Dow Jones today, June 30, 2014: The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat on Friday despite a rise in consumer sentiment. This week, look for a heavy slate of economic reports, including the June unemployment report, factory orders, and the ISM manufacturing composite index.
Here's the news moving the Dow Jones today:
- Judgment Day: The U.S. Supreme Court will hand down a vital decision on the Affordable Healthcare Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) this afternoon in a very closely watched case involving arts-and-crafts chain Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. and the so-called Conception Mandate. The company has sued the government, arguing that the law violates the company's religious freedoms by mandating its owners provide services that might contradict their religious beliefs. This is the second major case involving the law in recent years. The court will issue two decisions this afternoon before justices take off for summer vacation.
- Default Nation: The nation of Argentina has entered a state of technical default this morning after an $832 million bond payment was declared illegal last week. The battle continues between Argentina and a New York judge, who has ordered the nation to pay off other outstanding debts totaling $1.5 billion before it can address other payments. The nation has 30 days to pay other outstanding debts before it officially defaults on its obligations.
- Banks Behaving Badly: This afternoon, the U.S. Justice Department will announce the $9 billion settlement by French bank BNP Paribas SA (OTCMKTS ADR: BNPQY) over $30 billion in transactions that violated U.S. sanctions in Sudan and Iran. During a press conference later today, regulators plan to announce a deal that includes a guilty plea by the bank to a criminal charge in Manhattan Federal Court.
- Today's Economic Calendar: Today's schedule features the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey, Pending Home Sales, and a speech by John Williams, the current San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President.
- Buyback Pending: Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim announced plans to repurchase AT&T Inc.'s. (NYSE: T) 8.27% share in media giant América Móvil. The deal would end AT&T's 20-year reign as a shareholder in América Móvil.
- You're Approved: Despite three years of scrutiny and demands for additional clinical studies, the Food and Drug Administration approved MannKind Corp. Inc.'s (Nasdaq: MNKD) inhaled insulin Afrezza for adult victims of diabetes. Shares of MannKind are up more than 12.0% in pre-market trading.
- Spin-Off Plans: Reuters reports that Dutch lighting and healthcare firm Koninklijke Philips NV (NYSE: PHG) plans to merge its Lumileds LED components and automotive lighting divisions into a single subsidiary. Last year, the two divisions combined for more than $1.9 billion in sales. Shares of the company increased by 2.5%, as investors expect this newly created division could be spun off in the near future.
- Spies Like Us: Users of Facebook Inc.'s (Nasdaq: FB) news feeds are up in arms on news that the company manipulated the feed to determine whether positive or negative updates on the board affected users' emotions. What has been dubbed a giant lab test with Facebook users as lab rats, the study was conducted on nearly 700,000 people and has spurred renewed concerns about privacy on the social media site.
- Earnings Reports: Stay tuned for earnings reports from TravelCenters of America LLC (NYSE: TA), Progressive Corp. (NYSE: PGR), and Doral Financial Corp. (NYSE: DRL).
Full U.S. Economic Calendar June 30, 2014
- Chicago PMI at 9:45 a.m.
- Pending Home Sales Index at 10 a.m.
- Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey at 10:30 a.m.
- 4-Week Bill Announcement at 11 a.m.
- 3-Month Bill Auction at 11:30 a.m.
- 6-Month Bill Auction at 11:30 a.m.
- San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams speaks at 1:10 p.m.
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About the Author
Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, consultant, and political risk analyst with decades of trading experience and degrees in economics, cybersecurity, and business from Johns Hopkins, Purdue, Indiana University, and Northwestern.