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☆ Wells Fargo says this regional bank stock that got caught up in crisis should rebound by 60%
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The post-earnings pop for Western Alliance should be just the start of a sustained rebound, according to Wells Fargo. Western Alliance said this week that its deposits were recovering in April after falling 11% during the first quarter. Western Alliance was one of the regional bank stocks that was hit hard after the collapse of SVB. However, the bank seems to be seeing strength returning even in the most troubled parts of the business, according to Wells Fargo. However, Braziler projects net interest margin will rebound for Western Alliance in the back half of the year.

☆ Western Alliance stock surges as results allay deposit fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Noel Randewich | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Shares of Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) surged 24% on Wednesday after the U.S. regional bank posted stronger-than-expected earnings and said its deposits had stabilized, helping allay fears that last month's banking crisis could envelop more lenders. Wedbush Securities raised its rating on Western Alliance to "outperform" from "neutral" and added the bank to its "Best ideas list", among stocks including Apple (AAPL.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O). Western Alliance's results soothed concerns about the stability of regional banks following worst U.S. banking crisis since 2008. The rally in Western Alliance following its report stood out among several regional banks that have posted quarterly results this week. Western Alliance's stock remains down over 40% from early March, before Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.

Major equity indexes have been largely stable during the early stages of a first-quarter earnings season that investors expect to show tepid results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) fell 79.62 points, or 0.23%, to 33,897.01; the S&P 500 (.SPX) lost 0.35 points, or 0.01%, at 4,154.52; and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) added 3.81 points, or 0.03%, at 12,157.23. The defensive utilities group (.SPLRCU) gained most among S&P 500 sectors, rising 0.8%. S&P 500 companies overall are expected to post a 4.8% decline in first-quarter earnings from the year-earlier period, according to Refinitiv IBES. The S&P 500 posted 16 new 52-week highs and one new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 59 new highs and 123 new lows.

☆ Western Alliance's stock surges as results allay deposit fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Noel Randewich | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We are seeing positive news from a regional bank that was in the crosshairs of the whole crisis. Western Alliance's results soothed concerns about the stability of regional banks following worst U.S. banking crisis since 2008. The rally in Western Alliance following its report stands out among several regional banks that have posted their quarterly results this week. Citizens Financial Group Inc (CFG.N) was trading near flat after reporting a quarterly profit early on Wednesday that missed Wall Street's estimates. Western Alliance's stock remains down over 40% from early March, before Silicon Valley Bank's implosion.

Major equity indexes have been largely stable during the early stages of a first-quarter earnings season that investors expect to show tepid results. The defensive utilities group (.SPLRCU) gained most among S&P 500 sectors, rising 0.7%. S&P 500 companies overall are expected to post a 4.8% decline in first-quarter earnings from the year-earlier period, according to Refinitiv IBES. Shares of Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) surged 23% after the company posted stronger-than-expected earnings, helping lift the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE.P) 4%. The S&P 500 posted 15 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 48 new highs and 111 new lows.

The two-year Treasury yield , most reflective of short-term rate expectations, hit a one-month high and the 10-year yield hit a four-week high as traders scaled back expectations of rate cuts later this year. Earnings from regional banks were mixed, with Citizens Financial Group Inc (CFG.N) falling 3.4% after its first-quarter results missed estimates. Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) rallied 17.3% after the regional bank posted stronger-than-expected earnings and said its deposits had stabilized after the March banking crisis. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 3.70-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 2.40-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 10 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 17 new highs and 57 new lows.

Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) fell 2.5% after the video-streaming pioneer beat analysts' earnings estimates for the first quarter but offered a downbeat forecast. The two-year Treasury yield , most reflective of short-term rate expectations, hit a one-month high of 4.29% and the 10-year yield hit a four-week high as traders scaled back expectations of rate cuts later this year. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and New York President John Williams are set to speak later in the day. Earnings from regional banks were mixed, with Citizens Financial Group Inc (CFG.N) falling 2.4% after its first-quarter results missed estimates. Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) rallied 20.4% after the regional bank posted stronger-than-expected earnings and said its deposits had stabilized after the March banking crisis.

☆ Futures retreat as Treasury yields rise, Tesla slides
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) slipped 1.6% after the video-streaming pioneer beat Wall Street earnings estimates for the first quarter but offered a downbeat forecast. ET (1800 GMT), and investors will scrutinize it for impact on the recent banking crisis on economic activity. ET, Dow e-minis were down 165 points, or 0.48%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 25.5 points, or 0.61%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 120.75 points, or 0.92%. Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) rallied 15.5% after the regional bank posted stronger-than-expected earnings and said its deposits had stabilized after the March banking crisis. Shares of banks First Republic Bank (FRC.N), Zions Bancorporation (ZION.O) and Pacwest Bancorp (PACW.O) rose between 1.1% and 4.1% in premarket trade.

☆ Regional bank reports so far show deposits are stabilizing. What's next for the stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The opening days of the first-quarter earnings season have spurred a sigh of relief among investors, especially when it comes to the regional banks whose future seemed seriously in doubt just a month ago. A quick glance at the early reports from the biggest regional banks show only modest deposit declines in the first quarter. One deposit drop that caught some analysts off-guard among the larger regional banks was a nearly $20 billion decline at US Bancorp , but the bank still has more than $500 billion in deposits. Longer term outlook However, the stabilized funding may not be enough for the regional bank stocks to catch up to their larger competitors, which are viewed as safer and have more diversified businesses. A potential recession could cause credit losses at regional banks in the coming months, and commercial real estate exposure is particularly concerning for investors.

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Netflix, Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Bowlero, Exxon & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

UBS upgrades Exxon to buy from neutral UBS said in its upgrade of the oil and gas giant that it likes the company's balance sheet. Bank of America reiterates Meta as buy Bank of America says it likes "self-help stocks in an uncertain macro." Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy Bank of America raised its price target on the AI beneficiary to $340 per share from $310. Bank of America downgrades CDW to neutral from buy Bank of America downgraded the technology products company after its disappointing earnings report on Tuesday. Wolfe reiterates Amazon as outperform Wolfe says it's standing by its outperform rating on the stock heading into earnings next week. "

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☆ Western Alliance deposits stabilize, profits beat, shares rise after hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 18 (Reuters) - Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) on Tuesday posted profits that surpassed estimates and said its deposits stabilized after the March banking crisis, news that sent its shares soaring 15% in after-hours trading and also lifted shares of other U.S. regional banks. The company said some 73% of its deposits were insured and immediately available liquidity exceeds uninsured deposits, it said. Its proportion of insured deposits was well above industry norms among the 50 largest U.S. banks. Western Alliance and other regional lenders came under pressure recently, with consumers moving money into bigger banks after the failure of two U.S. lenders triggered worries about a broader crisis and funding costs. Last month, Western Alliance affirmed its full-year deposit growth forecast of 13% to 17%.

☆ Western Alliance beats quarterly estimates on gains from interest income
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 18 (Reuters) - Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) beat Wall Street estimates for the first quarter on Tuesday, as the lender reaped gains from interest income on the back of a slate of rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve. While higher cost of borrowing roiled several asset classes and curtailed dealmaking, it helped lenders charge higher interest from borrowers. Still, the lender reported a 5% decline in net interest income from the previous quarter due to an increase in average balances of short-term borrowings and interest bearing deposits. Regional lenders such as Western Alliance came under pressure after the closure of two smaller lenders triggered worries about deposit flight and funding costs. Shares of Western Alliance shot up 16% in extended trading to $37.97 after it closed 0.9% lower on Tuesday.

☆ Three investors on how to protect your portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Wall Street has been hit with a barrage of complex signals about the economy’s health over the past month. From banking turmoil to weakening jobs data to slowing inflation, and now the start of earnings season, investors have remained largely resilient. So, how should investors protect their portfolios? Investors say there isn’t one asset that Wall Street should pile all their bets on, but there are fundamentals that should underlie their investment strategies. Doug Fincher, portfolio manager at Ionic Capital Management, says investors should brace their portfolios against inflation.

☆ Hedge funds bought financial stocks amid banking turmoil, says S&P
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, April 13 (Reuters) - Hedge funds increased their exposure to stocks in the financial sector amid the banking turmoil in March, as they saw a buying opportunity at lower prices, S&P Global Market Intelligence said in a note on Thursday. Hedge funds raised their exposure to financials more than any other sector, according to S&P, which tracks assets listed in the U.S.. Hedge funds added $13.5 billion in stocks in all sectors in March. Hedge funds' positioning in the banking sector came in a month when U.S. banks Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed, followed by Credit Suisse's rescue. Overall, the financials sector has not recovered from the losses.

☆ Why Walmart is closing half its stores in Chicago
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Walmart announced Tuesday that next week it will close four poor-performing stores out of the eight it operates in Chicago. Now, it's closing four Chicago stores. Walmart said its remaining four Chicago stores “continue to face the same business difficulties,” but it believes closing these four will give the others the best chance of staying open. There were fears that Walmart and other businesses would leave Chicago, but Walmart pledged to stay and invest in the city. Some retailers have also cited higher levels of theft and other crime in their city stores.

☆ Leon Levine, Family Dollar founder, dies at 85
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Leon Levine, who built Family Dollar into a discount retail giant catering to America’s lower-income and middle-class shoppers, has died at 85. Three dollar store chains — Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar — are now the fastest-growing US retailers. Levine opened the first Family Dollar store in 1959 at age 22 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his cousin. “We’re just the opposite of a Wal-Mart,” Family Dollar president George Mahoney told the Associated Press in 1993. (Today, there are more than 8,000 Family Dollar stores.

"One has to step back and look at a bigger picture than just these week-to-week market battles over data. ET, Dow e-minis were down 122 points, or 0.36%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 21.5 points, or 0.52%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 107.75 points, or 0.82%. Shares of regional banks slipped after Fed data on Friday showed overall credit from U.S. banks declined by a record of more than $120 billion in the latest week, on a nonseasonally adjusted basis. Semiconductor stocks such as Micron Technology Inc (MU.O) and Western Digital Corp (WDC.O) gained 5.5% and 4.7%, respectively, following Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's (005930.KS) plans to cut chip production. Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Medha Singh; Editing by Varun H K and Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Futures muted after jobs data raises odds of more rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. employers maintained a strong pace of hiring in March, data released on Friday showed, pushing the unemployment rate down to 3.5% and raising odds of the Fed hiking rates one more time next month. While nonfarm payrolls increased by 236,000 jobs last month, slightly weaker than economists' expectations, investors focused on the overall data which signaled labor market resilience. "We see a disconnect between markets presuming much easier Fed policy on "softer" data and how the Fed will actually see the data," Citi economists said in a note. Citi expects three 25 basis point rate hikes at the coming Fed meetings with a policy rate reaching 5.50-5.75%. ET, Dow e-minis were up 12 points, or 0.04%, S&P 500 e-minis remained unchanged, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 31.75 points, or 0.24%.

April 5 (Reuters) - Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL.N) said on Wednesday its first-quarter deposits were 11% lower than at the end of 2022, as customers spooked by the sudden collapse of two U.S. mid-sized lenders pulled out funds. Western Alliance said total deposits were $47.6 billion as of March 31, down from $53.6 billion at the end of 2022. Total insured deposits represented roughly 68% of its total deposits, significantly higher than the proportion at year-end. The collapses triggered the biggest banking crisis since 2008 and stoked heavy volatility in the sector, worsening existing jitters of an imminent recession. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets wrote in a note that while Western Alliance has reported a large decrease in deposits it believes that "this is ultimately an acceptable and manageable outcome for the company."

☆ Futures fall as investors await key economic data amid recession fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ET, Dow e-minis were down 46 points, or 0.14%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 8.75 points, or 0.21%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 30.5 points, or 0.23%. Weak job openings data and falling factory orders on Tuesday followed soft manufacturing activity data on Monday, sparking fresh concerns about economic outlook and pushing the S&P 500 (.SPX) to snap a four-day winning streak in the prior session. Escalating oil prices following the OPEC+ group's output cuts have also worsened the outlook for inflation, adding to investors' anxiety. Both the benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq (.IXIC) are on track to notch weekly declines in four in the holiday-shortened week. Reporting by Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wells Fargo's top short-term trade ideas for the second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As the second quarter kicks off, Wells Fargo's equity research team has some favorite long plays. As investors look to keep the winning spirit alive in the new quarter, Wells Fargo's equity research team compiled a list of best long plays. But Wells Fargo said the company could absorb incremental market share following Silicon Valley Bank's closure given its position in the technology sector and sophisticated management. Spotify will likely introduce a price increase within the U.S. in the second or third quarter, Wells Fargo said. Paramount struggles from industry-wide challenges such as the decline of linear, while also struggling to scale its direct-to-consumer offerings to reach profitability, Wells Fargo said.

☆ UBS sees a rally in these bank stocks ahead as bank crisis appears contained
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Several bank stocks appear ready to rebound in April as the failure of Silicon Valley Bank fades from investors' minds, according to UBS. UBS analyst Erika Najarian said in a note to clients that the next step could be a rebound for bank stocks. Thus, we see the stage setting for a rally into earnings," Najarian said. Two of the stocks that UBS highlighted were Comerica and Western Alliance , which are down about 38% and 52%, respectively, in March. WAL 1M mountain Western Alliance is one of many regional bank stocks that has struggled in March.

March 30 (Reuters) - Walmart Inc (WMT.N) was sued on Thursday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency's second lawsuit this week accusing the largest U.S. retailer of discrimination against workers with disabilities. The lawsuit was filed three days after the EEOC sued Walmart for firing Adrian Tucker, a deli worker in a Statesville, North Carolina store, because she had too many "unauthorized" absences related to her Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel condition. Both lawsuits accused Walmart of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, and sought back pay and punitive damages. The case is EEOC v Wal-Mart Stores East LP, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, No.

Larger peers Bank of America (BAC.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) rose between 0.7% and 1%. "Markets are calmer as the tension of the banking situation is lessening. The CBOE volatility index (.VIX), known as Wall Street's fear gauge, fell to its lowest since March 9, reflecting easing investor anxiety. ET, Dow e-minis were up 216 points, or 0.66%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 32.5 points, or 0.81%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 114.25 points, or 0.9%. Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Larger peers Bank of America (BAC.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) rose between 0.7% and 1.6% in premarket trade. "Markets are calmer as the tension of the banking situation is lessening. A key inflation reading expected at the end of the week will provide more clues on the Fed's monetary tightening plans. ET, Dow e-minis were up 244 points, or 0.75%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 35.25 points, or 0.88%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 109.25 points, or 0.86%. Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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