Stock Market Wrapup Dec. 3rd
All three major indices closed lower on the day, as investors continue to show concern over the housing and financial sectors. The Dow lost -57 points on the day to close at 13,315. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq and S&P each closed down to end at 2,637 and 1,472, respectfully. Light, sweet crude edged higher to settle at $89.31 per barrel. Treasury and gold prices each posted gains, while the dollar slid against the euro and the yen.
On the economic front, the Institute for Supply Management reported that a reading of its manufacturing index for November showed a drop to 50.8. Analysts had forecasted a slightly larger dip to 50.5. Any reading above 50 represents economic growth.
In corporate news, shares of VeriFone (NYSE: PAY - News) tumbled -45.8% on the day after announcing that accounting errors had caused it to overstate pretax earnings for the first nine months of the year by nearly $30 million, or 80%. As a result, the company said it expects to reduce its pretax income by -$8.9 million in the first quarter, -$7.0 million in the second quarter, and -$13.8 million in the third quarter. VeriFone said it will delay releasing its fourth-quarter results until a thorough assessment has been completed. Subscribers can read our take on VeriFone in today's edition.
Elsewhere, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, Lennar (NYSE: LEN - News), announced today that it has sold 11,000 lots at -40% of their value, as part of a joint venture it has formed with Morgan Stanley's (NYSE: MS - News) real estate unit. The homebuilder said it will record a fourth-quarter loss of about -$3.09 per share as a result of the sale that saw it unload the properties valued at $1.3 billion for a total of $525 million. Shares of Lennar were up 5.7% in trading, while shares of Morgan Stanley were off -0.8% at the bell.
Shares of General Motors (NYSE: GM - News) dipped -4.1% in trading after the company reported that sales for the month of November fell -11% compared to last year. Analysts had been predicting a rise in November sales. Meanwhile, Ford Motors (NYSE: F - News) said November auto sales had increased by 0.4%. Analysts had predicted a drop in Ford sales. Ford was off -3.5% on the day.
In M&A news, French conglomerate Vivendi SA announced Sunday that it will acquire a majority stake in Activision (Nasdaq: ATVI - News) and combine it with Vivendi Games, making the combined company the world's largest video game maker by market cap. According to the terms of the deal, Vivendi is set to purchase 62.9 million new shares of Activision stock for $1.7 billion, and exchange Vivendi Games for 295.3 new shares valued at $8.1 billion. The per-share price for both segments of the transaction amounts to $27.50. Activision's stock soared 12.7% in trading.
On the economic front, the Institute for Supply Management reported that a reading of its manufacturing index for November showed a drop to 50.8. Analysts had forecasted a slightly larger dip to 50.5. Any reading above 50 represents economic growth.
In corporate news, shares of VeriFone (NYSE: PAY - News) tumbled -45.8% on the day after announcing that accounting errors had caused it to overstate pretax earnings for the first nine months of the year by nearly $30 million, or 80%. As a result, the company said it expects to reduce its pretax income by -$8.9 million in the first quarter, -$7.0 million in the second quarter, and -$13.8 million in the third quarter. VeriFone said it will delay releasing its fourth-quarter results until a thorough assessment has been completed. Subscribers can read our take on VeriFone in today's edition.
Elsewhere, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, Lennar (NYSE: LEN - News), announced today that it has sold 11,000 lots at -40% of their value, as part of a joint venture it has formed with Morgan Stanley's (NYSE: MS - News) real estate unit. The homebuilder said it will record a fourth-quarter loss of about -$3.09 per share as a result of the sale that saw it unload the properties valued at $1.3 billion for a total of $525 million. Shares of Lennar were up 5.7% in trading, while shares of Morgan Stanley were off -0.8% at the bell.
Shares of General Motors (NYSE: GM - News) dipped -4.1% in trading after the company reported that sales for the month of November fell -11% compared to last year. Analysts had been predicting a rise in November sales. Meanwhile, Ford Motors (NYSE: F - News) said November auto sales had increased by 0.4%. Analysts had predicted a drop in Ford sales. Ford was off -3.5% on the day.
In M&A news, French conglomerate Vivendi SA announced Sunday that it will acquire a majority stake in Activision (Nasdaq: ATVI - News) and combine it with Vivendi Games, making the combined company the world's largest video game maker by market cap. According to the terms of the deal, Vivendi is set to purchase 62.9 million new shares of Activision stock for $1.7 billion, and exchange Vivendi Games for 295.3 new shares valued at $8.1 billion. The per-share price for both segments of the transaction amounts to $27.50. Activision's stock soared 12.7% in trading.
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