Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News 181113
Rajesh Desai
Top Stories
Boeing launches 777X with deals worth $95B. In what is the largest product launch by dollar value in commercial jetliner history, Boeing (BA) has officially unveiled the next-generation 777X at the Dubai Air Show. Boeing has received bookings and commitments worth $95B at list prices for 259 jets from four airlines. Emirates has ordered 150 airplanes with an option for 50 more, with Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways the other customers. Meanwhile, Boeing has won a booking for up to 111 737 jets from flydubai in a deal worth $11.4B at list prices.
Sony enjoys strong start in video-gaming battle. Sony (SNE) sold over 1M PlayStation 4 video-gaming consoles in the U.S. and Canada within 24 hours of the device being launched in the countries on Friday. The record start bolsters Sony's strategy of using the PS4 to help turn around its loss-making consumer-electronics division. It also represents the opening salvo of this holiday season's console wars, with Microsoft (MSFT) due to begin selling its Xbox One product on Friday.
China's reform plan boosts Asian stocks. Asian shares mostly rose following the release of China's sweeping economic reform plan on Friday, with Hong Kong-listed Chinese shares jumping 5.7%, the Shanghai Composite 2.9%, and the Hang Seng 2.7%. Analysts at ANZ called the program "the biggest freeing up of China's economic policy since the 1990s." If implemented successfully, it would "substantially reduce the downside risks to China's economy." The proposals include financial reforms, allowing the market to set prices, and easing the country's one-child policy.
Top Stock News
GE benefits from 777X windfall with $26B in deals. Boeing's (BA) mega-orders for the 777X represent a windfall for GE (GE), which has received $26B in bookings for the mammoth engines that it's supplying for the plane. The standout customer is of course Emirates, with the airline acquiring 300 GE9X engines in a record deal worth over $11B at list prices.
Airbus gets deal for 50 superjumbos. Not to be totally outdone by Boeing (BA), Airbus (OTC:EADSF) has received a booking for 50 A380 superjumbos from Emirates at the Dubai Air Show in a deal worth $23B at list prices. Given that Emirates' Boeing order is worth $76B, the Airbus booking takes Emirates' announced list-price spending at the event to $99B.
Boeing: No plans to re-open IAM talks; mulls 777X options. Boeing (BA) doesn't intend to re-open negotiations with the International Association of Machinists (IAM) after the latter's members last week turned down an eight-year deal to build the 777X in the Seattle area. While Seattle is not off the table, Boeing is considering locations in the U.S., Japan and even in the Persian Gulf, such as the United Arab Emirates, where Emirates and Etihad Airways are based.
Russian tycoon Prokhorov to buy into potash miner Uralkali. Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov - owner of the Brooklyn Nets - has agreed to acquire a 21.75% stake in Uralkali (OTC:URALL), the world's biggest potash miner, from the company's main owner, Dagestani tycoon Suleyman Kerimov. Along with his partners, Kerimov holds a third of Uralkali. The company caused turmoil in the potash markets in July after it ended its market-dominant joint venture with Belarusian state-owned miner Belaruskali.
Trial over BofA's $8.5B mortgage-bond deal enters final stages. A court is due to begin hearing final arguments today over an agreement in which Bank of America (BAC) would pay investors $8.5B to settle claims that it missold them problematic mortgage bonds. Those in favor of the deal include BlackRock (BLK), PIMCO and Goldman Sachs (GS), while those against include AIG (AIG). The insurer calls the agreement a "pennies on the dollar" settlement, as it argues that investor losses exceeded $100B.
Lloyds to sell some Scottish Widows ops for $1.06B. Lloyds (LYG) has agreed to sell fund-management unit Scottish Widows Investment Partnership to Aberdeen Asset Management (OTC:ABDNF) for up to £660M ($1.06B), with the amount to be paid mainly in stock. The deal does not include Scottish Widows, Lloyds' life, pensions and investment business, "which remains core to the group." Shares were +0.2% premarket.
Top Economic & Other News
Italian govt. strengthened as top ally splits from Berlusconi. Italy's FTSE MIB index was +1.6% at the time of writing after Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing grouping split over the weekend, probably sending him into opposition but leaving former allies - led by Interior Minister Angelino Alfano - in the government and making it more stable. Alfano made the move as he doesn't support Berlusconi's push for early elections due to the latter's likely expulsion from the Senate following his conviction for tax fraud in August.
Storms wreak destruction across Midwest. Thunderstorms and tornadoes battered the Midwest over the weekend, killing at least six people, decimating the town of Washington in Illinois, and leaving tens of thousands without power. If they haven't already, the insurance assessors are likely to soon start counting the cost of the destruction.
Alpha-Rich Stock Movers and Great Calls
1) On Tuesday, buysider Igor Novgorodtsev called MIND CTI (MNDO) a "victim of the law of small numbers" and said it has 40% upside. Shares are +12.9% since. Read article »
2) On August 22, Ted Barac wrote that Lee Enterprises (LEE) was poised to double. The stock is already halfway there, jumping 49.4% to date. Read article »
Alpha-Rich Stocks To Watch
1) Shares of Rockwell Medical (RMTI) still underrate the chances of FDA approval for the company's key drug, which could create 100% upside, writes GuruFundPicks. Read article »
2) Helix Investment Research called JetBlue's (JBLU) recent bull run; he says that Spirit Airlines (SAVE) could be the next big mover in the space. Read article »
Alpha-Rich articles are the best long and short ideas on Seeking Alpha. SA Pro subscribers receive early access to these Alpha-Rich articles, which often move markets. For more information about SA Pro and becoming a subscriber, click here.
Today's Markets:
In Asia, Japan flat at 15164.3. Hong Kong +2.7% to 23660. China +2.9%, India +2.2%.
In Europe, at midday, London +0.3%. Paris +0.5%. Frankfurt +0.5%.
Futures at 6:20: Dow +0.2%. S&P +0.1%. Nasdaq +0.1%. Crude -0.4% to $93.43. Gold -0.3% to $1283.50.
Ten-year Treasury Yield flat at 2.71%.
Today's economic calendar:
9:00 Treasury International Capital
10:00 NAHB Housing Market Index
10:00 E-Commerce Retail Sales
Notable earnings before today's open: JKS, TSN
Notable earnings after today's close: APU, BRCD, CRM, JEC, SMTC, UGI
CA. Rajesh Desai