It's already happening. And it came faster than I expected. The fall in interest rates is here. Right now. Ten-year government bond rates have already declined from 2.60% last month to just 2.36%, as I write. And the move down is likely not over. Let me explain… Last month, I detailed why interest rates could surprise everyone and head lower in 2017. The reason was simple: Sentiment was at an extreme. The entire investing community was betting on higher interest rates. The story is timeless. I've seen it over and over again in the investing world. And it typically leads to the same outcome… When the majority of investors bet one way, the opposite tends to occur. That's what I explained last month. And it's already working out. The fall in interest rates is here.
practice stock trading: L Brands, Inc.(LB)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
Many of the losers can be found at the mall, with Gap Stores (GPS) and Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) continuing to disappoint. The only winner at the mall was Childrens’ Place (PLCE) , but Cramer said he’s not counting out a turnaround at L Brands (LB) .
- [By Benzinga News Desk]
In the parched terrain just south of the United States border, the prices of food and other necessities follow the dollar, whose value has been climbing: Link
ECONOMIC DATA
Industrial Production (MoM) for Feb 0.00% vs 0.20% consensus estimate; Manufacturing Outputs (MoM) for Feb 0.50% vs 0.40% consensus estimate.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for March is schedule for release at 10:00 a.m. ET.
The index of leading economic indicators for February will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET.
The Baker Hughes North American rig count report for the latest week is schedule for release at 1:00 p.m. ET.
ANALYST RATINGS
Wunderlich upgraded Adobe Systems (NASDAQ: ADBE) from Hold to Buy
FBR Capital upgraded L Brands (NYSE: LB) from Market Perform to Outperform
Morgan Stanley upgraded Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) from Neutral to Overweight
Baird downgraded Patheon (NYSE: PTHN) from Outperform to Neutral
Citigroup downgraded SeaWorld Entertainment Inc (NYSE: SEAS) from Neutral to Sell
Goldman Sachs downgraded Macerich (NYSE: MAC) from Neutral to Sell
This is a tool used by the Benzinga News Desk each trading day — it's a look at everything happening in the market, in five minutes. To get the full version of this note every morning, click here or email minutes@benzinga.com.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
L Brands (LB) has jumped 3.9% to $44.80 despite reporting weaker than expected same-store sales.
Costco Wholesale (COST) has risen 1.8% to $170 after its same-store sales rose 6% in March.
practice stock trading: Seres Therapeutics, Inc.(MCRB)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Lisa Levin]
Seres Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: MCRB) shares shot up 35 percent to $12.51. Seres Therapeutics reported initiation of new SER-019 study announced FY16 loss of $2.30 per share on revenue of $21.766 million.
- [By Lisa Levin]
Seres Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: MCRB) shares dropped 70 percent to $10.69 after the company reported interim results from SER-109 Phase 2 ECOSPOR study in multiply recurrent clostridium difficile infection. The study did not achieve primary endpoint.
- [By Lisa Levin] Gainers
Trevena Inc (NASDAQ: TRVN) rose 10.8 percent to $3.60 in pre-market trading after dropping 4.97 percent on Wednesday.
Yum China Holdings Inc (NYSE: YUMC) rose 10.2 percent to $31.05 in pre-market trading after the company reported upbeat earnings for its first quarter.
Seres Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: MCRB) rose 9.1 percent to $11.39 in pre-market trading after dropping 5.26 percent on Wednesday.
Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ: PLUG) rose 8.9 percent to $2.45 in pre-market trading after surging 73.08 percent on Wednesday.
Coach Inc (NYSE: COH) rose 6.7 percent to $41.98 in pre-market trading. Coach named Ian Bickley as President, Global Business Development and Strategic Alliances.
Sapiens International Corporation N.V. (NASDAQ: SPNS) shares rose 6.1 percent to $13.91 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.54 percent on Wednesday.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: JAZZ) rose 6.1 percent to $149.15 in pre-market trading. Jazz Pharma reached a settlement with Hikma Pharma related to Xyrem patent case. Mizuho downgraded Jazz from Buy to Neutral.
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR) shares rose 6 percent to $36.72 in pre-market trading after declining 0.03 percent on Wednesday.
Rewalk Robotics Ltd (NASDAQ: RWLK) rose 5.3 percent to $2.00 in pre-market trading after the company disclosed that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs purchased 28 added Exoskeleton Systems.
Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: MACK) rose 5.1 percent to $3.29 in pre-market trading. Merrimack declared a $1.06 special dividend.
BioTime, Inc. (NYSE: BTX) shares rose 4.8 percent to $3.50 in pre-market trading. BioTime, reported the formation of new subsidiary AgeX Therapeutics, Inc.
Akari Therapeutics PLC (ADR) (NASDAQ: AKTX) shares rose 4.8 percent to $12.26 in pre-market trading after gaining 0.69 percent on Wednesday.
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) rose 3.6 percent to $39.15 in pre-market trading after the company posted better-than
practice stock trading: Starbucks Corporation(SBUX)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Seth McNew]
Some of what Chipotle is doing comes from Starbucks’ (NASDAQ:SBUX) playbook. The coffee company was a trailblazer in creating a digital and mobile strategy that has truly transformed the customer experience and added to Starbucks’ bottom line. Its app, which features a mobile wallet-style system of stored preferences and the ability to order ahead to pick up your drink without waiting in line, now has more than 13 million active users, and the company has pointed to its digital growth many times as a boost to its comparable-store sales and margin growth. Mobile payments now make up one-quarter of all Starbucks transactions.
- [By Daniel B. Kline]
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) shares dipped after the company reported its Q1 earnings. Investors reacted to same-store sales in the United States coming in below expectations. COO and incoming CEO Kevin Johnson talked about how that happened in part because Mobile Order & Pay created congestion at the front of stores, where people wait to pick up their order, causing some people to walk away without ordering anything.
- [By Chris Dier-Scalise]
The IMX report also highlighted a sell-off among their clients in companies that experienced some friction during the month. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) was net sold as federal investigators continued their probe into the construction equipment company's export filings. Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) was net sold as former CEO Howard Schultz prepared for his departure from the company in April.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Starbucks (SBUX) is set to release earnings on April 27–and the result could set the coffee purveyor’s stock up for some tasty gains.
Getty Images
What do I mean? Shares of Starbucks have been range bound for the last five months, with shares bouncing between roughly $54 and $60 during that period. But with earnings coming up, Starbucks has a catalyst to finally break though $60, if the company can deliver the goods.
In a note released yesterday, Oppenheimer’s Brian Bittner andMichael Tamas contend it will:
SBUX is highly controversial into a critical stretch for its investment case. It’s our top large-cap pick. We anticipate a multifaceted SSS improvement cycle into the June quarter (and beyond) at an attractive valuation. This intriguing setup is against ’17/’18 EPS estimates already harnessed at the bottom end of its 15-20% targeted algorithm. For 2Q17′s print (4/27 release), we expect in-line results and an unchanged outlook. We see limited downside to the $54 level with a base case at $65 (and upside case at $72).
Phases & Cycles’ Monica Rizk and Ron Meisels see more upside…if Starbucks can break that pesky $60:
A sustained rise above 卤$60 would signal a breakout and the start of a new up-leg. Behaviour indicators including the rising 40wMA and the rising trend-line confirm the positive status. Only a sustained decline below $54-55 would be negative. A rise above 卤$60 would signal Point & Figure targets of $69 and $74 (18% and 27% appreciation potentials from current levels).
See you there?
Shares of Starbucks have gained 1.4% to $59.16 at 2:57 p.m. today.
- [By Craig Jones]
Jon Najarian said on CNBC's Fast Money Halftime Report that traders are making bullish bets ahead of earnings in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX).
- [By WWW.THESTREET.COM]
The Starbucks (SBUX) inside Trump Tower has seen traffic drop dramatically. The shop’s usual customers, deterred by the barricades, armed guards and bomb-sniffing dogs outside, are getting their caffeine fix elsewhere.
practice stock trading: James River Group Holdings, Ltd.(JRVR)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By WWW.GURUFOCUS.COM]
For the details of PhiloSmith Capital Corp’s stock buys and sells, go to www.gurufocus.com/StockBuy.php?GuruName=PhiloSmith+Capital+Corp
These are the top 5 holdings of PhiloSmith Capital CorpPrimerica Inc (PRI) – 122,700 shares, 7.85% of the total portfolio. Chubb Ltd (CB) – 61,750 shares, 7.59% of the total portfolio. Reinsurance Group of America Inc (RGA) – 65,550 shares, 7.11% of the total portfolio. Brown & Brown Inc (BRO) – 193,225 shares, 7.03% of the total portfolio. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (AJG) – 143,725 shares, 6.95% of the to
practice stock trading: Primo Water Corporation(PRMW)
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Sodastream International heading back up to previous highs while large cap Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: MNST) has been range bound the last two years and small cap Primo Water Corporation (NASDAQ: PRMW)has been in a strong uptrend for the past few years with performance perhaps leveling off:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Sodastream International drifting higher while large cap Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: MNST) has been range bound for almost three years and small cap Primo Water Corporation (NASDAQ: PRMW)has been in a strong uptrend for the past few years with that performancesomewhat leveling off:
- [By Peter Graham]
A long term performance chart shows Sodastream International underperforming, but doing better last yearwhile the outperformance of large cap Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ: MNST) has leveled off and small cap Primo Water Corporation (NASDAQ: PRMW)has been in a strong uptrend for the past two years:
