GPRO, AA, and GM Headline Today's Stock Market News

Garrett Baldwin

Stock market news today, June 26, 2014: U.S. markets today (Thursday) opened after finishing in the green across the board in the last trading session – despite GDP figures that revealed the worst non-recession performance in four decades.

Here are the top stock market news stories today:

• Merger Mania: Shares of metals producer Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) rose 5.5% in premarket hours on news that the company would purchase Firth Rixson, a manufacturer of jet engine parts. The purchase is expected to increase the company's aerospace division by 20% and provide another shot of confidence to its diverse value-add lines. Initial reports suggest the deal will be valued at least $2.85 billion and will require a combination of cash and stock.

• Today's Economic Calendar: Today's schedule features jobless claims, the EIA natural gas report, and the Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index.

• Another Day, Another Recall: The bad news keeps coming. Yesterday, General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced a recall of 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze sedans due to concerns about a possible defect in air bags manufactured by its supplier Takata. Despite the news, the company's CEO announced no plans for future employee terminations over the recalls.

• Today's Launch: Wearable sports camera maker GoPro Inc. (Nasdaq: GPRO) sold 17.8 million shares in its initial public offering of stock at $24 each. The company said the IPO reached the higher end of its price range, and raised $427 million. The stock will begin trading on Nasdaq today.

• Good News for Housing: The nation's second largest homebuilder, Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN), reported strong quarterly profits thanks to higher home prices in the United States. Shares are up marginally in premarket hours. Lennar announced that a tightened housing supply fueled the company's average selling price by 14% during last quarter.

• Another Activist into the Pool: Reuters reports that hedge fund manager John Paulson has taken a stake of more than six million shares in Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc. (NYSE: AGN). Paulson is the latest high-profile hedge fund manager (the primary being Bill Ackman) to call for a merger between the company and Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl. Inc. (NYSE: VRX).

Keep reading for the latest oil and gas news, earnings reports on deck today, and more…

Garrett Baldwin

About the Author

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Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, and consultant with degrees from Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, and Indiana University. He is a seasoned financial and political risk analyst, with a focus on stocks, hedge funds, private equity, blockchain, and housing policy. He has conducted risk assessment projects for clients in 27 countries, and consulted on policy and financial operations for some of the nation's largest financial institutions, including a $1.5 trillion credit fund, a $43 billion credit and auto loan giant, as well as two of the largest Wall Street banks by assets under management.

Garrett joined Money Map Press as an economist and researcher in 2011, specializing in alternative strategies with an emphasis on fundamental and technical analysis.

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