BLBG : U.S. Stock-Index Futures Gain; Alcoa, Intel Advance in Europe
U.S. stock-index futures rose, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index may rebound from two weeks of losses, before a report that may show service industries in the world’s biggest economy stabilized last month.
Alcoa Inc., the largest U.S. aluminum producer, and Intel Corp. climbed in Europe before the Institute for Supply Management’s index of non-manufacturing businesses. Brocade Communications Systems Inc. jumped after the Wall Street Journal reported the data-storage company has put itself up for sale.
Futures on the S&P 500 expiring in December added 0.5 percent to 1,026.6 at 9:56 a.m. in London. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.4 percent to 9,471 and Nasdaq-100 Index futures increased 0.6 percent to 1,671.5.
The S&P 500 surged 32 percent in the last two quarters amid expectations the worst of a global recession is over. Worse- than-forecast releases on manufacturing and jobs last week spurred concern the seven-month rally may have outpaced the prospects for earnings growth, while New York University Professor Nouriel Roubini said Oct. 3 that “markets have gone up too much, too soon, too fast.”
“Tactical indicators at current levels would normally lead us to downgrade equities, but their signals are less meaningful at this stage in the cycle,” wrote a team of Credit Suisse Group AG strategists led by Andrew Garthwaite in a report today titled “Equities: No Time to Sell.” “A further near-term correction is possible, but we believe that the S&P 500 will be 1,100 by year-end.”
Earnings Reports
Alcoa is scheduled to release third-quarter results on Oct. 7, kicking off the latest quarterly earnings season. Analysts’ predictions compiled by Bloomberg suggest companies will report a ninth quarter of declining profits this week before a rebound in earnings in 2010.
Alcoa gained 3 percent to $13.2 in Germany. Intel, the world’s largest computer chipmaker, advanced 1.1 percent to $19.17.
The Institute for Supply Management’s index of non- manufacturing businesses, which make up almost 90 percent of the economy, probably rose to 50 from 48.4 in August after 11 straight drops, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Fifty is the dividing line between expansion and contraction.
ISM’s factory index on Oct. 1 showed that the manufacturing industry expanded less than economists anticipated in September. Employers unexpectedly cut more jobs last month than in August and unemployment climbed to the highest level since 1983, Labor Department data showed on Oct. 2.
Brocade, SciClone
Brocade jumped 3.7 percent to $7.93. The California-based data-storage and networking company has put itself up for sale, the Journal reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. No transaction is imminent and a Brocade spokesman said the company doesn’t comment on speculation, the newspaper added.
Bank of America Corp. rose 0.8 percent to $16.47. The bank plans to make a decision on the appointment of an “emergency” chief executive officer this week in case Kenneth D. Lewis steps down before the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal also reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.
SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. tumbled 17 percent to $3.44. The drugmaker said it discontinued a study of its experimental drug for pancreatic cancer after a recommendation by a safety review committee.
To contact the reporters on this story: Alexis Xydias in London at axydias@bloomberg.net.