Market Close Wrap-Up: December 2, 2010

"The major U.S. equity indices closed higher Thursday, on news from Freddie Mac regarding a boost in mortgage rates, signaling a brighter economic outlook.

Officials from Freddie Mac said that the average 30-year fixed loans rate jumped 4.46%, up from 4.40% last week.

The average 15-year loan also increased, from 3.77% to 3.81%.

In corporate news, Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD) reported a 10% jump in sales during November for stores open at least one year; Thomson Reuters analysts forecast a sales boost of 4%. Net sales during November rose 14% to $893 million.

PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) officials announced the company's planned 66% stake purchase in Russian food and beverage firm Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC (NYSE:WBD). The majority stake purchase will cost $3.8 billion, and according to PepsiCo officials, will help boost the firm's worldwide annual revenues from nutritious and functional foods by about $3 billion, to $13 billion.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) closed 0.95% higher at 11,362, the S&P500 (INX) closed 1.28% higher at 1,221, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) closed 1.17% higher at 2,579."

Market Close Wrap-Up: October 28th, 2010

The major U.S. equity indices closed mixed Thursday despite a report from the Labor Department that found a decline of 21,000 in applications for jobless benefits to a seasonally adjusted 434,000 in the week that ended October 23rd. The figure is the second-lowest for first-time claims during 2010. In corporate news, Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) reported a Q3 net income of $109 million, or $0.05 per share, a significant jump from $12 million, or $0.01 per share in the year-ago period. Revenue for the quarter rose 6% year-over-year to $5.8 billion. Analysts forecast earnings of $0.12 per share on revenue of $5.66 billion. Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE:CL) reported a Q3 net income boost to $619 million, or $1.21 per share, up from $590 million, or $1.12 per share in the year-ago period. Q3 sales fell 1.5% to $3.94 billion. FactSet Research analysts were looking for EPS of $1.19 with sales totaling $4 billion. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) closed 0.15% lower at 11,109.71, the S&P500 (INX) closed 0.10% higher at 1,183.67, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) closed 0.16% higher at 2,507.37.

Market Close Wrap-Up : October 26th, 2010

The major U.S. equity indices closed higher Tuesday, following disappointing earnings and news on home prices. Stocks edged back up after a decline earlier in the afternoon, following October's consumer confidence report. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index declined 0.2% in August. Price declines were apparent for fifteen out of the total 20 cities examined in the index. In corporate news, Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE:KMB) reported a Q3 earnings miss. The company earned $469 million, or $1.14 per share, down from $582 million, or $1.40 per share in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 1% year-over-year to $5 billion. Analysts were looking for EPS of $1.28 on revenue of $5 billion. TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (NASAQ:AMTD) reported Q4 net income of $114 million, or $0.20 per share, down from $157 million, or $0.26 per share in the year-ago period. Revenue fell nearly 8% to $609 million. Analyst expected EPS of $0.23 on revenue of $619.2 million. The Dow Jones Industrial (DJI) closed 0.05% higher at 11,169.46, the S&P500 (INX) closed 0.01% higher at 1,185.64, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) closed 0.26% higher at 2,497.29.