Market movers
Dow Jones: 13,254 (+0.03%)
NASDAQ: 3,067 (+0.14%)
S&P 500: 1,416 (+0.04%)
LONDON (SHARECAST) - US stocks inched higher in early trading on Friday after some economic data came in ahead of expectations.
However, there was a cautious tone to markets from the off with gains only modestly higher after the Standard & Poor's 500 Index hit a four-month high yesterday. The benchmark is closing in on the previous peak of 1,419 set on April 2nd.
The University of Michigan-Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index rose from 72.3 to 73.6 in August, better than forecasts of no change.
Meanwhile, the Conference Board's leading economic index increased by 0.4% in July, better than the 0.3% growth estimate.
Markets were also reacting to comments from German Chancellor Angela Merkel who yesterday backed proposals by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. She said his idea of buying sovereign debt to bring down bond yields in indebted nations was "completely in line" with the view of euro-area officials.
Sector peers GAP and Foot Locker beat estimates
Fashion retailer GAP advanced after raising its full-year earnings per share guidance from $1.78-1.83 to $1.95-2.00, as it reported a higher-than-forecast increase of 29% in second-quarter earnings.
Elsewhere in the retail universe, sporting apparel group Foot Locker was in demand after profits beat consensus forecasts for the tenth quarter in a row.
Chip maker Marvell Technology was under the weather after results from its second quarter came up short of forecasts.
S&P 500 - Risers
J. M. Smucker Co. (SJM) $82.94 +5.03%
Gap Inc. (GPS) $35.65 +3.81%
Metropcs Communications Inc. (PCS) $9.80 +2.73%
Vulcan Materials Co. (VMC) $40.86 +2.61%
Ralph Lauren Corp (RL) $156.12 +2.44%
Ryder System Inc. (R) $42.54 +2.26%
Teradata Corp. (TDC) $77.21 +2.04%
Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG) $44.15 +1.96%
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (EW) $99.66 +1.90%
Fossil Inc. (FOSL) $89.37 +1.80%
S&P 500 - Fallers
McKesson Corp. (MCK) $86.44 -2.51%
Perrigo Company (PRGO) $106.84 -1.92%
WellPoint Inc. (WLP) $57.01 -1.43%
Waters Corp. (WAT) $75.17 -1.31%
Cerner Corp. (CERN) $72.87 -1.19%
TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) $33.45 -1.18%
Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) $46.76 -1.16%
Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) $28.69 -1.14%
Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) $28.68 -1.10%
Ventas Inc. (VTR) $63.60 -1.07%
Dow Jones I.A - Risers
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $89.32 +0.82%
United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $79.40 +0.80%
Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $64.47 +0.69%
Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $19.12 +0.53%
International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) $201.52 +0.34%
Bank of America Corp. (BAC) $7.95 +0.32%
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) $72.26 +0.15%
Home Depot Inc. (HD) $56.38 +0.12%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $50.31 +0.12%
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD) $50.61 +0.10%
Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $112.58 -0.65%
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $43.66 -0.63%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $26.43 -0.60%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $23.89 -0.54%
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) $19.42 -0.51%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $36.92 -0.49%
Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) $88.25 -0.47%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $67.88 -0.47%
AT&T Inc. (T) $37.11 -0.35%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $30.67 -0.34%
Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Fossil Inc. (FOSL) $89.37 +1.80%
eBay Inc. (EBAY) $46.57 +1.70%
Viacom Inc. Class B (VIAB) $50.70 +1.52%
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) $51.20 +1.39%
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $65.18 +1.35%
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) $66.37 +1.25%
Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $35.01 +1.13%
Infosys Technologies Ltd. (INFY) $42.55 +1.12%
O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $88.15 +1.08%
NetApp Inc. (NTAP) $33.31 +1.05%
Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (MRVL) $10.64 -13.36%
Perrigo Company (PRGO) $106.84 -1.92%
Cerner Corp. (CERN) $72.87 -1.19%
Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) $46.76 -1.16%
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) $24.58 -1.16%
Warner Chilcott Plc (WCRX) $17.26 -1.09%
Sigma-Aldrich Corp. (SIAL) $71.54 -1.05%
Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) $11.77 -0.97%
Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) $59.71 -0.96%
Altera Corp. (ALTR) $36.34 -0.95%
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