Courtesy of Benzinga.
Following the market opening Tuesday, the Dow traded down 0.51 percent to 17,024.18 while the NASDAQ declined 0.36 percent to 4,575.80. The S&P also fell, dropping 0.39 percent to 1,993.82.
Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Tuesday, technology shares fell by just 0.19 percent. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included Vimicro International (NASDAQ: VIMC), up 5.7 percent, and Ceragon Networks (NASDAQ: CRNT), up 3.4 percent.
Utilities shares tumbled 0.71 percent in trading on Tuesday. Meanwhile, top decliners in the sector included Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais – CEMIG (NYSE: CIG), down 2.7 percent, and Companhia Paranaense de Energia – COPEL (NYSE: ELP), off 1.9 percent.
Top Headline
Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS) reported a narrower-than-expected loss for the fiscal first quarter. However, the company’s sales missed expectations.
The New-York based company posted a quarterly loss of $28.4 million, or $0.56 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $87 million, or $1.56 per share. The year-ago results included $41 million, or $0.70 per share in valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets.
Its sales dropped 7% to $1.24 billion. However, analysts were expecting a loss of $0.63 per share on revenue of $1.26 billion.
Equities Trading UP
Annie's (NYSE: BNNY) shares shot up 37.29 percent to $46.01 after the company agreed to be acquired by General Mills (NYSE: GIS) for $46 per share in cash.
Shares of Burlington Stores (NYSE: BURL) got a boost, shooting up 3.99 percent to $37.50 after the company reported a narrower-than-expected second-quarter loss and lifted its forecast for the year.
HD Supply Holdings (NASDAQ: HDS) shares were also up, gaining 3.54 percent to $28.36 after the company reported better-than-expected Q2 results.
Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ: FCEL) were down 8.24 percent to $2.45 after the company reported downbeat quarterly revenue. The company reported in-line loss for the quarter and announced an agreement to sell University fuel cell project to NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG)
Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE: PBY) shares tumbled 7.58 percent to $10.55 after the company reported Q2 earnings of $0.00 per share on revenue of $525.80 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.17 per share on revenue of $534.26 million.
Francesca's Holdings (NASDAQ: FRAN) was down, falling 5.13 percent to $13.25 after the company reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter results and lowered its earnings forecast for fiscal year 2014.
Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.99 percent to $93.58, while gold traded up 0.09 percent to $1,255.40.
Silver traded up 0.26 percent Tuesday to $19.01, while copper fell 0.82 percent to $3.14.
Eurozone
European shares were mostly lower today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 fell 0.03 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index dropped 0.72 percent, while Italy’s FTSE MIB Index declined 0.07 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX fell 0.25 percent and the French CAC 40 fell 0.21 percent while UK shares gained 0.05 percent.
Economics
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 96.10 in August, versus a prior reading of 95.70. However, economists were expecting a reading of 95.90.
The ICSC-Goldman Store Sales Index rose 0.7% in the week ended Saturday versus the earlier week.
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index gained 0.2% in the first week of September versus August.
The Treasury is set to auction 4-week bills and 3-year notes.
Posted-In: Earnings News Guidance Eurozone Futures Commodities M&A Markets