*University of Michigan consumer sentiment data, leading indicators on tap. *J.C. Penney dips after earnings. Data expected on Friday includes the Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers preliminary May consumer sentiment index at 9:55 a.m..
TOKYO, May 17- The Nikkei share average may pull back slightly on Friday after Wall Street weakened overnight, but the market is on track to log its second-straight weekly gain on the back of a depressed yen and optimism over the earnings outlook for Corporate Japan.
The three major U.S. stock indexes had earlier traded in a tight range, supported by a gain of more than 12 percent in Cisco Systems shares and as investors took in a batch of economic data that pointed to slower growth.
*Wall Street drops further but Cisco surges on earnings. John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, also said the Fed could end its bond-buying program late this year, citing "good news" on the outlook for jobs.
*Cisco shares rise 9 pct in early trading. Aug 16- Shares of Cisco Systems Inc jumped 9 percent on Thursday as a dividend hike and share buyback plan overshadowed comments that business conditions in Europe would not improve anytime soon for the network equipment maker.
*Wal-Mart falls after earnings miss. Cisco Systems led gains in both the Dow and Nasdaq Composite with a 12 percent surge after the network equipment maker posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and said current-quarter revenue could increase. Cisco shares shot up 12.3 percent to $23.82 after hitting $24.24, the highest since November 2010.
*Cisco's stock flies after earnings, outlook. NEW YORK, May 16- U.S. stocks advanced modestly on Thursday as Cisco led gains in blue chips and technology stocks following strong earnings, offsetting concerns about softer-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and labor market.
*Cisco jumps after earnings, outlook. *Wal-Mart slips after earnings miss. NEW YORK, May 16- U.S. stocks were little changed on Thursday after softer-than-expected data on the manufacturing sector and labor market, but gains in Cisco helped temper declines.
NEW YORK, May 16- U.S. stocks were little changed at the open as a rally in Cisco Systems was offset by weak data on the labor and housing markets. Cisco soared 11.6 percent to $23.64 a day after reporting quarterly results. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 3.48 points, or 0.10 percent, at 3,475.10.
*Cisco jumps after earnings, outlook. *Wal-Mart slips after earnings miss. NEW YORK, May 16- U.S. stocks were poised for a slightly lower open on Thursday, indicating the Dow and S&P 500 may ease from their most recent record highs after softer-than-expected data on the housing and labor markets.
U.S. stock index futures were flat Thursday as investors digested a handful of weaker-than-expected economic data against upbeat earnings report from Cisco.
No reason has been given yet for the departure of founder and executive chairman George Zimmer, reports CNBC's Courtney Reagan. Zimmer has long been the face of the company.
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 10:52 AM ETCNBC's Rick Santelli, explains why he hears 'crickets" when he asks questions about Fed Chairman Bernanke's policies. "Enough is enough," he rants.
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2013 | 11:36 AM ETAre reporters lobbing "softball" questions at the Fed chairman? CNBC's Rick Santelli and the Wall Street Journal's Jon Hilsenrath, debate whether the economy continues to need quantitative easing. I'm trying to inform the public about what the Fed is up to, says Hilsenrath.