-- EFG-Hermes Brokerage on Tuesday upgraded specialized education and daycare centers operator Almasar Alshamil Education (SASE:6019) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to 30.00 Saudi riyals from 28.40 riyals.
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Energy stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) each adding 0.7%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index gained 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index climbed 2.7%.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was rising 3.6% to $96.32 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was advancing 3.6% to $105.54 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures added 1% to $2.67 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, NextEra Energy (NEE) shares jumped past 7%. The company reported Q1 adjusted earnings Thursday of $1.09 per diluted share, up from $0.99 a year earlier, and also above the average estimate of analysts polled by FactSet.
Financial stocks were lower in late Thursday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index down 0.6% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) falling 0.7%.The Philadelphia Housing Index rose 0.9%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) added 1.1%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was decreasing 0.4% to $77,852, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 2.9 basis points to 4.32%.In corporate news, American Express (AXP) shares were down 4.8% even after the payments giant reported better-than-expected Q1 results and reiterated its full-year outlook.
Health care stocks declined late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index decreasing 0.2% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) fractionally lower.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 1.8%.In corporate news, Grace Therapeutics (GRCE) shares tumbled 48% after it said the US Food and Drug Administration issued a complete response letter for its new drug application for GTx-104, an intravenous formulation of nimodipine for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.