By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch
NEW YORK MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures trimmed early losses
on Thursday, as investors digested robust economic reports a day
after the Federal Reserve officially announced the conclusion of
its bond-purchasing initiative.
Confirming the Fed's optimistic view on the economy, the first
reading of third-quarter GDP came in better than expected,
expanding at 3.5% annualized rate. Weekly jobless claims ticked up,
however remain below the 300,000, pointing to an improving labor
market.
Futures for the S&P 500 index (SPZ4) fell 3 points to
1,968.10, while those for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJZ4)
fell 22 points, or 0.1%, to 16,901. Dow industrials component Visa
might temper some of the Dow's losses in Thursday trading, after
the credit card company reported better than expected quarterly
results late Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index (NDZ4) were off 10
points to 4,062.50.
On Wednesday, Wall Street stocks finished with marginal
losses,after the Fed ended its controversial stimulus program,
known as quantitative easing, or QE. However, the central bank
surprised some with a more upbeat view on the labor market and
inflation. The Fed said it could raise interest rates sooner than
markets have forecast, if the economy expands faster than it
expects.
More volatility coming? Jim Reid, strategist at Deutsche Bank,
said the surprise was that the Fed chose to be so confident so soon
after the recent volatility. "Last night's statement would have
been near impossible to publish two weeks ago, so it is a bit of a
risk," he said in a note. Four reasons the market will rally for
the rest of 2014
"At a minimum, the Fed seem quite comfortable withdrawing
liquidity from the market, and with that, we continue to think that
bouts of volatility are more likely now than they were for most of
the two years that QE3 was in existence," said Reid. Economists
reactions to Fed statement: Signs of hawkishness
Earnings: Shares of Visa Inc.(V) rose 3.5% in premarket trade
after the company's earnings and revenue beat forecasts.
Avon Products Inc.(AVP) topped Wall Street profit estimates as
it reported positive results in Europe.
MasterCard Inc. (MA) beat analysts' forecasts for third-quarter
profit and sales.
ConocoPhillips (COP) topped profit estimates and affirmed its
margin outlook.
Kellogg Co.(K) profit topped profit estimates, excluding an
accounting charge. Sales slightly missed estimates.
Lakeland Industries Inc.(LAKE) was up another 32% in thin
premarket trade, following a big jump in late trade after the
hazmat-suit maker reported increased manufacturing capacity in
response to the Ebola crisis. Alpha Pro Tech Ltd.(APT) was up as
well, by around 15%.
GoPro Inc.(GPRO)(GPRO) and LinkedIn(LNKD) are expected to report
after the market's close. (Read more about the day's notable stocks
in Movers & Shakers column:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/groupon-linkedin-expedia-earnings-in-focus-2014-10-30.)
Dollar up, gold slides: The dollar rose against the euro
(EURUSD) and the yen (USDJPY) -- briefly tapping its highest levels
since early October against the Japanese currency -- as investors
absorbed the Fed outcome. Gold(GCZ4) slid 1.7%, while crude-oil
prices(CLZ4) were off nearly 1%.
European stocks pulled back, while Asian stocks saw mostly
moderate gains, outside of a 0.4% drop for Hong Kong's Hang Seng
Index .
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