U.S. employers added 295,000 jobs last month, the government said. That was more than economists were anticipating and, combined with a drop in the unemployment rate, raised the likelihood of the Federal Reserve increasing interest rates sooner than had formerly been predictable.
Fed policy makers have held interest rates close to zero for more than six years in an effort to motivate growth and improve the economy. That incentive has helped underpin a six-year bull market in stocks.
“We’re moving to another chapter here,” said Jim Russell, a portfolio manager at Bahl and Gaynor, a wealth manager. “Certainly, the number does put pressure on the Fed to move.”
Insights about U.S. Stocks that landed in the Active-Zone during Friday’s trade, are depicted underneath:
Office Depot Inc (NASDAQ:ODP)’s shares declined -0.43%, and traded at $9.30. The Stock is active as 8.50M shares changed hands versus its average volume of 18.07M shares.
More than half (57%) of small business owners (SMBs) say the amount of federal revenue tax they will pay this year is fair and will enable continued business investment, according to the latest Small Business Index conducted by Office Depot, Inc. (ODP), the leading global provider of office products, services, and solutions formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax.
“Federal revenue tax refunds are something small business owners count on to develop their business,” said Tonya Hood, small business expert for Office Depot, Inc. “Annual refunds enable SMBs to invest in resources such as employee salaries and technology that attract top talent and encourage growth.”
According to the index, one-third (32%) of SMBs consider office supplies to be one of their top investments for 2015. Another quarter of SMBs say advertising and marketing (25%), and/or payrolls and salaries (23%) are their top investments this year. Up-to-date technology and website development were cited by a quarter of SMBs as necessary resources.
“When SMBs have certainty about the amount of taxes they will pay and don’t feel overburdened, that bodes well for all manner of business investments and the economy as a whole,” said Hood.
Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to assist customers work better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more productive, counting the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.
United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X), dipped -4.08%, and traded at $23.03. The Stock is active as 8.18M shares changed hands versus its average volume of 11.01M shares.
Formerly on February 25, United States Steel Corp. (X), Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David Burritt recently declared the promotion of Colleen M. Darragh to the position of vice president and controller, effective right away. Darragh has served as acting controller since July 2014, at the corporation’s Pittsburgh headquarters.
As the chief accounting officer for the corporation, Darragh will be responsible for U. S. Steel’s global financial accounting, reporting and analysis functions.
“I am happy to promote Colleen to this post, where she has served as a steadfast leader during the corporation’s transition,” Burritt said. “She brings a wealth of both internal and external professional experience to this role and we are fortunate to have her as a member of the executive team.”
Darragh, 45, joined U. S. Steel in 2006 as director - external reporting and advanced through a series of increasingly responsible roles within the finance and accounting organization. In 2010, she served as executive director - finance at the former U. S. Steel Serbia facility in Smederevo. Upon her return to the United States in 2012, she held leadership roles within benefits accounting and analysis before her appointment as acting controller in 2014.
Preceding to joining U. S. Steel, Darragh served in a variety of accounting and finance roles at PPG Industries, Inc., most notably serving as a Sarbanes-Oxley specialist following the enactment of the bill in the early 2000s. She began her career as an accountant at Price Waterhouse LLP (now PwC) before advancing to a manager role at Ernst & Young LLP.
United States Steel Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is a leading integrated steel producer and Fortune 200 corporation with major production operations in the United States and Central Europe and an annual raw steelmaking capability of 24.4 million net tons.
Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB), enhanced 0.73%, and traded at $19.45. The Stock is active as 8.03M shares changed hands versus its average volume of 9.44M shares.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), released the results of its corporation-run stress test as required by the Dodd-Frank Act stress testing rules (12 CFR Part 252), or “DFAST.” These rules require that covered companies disclose certain results from its stress test counting: a description of the types of risk comprised of in the stress test, a general description of methodologies used in the stress test, estimates of certain financial results and pro forma capital ratios, and an explanation of the most noteworthy causes of the changes in regulatory capital ratios.
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. As of December 31, 2014, the Corporation had $139 billion in assets and operated 15 associates with 1,302 full-service Banking Centers, counting 102 Bank Mart® locations, most open seven days a week, inside select grocery stores and 2,586 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina.
Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT), dwindled -1.78%, and traded at $80.06. The Stock is active as 7.91M shares changed hands versus its average volume of 7.00M shares. The company has the market capitalization of $48.53B. The beta value of the stock is 1.67. On the other hand the stock’s volatility for the week is 1.75%, and for the month is 1.73%. The stock price to book value is $2.90, however price to sale value is $0.88. Analyst’s mean recommendation regarding this stock is 2.80. (where 1=Buy, 5=Sale).
For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to assist them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2014 sales and proceeds of $55.184 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.
