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Published on September 19, 2012, 6:31 pm
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Existing Home sales increased 7.8% to a 4.82 million annual rate (highest level in two years), beating estimates of 4.56 million on record-low mortgage rates, more affordable properties and limited supply of new homes. Sales of distressed properties are also starting to account for a smaller market share, leading to gains in home values. The improvement will lead to a rise in residential wealth, which usually generates higher consumer confidence and spending.

The Bank of Japan abandons the minimum return on bonds it purchases as a step to ensure it meets targets for adding stimulus to the economy, even as ending deflation remains out of reach. The previous requirements of regular government debt purchases set at 1.8 trillion yen/month and for notes accumulated under a 55 trillion yen asset-purchase fund were scrapped. The asset program was also increased by 10 trillion yen. Negative rates are a possibility should the Euro crisis worsen and investors flock to safe havens.

Equities:

DJIA: 13,578 (+0.10%)
S&P500: 1,461 (+0.12%)
Nasdaq: 3,183 (+0.15%)
EuroStoxx: +0.56%
Nikkei: +1.19%
Hang Seng: +1.16%

U.S. Stocks rise on better than estimated existing home sales numbers and BOJ stimulus news. The Nikkei index climbs to its highest level since May on BOJ stimulus.

Bed, Bath, & Beyond reported 2Q EPS of $0.98 vs. estimated $1.02 EPS and net sales of $2.59B vs. estimated $2.60B on the company relying on coupons to drive traffic, thus cutting into margins. BBBY sees 3Q EPS to be between $0.99 to $1.04 vs. estimated $1.03. Long term prospects could look better as the housing market picks up.

Adobe reports 3Q adjusted EPS of $0.58 vs. estimated $0.59 and revenue of $1.08B vs. estimated $1.10B on the company offering a lowered price subscription version of its Creative Suite software. The company’s 4Q EPS forecast missed estimates with $0.53-$0.58 vs. estimated $0.67. Shares drop 6.4%. The company plans to offer more products over the Web and mobile devices, in addition to software offered to personal computers.

Sprint jumps up 7.1% on as the CEO Dan Hesse predicted a wave of M&A in the industry, potentially hinting that Sprint may plan a role future consolidation of smaller wireless carriers. The CEO states that Sprint may encounter two types of deals, a large scale deal to gain size to challenge AT&T and Verizon or smaller deals that have more immediate cost benefits and synergies.

Credit:

iBoxx IG: 120.68 (+0.2%)
iBoxx HY: 93.72 (-0.1%)
CDX IG S18 5Y: 85.58 (-0.3%)
CDX HY S18 5Y: 102.06 (-0.0%)

Commodities:

WTI Crude: 91.87 (-0.12%)
Nat Gas: +0.87%
Copper: +0.84%
Corn: -0.2%

FX:

EURUSD: 1.3048 (-0.01%)
DXY Dollar Index: 79.1 (-0.24%)

Rates:

U.S. 10y: 1.77% (-4bp)
German 10y: 1.62% (-1bp)
Spanish 10y: 5.67% (-20bp)
Italian 10y: 4.91% (-13bp)

Spanish bonds gained as PM Mariano Rajoy said his government was committed to cutting the budget deficit and investors bet the country will seek a bailout. Spanish credit ratings are unlikely to be cut to junk in the near future says S&P EMEA ratings chief over Reuters TV.

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Jonas Bronck is the pseudonym under which we publish and manage the content and operations of The Bronx Daily.™ | Bronx.com - the largest daily news publication in the borough of "the" Bronx with over 1.5 million annual readers. Publishing under the alias Jonas Bronck is our humble way of paying tribute to the person, whose name lives on in the name of our beloved borough.