Standard & Poor's reported that all nine U.S. investment styles posted negative returns in July as rising volatility in the U.S. equity market, coupled with deepening liquidity and quality fears, drove stocks lower during the month.
After a strong start, US stocks tumbled on Tuesday as worries about the credit market resurfaced. American Home Mortgage Investment stocks for example, tumbled 90 per cent.
US stocks rebounded on Monday after a global equity sell-off last week, as earnings optimism resurfaced and concern about the credit market eased. Some analysts are now saying that credit conditions don't necessarily mean that the economy and earnings will head in the wrong direction.
US stocks plunged for a second day on Friday, as investors continued to fear that deterioration in the credit markets will hurt chances for more corporate buyouts, and that losses in the subprime mortgage market may spill over into the broader economy. A nearly 3 per cent rise in oil prices to their second-highest settlement on record also added to economic worries.
As of mid-July, short interest in 2,737 NASDAQ Global Market(sm) securities totaled 9,137,735,499 shares compared with 8,966,592,245 shares in 2,745 Global Market issues for the month of June. The July short interest represents 4.54 days average daily NASDAQ Global Market share volume for the reporting period, compared with 4.36 days in June.
U.S. copper usage dipped slightly to 7,461 million pounds in 2006, a 2.6% decrease from 2005’s 7,660 million pounds. Exports of mill products in 2006 rose for the fourth year in a row, up 2.0% to 920 million pounds. Imports, at 1,238 million pounds, were up 5.9% from 2005.
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. reported second quarter 2007 net income of $56.1 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, an increase of $39.5 million from $16.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006, and an increase of $37.8 million from $18.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2007.
The NYSE Group, Inc. reported short interest as of the close of business on the settlement date of July 13, 2007, reflecting transactions through July 10, 2007.