Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 26-07-2018.

The main US stock indexes finished trading in different directions: the collapse of Facebook shares caused the sale of technology companies, sending Nasdaq into the negative zone, but the Dow grew amid improvement in sentiment after the US and EU said they would negotiate trade.

Negligible impact on the course of trading also provided data on the United States. As it became known, demand for durable goods produced by US factories recovered in June after two consecutive monthly decreases, which is a sign of momentum in the manufacturing sector. Orders for durable goods increased seasonally by 1.0% compared to May. Economists expected a stronger growth of 3.0%. Recall orders dropped by 0.3% in May and by 1.0% in April.

Meanwhile, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose from a more than 48.5-year low last week, but continued to point to tightening the labor market. Primary calls for state unemployment benefits increased by 9,000 to 217,000, seasonally adjusted for the week to July 21, the Ministry of Labor said. Economists projected growth to 215,000. The four-week moving average of primary hits, considered as the best measure of labor market trends, fell by 2,750 to 218,000, the lowest since mid-May.

Most of the components of DOW have finished trading in positive territory (20 out of 30). The leader of growth was the shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV, + 2.49%). Outsider were shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD, -1.79%).

Most S & P sectors recorded a decline. The greatest decrease was shown by the technological sector (-1.1%). The industrial goods sector grew most (+ 0.9%).

At closing:

Index

Dow 25,527.07 +112.97 +0.44%

S&P 500 2,837.44 -8.63 -0.30%

Nasdaq 100 7,852.19 -80.05 -1.01%

U.S. stock-index futures fell on Thursday, due to a selloff in Facebook stock, following announcement of disappointing Q2 results/guidance.

Global Stocks:

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Facebook (FB) target lowered to $205 from $242 at JP Morgan; removed from Focus List, maintaining Overweight

Facebook (FB) target lowered to $202 from $242 at Stifel

Facebook (FB) downgraded to Outperform from Strong Buy at Raymond James

Facebook (FB) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS; target lowered to $180 from $212

Facebook (FB) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Nomura; target lowered to $183 from $228

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) upgraded to Hold from Sell at Deutsche Bank

McDonald's (MCD) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $1.99 per share (versus $1.73 in Q2 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.92.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.354 bln (-11.5% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $5.322 bln.

MCD rose to $159.89 (+0.63%) in pre-market trading.

Altria (MO) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $1.01 per share (versus $0.85 in Q2 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.00.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $4.879 bln (-3.7% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $5.020 bln.

The company narrowed FY2018 EPS guidance to $3.94-4.03 from $3.90-4.03 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $3.99.

MO fell to $56.15 (-2.94%) in pre-market trading.

Int'l Paper (IP) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $1.19 per share (versus $0.65 in Q2 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.10.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.833 bln (+8.4% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $5.800 bln.

IP rose to $53.50 (+0.87%) in pre-market trading.

Yandex N.V. (YNDX) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of RUB15.11 per share (versus RUB12.12 in Q2 FY 2017), missing analysts' consensus estimate of RUB15.36.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to RUB29.350 bln (+38.8% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of RUB28.857 bln.

YNDX rose to $39.05 (+1.11%) in pre-market trading.

Visa (V) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $1.20 per share (versus $0.86 in Q2 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.09.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.240 bln (+14.8% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $5.089 bln.

V fell to $142.00 (-0.45%) in pre-market trading.

Ford Motor (F) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $0.27 per share (versus $0.51 in Q2 FY 2017), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $0.30.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $35.900 bln (-2.8% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $35.631 bln.

The company also issued downside guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $1.30-1.50 versus its prior guidance of $1.45-1.70 and analysts' consensus estimate of $1.51.

F fell to $10.15 (-3.52%) in pre-market trading.

Facebook (FB) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $1.74 per share (versus $1.32 in Q2 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.70.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $13.231 bln (+41.9% y/y), slightly missing analysts' consensus estimate of $13.346 bln.

The company also projected "high single digit" revenues growth declaration q/q in Q3 and in Q4.

FB fell to $178.14 (-18.1%) in pre-market trading.

Barrick Gold (ABX) reported Q2 FY 2018 earnings of $0.07 per share (versus $0.22 in Q2 FY 2017), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $0.13.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $1.712 bln (-20.7% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $1.743 bln.

ABX fell to $11.50 (-2.71%) in pre-market trading.