Filed under: Before the bell, Deals, Yahoo! (YHOO), Market matters, Washington Mutual (WM), UAL Corp (UAUA), Oil
Stock futures were lower early Friday as investors seemed concerned about oil prices ahead of a weekend summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, financials kept the headlines this morning with Washington Mutual and airlines announcing jobs and cost cuts the main story there. It appears that the last day of this week might see some losses before heading into next week and the Federal Reserve meeting.
On Thrusday, stocks managed to complete the session higher after wobbly trading as oil prices dropped and Citigroup announced further writedowns. The Dow industrials ended 34 points, or 0.28%, higher, the S&P 500 added 5 points, or 0.38%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 32 points, or 1.33%.
As there are no economic reports due this day, investors will eye oil prices after crude-oil futures declined $5 a barrel Thursday following news that China is raising retail fuel prices starting Friday. As countries reduce subsidies for gas, many believe it could slow demand. This morning, oil prices traded a little higher at mid $132 per barrel.
Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) said late Thursday that it’s cutting 1,200 more jobs, mostly in areas that have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis as the savings and loan institution incurs further losses tied to subprime home mortgages. WaMu stock is down over 1% in premarket trading.
Continental (NYSE: CAL) and UAL Corp.’s (NASDAQ: UAUA) United Airlines announced Thursday a marketing alliance Thursday that might help raise revenue to offset rising fuel costs. Both stocks are down over 8% and over 2% respectively in premaket trading.
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) might also be in the spotlight after the Wall Street Journal reported it is planning a major reorganization of its business and could announce it as early as next week.
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