Apple Today - 2/17/2016 (AAPL)
seymour_greenz • February 17th 2016 10:52:18 AM
Good Morning,
NASDAQ Futures are up 39 with +29 Fair Value, S&P Futures are up 14 with +11 Fair Value and Dow Futures are up 107 on a busy Wednesday of economic data, including FOMC minutes at 2pm. Futures were down early morning, bottomed at 2:30am and are making new highs as we await the open.
Asian markets closed mixed today. China gained 1.08% while Hong Kong dropped 1.03% and Japan declined 1.36%. European markets are rallying today. The UK is currently up 1.66%, Germany is up 1.99% and France is leading the advance, up 2.21%.
Commodities are mixed this morning. Oil is up 2.93%, natural gas is up 1.52% and gold is down 0.34%. Unleaded gas is up 0.75% and heating oil is up 2.26%. Metals are mixed, silver is down while platinum and copper are up. Meat is mostly up. Cocoa and coffee are up while cotton, corn, wheat and soybeans are down.
Oil rises after talks on output freeze in Iran. Manufacturing production in US increases by the most since July while housing starts in US drop to lowest level in 3 months. US producer prices edge up on machinery, services margins. Icahn trims 7 million Apple shares.
Potbelly Corporation (PBPB) reported yesterday and is up nearly 10% after beating Q4 earnings and revenue estimates. On the other hand, Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (RAX) is down over 16% on decreased profits and a gloomy Q1 outlook.
Priceline Group Inc. (PCLN) is up over 10% after reporting an earnings beat this morning and T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) is up nearly 5% after reporting a nearly 3x increase in profits. Don't count Garmin Ltd. (GRMN) out either with a Q4 beat and encouraging guidance, now up over 6% in pre-market. On the other hand, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS) is down over 1% after reporting this morning.
This afternoon after the bell look out for earnings from Agilent Technologies Inc. (A), Acadia Healthcare Co. (ACHC), The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (CAKE), Devon Energy Corporation (DVN), Express Scripts, Inc. (ESRX), Fossil, Inc. (FOSL), Potbelly Corporation (PBPB), Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (RAX) and Zendesk, Inc. (ZEN).
Tomorrow before the bell, Analog Devices Inc. (ADI), Bloomin' Brands (BLMN), Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS), Garmin Ltd. (GRMN), Medgenics (MDGN), MannKind Corporation (MNKD), Priceline Group Inc. (PCLN) and T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) are expected to report.
AAPL had a rally day, and seemed to "break the chains" that have been holding it back recently, respectably gaining 2.82% for the day in the process. AAPL opened up at an even 95 to moderate volume and momentarily hit the intra-day low of 94.61 on modest volume before bouncing back up above 95 on a slow but consistent and average volume rally that literally lasted all day. By 2:30 AAPL broke above 96.5 and 2 minutes later peaked at the intra-day high of 96.85 on moderate volume before settling to end the day up 2.65 at 96.64. AAPL dropped below 96 in after-hours when it was revealed that our sweet Uncle Carl (Carl Icahn) sold 7 million shares of AAPL, however that represents a small fraction of his overall AAPL position and AAPL recovered somewhat. In the end, AAPL dropped 29 cents to 96.35.
This morning in pre-market, AAPL picked up just under where it left off in after-hours and then made some positive strides towards 97, achieving 96.95 at 5:41am before dipping back down to 96, likely due to morning "news" repetition of the Icahn story. AAPL is currently down 22 cents at 96.34 as we approach the open.
Classic max-pain is 100.
Oil rises after talks on output freeze in Iran:
http://in.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-idINKCN0VO01K
Housing starts in US drop to lowest level in 3 months:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-17/housing-starts-in-u-s-decline-to-lowest-level-in-three-months
Manufacturing production in US increases by most since July:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-17/manufacturing-output-in-u-s-rises-by-most-since-july-2015
US producer prices edge up:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-inflation-idUSKCN0VQ1KW
Wining streak?
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2016/02/17/dow-eyes-3-day-winning-streak/80491808/
T-Mobile profit nearly triples as 2.1 million subscribers added:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-t-mobile-us-results-idUSKCN0VQ17M
Priceline soars:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2016/02/17/priceline-fourth-quarter-earnings-2/#69ec73441583
China debt sets off alarms:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-17/china-debt-binge-spurs-s-p-warning-as-magnus-sees-big-problems
Japan needs more data to judge negative rates:
http://in.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-ishihara-idINKCN0VQ0VQ
Are the bulls back?
http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/16/investing/stocks-market-oil/
Carl Icahn, David Einhorn cut Apple positions:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/02/16/carl-icahn-david-einhorn-cut-apple-positions-amid-hedge-fund-titration
Apple being "forced" into breaking into an iPhone:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2016/02/16/heres-why-fbi-forcing-apple-break-into-iphone-big-deal/80481766/
But vows to resist:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-wants-apple-to-help-unlock-iphone-used-by-san-bernardino-shooter/2016/02/16/69b903ee-d4d9-11e5-9823-02b905009f99_story.html
Google fesses up:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/134308/20160217/google-admits-tracking-personal-student-data-but-claims-its-only-for-educational-purposes-and-not-advertising.htm
PlayStation VR coming in 2016:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/134149/20160217/playstation-vr-release-date-price-specs-and-games-everything-we-know-so-far.htm
Galaxy S7 phone may be water resistant:
http://www.cnet.com/au/news/samsungs-galaxy-s7-phone-may-be-water-resistant/
Leap into VR, hands-first:
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35595835
Ancient amber:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0216/Ancient-amber-locks-floral-ancestor-of-modern-plants-frozen-in-time
1.1 million year old Stegodon tusk found in Pakistan:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/134157/20160217/1-1-million-year-old-stegodon-tusk-found-in-pakistan.htm
The "little Hobbitses" are definitely not human:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/134202/20160217/mystery-hobbits-found-on-indonesian-island-not-related-to-modern-humans.htm
What happened on Easter Island?
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0217/Rapa-Nui-mystery-What-really-happened-on-Easter-Island
Teach your robot butler not to kill you by reading it bedtime stories:
http://www.cnet.com/news/fairy-tales-teach-robots-not-to-murder/
Hawking says gravitational waves could revolutionize astronomy:
http://news.discovery.com/space/hawking-gravitational-waves-could-revolutionize-astronomy-160216.htm
Before you buy a ticket to Mars, consider the dangers:
http://www.cnet.com/au/news/before-signing-up-to-go-to-mars-consider-all-the-ways-to-die-there/
Chemicals or Zika?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/02/17/could-chemicals-rather-than-the-zika-virus-be-to-blame-for-birth-defects-in-brazil/
Screening for autism:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/134275/20160217/should-your-child-get-screened-for-autism-experts-are-uncertain.htm
"Ground zero" of Alzheimer’s discovered:
http://news.usc.edu/91957/researchers-pinpoint-brain-region-as-ground-zero-of-alzheimers-disease/
Shocking amount of sugar in common hot beverages:
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-35593007
Could you pass the grated wood, please?
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-16/the-parmesan-cheese-you-sprinkle-on-your-penne-could-be-wood
Today's Economic Calendar:
7:00 MBA Mortgage Applications
8:30 Producer Price Index
8:30 Housing Starts
8:55 Redbook Chain Store Sales
9:15 Industrial Production
10:00 Atlanta Fed's Business Inflation Expectations
10:00 E-Commerce Retail Sales
2:00 PM FOMC minutes
Notable earnings after today's close: ABX, *ACOM*, ALB, ARRS, ASGN, ATAI, BEAT, BMA, BRCD, CBMX, CF, CFPUF, CHE, *CIM*, CLD, CPA, CSLT, *DENN*, *ELNK*, EPAM, EQC, EVTC, GLOB, GOOD, GPOR, HOS, HY, IAG, IPAS, ITRI, *JACK*, JIVE, KAR, *KEG*, LDRH, LOPE, LSCC, *LZB*, MANT, *MAR*, *MORN*, MRO, MX, NEM, NHI, *NTAP*, *NVDA*, NVDQ, NVMI, OGS, OIS, PKD, QDEL, SCKT, SNPS, SPRT, *SPWR*, SSS, STR, SWM, TEP, TYL, UFPI, UGP, UIHC, UNTD, VMI, WFSTF, WMB, WPZ
And tomorrow before the open: IPHYF, AAN, AAWW, AFRAF, AGIO, ALE, BCC, BELFB, CAB, CBB, CBR, CBZ, CDNTF, CFPZF, CHH, COT, CPPL, CRAI, CVI, CVRR, DAN, *DISCA*, *DISH*, DNR, DUK, EIGI, ETR, FCRGF, FINGF, FRTSF, GEL, GFI, GOV, GTS, *H*, HCN, HII, HOT, HTA, ICD, IDCC, IQNT, IRT, KBCSF, KNOP, LAWS, LCSHF, LDOS, LH, MFA, *MGM*, MNTA, MPEL, MZOR, NI, *NSRGY*, OCANF, ONE, PAAS, PATK, PCG, POOL, PPP, PRGO, RIOCF, ROCK, RS, SCG, *SIX*, *SODA*, STFC, SYNT, TAC, TGP, TK, TKC, TOO, *TTC*, TVPT, UAN, UFCS, UPL, *VA*, VAL, VPG, WAB, *WM*, *WMT*, WST