By Anora Mahmudova and Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
Hewlett-Packard skids 9% after earnings miss
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks edged higher on Wednesday,
with the main indexes scaling record levels, as investors heard
more of the same arguments from the testimony by Federal Reserve
Chairwoman Janet Yellen.
Chairwoman Yellen answered questions from members of Congress
(http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capitolreport/2015/02/25/live-blog-and-video-of-janet-yellens-second-day-of-testimony-before-congress/)
for the second day and continued to stress that normalization of
interest rates will begin when the committee is confident that
inflation is on track to hit the central bank's inflation target of
2% growth.
The S&P 500 (SPX) was up slightly with six of the 10 main
sectors trading higher. Utilities were leading the losses, while
consumer discretionary stocks rose. The Dow Jones Industrial
Average (DJI) switched between small gains and losses. More than
half of the 30 members of the blue-chip index were trading higher.
The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) was slightly higher.
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) was weighing on the tech index, with
shares off nearly 9%. The company said first-quarter revenue
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/comcast-h-p-macys-first-solar-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-24)
fell short of Wall Street's expectations and it also cut its 2015
outlook to adjust for a stronger dollar.
Read more: What's changed since the last time the Nasdaq was at
5,000?
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/six-differences-between-now-and-last-time-nasdaq-was-at-5000-2015-02-24)
Read more: Yellen prepares markets for a less-patient Fed
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/yellen-prepares-markets-for-less-patient-fed-2015-02-24)
Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at RW Baird & Co,
said Janet Yellen has provided more of the same regarding Fed
policy.
"There was nothing new and investors know that the Fed will not
want to lose its credibility by raising rates too soon, only to cut
them back again. We believe they will stay market-friendly for
longer," Bittles said.
He cautioned about overly bullish sentiment in the market, which
is usually associated with diminishing liquidity.
"After hating this market for six years, investors are finally
getting in. The latest survey points that the bullishness is close
to extreme levels. When optimism is very high, it means that
investors are fully invested and do not have any more money left to
put into stocks, leading to big corrections. We are watching
optimism levels very closely," he added.
Alan Gayle, senior investment strategist at RidgeWorth
Investments, said that the Fed is not going to pull the rug from
under the markets.
"Yellen reminded everyone that the Fed has dual mandate --
unemployment and inflation. At current levels inflation numbers are
not where they should be," Gayle said.
Gayle noted that they did shift money from U.S. stocks into
international equities.
"European PMIs are ticking up and with the start of quantitative
easing from ECB, we see more growth in the equities there compared
to U.S. stocks," he added.
Retailers in focus:Chesapeake Energy Corp.(CHK) shares slid 8.5%
after a profit miss, making it the biggest decliner on the S&P
500.
Late Tuesday, First Solar Inc.(FSLR) reported that its profit
nearly tripled in the fourth quarter. Shares, which climbed 10% on
Tuesday on deal news, were up more than 6.7%.
Dollar Tree(DLTR) and Salesforce.com Inc.(CRM) are also due to
report.
Read more: Target, Dollar Tree, Salesforce.com earnings in focus
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/target-dollar-tree-salesforcecom-earnings-in-focus-2015-02-25)
Shares of Southwest Airlines Co.(LUV) fell 1.8% after the
company said it pulled 125 jets out of service Tuesday
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/southwest-pulls-more-than-125-jets-out-of-service-over-missed-inspections-2015-02-25)
-- roughly one-fifth of its fleet -- over missed inspections.
Consumer Reports
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-just-in-the-press-adores-tesla-2015-02-24)
named Tesla Motors Inc'.s(TSLA) Model S the top pick in 2015 for
car buyers. Shares rose 1.2%.
Also read: Apple shares may be ripe for a correction
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-ripe-for-a-correction-2015-02-24)
Other markets: The view of a dovish Federal Reserve helped push
gold prices
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-retakes-1200-on-tailwinds-from-yellen-and-china-data-2015-02-25)(GCH5)
past $1,200 an ounce. The dollar
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-pulls-back-versus-yen-after-yellen-testimony-2015-02-25)(DXY)
moved lower across major crosses, while WTI oil prices
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-futures-keep-a-wary-eye-out-for-us-inventory-data-2015-02-25)(CLJ5)
edged higher on Wednesday as traders took a close look at a U.S.
government report showing that crude supplies rose for a seventh
straight week.
European stocks also pulled back, taking a breather from their
own record run on Tuesday. The Stoxx Europe 600 saw its highest
close since October 2007. Hong Kong shares got a small lift
(http://www.marketwatch.com/storyno-meta-for-guid) after an initial
reading of China's manufacturing activity surprised to the
upside.
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