Stock Market News For October 13, 2016

Benchmarks mostly eked out gains on Wednesday, led higher by real estate, utilities and telecom sectors. Investors placed their bets on such dividend payers, which are conceived to be relatively safe investment choices. The lack of any indications in the Fed minutes about the timing of a rate hike and an erratic earnings season lured investors to latch onto dividend payers. The Nasdaq, on the other hand, was dragged down by declines in biotech stocks for the second consecutive session.

For a look at the issues currently facing the markets, make sure to read today’s Ahead of Wall Street article.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) increased 0.1%, to close at 18,144.20. The S&P 500 also advanced 0.1% to close at 2,139.18. The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 5,239.02, losing almost 0.2%. The fear-gauge CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) soared 9.8% to settle at 16.87. A total of around 5.6 billion shares were traded on Wednesday, lower than the last 20-session average of 6.77 billion shares. Advancers outpaced declining stocks on the NYSE. For 50% stocks that advanced, 47% declined.

Fed Minutes: Fails to Confirm Rate Hike

Minutes from the Fed’s September meeting showed that policy makers were divided over the timing of a rate hike. They kept rate hike on hold last month despite a “reasonable argument” for an increase. While some officials called for a rate hike “relatively soon”, others wanted to see further progress towards full employment and faster inflation.

Ahead of the release of the minutes, New York Fed President Bill Dudley had said that “slack” in the labor market was a reason the central bank hasn’t been more aggressive in hiking rates. Even though it is widely expected that the Fed will hike rates after the U.S. presidential election, traders have think there is a mere 9% chance of a rate hike in the month of November.

Yield-Sensitive Sectors Gain

Big dividend payers posted significant gains on Wednesday after Fed minutes provided little insight about the next interest rate hike. Investors also continue to remain wary of what might turn out to be an erratic earnings season. Instead, they place their bets on dividend payers, which are conceived to be relatively safe investment choices.

Alcoa Inc. (AA) had unofficially kicked off the earnings season, with its earnings and revenues falling short of expectations. In fact, earnings growth is expected to take a beating in the third quarter, which will be the sixth quarter in a row of earnings declines for the S&P 500 index. Total earnings for the index are expected to be down 2.9% from the same period last year on 1.2% higher revenues. Earnings growth is expected to be negative for half of the 16 Zacks sectors, led by Energy (- 68.3%), Transportation (- 21.4%), and Autos (- 18.5%) (read more: What Will the Q3 Earnings Season Bring?).

Investors bought big dividend payers like real estate investment trust, utilities and telecom companies. Real estate investment trusts like Crown Castle International (NYSE:CCI) Corp. (CCI) and American Tower Corporation (AMT) gained 2.8% and 2.4%, respectively. Utility company like WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) and Phone Company Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ). (VZ) also increased 1.5% and 0.8%, respectively.

Biotechs Weigh on Nasdaq

Broad based selloff among biotech stocks had a negative impact on the Nasdaq. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology (IBB) declined 2.5%, while the broader Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:XLV) fell by 0.5%.

Key biotech stocks such as Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) Inc. (BIIB) and Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN). (AMGN) decreased 2.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Both the two companies possess a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Stocks That Made Headlines

CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:CSX) Beats on Q3 Earnings and Revenues

CSX Corporation (CSX) reported third-quarter 2016 earnings of 48 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 45 cents. (Read More)

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) Beats on Q3 Earnings, Misses Sales

Delta Air Lines Inc.’s (DAL) third-quarter earnings (excluding special items) of $1.70 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5 cents. (Read More)

Newell: Game Plan in Action, Inks Deal to Sell Tools Brands

Newell Brands Inc. (NWL) inked a definite deal to sell its Irwin, Lenox and Hilmor brands of the Tools segment, to Stanley Black & Decker Inc (NYSE:SWK). (SWK). (Read More)

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Reportedly Has a Seat on Didi Chuxing's Board

Apple Inc. (AAPL) has reportedly got a seat on the board of Didi Chuxing, China’s largest cab hailing service. (Read More)

Where Do Zacks' Investment Ideas Come From?

You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 ""Strong Buy"" stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus you can access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Rank #5 ""Strong Sells"" and other private research. See the stocks free >>

ALCOA INC (AA): Free Stock Analysis Report

CROWN CASTLE (CCI): Free Stock Analysis Report

AMER TOWER CORP (AMT): Free Stock Analysis Report

WEC ENERGY GRP (WEC): Free Stock Analysis Report

VERIZON COMM (VZ): Free Stock Analysis Report

BIOGEN INC (BIIB): Free Stock Analysis Report

AMGEN INC (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report

CSX CORP (CSX): Free Stock Analysis Report

DELTA AIR LINES (DAL): Free Stock Analysis Report

NEWELL BRANDS (NWL): Free Stock Analysis Report

APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report

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