By Chris Matthews and Mark DeCambre, MarketWatch
Bank of America beats earnings estimates on retail business
U.S. stocks slipped Wednesday afternoon as investors digested
mixed earnings results and economic data, while the lack of
progress on the trade dispute with China remained a concern
also.
Bank of America (BAC) reported better-than-expected results
after gains in its consumer banking division but railroad CSX (CSX)
disappointed and its weak sales forecast aroused fears of a slump
in freight rates, reflecting a slowing manufacturing sector.
How are the major benchmarks performing?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down 116 points at
27,219, the S&P 500 index ) lost 19 points to 2,984 , while The
Nasdaq Composite index slipped 37 points to 8,185.
The Dow Transportation Average fell 3.6%, its biggest one day
fall since May, to 10,403.
On Tuesday, the Dow had closed 23.50 points lower at 27,335.6,
after seeing an intraday high at 27,398.68.
What's driving the market?
More than 7% of S&P 500 index companies have reported
second-quarter earnings thus far, according to FactSet data. Of
those companies, about 85% have posted profits that beat analyst
expectations. The reported earnings growth of those companies is
about 3.1%.
Investors came into the earnings season with a bearish outlook
on corporate profits. Analysts expected S&P 500 earnings to
have fallen by 3% in the second quarter, FactSet data shows.
"There are good reasons to believe that despite the downbeat
expectations, earnings season could come in better than
expected--which would be good for markets," Brad McMillan, chief
investment officer at Commonwealth Financial Network said in a
note. "With markets priced for slower growth, faster growth should
be a tailwind. With markets priced for a meaningful earnings
decline, a smaller decline--or even growth--would be another
tailwind."
At the macro-economic level, businesses were generally positive
through early July about the economic outlook for the coming months
despite "widespread concerns about the possible negative impact of
trade-related uncertainty,"according to the "Beige Book" survey
released by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/feds-beige-book-says-outlook-for-economy-remains-positive-despite-widespread-worries-over-trade-2019-07-17)
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/feds-beige-book-says-outlook-for-economy-remains-positive-despite-widespread-worries-over-trade-2019-07-17)
The survey found that the economy expanded at modest pace from
mid-May through early July, little changed from the spring. In line
with recent, data, retail sales were up slightly while
manufacturing was flat. Price pressures were muted, with the rate
of price inflation described as "stable to down." Firms remain
unable to pass along higher input prices to their customers because
of "brisk competition." Reports from labor markets spoke again of
tight conditions and modestly higher wages, except for entry level
positions where compensation grew at a significant pace.
The Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates at the
conclusion of its two-day July 30-31 policy meeting and the Beige
Book didn't alter that outlook. Fed officials have said a rate cut
would guard against potential downside risks to the economy from
the long-running Sino-American trade dispute and might also boost
inflation, which has been soft since the beginning of the year.
Stocks were also weighing data on new building permits which
came in weaker than expected, falling 6.1% in June to an annual
pace of 1.22 million homes, versus the 1.3 million expected by
economists, per a MarketWatch poll. Home builders broke ground on
new homes at a rate of 1.25 million last month, down 0.9% from May,
though above the forecasted 1.24 million homes.
Which stocks are in focus?
Bank of America Corp. (BAC), the second-largest bank in the U.S.
by assets, produced better-than-expected earnings
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bank-of-americas-stock-falls-after-profit-beats-but-revenue-comes-up-a-bit-short-2019-07-17)
of 74 cents a share, or $7.35 billion, compared with expectations
for 71 cents a share based on analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue
for the quarter came in slightly below expectations, but the bank
raised its dividend by 20%
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bank-of-america-plans-to-boost-dividend-20-increase-pace-of-stock-buybacks-2019-07-17),while
announcing an authorization for $30 billion in stock buybacks,
helping boost the stock by 0.3%. However, the company's CFO warned
that lower rates would hit its net interest income growth.
CSX (CSX) posted weaker-than-forecast quarterly results, after
the close Tuesday, sending its stock down more than 10%. The
company also said it expects full-year revenue to fall between 1%
and 2%. CSX's decline pushed the Dow Transports down 3%.
United Airlines (UAL) meanwhile, reported earnings and revenue
that topped analyst expectations and increased its share buyback
program by $3 billion.
Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) shares are in focus Wednesday after the
Justice Department filed documents Tuesday
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/justice-department-backs-qualcomms-bid-to-halt-enforcement-of-antitrust-ruling-2019-07-16)
that support the chip maker in its appeal against a federal ruling
in May that it had violated antitrust laws through licensing
practices that thwart competition. The antitrust action was
initiated by the Federal Trade Commission.
After the bell, results from Netflix Inc. (NFLX) and eBay Inc.
(EBAY) are due.
How are other markets trading?
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 2.06%, its
biggest one day drop since May 31, retreating from a four-week high
of 2.12% on Tuesday
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/treasury-yields-edge-higher-ahead-of-retail-sales-2019-07-16).
In commodities markets, August West Texas Intermediate crude
shed 39 cents, or 0.7%, to $57.23 a barrel on the New York
Mercantile Exchange, after a 3.3% tumble on Tuesday. International
benchmark September Brent added 20 cents, or 0.3%, at $64.55 a
barrel on ICE Futures Europe, after its 3.2% skid in the prior
session.
August gold trading on Comex rose $12.10, or 0.9%, to settle at
$1,423.30 an ounce, after closing 0.2% lower Tuesday. Prices for
the most-active contract posted their highest finish since May 14,
2013, FactSet data show.
The U.S. dollar index was off 0.2% at 97.2, as measured by the
ICE U.S. Dollar Index.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 17, 2019 16:12 ET (20:12 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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