Indices drift modestly higher as earnings season revs up

US Mid-Morning Recap
by TradeTheNews Staff

- Dow components that reported today included DD –2%, JNJ –0.9% and UTX +2.8% while shares of MCD +1% are expected to report tomorrow. Tech is experiencing a little bit of relief helped by the semis. TXN is adding 4% as traders look to be relieved that their numbers and guidance were not as bad as some feared. ALU – 9% and TLAB –1% have not been as lucky. Looking at the S&P, airlines are lower after UAUA –5.5% earnings and 13M share block of AMR –6% traded. Banks and investment banks are giving back some of yesterday’s strength after BAC –1% reported. MER –1.7% JPM –0.7% BSC –1.25% MS –1.4% Home building stocks are pushing higher after DHI earnings and a sector upgrade, while select paper stocks have a bid after it was disclosed that Icahn has taken a stake in TIN +6%.

- Early in the session money is flowing into commodities led by metals. Feb Gold is just shy of its 2007 high up more than $11 currently. March silver is up2% after making a new high while even copper is bouncing nearly 3%. The XAU is higher by 3% while FCX +3.5% and PCU +2.5% are gaining as well. March Crude is up close to 2% trading up roughly a dollar for much of the session. Oil service names are seeing some buying with the OIH up 2% despite a sector downgrade at Bear Sterns before the open. Ethanol stocks are running up for the second straight session ahead of tonight’s State of the Union speech with other alternative energy names higher as well. DSTI +8% STP +3.5% SPWR +1.6% USU +2.5%

- Treasury markets are at session lows with yields pushing higher. 30-year –13/32 at 4.875%; 10-year –6/32 at 4.783%; 2-year –1/32 4.92% Higher US yields are helping the Dollar pare some of its earlier losses but weakness persists especially in the European pairs. The Pound made a 14-year high earlier, briefly trading above the 1.99 level against the Dollar. The Bank of England’s King is expected to make a speech later this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s release of the minutes of last week meeting. The Euro has climbed back above the 1.30 level.