Dow stocks at new 52 week highs include Visa (V). There are no Dow stock 52 week lows.
The Market
Premarket, the Dow was indicated to open up +40 points.
Tuesday, the Dow closed down -9.31 (-0.06%) at 15,875.26.
Year-to-date the Dow is up +21.15%.
The Fed will announce its latest decision on interest rates at 2 p.m. ET, followed by a press conference featuring Fed chairman Ben Bernanke at 2:30. If it doesn’t begin to pull back on its $85 billion per month of bond and mortgage securities purchases, investors will be sifting the bank’s communications for indications of when it may start.
Intel (INTC) was added to the short-term ‘Buy’ list at Deutsche Bank.
Christmas is one week from today.
European stocks are higher and Asian stocks ended mixed.
The national average price of gasoline is down six-tenths of a cent to $3.216 per gallon.
Earnings Reports.
Nike (NKE) is expected to report earnings on 12/19/13 after the market close.
Earnings reports from Tuesday include:
Jabil Circuit, Inc. (JBL) reported first quarter EPS of $0.51 on revenue of $4.61 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.61 on revenue of $4.64 billion.
Verifone Systems, Inc. (PAY) reported fourth quarter EPS of $0.27 on revenue of $432.00 million, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.76 on revenue of $488.56 million
Other stocks expected to report earnings today include:
FedEx Corporation (FDX) is expected to report second quarter EPS of $1.62 on revenue of $11.43 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.39 on revenue of $11.11 billion.
General Mills, Inc. (GIS) is expected to report second quarter EPS of $0.89 on revenue of $4.96 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.86 on revenue of $4.88 billion.
Lennar Corporation (LEN) is expected to report fourth quarter EPS of $0.62 on revenue of $1.88 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.56 on revenue of $1.35 billion.
Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is expected to report second quarter EPS of $0.67 on revenue of $9.18 billion, compared to last year’s EPS of $0.64 on revenue of $9.11 billion.
Today’s Featured Dow Stock
Intel Corp. (INTC) is up +19.57% year-to-date.
Financial Calendar
0700 ET Weekly MBA mortgage applications, previous +1.0% with purchase sub-index +0.9% and refi sub-index +2.1%.
0830 ET Nov housing starts expected 954,000, +8.0% from Augs level of 883,000 (Sep and Oct housing starts have yet to be released). Nov building permits expected -4.7% to 990,000, Oct +6.7% to 1.039 million.
1030 ET EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report.
1300 ET Treasury auctions $35 billion 5-year T-notes.
1400 ET FOMC announces interest rate decision and pace of asset purchases.
1400 ET Fed releases summary of economic projections.
1430 ET Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke holds press conference following FOMC meeting.