#$swk

[yahoofinancestaff-blog]

Apple's winning streak, Amazon launches music service, Newell sells tool unit

Here are some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Apple (AAPL) is eyeing its seventh straight day of gains after hitting a 10-month high yesterday. This comes amid rival Samsung’s (005930.KS) growing Galaxy Note 7 safety crisis, which prompted the South Korean company to cut its operating profit guidance for the third quarter by 33% to $4.6 billion.

Amazon (AMZN) is turning up the volume in music streaming. The e-commerce giant is launching a service with tens of millions of songs you can access on any device for $9.99 a month. And it’s putting real pressure on Spotify and Apple Music by offering the new service for $7.99 a month to its Prime customers and just $3.99 a month if you own the Amazon Echo. That’s the voice-activated speaker that answers to the name Alexa and sells for $180.

The European telecom sector is under pressure this morning. Ericsson’s (ERIC) US-listed shares got hit hard in early trading. The Swedish telecom equipment company warning that third quarter profit will be “significantly lower” than estimates due to weak demand for broadband networks. The company also said it doesn’t expect to see an improvement anytime soon. Nokia (NOK) share also fell on the news.

Newell Brands (NWL) shares rose this morning. The consumer products company is selling its tools unit to Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) for $1.95 billion in cash. Newell is divesting its Irwin, Lenox and Hilmor brands as it sheds some of its businesses after its acquisition of Jarden in April.

[yahoofinancestaff-blog]

Wall Street cautious ahead of Fed minutes as bond yields rise

Stocks (^GPSC, ^DJI, ^IXIC) started the day in the red as bond yields continue to rise and Wall Street turns its attention back to the Federal Reserve. Investors will try to figure out how much dissension is brewing at the central bank when it releases its latest meeting minutes this afternoon.

Amazon turns up the volume

Amazon (AMZN) today launched a music steaming service with tens of millions of songs you can access on any device for $9.99 a month. Amazon is putting pressure on Spotify and Apple (AAPL) Music by offering the new service for $7.99 a month to its Prime customers and just $3.99 a month if you own the Amazon Echo. Does Amazon have the edge?

Apple’s bet on China

Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook says Apple will open a research and development center in the southern Chinese city of Shenzen next year. Cook made the announcement during a visit to the city this week. In August, Cook unveiled Apple’s plans for a $45 million R&D facility in Bejing. Will Cook’s charm offensive pay off?

Walmart’s OT end-around

Walmart (WMT) is raising salaries for entry-level managers from $47,476 to $48,500 in a move that will mean those employees don’t receive overtime pay. In December, the Obama administration will require most employers to pay overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,500 a year. Is this smart business bad PR?

Stocks to watch

Newell Brands (NWL) shares rose this morning. The consumer products company is selling its tools unit to Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) for $1.95 billion in cash. Newell is divesting its Irwin, Lenox and Hilmor brands as it sheds some of its businesses after its acquisition of Jarden in April.

Ericsson’s (ERIC) US listed shares got hit hard in early trading. The Swedish telecom equipment company is warning that third-quarter profit will be “significantly lower” than estimates due to weak demand for broadband networks. The company also said it doesn’t expect to see an improvement anytime soon. Nokia (NOK) shares also fell on the news.

[jamielissettehammerstone]

It was a late day sell-off in equities....

...as the Dow Industrials, which had been trading in a fairly narrow range most of the session, dropped late day. Today market a session with relatively little to no major news/economic data for traders to focus on (no major earnings/M &A activity). Defense sectors lagged (Healthcare/Utilities), while airline stocks fell as oil rallied and industry metrics missed targets (AAL); energy stocks rallied with another bounce in oil (up for a third straight session). The dollar slipped, Treasuries little changed, and commodities bounced.

HammerstoneReport Closing ReCap 2/9/15