U.S. stocks climbed to a top level in three months after positive data on domestic job growth and service-sector activity. The S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP:.INX) was up about 26 points, at last check, ranging between 1,365.45 – 1,392.02 and moving on track to snap four day declines. Companies in the financial and energy sector paced gains across all of the index’s 10 sectors. Both EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) and Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) are leading gains after strong second-quarter results.
Financial giant Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is actively trading higher after adding Robert Plowman as a managing director of its London-based consumer products team. Shares of Citi and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) are up more than 4% today.
Service-sector activity rose at a slightly quicker pace in July as compared to June, according to the Institute for Supply Management, resisting economists’ forecast for the group’s non-manufacturing index to show sluggish growth.
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C)
Citigroup Inc. (C), the third-biggest U.S. bank, hired Robert Plowman as a managing director to work together with his brother David on advising consumer companies, according to an internal memo gained by Bloomberg. Citigroup is currently ranked the no. 7 in European mergers and acquisitions.
During Mid day trading, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) reported the gain of +4.97% to $27.48 and its total traded volume was 25.19 million shares. C has earnings per share of $3.45 and its price to earnings ratio ended at 7.95. It gained 0.45% return on assets, 0.56% return on equity and its return on investments was 5.77%.
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG)
During mid day trading, shares of Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG) boosted 12.16% with the closing price of $10.80. The overall traded volume was 24.18 million shares. Its fifty two week range was $6.73-$12.17. The total market capitalization remained $4.76 billion.
IPG is ahead its 52 week low with 65.14% and its last month price volatility remained 3.50%. Its beta coefficient was 1.78 with a target price of $13.08. Company’s current year earnings per share grew with 111.57% while the five year EPS growth rate was +5.70%.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) declared that it is collaborating with Viki, the fansub video streaming site, to carry best TV content to MSN sites in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Viki will confine and brook the finest content that includes television shows, movies, and music videos to 17.6 million MSN users.
In mid day trading, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) jumped +2.12% and closed at $29.81 with the total traded volume of 18.14 million shares. It has positive year-to-date performance of 13.31%. MSFT has earnings per share of $2.00 and its price to earnings ratio ended at 14.90.