Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 21-04-2017.

U.S. stock-index rose slightly as, despite positive earnings reports from Visa (V), General Electric (GE) and Honeywell (HON), investors preferred not to make big bets ahead of the first round of the French presidential elections over the weekend.

Stocks:

Nikkei 18,620.75 +190.26 +1.03%

Hang Seng 24,042.02 -14.96 -0.06%

Shanghai 3,173.15 +1.05 +0.03%

FTSE 7,123.83 +5.29 +0.07%

CAC 5,068.41 -9.50 -0.19%

DAX 12,080.12 +52.80 +0.44%

Crude $50.71 (0.00%)

Gold $1,284.10 (+0.02%)

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

Verizon (VZ) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Argus

Other:

McDonald's (MCD) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital

McDonald's (MCD) target raised to $140 from $136 at Telsey Advisory Group

Honeywell (HON) reported Q1 FY 2017 earnings of $1.66 per share (versus $1.53 in Q1 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.64.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $9.492 bln (-0.3% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $9.329 bln.

The company also issued in-line guidance for FY 2017, projecting EPS of $6.90-7.10 versus beating analysts' consensus estimate of $7.03.

HON rose to $127.86 (+3.30%) in pre-market trading.

General Electric (GE) reported Q1 FY 2017 earnings of $0.21 per share (versus $0.21 in Q1 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.17.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $27.660 bln (-0.7% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $26.371 bln.

The company also reaffirmed guidance for FY 2017, projecting EPS of $1.60-1.70 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $1.63.

GE

rose to $30.45 (+0.59%) in pre-market trading.

Visa (V) reported Q2 FY 2017 earnings of $0.86 per share (versus $0.68 in Q2 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.79.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $4.477 bln (+23.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $4.291 bln.

The company also reported its Board authorized a new $5.0 billion class A common stock share repurchase program.

V rose to $93.60 (+2.69%) in pre-market trading.

French stocks leapt by the most in seven weeks Thursday, ending higher as gains for Publicis Groupe SA and Pernod Ricard SA helped relieve pressure from concerns over the outcome of Sunday's first-round presidential election vote. The pan-European index was held back by declines in the oil and gas and utility sectors, but the industrial, financial and technology groups printed gains.

The stock market ended with solid gains Thursday, with the Nasdaq closing at a record, as investors welcomed a deluge of stronger-than-expected corporate earnings reports and economic data. Comments by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who said that President Donald Trump's tax overhaul plans aren't linked to the outcome of a health care bill, also bolstered sentiment, analysts said.

Stock markets across Asia were higher early Friday, catching an updraft from overnight gains in the U.S. as investors positioned themselves ahead of the start of the French presidential election. Markets were calm following a suspected terrorist attack in Paris overnight that left at least one police officer dead, three days before the election.