Tag: market news

Music service, mobile software expected from Apple

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to reveal a digital radio service and changes to the software behind iPhones and iPads on Monday as the company opens its annual conference for software developers. Apple hasn't said what it will unveil at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. But the major announcements are expected during Monday's keynote presentation. Last year, Apple used the conference to announce its own mapping service, better integration with social networks and improvements to virtual assistant Siri. It also announced thinner MacBooks with high-resolution screens. The conference runs through Friday.

This year, Apple is expected to show off a simplified look on iPhones and iPads. If the speculation is correct, it would be the most radical design change since the iPhone made its debut in 2007, showing consumers that phones could do much more than make calls and exchange messages.

This week's event comes at an important time for Apple. The company's stock price has fallen amid concerns that another breakthrough product isn't imminent. Although CEO Tim Cook has said people shouldn't expect new products until the fall, Apple is likely to preview how future products will function in its unveiling of new services and features. Continue reading "Music service, mobile software expected from Apple" →

U.S. home prices jumped in April by most in 7 years

Posted on by The INO.com Team

U.S. home prices soared 12.1 percent in April from a year earlier, the biggest gain since February 2006, as more buyers competed for fewer homes.

Real estate data provider CoreLogic says prices rose in April from the previous April in 48 states. Prices also rose 3.2 percent in April from March, much better than the previous month-to-month gain of 1.9 percent.

Prices in Nevada jumped 24.6 percent from a year earlier, the most among the states. California's gain was next at 19.4 percent, followed by Arizona's 17.3 percent, Hawaii's 17 percent and Oregon's 15.5 percent.

More people are looking to purchase homes. But the number of homes for sale is 14 percent lower than it was a year ago. The supply shortage has contributed to the price increases.

Rising home prices can help sustain the housing recovery. They encourage more homeowners to sell. And they spur would-be homeowners to buy before prices increase further. Continue reading "U.S. home prices jumped in April by most in 7 years" →

U.S. home prices rise 10.9 pct., most since 2006

Posted on by The INO.com Team

U.S. home prices jumped 10.9 percent in March compared with a year ago, the most since April 2006. A growing number of buyers are bidding on a tight supply of homes, driving prices higher and helping the housing market recover.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index released Monday also showed that all 20 cities measured posted annual gains for the third straight month. Continue reading "U.S. home prices rise 10.9 pct., most since 2006" →

Stocks edge lower as investors reassess Fed fears

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Investors recovered their poise after a shaky start to trading on Wall Street that sent stocks sharply lower.

U.S. markets plummeted immediately after the opening bell Thursday following a global slump prompted in part by an unexpectedly weak report on manufacturing in China. Concern that the Federal Reserve might ease back on its economic stimulus program sooner than expected had also riled investors.

The dip gave investors who had missed this year's rally in stocks an opportunity to get into the market, and by midday stocks had recouped most of their early losses. The market even climbed into positive territory by midday, before ending the day marginally lower.

"Most institutions, most hedge funds and most individuals have watched the market go up without them, so the dips are being bought," said Jim Russell, regional investment director at U.S. Bank. "There's a very strong case for U.S. stocks." Continue reading "Stocks edge lower as investors reassess Fed fears" →

Market sell-off goes on

Posted on by The INO.com Team

The momentum of a late sell-off on Wall Street carried over into a second day, sending U.S. futures and global stock markets into retreat.

Uncertainty over how committed the Fed remains to a massive bond-buying program scattered investors and overshadowed a Labor Department report Thursday that was slightly better than most economists had expected.

Dow Jones industrial futures slid 125 points to 15,195. S&P futures lost 16.3 points to 1,639.30. Nasdaq futures fell 26.75 points to 2,974.25.

U.S. stocks began selling off late Wednesday when minutes from the most recent Federal Reserve policy meeting left open the possibility that the U.S. may begin easing off stimulus measures that have helped send major indexes to record highs in recent weeks. Continue reading "Market sell-off goes on" →