After a relatively uneventful start to the week, and given that the market closes at 1 p.m. EDT in advance of Independence Day, it's likely we'll experience a boring, low-volume day for equity markets. Luckily for those of us who write for a living, there are still some interesting news items on tap for today. But before diving into today's news, let's take a look at how markets finished up yesterday.
Index | Gain/Loss | Gain/Loss % | Value |
---|---|---|---|
Dow Jones Industrial Average | (8.7) | (0.07%) | 12,871 |
Nasdaq | 16.2 | 0.55% | 2,951 |
S&P 500 | 3.4 | 0.25% | 1,365 |
One of the main news items today will be June vehicle sales. On an industrywide basis, sales are expected to rise to a 13.9 million annualized rate from 13.8 million in May. That's down from the first four months of 2012, when vehicle sales exceeded the 14 million mark, but it still amounts to a 21% annual increase following the shortages caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Domestic manufacturers reporting sales this morning include Ford
Fun with noncash charges
Smell something? That's the smell of burning cash. While Microsoft
Foolish bottom line
Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh on Microsoft and HP, but the fact remains that many large, transformative acquisitions never play out as intended. Sometimes, shareholders would be better served if that cash were simply returned to them through fat dividend checks. If that sounds like your cup of tea, check out our latest special free report: "Secure Your Future With 9 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks." Claim your copy of this exclusive report, which outlines a batting lineup of solid dividend payers, by clicking here now!