer confidence in the 17 countries that use the euro continues to weaken in January, reflecting concerns about the economic outlook and the jobs market.


CBOE'S BRODSKY SEEKS REVIEW
OF DARK-POOL OFF-EXCHANGE TRADING
Market regulators in the U.S. need to undertake a "comprehensive review" of trading activity in private, off-exchange platforms, according Chicago Board Options Exchange Chairman and Chief Executive William Brodsky.

NYC INVESTMENT BANK, 

SECURITIES EMPLOYMENT DIPS 16%
While overall New York City employment on Wall Street was relatively flat in 2010 there were double-digit declines in activities such as investment banking and securities dealing and securities brokerage, according to the New York Department of Labor.


CONF. BOARD: DEC US LEADING INDEX UP 1.0%
The leading index of leading economic indicators increases 1.0% in December, after an unrevised jump of 1.1% in November, the Conference Board says. Economists were expecting a gain of just 0.6% in the December index.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS SWITZERLAND
January 27-28, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will lead the U.S. delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  At the meeting next Thursday and Friday, Geithner will discuss a range of issues including the state of the U.S. and the global economy, the Treasury said.

PHILADELPHIA FED AREA FACTORIES REPORT
Mid-Atlantic manufacturers see a solid start to the year amid continued growth and gains in hiring, with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia business activity index moving to 19.3, compared with 20.8 in December and forecasts of 19.5.



HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL HEALTH-CARE LAW
The Republican-led House votes to repeal the sweeping health overhaul, making good on a GOP election promise but leaving uncertain how the party will attempt to replace the law..



WEDNESDAY: 

CHINA TO EXPAND MARKET ACCESS
The White House on Wednesday said China has committed to expanding access for U.S. manufactured goods and will strengthen enforcement of intellectual-property rights.

China has also committed to eliminating, during government-procurement decisions, policies that discriminate against where a product is made, the White House said in a press release Wednesday. The commitments from China were first initiated following the 21st Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

The White House issued a press release detailing China's commitments during an official state visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao. Hu is meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office to discuss, among other things, concerns over China's currency and global trade imbalances.

In preparation for the meeting, U.S. and Chinese companies have completed about $45 billion worth of export deals, including the sale of $19 billion of Boeing Co. (BA) aircraft, a senior administration official said Wednesday.


EU SUSPENDS ETS TRADING FOR WEEK; Security Breaches
Trading on the European carbon market is suspended until at least next Wednesday because of recent security breaches that need to be addressed, the European Commission said.

"The European Commission will suspend transactions, except for allocation and surrender of allowances, in all EU ETS [Emissions Trading System] registries at least until 26 January 2011," it said in a statement. It went into effect at 1800 GMT Wednesday.

The ETS is the European Union's flagship program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a virtual market where companies can buy more allowances to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide if they need to emit more, or sell them if they pollute less. It has a cap to make sure emissions are limited.

While a major overhaul will be implemented in 2013 to include new sectors and limit the number of allowances given out for free, the system has lately suffered some setbacks and its functioning has been crippled by illegal actions. The commission's decision follows "repeated" security breaches in some member countries in the last two months, it said.

EU countries, and also Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, keep track of the transactions on the market in an electronic registry that ensures accounting of all allowances issued and records their ownership. Because of its virtual nature, the system is prone to illicit computer actions, and hackers have broken into the registries of several EU countries, stealing credits, the AFP reported Wednesday. Credits stolen from the Czech Republic were worth 7 million euros, it said.

The commission will make another announcement early next week, it said. "The Commission will proceed to determine together with national authorities what minimum security measures need to be put in place before the suspension of a registry can be lifted," it said.



INFLATION DILEMMA FOR DOLLAR FANS
Inflation alarms are going off all over the world, creating a big dilemma for dollar supporters. Support for the greenback is starting to wane as the U.S. is one of the few countries not suffering from an inflation problem, writes Nicholas Hastings.




US HOME BUILDING DROPS
Second-lowest number of US homes built in half a century in 2010 . Early data on U.S. housing from the Commerce Department left traders concerned about the strength of the key sector, as home construction in the U.S. fell by 4.3% to its lowest level in more than a year in December. Home construction in the U.S. falls to an adjusted rate of 529,000 in December, its lowest level in more than a year as builders cut back on new single-family homes, the latest sign of a moribund market. Economists were expecting starts to fall to just 554,000.  

US FACTORIES MADE A LITTLE PROGRESS
U.S. manufacturing has begun creating more jobs than it eliminates for the first time in more than a decade. The number of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. last year grew 1.2%, or 136,000, and is expected grow again this year.
 


US MORTGAGE APPLICATION VOLUME RISES 5%
Volume of mortgage applications filed in the U.S. last week rise a seasonally adjusted 5% from the previous week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports, as refinancing applications increase 7.7%.

MIXED SIGNALS IN CURRENCY FOREX MARKETS
Peculiar patterns in the currency markets show that while key exchange rates hold steady, the options market is warning of violent shifts ahead.

SWISS FACE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON STRONG FRANC
Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann says that the country faces a serious situation as result of the Swiss franc's recent appreciation, and would examine various ideas to help stabilize sectors affected by the currency's gains.


UK & US CONSUMERS SQUEEZED BY 
HIGH FOOD ENERGY INFLATION, LOW WAGE GROWTH
U.K. consumers face a brutal squeeze in 2011 as wage increases fail to keep pace with soaring inflation and the threat of rising unemployment tempers people's ability to negotiate pay increases, Ainsley Thomson writes.




 

U.S. UNION PROTESTERS DISRUPT BANKER'S CONFERENCE
A group of more than 200 union protesters shut down a Mortgage Bankers Association conference for about 10 minutes on Wednesday, taking over the stage to protest against home builder PulteGroup Inc.


The Laborers' International Union of North America, the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and the AFL-CIO organized the protest, union members said. They say Pulte has laid off workers and question whether the Michigan-based company has created jobs. The labor groups are also upset that Pulte uses contractors that don't hire unionized workers.Unions have been pressing Congress to assess how Pulte spent about $900 million in government tax breaks meant to help spur job creation and avoid layoffs.  


TUESDAY: 

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DECLINES
US ABC News Consumer Confidence Index -43 In Jan 16 Week

US NAHB HOUSING INDEX UNCHANGED
Sentiment in the U.S. housing construction market remains pessimistic, with the National Association of Home Builders' housing market index remaining flat at 16 in January, despite signs of improvement elsewhere in the economy.

FANNIE MAE LIFTS ESTIMATE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH
Fannie Mae sees the U.S. economy growing 3.6% for 2011, citing stronger consumer spending and growing lobal policy clarity. It also expects a small rise in home sales this year, although foreclosures will continue to hamper the housing picture.


NY MANUFACTURING INDEX RISES IN JANUARY
New York manufacturing activity begins the year on a high note, with further expansion and large improvement in employment, according to the New York Feds Empire State Manufacturing Survey.
 

US REGULATORS TO CHANGE MORTGAGE
SERVICE FEE SYSTEM
Federal housing regulators will develop a new payment system for mortgage servicing companies, which have been battered by paperwork errors and widespread consumer complaints.


CHINA NET SELLER OF US TREASURYS 
Foreigners are net buyers of long-term U.S. financial assets in November, according to the monthly Treasury International Capital report, known as TIC. China's holdings fall $11.2 billion to $895.6 billion, but remains the largest foreign holder.



CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES FLAT.

American Express 30-Day Delinquencies 2.1% In Dec Vs 2.2% Nov

American Express Co. (AXP) said Tuesday in a regulatory filing the number of U.S. card loans with payments past due fell to 2.1% in December from 2.2% in November. The 30-day delinquency rate, a key gauge of future losses, is important because higher delinquencies force issuers to set aside capital to reserve for potential losses. Ultimately, companies must write off loans if customers can't repay them. For AmEx, delinquencies peaked at 5.3% in February last year.

AmEx also said Tuesday, in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 30-day delinquency rates fell to 2.1% in the fourth quarter, according to preliminary data, from 2.5% in the third quarter.

This monthly report card on the performance of credit card loans, including those packaged into bonds, offers a window into the creditworthiness of the affluent, who make up the bulk of AmEx's consumer base. The New York-based lender is leading the pack in improving credit trends among the major U.S. issuers of plastic.

The next challenge for American Express, which has reported improving credit trends since the start of the year, will be the growth of its book of card loans. To fight losses from card loans, AmEx and its peers have been scaling back on credit in the last several months and getting tougher about lending standards. Now, with the worst likely behind them, they have the balancing act of increasing lending to spur revenue and not loosening standards.

AmEx said Tuesday it wrote off an annualized 4.4% of its U.S. card loans in the fourth quarter, citing preliminary data, down from 5.2% in the third quarter. In December, the company wrote off 4.1% of its U.S. card loans, down from 4.4% in November. Write-offs peaked in April at 10.1%.

As of December, the company's book of average card loans, including those packaged into bonds, totaled $49.8 billion. The company's shares recently traded at $46.31, up 0.1%. The stock has traded in the range of $36.60 and $49.19 over the last 52 weeks.




____________________________________________________________
U.S. EQUITY NEWS:
FRIDAY:  

SUNTRUST BANKS SWINGS TO PROFIT
SunTrust Banks swings to a 4Q profit of $185 million, or 23c a share, due to loan-loss provisions falling to $512 million from $974 million a year earlier and improved revenue climbing 19% to $2.33 billion. Shares are up 5%.

HSBC TO LAY OFF 500
HSBC will lay off about 500 employees as it ends its credit card customer service and collections operations in New Castle, Del., Reuters reports. HSBC will continue insurance underwriting and insurance customer service operations at the center.

PEP BOYS SAID TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE SALE
Auto service and parts retailer Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack is considering a sale of the company and is working with Bank of America to explore strategic options, Bloomberg News reports.

GE PROFIT JUMPS 51% AS REVENUE EDGES UP
Conglomerate's 4Q profit rises 51% to $4.54 billion, or 42c a share, on lower costs, a slight rise in revenue and a lower-than-expected tax rate. Earnings from continuing operations come in at 36c a share, better than analysts' views of 27c. Shares rise 5%.

SCHLUMBERGER PROFIT RISES 31%
Schlumberger's 4Q earnings rise 31% to $1.04 billion, or 76c a share, as the oil-field services company benefits from a rebound in North American drilling and its Smith International acquisition. Shares up 2%.

WARNER MUSIC SEEKS POTENTIAL BUYERS
Warner Music enlists Goldman Sachs to seek buyers for part or all of its business, which could lead to the sale or breakup of the third-largest music company, two people familiar with the matter tell The Wall Street Journal. Shares leap 22%.

S&P DOWNGRADES SYSCO
Standard & Poor's downgrades Sysco a notch, citing the risk that food and fuel costs could pressure its margins. S&P says Sysco's risk profile is "somewhat riskier than previously assumed" and margins could decline.


ICBC TO GAIN ACCESS TO US RETAIL BANKING
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China will acquire a majority stake in Bank of East Asia's U.S. subsidiary, becoming the first Chinese bank to make an acquisition of a U.S. deposit-taking institution.

H-P SHAKES UP ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hewlett-Packard says it is replacing four board members and adding a fifth, part of sweeping changes that come less than six months after the exit of former Chief Executive Mark Hurd.

GOOGLE TURNS THE PAGE ON SCHMIDT
Google's decision to replace Eric Schmidt with co-founder Larry Page suggests the search giant wants more nimble management as it fights Facebook, Martin Peers writes.

BANK OF AMERICA LOSS WIDENS
Bank's 4Q loss widens to of $1.24 billion, weighed down by charges from pre-announced settlements and writedowns related to mortgage problems. Excluding the writedown, Bank of America earns 4c a share. Shares dip 1%.

THURSDAY: 

BOEING TO CUT 1,100 JOBS AS IT REDUCES OUTPUT
Boeing plans to cut about 1,100 jobs through the end of next year as it pares production of a line of transport aircraft. The cuts come as the aerospace and defense giant plans to reduce annual production of its C-17 Globemaster III airlifters.

MORGAN STANLEY NET UP 35% AS REVENUE RISES
The bank says 4Q profit rose to $836 million, or 41c a share, topping estimates, as revenue climbs across its investment banking, wealth and asset management businesses. But trading activity dips with an industry-wide slowdown.


UNITEDHEALTH PROFIT RISES 10% AS COSTS DROP
 UnitedHealth Group's 4Q earnings rise to $1.04 billion, or 94c a share, as the health insurer sees medical claims costs decline in relation to revenue. The company affirmed its 2011 earnings guidance. Shares dip 2%.


PNC NET DOWN 26% ON PRIOR-YEAR GAIN
PNC Financial Services Group 4Q profit drops to of $820 million, or $1.50 a share, following a big year-earlier gain, but adjusted earnings top analysts' expectations as revenue fell less than expected.



TYCO ELECTRONICS NET UP 54% AS SALES JUMP
Tyco Electronics' fiscal 1Q earnings climb 54% to $265 million, or 59c a share, as sales jump, especially in its two biggest segments, helped by an acquisition. The company also raised its outlook for the full year. 


WEDNESDAY: 

CITIGROUP NAMES JOHN HAVENS NEW PRESIDENT
Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit names John Havens as president and chief operating officer. The move is part of a structural overhaul meant to address the bank's efforts to expand.


GE CAPITAL UNIT TO BUY TJX CREDIT-CARD PROGRAMS
General Electric's consumer-finance unit agrees to acquire discounter TJX's U.S. consumer credit-card programs from J.P. Morgan Chase. Completion of the $400 million portfolio acquisition is expected in the second quarter. Terms weren't disclosed.


GOLDMAN SACHS PROFIT DROPS 52% REVENUE SLIDES
Bank's 4Q profits sink to $2.39 billion, or $3.79 a share, as revenue falls more than analysts expected. Investment banking revenues fall 10%, and trading and securities services revenues are down 31%. Shares fall 2%.

WELLS FARGO PROFIT RISES 21%
Bank's 4Q earnings climb to $3.41 billion, or 61c a share, on stronger-than-expected revenue as $850 million is released from reserves due to improved portfolio performance.

AMR LOSS NARROWS AMID IMPROVED BUSINESS TRAVEL
AMR's 4Q loss narrows to $97 million, or 29c a share, as the parent of American Airlines sees revenue improve amid a stronger business travel market and improved fare trends. Shares are up 2%.

AMERICAN EXPRESS TO CUT 550 JOBS IN RESTRUCTURING
American Express will cut about 550 jobs as it consolidates some facilities. The firm also projects 4Q earnings of 94c a share, under analysts' projections of 95c. Shares are down 3%.
   
BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON PROFIT JUMPS 15%
Bank of New York Mellon and State Street 4Q results show their services remain in high demand as higher stock-market values and increased volatility help boost fee collections, but Northern Trust fails to keep up with falling interest income. The bank's 4Q profit climbs 15% to $679 million, or 54c a share. Excluding items, earnings reach 65c cents, beating analysts' expectations of 57c a share,   as fee revenue rose and managed assets hit a record level.


TUESDAY:

CITI SWINGS TO PROFIT AS REVENUES SURGE
Bank posts 4Q profit of $1.31 billion, or 4c a share, turning around a year-ago loss of $7.58 billion, but below analysts expectations of an 8c profit. Revenue more than doubles and it sets aside sharply less to cover potential losses. Shares down 4%.

DELTA AIR POSTS PROFIT ON STRONGER REVENUE
Airline reports its first 4Q profit in a decade on improved revenue from ticket sales and other products and services, such as its frequent flier program. But earnings of $19 million, or 2c a share, miss analysts' expectations and its shares dip 5%.



APPLE SHARES FALL AS JOBS TAKES MEDICAL LEAVE
Apple shares slip 4%, erasing about $15 billion in market value, after the consumer electronics maker discloses that CEO and company visionary Steve Jobs will take another unexpected medical leave.



GOLDMAN'S FACEBOOK OFFERING
EXCLUDES US CLIENTS
Goldman Sachs says it will exclude U.S. clients from the private offering of as much as $1.5 billion in shares of social-networking company Facebook, citing "intense media attention."

CHARLES SCHWAB 4Q NET DOWN 27% ON CHARGE
Charles Schwab's 4Q earnings fall 27% to of $119 million, or 10c a share, on a charge related to settlements stemming from its troubled YieldPlus fund. Profit meets analysts' expectations. Revenue climbs 14% to $1.13 billion in period.

FOREST LABORATORIES' NET UP AS DRUG SALES RISE
Forest Laboratory's fiscal 3Q profit rises 53% to $320.7 million, or $1.11 a share, on strong sales of the pharmaceutical company's Alzheimer's and dementia treatment. Shares rise 2%.


COMERICA PAYING $1.03B FOR STERLING BANCSHARES
Comerica plans to acquire Sterling Bancshares for $1.03 billion in stock while also reporting a swing to a bigger-than-expected 4Q profit and setting aside less to cover loan losses. Sterling shares up 18%, Comerica down 7%.


GE TO BUILD AT LEAST 50 POWER GENERATORS IN CHINA
General Electric discloses a five-year joint venture with China Huadian to produce and install at least 50 gas turbine generator sets in China ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to the U.S. Tuesday.


FORD TO INVEST $400M AT KANSAS CITY
ASSEMBLY PLANT
Ford Motor plans to invest $400 million in its Kansas City assembly plant to build a new vehicle replacing production of the Escape sport-utility vehicle, which will be moved to another plant later this year.


TNK-BP INTERESTED IN ROSNEFT SHARES
BP's Russian joint venture TNK-BP would be interested in buying shares in Kremlin-controlled Rosneft, the Interfax news agency reports, citing Maxim Barsky the joint venture's deputy chief executive and future head.


RUSSIA'S ESPO CRUDE MAY BECOME ASIAN BENCHMARK
Russia's new ESPO blend of crude oil, a rising star in Asian Pacific oil markets, may become a regional oil benchmark, although in the short term, volumes available internationally might fall, the International Energy Agency says.


PETROFAC GETS $1.2B IN SALAH GAS EPC PACT IN ALGERIA
Petrofac says it has been awarded a $1.2 billion engineering, procurement and construction, contract by In Salah Gas a dry gas project in Algeria between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil to develop southern fields in the development.

BOEING SEES 787 DELIVERIES STARTING IN 3Q
Boeing expects to deliver its first 787 Dreamliner in the 3Q, its first such prediction since an electrical fire and power failure in November forced a month-long suspension of flight testing on the long-delayed aircraft.


FCC, JUSTICE APPROVE COMCAST BUY OF NBC UNIVERSAL
The Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department approve Comcast's acquisition of control of NBC Universal from GE, setting the stage for the cable giant to complete the deal shortly.

.
____________________________________________________________
Canadian Market:













FRIDAY:  
Toronto Stocks Closed Lower Friday


TSX closed down 72.75 points to 13,258.57. S&P/TSX Composite Index — 13,258.57 down 72.75 points.TSX Venture Exchange — 2,265.58 up 17.90 points. Cdn  100.46 cents US, up 0.17 of a cent.  The stock market was flat at midday Friday, as energy producers and fertilizer giant Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan helped to offset declines among the gold miners.

At 11:45 a.m. EST (1645 GMT), the S&P/TSX Composite Index was up just 0.65 points at 13331.97. Declines led advances 698 to 693. Trading volume was 225.3 million shares. The S&P/TSX 60 Index was down 0.27 points to 763.78. 


The market opened higher Friday led by energy and materials. The Canadian dollar is up 0.53 of a cent to 100.82 cents US at 11 a.m. ET Friday against a lower U.S. dollar. The loonie rose 0.27 of a cent to 100.56 cents US. The TSX Venture Exchange opened on Friday at 2,255.41, up 7.73 points.  

Statistics Canada reported Friday that sales increased 1.3 per cent to $37.3 billion, reflecting growth at most store types. This marks the sixth consecutive monthly rise in sales and was the largest increase since March 2010. It was also a much higher than the 0.4 per cent rise that economists expected.

The March crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 19 cents to US$89.78 a barrel. Gold prices were slightly lower with the February bullion contract on the Nymex down $1.60 to US$1,344.90. The March copper contract in New York rose two cents to US$4.29.

Toronto Indexes, Friday Volume; 2 PM EST Composite Up 8.10

 S&P/TSX Composite   13339.42  up    8.10  or 0.1%
 S&P/TSX 60 Index      764.38  up    0.33  or 0.0%
 Financials            184.75  off   0.82  or 0.4%
 Materials             416.23  off   1.24  or 0.3%
 Energy                326.06  up    3.37  or 1.0%
 Industrials           114.15  off   0.14  or 0.1%
 IT                     31.52  off   0.35  or 1.1%

   Volume   Friday    Thursday
   1-2                46.6M      49.5M
   9:30-2            340.2M     406.6M

 

THURSDAY: 
Toronto Stocks Close Lower Thursday

The stock market was lower again Thursday, led by a rise in the U.S. Dollar and weakness in resource and energy stocks. Also China's strong economic growth will lead to more credit tightening measures that could damp demand for commodities. The Loonie declined against the dollar. The currency, which has closed above parity every day since Dec. 30, lost 0.48 of a cent to 99.97 cents US.  

According to closing data, the S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 107.72 points, or 0.80%, to 13331.32, declines exceeded advances 1162 to 531 and trading volume was 572.50 million shares, up from Wednesday's total of 554.7 million shares. The S&P/TSX 60 Index closed down 5.91 points, or 0.77%, to 764.05.
 


The March copper contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange dropped 12 cents to US$4.25 a pound.  The February crude contract on the Nymex fell $2.62 to US$88.24 barrel. Also driving oil prices lower were data showing that crude inventories increased by 2.6 million barrels last week in the U.S. Gold prices also weakened as the February bullion contract in New York was down $25.70 at US$1,344.50 an ounce.

At Mid-day, the S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 192.02 points, or 1.4%, at 13247.02. Declines led advances 1,182 to 316. Trading volume was 271 million shares.  The S&P/TSX 60 Index was down 10.55 points, or 1.4%, to 759.41.  


WEDNESDAY: 

Toronto Stocks Lower

The stock market was lower at Wednesday, led by weakness in resource and energy stocks.Toronto stocks closed lower Wednesday, led by mining and energy stocks, as disappointing economic data dented optimism about the economic recovery.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 120.16 points, or 0.9%, to 13439.04. Declines exceeded advances 1,013 to 685. Trading volume was 554.7 million shares, down from Tuesday's total of 627.3 million shares.  The S&P/TSX 60 Index closed down 7.35 points, or 0.9%, to 769.96. .  The TSX Venture Exchange stood at 2,298.27 up 5.76 points at noon on Wednesday. 


The Canadian dollar lost early strength to move lower Wednesday as commodity prices also lost early gains and traders took in a surprising slowdown in manufacturing in November.

The loonie was down 0.11 of a cent at 100.61 cents US as Statistics Canada reported that manufacturing sales declined 0.8 per cent in November to $44.9 billion, led by decreases in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts industries.Economists had expected an increase of 0.5 per cent. The Canadian dollar opened on Wednesday at 101 cents US, up 0.28 of a cent. 

Nine of Toronto's 10 sector indexes were lower amid profit-taking and renewed concern over the economy. Only the health care index bucked the trend, rising 0.1%.

Statistics Canada said Wednesday manufacturing sales fell 0.8% in November, led by slower activity in the motor vehicle and auto-parts industry. That's well short of the 0.3% increase economists had been expecting. The materials group, which rallied 36% last year, fell 1.3% despite higher prices for gold, copper and other metals. 


At 11:45 a.m. EST (1645 GMT), the S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 67.20 points, or 0.50%, at 13492.00 and declines led advances 819 to 625. Trading volume was 243.00 million shares.  The S&P/TSX 60 Index was down 4.48 points, or 0.58%, to 772.83 points. 






TUESDAY:

Toronto Stocks Mixed to Higher

The Toronto stock exchange closed higher Tuesday, led by the raw-materials producers, as increasing demand from China lifted commodity prices amid concern that consumption will outstrip global supplies. A softer U.S. dollar also lifted gold futures. The Canadian dollar was lower Tuesday as the Bank of Canada announced it was leaving its key interest rate unchanged. The loonie fell 0.58 of a cent to 100.72 cents US as the central bank also raised its 2011 growth forecast to 2.4 per cent from 2.3 per cent.
 
The S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 119.09 points, or 0.9%, to 13559.20. Advances exceeded declines 1,021 to 692. Trading volume was 627.3 million shares, almost double Monday's total of 315.7 million shares. The S&P/TSX 60 Index closed up 6.97 points, or 0.9%, to 777.31.  TSX Venture Exchange closed 17.06 points higher to 2,292.51 on Tuesday. The volume was 490.17 million shares.  




____________________________________________________________
CANADIAN ECONOMIC NEWS:



THURSDAY: 

WHOLESALE SALES SHOW GAINES 1.2%
Wholesale sales were up for the fourth straight month in November, rising 1.2 per cent to $45.7 billion. Statistics Canada attributes the increase largely to higher sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, the miscellaneous subsector, and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector. In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 1.3 per cent.

The agency reports gains in all subsectors except vehicle and parts. Excluding vehicle and parts, wholesale sales were up 2.4 per cent. The largest increase came in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, where sales rose 4.5 per cent to $9.7 billion in November, their highest level since November 2008.

Sales in the miscellaneous subsector rose 2.9 per cent, while food, beverage and tobacco was up 1.8. The motor vehicle and parts subsector dropped 4.2 per cent, largely due to a significant decrease in sales in the motor vehicle industry (down 6.8 per cent). Wholesalers in eight provinces reported higher sales in November. Only wholesalers in Ontario and Nova Scotia were hit with declines.

Canada To Auction C$3B Of 1.75% 2013 Bonds On Jan. 26
The Canadian government said it will auction on Jan. 26  C$3 billion (US$3 billion) of 1.75% bonds due March 1, 2013. The issue will be dated and delivered Jan. 28.

The new 1.75% bonds due March 1, 2013 are in addition to C$12.6 billion of like bonds now outstanding and will be issued with accrued interest from September 1, 2010 to January 28, 2011. Proceeds from the issue will be used for general government purposes. The Bank of Canada will acquire a minimum of C$450 million of the new bonds.


WEDNESDAY:  


Canada Not Gaining From Better US Outlook

Canada isn't benefiting from an improved U.S. outlook because a strong currency and poor productivity have led to a loss of competitiveness, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said Wednesday. Carney also said U.S. fiscal stimulus measures are heavily weighted to the household sector whereas Canada's main exports to its largest trading partner are geared to the business sector.

He said it's "absolutely essential" to restore Canada's competitive position to deal with a tough export environment. He said Canada has lost competitiveness in recent years against the U.S. and also other countries that export to the U.S., such as Mexico.

Carney said business investment, which rebounded in the summer, is "headed in the right direction," but has "a ways to go" to return to pre-recession levels.

  "It's absolutely essential to start to rebuild this competitive position in what is a tougher external environment. And we expect to be a tougher external environment for some time," Carney said at a news conference after the Bank of Canada released its quarterly Monetary Policy Report.


Manufacturing Sales Decline in November

Manufacturing sales declined 0.8 per cent in November to $44.9 billion, led by decreases in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts industries. Statistics Canada reports manufacturing sales edged up 0.2 per cent when the motor vehicle industries were excluded.

Constant-dollar manufacturing sales fell 1.4 per cent in November. Higher sales were reported in 12 of 21 industries, representing 55.2 per cent of total manufacturing. Sales in the transportation equipment industry fell seven per cent, led by declines in motor vehicle (down 9.2 per cent) and motor vehicle parts (down 6.5) manufacturing.

Primary metal sales also declined, down 1.9 per cent, though they remained 22.9 per cent higher than a year earlier. Outside of the transportation and primary metal industries, many manufacturers reported gains over October.

Computer and electronic product sales led the gains, rising 5.1 per cent. Food manufacturing (up 0.7 per cent), as well as beverage and tobacco product sales (up 2.9), rose for the first time in four months. Petroleum and coal product sales advanced one per cent in November, their fifth straight increase. Seven provinces reported sales gains. However, these advances were more than offset by declines in New Brunswick, Alberta, and in particular, Ontario, where sales dropped 2.3 per cent. Manitoba led the provincial sales advances in November, increasing 7.6 per cent following a 6.1 per cent drop in October.

Nationally, inventory levels increased 1.3 per cent in November to $61.1 billion. Unfilled orders advanced 0.5 per cent to $52.7 billion in November, the first increase in three months.
New orders advanced 1.6 per cent.
  


TUESDAY: 
Bank of Canada leaves rates unchanged, ups growth forecast.
The Bank of Canada announced it was leaving its key interest rate 
unchanged at one per cent and left traders thinking the bank is in no 
rush to raise rates.

"The global economic recovery is proceeding at a somewhat faster pace than the bank had anticipated, although risks remain elevated," the Bank of Canada said in a statement.
"The recovery in Canada is proceeding broadly as anticipated, with a period of more modest growth and the beginning of the expected rebalancing of demand."

Although the central bank's statement yielded no clues as to when it may start raising rates, many economists expect a move up later this year.

"We maintain our call that the Bank of Canada is more likely to wait until July to raise the overnight rate," said Pascal Gauthier, senior economist at TD Bank.  He noted that the central bank's next interest rate announcement is only six weeks away and its communique did not signal a hike at the March 1 announcement.
    

MONDAY: Statistics Canada said non-residents added a further
$8.0 billion to their portfolios in November, again focusing on bonds. 
Canadian acquisitions of foreign securities reached an 8-month high
of $5.8 billion in November, led by the largest investment in foreign 
bonds since March 2007.

Canada tightened mortgage lending rules to curb household debt. 

The maximum amortization period for government-insured mortgages
will be reduced to 30 years from 35 years and that of the maximum 
loan amount to 85% from 90% of the value of the property.


China sovereign-wealth fund to open Toronto office
China's sovereign-wealth fund is preparing to open an office in Toronto,
snubbing the financial centers of New York and London to focus on ramping
up its investments in resource-rich Canada, the Globe & Mail reported
Wednesday. China Investment Corp. will formally announce plans for the
office next week, the report said. CIC's Chairman Lou Jiwei will reportedly
be in the Canadian city to attend the opening. In November, CIC announced
plans to open a wholly owned unit in the self-governed Chinese territory of
Hong Kong to further its overseas investments. CIC was founded in 2007 with
1.6 trillion yuan ($200 billion) drawn from China's vast foreign-exchange
reserves as part of plans to help diversify the nation's assets.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-sovereign-wealth-fund-to-open-toronto-office2011-01-12 



COMPANY NEWS:

FRIDAY:  Copper Canyon Resources Ltd. (TSXV:CPY) board to respond by Feb. 2 to an unsolicited, $34.1-million all-stock takeover offer from NovaGold Resources Ltd. (TSX:NG).  


WEDNESDAY: Royal Bank of Canada fell 0.13 to 54, while Toronto-Dominion Bank declined 0.42 to 76.10.  



Research In Motion dropped 1.77 to 63.05 after Apple reported on Tuesday a 78% jump in first-quarter profit, reminding investors that Apple remains a formidable competitor in the smartphone and tablet market.

Bombardier rose 0.11 to 5.77 after saying that the new international financial accounting standards won't impact its cash flow or its fundamental business. 


Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. (NYSE:MHR) agrees to acquire oil and gas producer NuLoch Resources Inc. (TSXV:NLR) for US$327 million.  

N.S. Wind Turbine Plant On Track For Startup in May
A spokesman for Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Inc. says the company remains on track to begin manufacturing wind turbine components at its plant in Trenton, N.S.
 
Brad Murray says work on the steel tower components of the wind turbines is scheduled to begin in May after equipment has been installed at the former TrentonWorks rail car plant.
Murray says old equipment in the plant has been removed and the installation of the new equipment is set to begin on Friday.

He says the facility has 36 employees including 20 support staff and 16 plant workers consisting of millwrights, electricians, carpenters and engineers. Murray says further recruitment is underway and it's expected about 130 workers will be hired by the time production begins on the turbine towers. Up to 400 workers are expected to be hired by the time the operation is ready to manufacture turbine blades by the end of the year.

Teck Resources to Report Lower Yield
Teck Resources (TSX:TCK.B) expects coal sales to range between five million and 5.5 million tonnes in the first quarter as it deals with avalanche conditions in British Columbia and a mechanical failure at an export terminal.

The Vancouver-based mining company said the forecast for the three-month period ending March 31 compares with sales of 5.25 million tonnes in the same period a year earlier.
For the full year, the company expects sales to come in at 24.5 million to 25.5 million tonnes.

"The foregoing estimates assume no interruption of production due to labour disturbances, and a reasonably prompt resumption of normal levels of rail service," the company said Wednesday.
Teck said avalanches in and around the Rogers Pass area of British Columbia are affecting train service and weather is affecting recommissioning of a coal dryer at its Greenhills Mine.
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. (TSX:CP) declared force majeure on Monday because of the avalanche conditions, which have slowed rail service.

Teck said it was continuing negotiations following the expiration of a collective agreement at its Elkview mine, while the agreement at its Fording River operation is set to expire in April.

 


TUESDAY: TransCanada's Wyoming-to-North Dakota pipeline comes into service. Natural gas is now flowing on TransCanada Corp.'s new Bison pipeline, which stretches from Wyoming to North Dakota.


The Calgary-based pipeline and utility giant (TSX:TRP) said Tuesday the 487-kilometre came into service last week. The line is able to ship 407 million cubic feet per day of natural gas under long term contract. With additional compression, it can transport up to one billion cubic feet per day.

Bison is the first TransCanada pipeline to tap into the U.S. Rocky Mountain region. The gas is bound for markets in the U.S. Midwest. "The Rockies was one of the last major North American producing basins that we weren't connected to," said chief executive Russ Girling in a statement.

"Bison provides new options both to producers in the Powder River Basin and to consumers in the Midwest." Bison is one of six new projects TransCanada has brought into service over the past 10 months. Others include: the first phase of the Keystone crude pipeline from Alberta to the Midwest; the North Central Corridor natural gas pipeline across northern Alberta; the Groundbirch pipeline in British Columbia; the Kibby wind project in Maine and the Halton Hills power station in Ontario.
   
DundeeWealth has announced a special dividend to shareholders as part of its obligation under a takeover offer by Scotiabank (TSX:BNS). Holders of its common shares (TSX:DW) will get $2 cash plus one common share of Dundee Capital Markets Inc. as a special dividend.

Holders of Series X first preference shares will get a special dividend of $1.67 cash plus 0.83 share of Dundee Capital Markets Inc. The special dividend will be paid on Jan. 31 to shareholders of record on Jan 28.

Scotiabank announced it has extended its offer for all of DundeeWealth's shares until Feb. 1, to allow time to get the required regulatory approvals.
.
MONDAY: property and casualty insurance services provider Fairfax Financial Holdings said that First Mercury Financial Corp.'s stockholders have voted in favor of its acquisition of First Mercury for $16.50 per share in cash.

Broadband services provider Craig Wireless Systems reported a narrower first quarter net loss of $2.7 million or $0.05 per share compared to $4.1 million or $0.08 per share in the year ago quarter .


Metals mining company Platinum Group Metals slipped in to the red in first-quarter, reporting net loss of C$4.34 million or C$0.03 per share, compared with a net profit of C$592,000 or C$0.01 per share in the prior year quarter. The gain in the comparative period was due to the sale of investments.

Green structural building technology services provider Genesis Worldwide stated that it has made application to voluntarily delist its common shares from the TSX, effective February 12 or earlier.

Specialized broadband wireless systems provider Redline Communications swung to profit in third quarter 2010, reporting net income of $1.1 million or $0.05 per share, compared with a loss of $2.9 million or $0.14 per share in the same period last year.

Heavy oil development company Ivanhoe Energy said it has made a second natural gas discovery in less than a month at its subsidiary Sunwing in southwest China.

International technology and services company Pure Technologies aid that Dallas City Council has awarded three-year service contract worth up to $8.5 million to its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Pure Technologies U.S. Inc. and Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (USA) Inc.
 
  


____________________________________________________________
WORLD FOREX CURRENCIES SNAPSHOT:
(FRIDAY, JAN 21, 2011 4:00 PM EST)

EUR/USD     1.3598     +0.0130 (0.97%)
USD/JPY     82.6100    -0.4300 (-0.52%)
GBP/USD     1.6001     +0.0099 (0.62%)
USD/CAD     0.9947     -0.0030 (-0.30%)
USD/HKD     7.7902     +0.0068 (0.09%)
USD/CNY     6.5831     -0.0021 (-0.03%)
AUD/USD     0.9896     +0.0024 (0.24%)
 



____________________________________________________________
WORLD MARKETS SNAPSHOT:
(FRIDAY, JAN. 21, 2011: 4:00 PM EST)

Shanghai     2,715.95     +38.29 (1.43%)
Nikkei 225     10,274.52     -162.79 (-1.56%)
Hang Seng Index     23,876.86     -126.84 (-0.53%)
TSEC     8,954.38     +26.31 (0.29%)
FTSE 100     5,896.25     +28.34 (0.48%)
DJ EURO STOXX 50     2,970.56     +43.14 (1.47%)
CAC 40     4,017.45     +52.61 (1.33%)
S&P TSX     13,258.57     -72.75 (-0.55%)
S&P/ASX 200     4,755.70     -28.00 (-0.59%)
BSE Sensex     19,007.53     -39.01 (-0.20%)


 
.
____________________________________________________________
FRIDAY'S U.S. ECONOMIC CALENDAR:



No Major U.S. Economic Calendar Friday.

.

© Copyright 1999-2023, Online Consultancy Network™. All Rights Reserved.