REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
First, the scoreboard:
- Dow: 15,775.7, +13.9, +0.0%
- S&P 500: 1,771.2, +0.5, +0.0%
- NASDAQ: 3,920.2, +1.0, +0.0%
And now the top stories:
- "Bonds are closed so there will be no ten-year yield to guide off," said UBS's Art Cashin before the U.S. markets opened. "Also there is no data due on this side of the pond. We may need a cattle prod to move the tape along. Stay nimble and try to stay awake."
- Cashin's prediciton proved to be right. There was very little volatility in the stock markets, which just barely closed up.
- In other holiday news, its Singles Day in China. This is an anti-Valentine's Day when China's singles go shopping for themselves. According to Alibaba Group, these folks spent $5.7 billion on themselves today. "By comparison, U.S. consumers spent $1.5 billion on "Cyber Monday" last year," reports BI's Hayley Peterson.
- UBS's Julian Emanuel was the latest top Wall Street strategist to publish a forecast for 2014. "2014 looks to be another positive year for US equities," he wrote. "Our year end 2014 S&P 500 Price Target of 1,950 represents a gain of 10.1% from the current price of 1,771. On forecast 2014 earnings of $116 - 6.9% growth from 2013's forecast $108.5 - 1,950 represents a 16.8x trailing multiple. Supported by strong corporate balance sheets, a Fed mindful of keeping conditions on course for 3% GDP growth and the first signs of a pickup in earnings growth - multiple expansion, consistent with historical precedent, is achievable."
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