By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
Toll Brothers, Home Depot climb on earnings beat
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks moved higher on Tuesday,
with the S&P 500 and Dow industrials hitting record highs, as
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen testified to Congress.
Janet Yellen stuck to her previous language of being
data-dependent when it comes to deciding on the timing and the pace
of raising interest rates. She pointed that the Fed needed
confidence to see that the inflation rate is rising toward the 2%
target while the labor market still has room for improvement.
Live blog and video of Janet Yellen's first day of testimony
before Congress
(http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capitolreport/2015/02/24/live-blog-and-video-of-janet-yellens-first-day-of-testimony-before-congress/?link=instory)
The main indexes edged higher, as Yellen's testimony was
perceived as mostly in line with the previous FOMC statement.
The S&P 500 (SPX) was up four points, or 0.2% at 2,114, with
eight of its 10 main sectors trading higher. The Dow Jones
Industrial Average (DJI) jumped 82 points, or 0.5%, to 18,197.92.
The tech-centric Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) was mostly flat.
Need to Know: Janet Yellen is about to swoop in on this tranquil
stock market
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/janet-yellen-is-about-to-swoop-in-on-this-tranquil-stock-market-2015-02-24)
Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial, said
the market reaction to Yellen's testimony indicates that it was
perceived as dovish.
"The 10-year yields fell, the dollar gave up gains and stocks
rose, even though those moves were not huge. At this points, just
as the Fed is data-dependent, markets are data-dependent too.
Investors will be watching every data point carefully," Krosby
said.
"Today's Janet Yellen is the same Yellen who in 1994 warned Alan
Greenspan to be careful about raising rates too soon and too fast.
The Fed needs to see more evidence that the economy is truly on a
viable trajectory before beginning to normalize interest rates.
They would not want to be in a position where they would have to
cut rates shortly after the first hike," she said.
Yellen prepares markets for less-patient Fed
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/yellen-prepares-markets-for-less-patient-fed-2015-02-24)
Kevin Mahn, chief investment officer at Hennion & Walsh
Asset Management, commented that investors are no longer looking
for the Fed's direction.
"Janet Yellen and the Fed have not changed their view on policy.
Last year Yellen said that rate hikes would probably start about
six months after the end of the tapering process. Six months from
the end of taper in October puts the rate hike schedule for spring
and that's the message from her today," Mahn said.
"We believe a 25 basis point increase sometime between April and
June is very likely and the markets will take it in stride," Mahn
said.
He noted that at this point, what happens to euro and Greece,
Ukraine and Russia and terrorist threats are bigger risks than what
the Fed will do.
Earlier, investors shrugged off housing and consumer confidence
data that came in slightly below expectations.
Stocks to watch: Toll Brothers Inc.(TOL) shares jumped after the
homemaker reported better-than-expected profit and sales. Home
Depot Inc. (HD) shares also climbed after posting a strong surge in
sales, though the company also warned
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/home-depot-sales-beat-warns-on-dollar-2015-02-24)
on a strong dollar in its outlook for the year. The jump in the
stock is keeping Dow industrials in positive territory
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/home-depots-stock-is-keeping-dow-in-positive-territory-2015-02-24).
Shares of First Solar Inc.(FSLR) and SunPower Corp.(SPWR) rose
14% and 18%, respectively, late trade after those companies said
late Monday that they plan an initial public offering for a
pooled-asset spinoff
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dish-dillards-express-scripts-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-23).
Shake Shack Inc. (SHAK) shares rose sharply after several
investment banks began covering the stock with the hold, neutral
and buy ratings.
For more on today's notable movers, read Movers & Shakers
column
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/comcast-h-p-macys-first-solar-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-24).
Other markets: European stocks inched up, while the Athens
Composite Index surged 6%, after initial comments on Greece's
reform proposal from European officials pointed to the approval of
a four-month bailout extension
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/greek-stocks-bonds-rally-on-bailout-deal-optimism-2015-02-24).
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi will unveil the
EUR20 banknote in Frankfurt on Tuesday, and give a speech at the
same time
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-time-does-draghi-speak-on-tuesday-2015-02-24).
In Asia, the Nikkei 225 index nabbed a fresh 15-year high
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/japan-stocks-at-fresh-15-year-high-ahead-of-yellen-testimony-2015-02-24).
The dollar was firmer against the yen (USDJPY) and euro
(EURUSD).
Crude-oil prices
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-continue-to-fall-pushing-brent-under-60-a-barrel-2015-02-24)(CLJ5)
turned slightly higher, while gold
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-faces-three-straight-down-days-ahead-of-janet-yellens-testimony-2015-02-24)(GCJ5)
remained under pressure.
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