Thirty-Year Bond Auction Attracts Average Demand

The Treasury Department finished off this week’s series of announcements of the results of its long-term securities on Thursday, revealing this month’s auction of $18 billion worth of thirty-year bonds attracted average demand.

The thirty-year bond auction drew a high yield of 3.877 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.35.

Last month, the Treasury sold $21 billion worth of thirty-year bonds, drawing a high yield of 3.686 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.25.

The bid-to-cover ratio is a measure of demand that indicates the amount of bids for each dollar worth of securities being sold.

The ten previous thirty-year bond auctions had an average bid-to-cover ratio of 2.37.

Earlier this week, the Treasury revealed this month’s auction of $40 billion worth of three-year notes attracted above average demand, while this month’s auction of $32 billion worth of ten-year notes attracted below average demand.

About 42,000 Anker Power Banks Recalled

Fantasia Trading is recalling about 42,000 Anker power banks due to risk of fire.

The company has recalled Anker 535 power banks. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the lithium-ion batteries in the recalled power banks can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

The company said it has received 10 reports of incidents involving overheating, including one report of minor injuries.

The recall involves Anker 535 Mobile Power Banks (PowerCore 20k) with model number A1366. The power bank measures about 3 inches wide, 6 inches long and 1 inch deep. Anker is engraved on the front and the model number A1366 is on the back of the power bank.

The recalled power banks were sold at Target stores nationwide and online at Anker.com, Amazon.com and eBay.com from October 2022 through January 2023 for about $70.

The company has asked its customers to immediately stop using the recalled power banks and contact Fantasia Trading to receive a full refund as well as instructions for properly disposing of lithium-ion batteries according to local and state regulations.

Oil Futures Settle Lower For 3rd Straight Day

Crude oil prices drifted lower on Thursday, extending losses to a third straight day, amid concerns that aggressive policy tightening by the Federal Reserve could slow global economic growth and result in a drop in energy demand.

Growth worries weighed on prices after Fed Chair Jerome Powell once again signaled bigger interest-rate hikes, saying the U.S. central bank was wrong in initially thinking inflation was only the result of “transitory” factors.

West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for April ended lower by $0.94 or about 1.2% at $75.72 a barrel, after having climbed to 78.06 a barrel earlier in the day.

Brent crude futures were down $1.07 or 1.28% at $81.59 a barrel a little while ago.

Friday’s jobs data and inflation figures due next week could provide additional clues on the U.S. rate outlook.

Meanwhile, weaker-than-expected data from China also pointed to a sluggish economic recovery in the country.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. Announces Rise In Q4 Income, Beats estimates

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA) revealed a profit for its fourth quarter that increased from last year and beat the Street estimates.

The company’s bottom line came in at $340.75 million, or $6.68 per share. This compares with $289.37 million, or $5.41 per share, in last year’s fourth quarter.

Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $5.66 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

The company’s revenue for the quarter rose 18.3% to $3.23 million from $2.73 million last year.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :

-Earnings (Q4): $340.75 Mln. vs. $289.37 Mln. last year.
-EPS (Q4): $6.68 vs. $5.41 last year.
-Analyst Estimate: $5.66
-Revenue (Q4): $3.23 Mln vs. $2.73 Mln last year.

Oracle Corp. Q3 Profit Decreases, but beats estimates

Oracle Corp. (ORCL) announced a profit for third quarter that decreased from the same period last year but beat the Street estimates.

The company’s bottom line totaled $1.90 billion, or $0.68 per share. This compares with $2.32 billion, or $0.84 per share, in last year’s third quarter.

Excluding items, Oracle Corp. reported adjusted earnings of $3.38 billion or $1.22 per share for the period.

Analysts on average had expected the company to earn $1.20 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

The company’s revenue for the quarter rose 18.0% to $12.40 billion from $10.51 billion last year.

Oracle Corp. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :

-Earnings (Q3): $1.90 Bln. vs. $2.32 Bln. last year.
-EPS (Q3): $0.68 vs. $0.84 last year.
-Analyst Estimates: $1.20
-Revenue (Q3): $12.40 Bln vs. $10.51 Bln last year.

JAKKS Pacific Q4 Earnings Summary

Below are the earnings highlights for JAKKS Pacific (JAKK):

Earnings: $38.9 million in Q4 vs. -$3.5 million in the same period last year.
EPS: $3.79 in Q4 vs. -$0.37 in the same period last year.
Excluding items, JAKKS Pacific reported adjusted earnings of -$14.0 million or -$1.44 per share for the period.

Revenue: $131.9 million in Q4 vs. $188.0 million in the same period last year.

Gap Inc. Q4 Earnings Summary

Gap Inc. (GPS) revealed Loss for its fourth quarter that increased from the same period last year and missed the Street estimates.

The company’s bottom line came in at -$273 million, or -$0.75 per share. This compares with -$16 million, or -$0.04 per share, in last year’s fourth quarter.

Analysts on average had expected the company to earn -$0.46 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

The company’s revenue for the quarter fell 6.4% to $4.24 billion from $4.53 billion last year.

Gap Inc. earnings at a glance (GAAP) :

-Earnings (Q4): -$273 Mln. vs. -$16 Mln. last year.
-EPS (Q4): -$0.75 vs. -$0.04 last year.
-Analyst Estimate: -$0.46
-Revenue (Q4): $4.24 Bln vs. $4.53 Bln last year.