MORNING BUSINESS MINUTE, FRI. MAY 5, 2006
By:
Updated: April 17, 2007
Oil closed the session down $2.34 a barrell to settle at $69.94 on Nymex. We also saw worker productivity numbers up for the first quarter -- and the retail sector posted better than expected sales, which usually leaves everyone happy.
As a result, we saw the Dow gain +38.58 (+0.34%) to close at 11,438.86. The NASDAQ added +19.93 (+0.87%) to close at 2,323.90. The S&P 500 added +4.40 (+0.34%) to close at 1,312.25.
Local stocks posted mostly positive numbers. Wal-Mart (WMT) lost -0.62% to close at $46.40. AllTel (AT) added +0.38% to closeat $65.23. Tyson Foods (TSN) lost -0.14% to close at $14.61. JB Hunt (JBHT) added +3.67% to close at $25.42 and Acxiom (ACXM) added +0.20% to close at $25.68.
In terms of economic figures today, we`ll see the payroll numbers and April unemployment rate. Also out -- consumer credit for March. In terms of earnings -- we again have dozens out, but nothing we`ll follow too closely. Again, the Asian markets re-open next week.
In the U.S, in extended hours trading, the NASDAQ 100 Afterhours Indicator rose +0.46 (+0.03%) to close the night at 1,701.49.
