Ultimate Software leads South Florida surge

The market for February 3

DELRAY BEACH — The Dow had its highest finish in nearly four years. The Nasdaq composite index had its highest finish in more than a decade.

It was that kind of day on Wall Street, thanks largely to one of the best jobs report since before the recession.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 156.82 points, or 1.23 percent, to 2,905.66. That’s the highest finish for the blue chip index since May 2008; the Nasdaq gained 45.98 points, or 1.61 percent, to 2,905.66, its highest finish since December 2000. The S&P picked up 19.36 points, or 1.46 percent, to 1,344.90.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 216.56, poinra, or 1.55 percent, to 14,231.81 That leaves the Wilshire about 264 points short of its 52-week high.

South Florida stocks gained 20.79 points, or 2.09 percent, to 1,014.45; 26 of the 30 portfolio members advanced. Ultimate Software gained $3.15 to $69.35; the Royal Caribbean gained $1.90 to $30.59; Watsco gained $1.82 to $71.74; Elizabeth Arden fell 96 cents to $37.40; Ryder fell 40 cents to $52.62.

Among Palm Beach stocks, BE Aerospace gained $1.26 to $45.98; Dycom gained 58 cents to $23.66; 1st United Bank gained 48 cents to $6.29; Positive ID fell a penny to 13.5 cents.

The Labor Department reported that employers added 243,000 jobs in January, with the jobless rate dropping to 8.3 percent.

Energy prices moved higher as well, with gasoline futures gaining 4.55 cents to $2.9144 a gallon; crude oil gained $1.48 to $97.84.

Heico gains but South Florida stocks fall

The market for January 31

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks Tuesday continued their recent pattern of minimal gains and minimal losses, this time posting minimal losses.

The Dow fell 20.81 points, or 0.16 percent, to 12,632.91; the Nasdaq composite index gained 1.90 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,813.84; the S&P 500 fell 0.61 point, or 0.05 percent, to 1,312.40.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index slipped 5.58 points, or 0.04 percent, to 13,839.11.

South Florida stocks fell 3.68 points, or 0.38 percent, to 974.75; 12 of the 30 portfolio members advanced on the day. Heico led the winners, picking up 81 cents to $55.60; Spirit Airlines gained 28 cents to $16.79; Elizabeth Arden gained 24 cents to $35.97; Ultimate Software fell $1.05 to $66.69; Lennar fell 65 cents to $21.49; Ryder System fell 64 cents to $52.28.

Among Palm Beach County stocks, Cross Country Healthcare gained 8 cents to $6.17; SBA Communications gained 5 cents to $45.72; Dycom fell 46 cents to $21.37; Bankrate fell 38 cents to $23.39.

The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 61.1 for January from 64.8 in December.

Gasoline futures gained 2.26 cents to $2.8553; crude oil fell 43 cents to $98.35 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

BE Aerospace gains; Ultimate Software falls

The market for January 30

DELRAY BEACH — Red ink dominated not only Wall Street but markets in Europe and Asia as well. The good news: the bleeding was minimal.

The Dow fell 6.74 points, or 0.05 percent, to 12,653.72; the Nasdaq composite fell 4.61 percent, or 0.16 percent, to 2,811.94; the S&P 500 fell 3.32 points, or 0.25 percent, to 1,313.01.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index fell 46.47 points, or 0.33 percent, to 13,844.69.

South Florida stocks dropped as well, down 4.28 points, or 0.44 percent, to 978.43; nine of the 30 portfolio members advanced on the day. BE Aerospace gained 53 cents to $42.17; Ocwen gained 40 cents to $14.36; Vector Group gained 313 cents to $17.85; Ultimate Software fell $1.95 to $67.74; Elizabeth Arden fell 79 cents to $35.73.

Among Palm Beach stocks, NextEra Energy gained a penny to $59.93; Dycom fell 35 cents to $21.83; Consulier Engineering fell 26 cents to $1.01; Office Depot fell 16 cents to $2.78.

Income rose in December by 0.5 percent, or $61.3 billion, while spending decreased by less than a percent, or $2 billion.

Crude oil dropped 78 cents to $98.78 a barrel; gasoline futures were down 5.61 cents to $2.8707 a gallon.

Wall Street finishes mixed; SBA leads South Florida

The market for January 27

DELRAY BEACH — Wall Street’s major finished mixed Friday, while South Florida stocks finished modestly higher.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 74.17 points, or 0.58 percent, to 12,660.46; the Nasdaq composite index gained 11.27 points, or 0.40 percent, to 2,816.55; the S&P 500 fell 2.1 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,316.33.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index slipped 0.27 point, or less than 0.01 percent, to 13,891.16.

South Florida stocks picked up 4.78 points, or 0.49 percent, to 982.71; 20 of the 30 members gained on the day. SBA Communications gained 82 cents to $45.82; Dycom gained 69 cents to $22.18; Ryder System gained 68 cents to $57.18; AutoNation fell 32 cents to $36.50; Ultimate Software fell 22 cents to $69.69.

Among Palm Beach stocks, Bankrate gained 51 cents to $23.89; NextEra Energy gained 25 cents to $59.92; Ocwen gained 21 cents to $13.96; Bluegreen fell 9 cents to $2.64; 1st United Bank of Boca Raton fell 6 cents to $6.01.

The Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 75.0 in January from 69.9 a month earlier. The Commerce Department said the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent during the fourth quarter of 2011.

Crude oil fell 14 cents to $99.56 a barrel; gasoline futures gained 8.02 cents to $2.9268 a gallon.

Watsco pushes South Florida stocks to 3-year high

The market for January 25

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks continued to push higher, as the three major Wall Street indices all posted solid gains. South Florida stocks fell in line with the market as a whole.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 81.21 points, or 0.64 percent, to 12,756.96; the Nasdaq composite index gained 31.67 points, or 1.04 percent, to 2,818.31; the S&P 500 picked up 11.41 points, or 0.87 percent, to 1,326.06.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 124.95 points, or 0.90 percent, to finish at 13,968.07.

Palm Beach Business.com’s South Florida portfolio gained 6.51 points, or 0.67 percent, to 982.16 — its highest close in more than three years; 21 of the 30 members advanced on the day. Ryder System gained $1.47 to $56.01; Watsco gained $1.08 to $69.65; Ultimate Software gained 89 cents to $69.56.

Among Palm Beach County stocks, BE Aerospace gained 88 cents to $42.45; NextEra Energy gained 86 cents to $60.05; Celsius Holdings lost 9 cents to 20 cents; Bluegreen fell 9 cents to $2.77.

Ultimate Software gains; South Florida stocks push higher

The market for January 24

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks moved little Tuesday as Wall Street’s major indices closed mixed. South Florida stocks posted moderate gains.

The Dow fell 33.07 points, or 0.26 percnet, to 12,675.75; the Nasdaq composite gained 2.47 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,786.64; the S&P 500 fell 1.37 points, or 0.10 percent, to 1,314.63.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 5.72 points, or 0.04 percent, to 13,843.12.

Palm Beach Business.com’s South Florida portfolio gained 4.19 points, or 0.43 percent, to 975.68; 17 of the 30 member stocks advanced on the day. Ultimate Software gained $1.30 to $68.67; Watsco gained $1.04 to $68.57; Bankrate gained 81 cents to $23.47; Heico fell $1.41 to $54.79; Mastec fell 63 cents to $15.84.

Among Palm Beach stocks, Dycom gained 23 cents to $21.39; Metropolitan Health gained 20 cents to $8.28; SBA Communications fell 28 cents to $4.73; NextEra Energy fell 17 cents to $59.19.

Crude oil slipped 63 cents to settle at $98.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange; gasoline futures were up 3.62 cents to $2.8141 a gallon.

South Florida stocks fall despite Mednax gain

The market January 23

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks as a whole inched a bit higher Monday, but local stocks went a tad south.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 11.66 points, or 0.09 percent, to 12,708.82; the Nasdaq composite index fell 2.53 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,784.17; the S&P 500 gained 0.62 point, or 0.05 percent, to 1,316.00.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 3.26 points, or 0.02 percent, to 13,837.40.

The Palm Beach Business.com South Florida portfolio fell 2.23 points, or 0.23 percent, to 971.49; 15 of the 30 stocks advanced on the day. Mednax gained a buck to $71.44; AutoNation gained 67 cents to $35.88; Ultimate Software fell $1.51 to $67.37; Mastec fell $1.69 to $16.47;  Heico fell 88 cents to $56.20.

Among Palm Beach stocks, Office Depot gained 6 cents to $2.66; Hollywood Media gained 5 cents to $1.30; BE Aerospace fell 38 cents to $41.68; Bankrate fell 33 cents to $26.66; Metropolitan Health Systems fell 32 cents to $8.08.

Stocks mixed; Heico, Spirit gain

The market for January 20

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks ended the week on a mixed noted, as a disappointing earnings report from Google partly offset fairly encouraging housing news.

The Dow gained 96.50 points, or 0.76 percent, to 12,720.48, but the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index, held down by Google, lost 1.36  points, or 0.06 percent, to 2,786.70. The broader S&P 500 gained 0.88 point, or 0.07 percent, to 1,315.38.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 5.39 points, or 0.04 percent, to 13,834.14.

Palm Beach Business.com’s South Florida index fell 2.50 points, or 0.26 percent, to 973.72; winners numbered 16 in the 30-member portfolio. Heico gained $1.45 to $57.08; Spirit Airlines gained 87 cents to $15.54; Citrix fell $1.26 to $68.12; Ryder fell $1.09 to $55.49.

Among Palm Beach County stocks, NextEra gained 52 cents to $59.31; 1st United Bank gained a dime to $6.04; BE Aersospace fell 56 cents to $42.06; SBA Communications fell 42 cents to $44.87.

The National Association of Realtors said the number of used homes sold in December increased 5 percent to an annualized rate of 4.61 million. That dropped the number of homes on the market to the lowest point in six years. The median price, however, dropped to $164,500 from $168,800 a month earlier.

Energy prices slipped: crude oil dropped $2.21 to settle at $98.33 a barrel, while gasoline futures fell 3.14 cents to $2.7844 a gallon.

Citrix leads South Florida; stocks continue gains

The market for January 19

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks continued their slow, upward march Thursday, with Wall Street’s majors posting modest to moderate gains.

The Dow gained 45.03 points, or 0.36 percent, to 12,623.98; the Nasdaq composite index gained 18.62 points, or 0.67 percent, to 2,788.33; the S&P 500 gained 6.46 points, or 0.49 percent, to 1,314.50.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index picked up 72.43 points, or 0.53 percent, to 13,828.75.

South Florida stocks gained 7.67 points, or 0.79 percent, to 976.22; 22 of the 30 portfolio stocks advanced on the day. Citrix Systems gained $1.82 to $69.38; Ultimate Software gained $1.47 to $68.61; Watsco gained $1.45 to $68.48; Carnival Corp., battered all week by the Costa Concordia disaster, gained $1.36 to $31.91. BankUnited, which had been gaining on speculation that it would be put up for sale, fell $2.37 to $22.58; NextEra Energy fell 71 cents to $58.59.

Among Palm Beach County stocks, BE Aerospace gained 66 cents to $42.62; SBA Communications gained 33 cents to $45.39; Ocwen fell a dime to $14.28.

The Labor Department reported that first-time claims for unemployment benefits fell by 50,000 last week to 352,000. That’s the lowest since April 2008.

Citrix leads South Florida

The market for January 18

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks continued to rise Wednesday. The Dow gained 96.88 points, or 0.78 percent, to 12,578.95; the Nasdaq composite index gained 41.63 points, or 1.53 percent, to 2,769.71; the S&P 500 gained 14.37 points, or 1.11 percent, to 1,308.04.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 162.62 points, or 1.20 percent, to 13,756.22.

South Florida stocks picked up 10.70 points, or 1.12 percent, to 968.55; 25 of the 30 stocks advanced on the day. Citrix Systems gained $1.89 to $67.56; Ultimate Software gained $1.22 to $67.14; AutoNation gained $1.05 to $35.33; Watsco fell $1.01 to $67.01; BankUnited fell 99 cents to $24.95.

Among Palm Beach stocks, BE Aerospace gained 55 cents to $41.96; SBA Communications gained 50 cents to $45.06; Bluegreen fell 2 cents to $2.83.

Industrial production rose 0.9 percent in December, most in a year, according to the Federal Reserve. The producer price index fell 0.1 percent in December, the Labor Department reported.

Crude oil fell 12 cents to $100.59 a barrel.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean sink South Florid stocks

The market for January 17

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks advanced slightly on Tuesday, but cruise stocks sank South Florida. The Dow gained 60.01 points, or 0.48 percent, to 12,482.07; the Nasdaq composite index gained 17.41 points, or 0.64 percent, to 2,728.08; the S&P 500 gained 4.58 points,, or 0.36 percent, to 1,293.67.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 46.79 points, or 0.35 percent, to 13,593.70.

South Florida stocks fell 4.69 points, or 0.49 percent, to 957.85; 15 of the 30 portfolio members posted gains. BankUnited picked up $1.46 to $25.94; Mednax gained 94 cents to $69; Carnival fell $4.68 to $29.60; Royal Caribbean fell $1.78 to $26.97.

Among Palm Beach stocks, BE Aerospace gained 58 cents to $41.41; Bankrate gained 37 cents to $23.22; GEO fell 17 cents to $17.34; Dycom fell 17 cents to $21.08.

Crude oil rose $2.01 to settle at $100.71 a barrel.

BankUnited jumps but South Florida stocks fall

The market for January 13

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks ended the week modestly lower. The Dow fell 48.96 points, or 0.39 percent, to 12,422.06; the Nasdaq composite fell 14.03 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,710.67; the S&P 500 fell 6.41 points, or 0.49 percent, to 1,289.09.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index fell 69.23 points, or 0.51 percent, to 13,546.91.

South Florida stocks fell 8.64 points, or 0.89 percent, to 962.54; only five of the 30 portfolio members gained on the day. BankUnited jumped $1.33 to $24.48 on speculation that its owners would put the bank on the market; Cross Country Healthcare gained a dime to $5.40; Heico fell $1.65 to $54.79; Carnival fell 86 cents to $34.28; Royal Caribbean fell 77 cents to $28.75.

Among Palm Beach stocks, Hollywood Media gained 4 cents to $1.25; 1st United Bank gained a penny to $5.81; QEP fell $1.20 to $18.75; Dycom fell 58 cents to $21.25; Bankrate fell 56 cents to $22.85.

Crude oil fell 40 cents to $98.70 a barrel; gasoline futures gained 0.29 cent to $2.7342 a gallon.

Stocks tick higher; Lennar leads South Florida

The market for January 11

DELRAY BEACH — Stocks advanced slightly Wednesday, as Wall Street’s major indices posted mixed results. The Dow fell 13.02 points, or 0.10 percent, to 12,449.45; the Nasdaq composite gained 8.26 points, or 0.31 percent, to 2,710.76; the S&P 500 rose 0.40 point, or 0.03 percent, to 1,292.48.

The Wilshire 5000 total market index gained 16.87 points, or 0.12 percent, to 13,578.54.

South Florida stocks gained 3.70 points, or 0.38 percent, to 968.47; 16 portfolio members advanced on the day. Lennar led, gaining $1.49 to $22.50; Royal Caribbean gained $1.25 to $28.27; Watsco gained $1.08 to $68.50; Perry Ellis lost 69 cents to $14.48; Republic Services fell 48 cents to $27.30; BE Aerospace fell 48 cents to $41.25.

Among Palm Beach stocks, Office Depot gained 17 cents to $2.35; Dycom gained 11 cents to $21.83; QEP fell 45 cents to $18.05.

 

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JAN. 6: December Jobs Report from the Commerce Department.

 

JAN. 9: National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Optimism Index.

JAN. 10: Wholesale Trade Report for November from the Commerce Department.

JAN. 11: Federal Reserve releases its Beige Book overview of the economy.

JAN. 12: Retail Sales for December from tthe Commerce Department.

Business Inventories for November from the Commerce Department.

JAN. 13: International Trade for November from the Commerce Department.

Import-Export Prices for December from the Commerce Department.

Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index - preliminary for December.

 

JAN. 16: Martin Luther King Day - Markets, government offices closed.

JAN. 18: Producer Price Index from the Labor Department.

Industrial Production for November from the Federal Reserve.

National Association of Home Builders confidence index.

JAN. 19: Consumer Price Index from the Labor Department.

Housing starts for December from the Commerce Department.

JAN. 20: County, State and National Used Home Sales for December from Florida's Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

 

JAN. 24: State of the Union

Federal Reserve begins two-day meeting on interest rates, monetary policy.

JAN. 25: Federal Housing Finance Agency Home Price index for November.

Federal Reserve completes meeting, announces decisions.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke holds press conference.

JAN. 26: Durable Goods Orders for December from the Commerce Department.

New Home Sales for December fromt he Commerce Department.

JAN. 27: Gross Domestic Product for the 4th quarter from the Commerce Department.

 

JAN. 30: Personal income and expenditures for December from the Commerce Department.

JAN. 31: Employee cost index for the 4th quarter from the Labor Department.

State and National Consumer Confidence reports from the University of Florida and the Conference Board respectively.

S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index for November.

FEB. 1: Challenger Job-Cut Report for January.

ADP private jobs report for January

Construction Spending for December from the Commerce Department.

FEB. 2: Productivity and costs for the 4th quarter from the Labor Department.

FEB. 3: Jobs Report for January from the Labor Department

Factory Orders for Decmber from the Commerce Department.

Institute for Supply Management Service Sector Index for January.

 

 

 

 

Unemployment Statistics

National

August jobless rate: 9.1%
Total out of work: 14.0 million
Jobs gains/losses: 0

July jobless rate: 9.1%
Total out of work: 13.9 million
Jobs gains/losses: +85,000

June jobless rate: 9.2%
Total out of work: 14.1 million
Jobs gains/losses: +18,000

May jobless rate: 9.1%
Total out of work: 13,9 million
Jobs gains/losses: +54,000

April jobless rate: 9.0%
Total out of work: 13,7 million
Jobs gains/losses: +232,000

March jobless rate: 8.8%
Total out of work: 13,7 million
Jobs gains/losses: +194,000

February jobless rate: 8.9%
Total out of work: 13,7 million
Jobs gains/losses: +192,000

January jobless rate: 9.0%
Total out of work: 13,9 million
Jobs gains/losses: +36,000

December jobless rate: 9.4%
Total out of work: 14.5 million
Jobs gains/losses: +103,000

November jobless rate: 9.8%
Total out of work: 15.1 million
Jobs gains/losses: +39,000

October jobless rate: 9.6%
Total out of work: 14.8 million
Jobs gains/losses: +172,000

September jobless rate: 9.6%
Total out of work: 14.8 million
Jobs gains/losses: -24,000

August jobless rate: 9.6%
Total out of work: 14.4 million
Jobs gains/losses: -54,000

July jobless rate: 9.5%
Total out of work: 14.6 million
Jobs gains/losses: -131,000

June jobless rate: 9.5%
Total out of work: 14.6 million
Jobs gains/losses: -125,000

May jobless rate: 9.9%
Total out of work: 15.3 million
Jobs gains/losses: +433,000

April jobless rate: 9.7%
Total out of work: 15.3 million
Jobs gains/losses: +290,000

March jobless rate: 9.7%
Total out of work: 14.9 million
Jobs gains/losses: +162,000

February jobless rate: 9.7%
Total out of work: 14.9 million
Jobs gains/losses: -36,000

January jobless rate: 9.7%
Total out of work: 14.8 million
Jobs gains/losses: -20,000

 

Florida

August jobless rate: 10.7%
Floridians out of work: 987,000

July jobless rate: 10.7%
Floridians out of work: 988,000

June jobless rate: 10.7%
Floridians out of work: 984,000

May jobless rate: 10.6%
Floridians out of work: 980,000

April jobless rate: 10.8%
Floridians out of work: 996,000

March jobless rate: 11.1%
Floridians out of work: 1,030,000

February jobless rate: 11.5%
Floridians out of work: 1,068,000

January jobless rate: 11.9%
Floridians out of work: 1,100,000

December jobless rate: 12.0%
Floridians out of work: 1,108,000

November jobless rate: 12.0%
Floridians out of work: 1,111,000

October jobless rate: 11.9%
Floridians out of work: 1,098,000

September jobless rate: 11.9%
Floridians out of work: 1,101,000

August jobless rate: 11.7%
Floridians out of work: 1,084,000

July jobless rate: 11.5%
Floridians out of work: 1,055,000

June jobless rate: 11.4%
Floridians out of work: 1,056,000

May jobless rate: 11.7%
Floridians out of work: 1,115,000

April jobless rate: 12.0%
Floridians out of work: 1,115,00

March jobless rate 12.3%
Floridians out of work: 1,139,000

 

Palm Beach County

August jobless rate: 11.0%
Residents out of work: 68,573

July jobless rate: 11.2%
Residents out of work: 69,674

June jobless rate: 11.0%
Residents out of work: 68,245

May jobless rate: 10.2%
Residents out of work: 63,413

April jobless rate: 10.3%
Residents out of work: 62,891

March jobless rate: 10.7%
Residents out of work: 66,262

February jobless rate: 11.1%
Residents out of work: 68,238

January jobless rate: 12.0%
Residents out of work: 73,783

December jobless rate: 11.5%
Residents out of work: 71,861

November jobless rate: 12.3%
Residents out of work: 76,295

October jobless rate: 11.7%
Residents out of work: 72,486

September jobless rate: 12.4%
Residents out of work: 77,466

August jobless rate: 12.5%
Residents out of work: 78.287

July jobless rate: 12.2%
Residents out of work: 75.919

June jobless rate: 11.8%
Residents out of work: 73,092

May jobless rate: 11.2%
Residents out of work: 69,327

April jobless rate: 11.5%
Residents out of work: 70,882

March jobless rate: 12.2%
Residents out of work: 71,110

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