Stock Futures Higher after Best January in 15 Years. Stocks to Watch: AMZN, AAPL, BAC, GMCR, LVS, MS, NYX, WYNN

Published on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 07:35 Written by Christopher Lynn

New York, February 1^st (TradersHuddle.com) – Stock futures were pointing to higher open, with Wall Street looking to add to the gains of its best January performance in 15 years. Gains were coming amid solid overseas gains on the back of better than expected manufacturing data points in China and the euro zone and ahead of economic data in the U.S, including the private employment report. Participants were also paying close attention to a possible Facebook IPO filing in another busy earnings reporting day.

In Asia, most stocks struggled to end the session mixed amid concerns over the global economy. U.S. economic data was weaker than expected and jitters from the euro zone weighed on sentiment. Chinese data, which showed the manufacturing sector expanding modestly in January, failed to provide a broad lift that could have taken the markets in the region to positive territory. In Japan, the Nikkei edged higher for the second consecutive day, while Chinese shares fell more than 1% despite the data that suggested the downturn manufacturing in China might not be as severe as previously thought.

In Europe, equity markets were trading higher amid increased optimism that a Greek debt-restructuring plan would be completed this week. Banks were seeing one of the best gains in the session, due to their exposure to the euro zone peripheral debt. Miners were also seeing gains after the better than expected manufacturing data in China. Germany, France, and the U.K also posted decent manufacturing data points, which were better than expected, helping spur the risk on trade.

The euro was adding 0.36% against the Dollar, trading above the $1.31 level. Crude oil was climbing 0.71% to $99.18 per barrel. Also in the energy complex, natural gas was falling 1.9%, trading below $2.50 per MMBtu. Gold was gaining 0.44% to $1748.10 an ounce and silver was jumping 1.54% to $33.785 an ounce. Meanwhile, copper was advancing 0.74. %.

On economic news at 8:15 am, payroll firm ADP will release its private employment report, with economists expecting 200,000 jobs created for the month of January. At 10 am, the January ISM Index will be released, along with construction spending. At 10:30 am, the Energy Department will make its weekly crude oil and distillates inventory report. And through the day automakers will report their January sales figures.

Today’s Stocks to watch: Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Green Mountain Coffee (NASDAQ: GMCR), Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX), and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN).

Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the largest online retailer, was tumbling 8.1% to $178.70, trading below calculated support at $183.32, after participants were disappointed with the company’s quarterly results and guidance for the current quarter. Amazon posted a profit of $0.38 per share, but revenues of $17.43 billion fell short on the holiday quarter. Amazon issued downside guidance for the quarter with the company estimating both revenues and operating income to be below consensus. In fact, Amazon said that operating income is expected to be between losses of $200 million to a profit of $100 million. The online retailer said that its Kindle line, including the Fire were the bestselling products across both the U.S. and Europe.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), the maker of iPads and iPhones, was gaining 0.40% to $458.30, trading above its all-time high of $458.24, which was posted just in the prior session. Last week, the company posted record results on the back of record shipments of iPhones and iPads. Earlier in the week, a bullish research note from Morgan Stanley helped the stock outperform. The firm speculated the tech giant could sell 40 million iPhones in China during 2013. Morgan Stanley said that it sees $10 per share upside to Apple’s profit in calendar 2013, as the company adds China Telecom and China Mobile to the existing iPhone carrier China Unicom. In January, Apple jumped more than 12%.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) was gaining 1.12% to $7.21 in pre-market, extending the prior session rebound that came amid increased optimism for a deal to be reached this week on the Greek debt swap plan. BofA was seeing upside ahead of the report on private employment and as President Obama is expected to detail a broader refinance plan that aims to fix a drag on the economy. The plan is expected to allow homeowners to refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates even if they owe more than their homes are worth.

Green Mountain Coffee (NASDAQ: GMCR), the specialty coffee company with an innovative brewing technology and socially responsible business practices, would be in focus as participants adjust their positions ahead of its quarterly results after the closing bell. On average analysts expect a profit of $0.36 per share on revenues of $1.06 per share. Last quarter, the company missed earnings expectations by 2%, as it earned $0.47 per share. Year to date, the stock has surged close to 19%, despite reports over increased competition in the space.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), the operator of a global securities business, was jumping 1.61% to $18.95 on positive momentum in the financial space following European banks higher. The stock will garner attention amid the optimism in Europe and as Facebook will likely file for a $5 billion IPO today, with Morgan Stanley set for leading the offering.

NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX), the global operator of equity market exchanges, will be in focus after the company issued a statement following the EU decision to prohibit its merger with Deutsche Boerse. According to the statement, both companies are in discussions to terminate the merger agreement. NYSE Euronext said that it would focus on a successful standalone strategy that has delivered strong growth and diversification of its core businesses and that it would leverage its financial strength to return capital to shareholders. The company also announced its intent to resume a $550 million stock buyback program after the release of its fourth quarter and 2011 year-end results on February 10, 2012.

Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN), the luxury casino operator, will be in focus after the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau reported January gross gaming revenue jumped 34.8% year over year to 25 billion patacas, the second highest monthly figure ever. For the same period last year, gaming revenue climbed 33% year over year. The Chinese New Year fell this year in January versus February last year, impacting revenues in the month. Many analysts expect gaming revenue in Macau to slow to near the mid teens in 2012, following the 42% surge in 2011. Wynn Resorts generated 73% of its third quarter net revenues and 78% of its third quarter adjusted-EBITDA in Macau. The company is expected to report its quarterly results tomorrow after the close, with analysts on average expecting a profit of $1.29 per share on revenues of $1.36 billion.

Rival Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), the owner and operator of casino resorts and convention centers in the U.S., Macau, and Singapore, will also be in focus following the second highest monthly figures in Macau gaming revenue. The company generated about 50% of third quarter net revenues and about 42% of third quarter adjusted EBITDA. Las Vegas Sands is expected to report its earnings today after the close. On average analysts expect a profit of $0.56 per share on revenues of $2.46 billion.