- Dow Jones Industrial Average up 5.75 (+0.04%) to 12,883.95
- S&P 500 up 2.91 (+0.22%) to 1,349.96
- NASDAQ Composite up 11.78 (+0.41%) to 2,915.86
GLOBAL SENTIMENT
- Nikkei down -0.35%.
- Hang Seng up 1.54%.
- Shanghai Composite up 2.43%.
- FTSE-100 down 0.30%.
U.S. stocks were mixed on their approach to the closing bell, but ended modestly higher as investors waited for Greek officials to come up with a plan to implement austerity measures, required for the country to secure a second bail-out loan.
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos met with the leaders of the three parties that support his interim unity government this Wednesday, and while there were rumors that they were close to a deal, no formal statement was made.
In economic news, the Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity, including both refinancing and home purchase demand, rose 7.5% in the week ended Feb. 3, matching expectations.
In company news, S&W Seed Company (SANW) set a new 52-week high after reporting Q2 EPS of $0.08, crushing the $0.02-a-share call of the lone analyst estimate now following the firm. Revenues also climbed to $4.7 million, also topping the analyst call expecting $3.5 million in sales.
Apple (AAPL) set a new 52-week high on a price increase of around 1%. There was no specific news driving shares of the maker of the popular iPod, iPhone and iPad.
Commodities closed mixed. Gold futures ended lower as a climbing greenback made the safe-haven investment less appealing for holders of international currency. Gold for April delivery fell $17.10, or 1%, to finish at $1,731.30 an ounce on the Comex division of New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude-oil futures advanced 30 cents to close at $98.71 a barrel.
UPSIDE MOVERS
(+) CALX, Q4 adjusted EPS of $0.08 tops Street; Revenues also beat.
(+) GUID, Guides FY12 above analyst consensus; Q2 profit surprise beat.
(+) AVID, Reported Better-Than-Expected Revenue.
DOWNSIDE MOVERS
(-) CDXS, $0.15 a share Q4 net loss misses Street call by $0.04.
(-) SGI, Q2 Earnings per share 84% below $0.25 a share consensus.
(-) TNK, Prices Secondary Offering.
