U.S. stock market futures fell Friday as investors grew cautious
ahead of an initial reading on U.S. growth data, due later.
Earnings from Chevron Corp. and D.R. Horton Inc. are among those
due ahead of the bell.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 35 points, or
0.2%, to 14,618, while those for the Standard & Poor's index
fell 5.5 points, or 0.4%, to 1,576.20. Futures for the Nasdaq 100
index fell 11 points, or 0.4%, to 2,833.
Economists polled by MarketWatch are expecting first-quarter
annualized growth of 3.2%, up from just 0.4% in the final three
months of 2012. But those analysts also say that initial GDP data
can also be deceiving, painting an exaggerated portrait of the
economy. That data is due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Analysts at Deutsche Bank said in a note that as that data will
see three revisions this year, the "best approach is to focus on
the general mix in economic output -- meaning the balance between
private final domestic demand, which is defined as real GDP less
inventories as a proxy for future underlying production."
At 9:55 a.m. EDT comes the final reading of consumer sentiment
data for April from Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan,
with expectations for that to rise to 74 from 72.3.
A smaller lineup of earnings is in store for investors on
Friday, including Chevron (CVX), D.R. Horton (DHI), Burger King
Worldwide Inc. (BKW) and Tyco (TYC) all due to report ahead of the
opening bell.
Shares of Amazon.com (AMZN) could come under pressure for Friday
after the e-commerce group reported a net income fall that beat
Wall Street forecasts, but also a soft outlook for the second
quarter.
Shares of Expedia Inc. (EXPE) could also fall, tracking
late-session moves after it posted a disappointing outlook, while
Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) shares may also be under pressure after
investors appeared unimpressed by the company's lifting of fiscal
2013 profit estimates.
Wall Street finished higher Thursday, with the Standard &
Poor's 500 index (SPX) closing up 6.37 points, or 0.4%, to
1,585.16, after touching an intraday high of 1,592.64. However,
stocks pared gains in the afternoon after a report in the German
daily Handelsblatt that Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann sent a
letter to Germany's constitutional court criticizing the European
Central Bank's Outright Money Transactions, or OMT.
Markets across the board were cautious ahead of U.S. growth
data, and European stocks were lower across the board, while Tokyo
and Shanghai stocks retreated.
Within commodities, gold was looking at a 4.7% gain for the week
after a jump in prices the prior day, but was driving slightly
lower. Oil was also weak. The dollar remained lower ahead of that
GDP data.
Write to Barbara Kollmeyer at AskNewswires@dowjones.com
HOT STOCKS TO WATCH
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Friday's session are PerkinElmer Inc. (PKI), Coinstar Inc. (CSTR)
and Expedia Inc. (EXPE).
PerkinElmer's first-quarter profit rose 43% as the manufacturer
of health-testing equipment was helped by a benefit from a
provision for income taxes, although revenue fell. Shares plunged
14% to $29.68 after hours as results missed the company's own
estimates and the company lowered its full-year outlook.
Coinstar's first-quarter profit fell 58% as the company
continued to record decelerating growth in its Redbox DVD-rental
business and expenses increased. Coinstar also plans to seek
approval from shareholders to change its name to Outerwall Inc.
Shares jumped 8.2% after hours to $59.53, however, as the company's
adjusted earnings topped expectations, though revenue fell
short.
Troubles in one of Expedia's most humdrum businesses--car
rentals--unexpectedly kept the online travel agent's earnings
outlook from lifting off. Shares fell 5.3% to $61.50 after hours.
The company reported first-quarter loss widened sharply amid
charges related to the online travel agent's acquisition of a
majority stake in Europe-focused travel metasearch engine Trivago
and other items, however adjusted earnings came in better than
expected.
Baidu Inc.'s (BIDU, K3SD.SG) first-quarter earnings increased
8.5% as the Chinese Internet-search company posted double-digit
percentage revenue growth, though expenses also increased
significantly. American depositary shares fell 8.1% after hours to
$84.83.
Software company Informatica Corp.'s (INFA) first-quarter
earnings fell 33% as higher operating expenses masked
better-than-expected revenue growth. Still, the company's shares
climbed 8.8% to $35.14 after-hours Thursday.
George Soros has bought a 7.91% stake in J.C. Penney Co. (JCP),
a vote of confidence in the beleaguered, cash-constrained retailer
as it tries to reverse a deep decline in sales. Shares were up 7.2%
to $16.33 after hours.
LogMeIn Inc. (LOGM) swung to a first-quarter loss as the
information-technology company continued to report growing
expenses, masking revenue growth. However, shares rose 17% after
hours to $20.90 as results beat expectations, and the company
raised its full-year view.
Micros Systems Inc.'s (MCRS) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose
9% as the information-technology firm continued to report revenue
growth. But shares fell 6.5% in after-hours trading to $40.70 as
the company gave a dim forecast for the current quarter, and
lowered its full-year view.
Qlik Technologies Inc.'s (QLIK) first-quarter loss widened as
the enterprise-software vendor logged significantly higher
operating expenses that overshadowed revenue growth. However,
shares rose 14% to $27.15 after hours as the company lifted its
2013 outlook.
Synaptics Inc.'s (SYNA) fiscal third-quarter earnings more than
tripled as the touchscreen-technology company posted strong revenue
growth and income-tax benefits. Shares jumped 18% to $45.55 after
hours as results easily topped the company's own projections and it
also gave upbeat second-quarter predictions.
Theravance Inc. (THRX) said it plans to create two independent
publicly traded companies, separating its late-stage partnered
respiratory assets from its biopharmaceutical operations. Shares
were up 5.9% to $32.75 after hours.
Watch List:
Altera Corp.'s (ALTR) first-quarter earnings rose 3.8% as the
chip maker saw its sales increase, especially in the Americas.
Amazon.com Inc.'s (AMZN) business continues to grow rapidly as
more users turn to the Web to do their shopping. But the e-commerce
company continues to spend money almost as fast as it comes in. The
Internet giant posted a 22% rise in revenue for the first quarter,
a slower pace than a year earlier.
CareFusion Corp. (CFN) said it expects to pay about $41 million
to resolve allegations stemming from a government investigation
into the medical-equipment company's sales and marketing practices
for its ChloraPrep skin preparation product and its relationships
with health-care professionals.
CBRE Group Inc.'s (CBG) first-quarter profit rose 39% as the
commercial real-estate brokerage and investment company posted
stronger global property sales and revenue growth in all its major
regions.
Cerner Corp.'s (CERN) first-quarter earnings rose 24% as the
hospital-information technology vendor reported stronger revenue as
stronger support maintenance and services segment sales offset a
decline in system sales.
Cirrus Logic Inc.'s (CRUS) fiscal fourth-quarter profit dropped
48% as a large year-earlier tax benefit masked the effect of
stronger sales of audio components.
Chubb Corp.'s (CB) first-quarter earnings rose nearly 30% as the
property-and-casualty insurer posted higher net premiums written
and lower losses.
Clearwire Corp.'s (CLWR) first-quarter loss widened as the
financially struggling wireless broadband provider saw its revenue
slip and total subscriber rolls fall.
Dresser-Rand Group Inc.'s (DRC) first-quarter earnings rose 39%
as the equipment maker reported stronger revenue at both its
segments.
Eastman Chemical Co.'s (EMN) first-quarter earnings rose 56% as
the chemical and materials manufacturer was helped by a recent
acquisition.
Geron Corp. (GERN) unveiled plans to cut its workforce by about
a third and discontinue its discovery research and companion
diagnostics programs, as the pharmaceutical company looks to focus
solely on developing its imetelstat drug for hematologic myeloid
malignancies.
HealthSouth Corp.'s (HLS) first-quarter earnings rose 16% as
revenue was boosted by continued growth in patient discharges at
its rehabilitation facilities.
International Game Technology's (IGT) fiscal second-quarter
earnings rose 26% as the slot-machine maker reported improved
revenue, led by strong product sales growth. The company also
raised its full-year earnings view.
KBR Inc.'s (KBR) first-quarter earnings slipped 3.3% as revenue
in the defense contractor's hydrocarbons and government segments
weakened.
KLA-Tencor Corp.'s (KLAC) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 19%
as the semiconductor-equipment company was hurt by a double-digit
decline in revenue.
Leggett & Platt Inc.'s (LEG) first-quarter earnings rose 12%
as the diversified manufacturer reported wider margins, offsetting
a modest revenue decline.
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said an advisory committee to European
regulators has recommended against the approval of its new
rheumatoid arthritis drug, dealing a setback to the drug giant's
plans to bring the drug overseas.
Range Resources Corp.'s (RRC) first-quarter loss widened as the
oil and gas company logged charges on hedging and other items,
though core earnings and revenue increased.
Reinsurance Group of America Inc.'s (RGA) first-quarter profit
rose 50% as the life reinsurer saw its net premiums and investment
income rise.
Republic Services Inc.'s (RSG) first-quarter profit slipped 13%
as pension-related costs and restructuring charges weighed on the
waste-collection and recycling-services company's bottom line and
revenue was relatively flat from a year earlier.
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Starbucks Corp.'s (SBUX) quarterly profit climbed 26% as the
coffee giant attracted more customers with its loyalty program in
the U.S. and China.
Taubman Centers Inc.'s (TCO) first-quarter earnings rose 58% as
the luxury-mall owner benefited from increased rents and
acquisitions.
Universal Health Services Inc.'s (UHS) first-quarter earnings
fell 6.8% as the health-care facility operator's increase in
expenses slightly outpaced its revenue growth and as special gains
boosted year-ago results.
VeriSign Inc.'s (VRSN) first-quarter earnings rose 24% as the
Internet-domain-name company reported a wider operating margin.
Wynn Resorts Ltd.'s (WYNN) first-quarter profit rose a
better-than-expected 44% as the casino operator reported increased
revenue in Macau.
Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) said Chairman Fred Amoroso has resigned but
will serve on the Web portal's board through its June annual
meeting of shareholders.
Write to Nathalie Tadena at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com
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