BLBG: U.S. Index Futures Are Little Changed; Barrick Declines
By Daniela Silberstein
Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stock-index futures were little changed, after the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed to a 13- month high yesterday, as speculation industrial production rose in October offset a drop in commodities.
Barrick Gold Corp., the world’s largest producer of the precious metal, dropped with gold prices. SunPower Corp. sank 6.7 percent after saying a review of some accounting entries appeared to contain errors. Hess Corp. advanced after UBS AG recommended the stock.
Futures on the S&P 500 expiring next month declined 0.1 percent to 1,105.30 at 10:07 a.m. in London. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures lost 0.1 percent to 10,361. Nasdaq- 100 Index futures retreated less than 0.1 percent to 1,803.0. European stocks fluctuated and Asian shares fell.
U.S. stocks rallied yesterday, sending benchmark indexes to 13-month highs, and commodities gained as retail sales rebounded and Asian government leaders pledged to maintain economic stimulus spending. The S&P 500 has jumped 64 percent from a 12- year low in March as a four-quarter contraction in the world’s largest economy ended.
“After yesterday a bit of a breather is healthy for the market,” said Peter Braendle, who helps oversee about $50 billion at Swisscanto Asset Management in Zurich. “As long as third-quarter profits are okay there is trust in equities but the question is what will happen next year.”
Topped Estimates
Per-share earnings have topped estimates at 366 of the 441 S&P 500 companies that have released third quarter earnings, a record in Bloomberg data going back to 1993, even as profits slumped for a record ninth straight quarter. Retailers Home Depot Inc. and Target Corp. are among companies scheduled to report earnings today.
Barrick Gold fell 1.1 percent to $43.50. Newmont Mining Corp., the largest U.S. gold producer, dropped 0.9 percent to $51.92. Gold declined as some investors opted to lock in gains after the precious metal rose to an all-time high of $1,143.60 an ounce yesterday.
SunPower lost 6.7 percent to $25.41. Based on an internal review of its Philippine manufacturing operations, the company found unsubstantiated accounting entries made in the first three quarters of this year, and that results may need to be restated, the second-biggest U.S. supplier of solar modules said.
Industrial production in the U.S. probably gained for a fourth consecutive month in October, signaling manufacturing is leading the rebound in the world’s largest economy, economists said before reports today.
Economy Watch
Output at factories, mines and utilities climbed 0.4 percent following an increase of 0.7 percent in September, according to the median forecast of 75 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Capacity utilization probably rose for a fourth month after reaching a historic low in June.
Separately, a report from the Labor Department at 8:30 a.m. may show prices paid to producers rose 0.5 percent in October, reflecting higher food and fuel costs, according to the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. From a year earlier, producer prices probably fell 1.8 percent.
Bank of America Corp. slipped 0.8 percent to $15.75 and JPMorgan Chase & Co. declined 1.3 percent to $42.48. The companies are among banks that were sued by a California public utility over claims they rigged sales of municipal derivatives and shared illegal profits through kickbacks.
To contact the reporter on this story: Daniela Silberstein in Zurich at dsilberstei2@bloomberg.net.