Positive earnings and an unexpectedly strong housing report boosted the US market yesterday. Pending home sales rose 6.3% in December, following a 3.7% decline in November and expectations for the level to hold steady. However, gains were limited by continued worries about the economy after the Senate Republicans countered the $885 billion plan from the Obama administration with a $445 billion alternative.
The Dow Jones gained 141.53 points to close at 8,078.36, the S&P 500 added 13.07 points to end at 838.51. The Nasdaq climbed 21.87 points to finish at 1,516.30.
Merck jumped more than 6% after reporting better than expected quarterly sales and earnings, following strong sales of its diabetes drug. Rival Schering-Plough also topped estimates with its quarterly results, pushing its stock more than 8% higher.
Microsoft led tech stocks and the Nasdaq higher as investors hoped that any government stimulus plans would boost consumer and business spending. Shares in the software maker advanced 3.8%, while IBM topped the Dow, up 2.8%. In contrast, chipmaker SanDisk plummeted 23.2% a day after giving a disappointing outlook and saying it may undertake an equity offering that could dilute shares by as much as 20%.
House builders were buoyant following the report on pending home sales. DR Horton was one of the strongest performers, helped further by reporting a smaller than expected loss for the year. Shares rallied 21.4%, while luxury home builder Toll Brothers gained 6.4%.
After the bell, Walt Disney disappointed by posting a 32% drop in quarterly profit. The stock, which is considered a bellwether for consumer spending, plunged more than 9% in extended trading.
US light crude oil for March delivery added $0.70 to $40.78 a barrel. COMEX gold for April delivery slipped $14.70 to $892.50 an ounce. Treasury prices jumped, lowering the yield on the 10 year note to 2.88% from 2.72%.
The Nikkei rose 213.43 points to 8,038.94 this morning to snap a three day losing streak. Sumitomo Metal Mining rallied after copper prices rose and Credit Suisse raised its rating on the stock. Mitsui OSK Lines rose 3.9% after commodity shipping fees jumped for the 11th day.
The Hang Seng also closed higher for the first time in three days, up 287 points at 13,063.89. Aluminium Corp of China, the nation's largest producer of the metal, advanced 7.3% after Xinhua News Agency reported late yesterday that the government started investing the second allocation of a stimulus package.
The FTSE 100 is currently 25.57 points higher at 4,190.03 this morning with miners leading the way. Eurasian Natural Resources, up almost 8%, tops the riser’s board after reiterating its 2009 outlook, while Kazakhmys, which part owns ENR jumps 7.8%. BHP Billiton adds 3.1% after reporting a 17% increase in first half sales. Antofagasta also manages to rise, even after UBS lowered its EPS estimate by 10% for 2008 and 154% for 2009 after a "disappointing" production note on Tuesday. On the downside, shares in Sage Group slide 4.1% as the accountancy and business software firm says sales in Europe slowed and North America remained challenging in the first quarter.