Stronger retail sales than expected(ex-auto up 0.5 percent, the best showing since November) has caused an 8-point pop in futures.
Elsewhere:
1) Hewlett-Packard's$12.6 b dealfor Electronic Data systems ($25.00 a share) is a direct challenge to IBM , and--bulls hope--the most recent of many strategic acquisition deals by large companies. Still, the IBM bulls are not shrinking--IBM closed at a 6 year high yesterday.
2) Engineering and construction giant Fluor again proved the value of being truly international. They get nearly 60 percent of their revenues outside the U.S. They are particularly strong in oil and natural gas engineering--where their revenues were up 55 percent. Industrial and infrastructure was flat. Power segment up over 100 percent. Most importantly, they have continued to land substantial new contracts, and so they have increased their earning guidance for 2008 by almost 20 percent. Up 9 percent pre-open.
3) Liz Claiborne cut their guidance (a day after Ann Taylor raised theirs), but stock is not down. Earnings better than expected.
4) Toll Brothers continued the trend of builders, noting that the spring selling season was "quite weak in most markets as buyers remained on the sidelines," according to CEO Robert Toll. He does note that "there is significant pent-up demand which is growing. When we have held promotions, buyers have come out to play and put down deposits. Often, however, a lack of confidence in the direction of home prices overcomes their enthusiasm..."
5) Meredith Whitney again cut earnings estimates for Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Lehman, and Morgan Stanley--this time for 2008 and 2009.