Coming off a week that saw high-water marks for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, investors turned their attention toward the earnings calendar — which this week is stocked with big names across the board — as well as the week’s first economic report, which showed soft but rising retail sales for June.
The Nasdaq led the way with a gain of 0.21% to 3607.49. The S&P 500 rolled to its eighth straight day of gains and another record, finishing ahead 0.14% at 1682.50. And the Dow Jones Industrial Average set yet another closing record, finishing up 0.13% to 15484.26.
Citigroup (C) kicked off the week’s earnings by posting second-quarter earnings up 26% to $1.25 per share, topping analyst estimates of $1.18, amid lower loan losses and higher trading profits. Citigroup’s shares rose nearly 2% on the day, and shares of Wells Fargo (WFC) — which reported its own beat late last week — also climbed more than 1% to reset its all-time highs, and investment banks Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS) each gained around 2%.
Leap Wireless (LEAP) — the prepaid wireless carrier behind Cricket Mobile — was one of the day’s biggest movers after AT&T (T) announced a buyout bid. AT&T is offering $1.19 billion, or $15 per share — an 88% premium to Leap shares’ Friday close, but shares actually bounded 112%, likely expecting a higher offer. AT&T shares closed down fractionally.
The telecommunications sector was humming on the day, as Sprint (S) rose more than 4%. Japan’s Softbank (SFTBF) officially purchased the company at the end of last week.
Microsoft (MSFT) rallied to improve its multiyear highs, up 1.5%. MSFT recently announced a reduction in the base price of its Surface Tablet product. Fellow blue-chip tech stock Oracle (ORCL) started its life on the NYSE with a bang, rising more than 2% on no particular news.
Finally, the housing sector took a beating, with shares of Lennar (LEN) and D.R. Horton (DHI) each losing more than 4%, while PulteGroup (PHM) shed more than 1%.
Earnings releases ramp up on Tuesday, with notables Goldman Sachs (GS), Coca-Cola (KO), Yahoo (YHOO) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) on the docket.
Three Up
- Canadian Solar (CSIQ): Up 20.6% ($2.38) to $13.93.
- RadioShack (RSH): Up 8.6% (25 cents) to $3.17.
- Nii Holdings (NIHD): Up 8.4% (61 cents) to $7.87.
Three Down
- Webmd (WBMD): Down 4.8% ($1.61) to $32.21.
- Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN): Down 5.5% ($6.33) to $107.93.
- American Tower (AMT): Down 2.2% ($1.68) to $76.16.
Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, he was long MSFT.
