>>> US Gapping up

Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance: ISCA +4.3%, WAG +0.4%.

Select financial related names showing strength: CS +1.4%, DB +1.3%, BCS +0.8%, UBS +0.8%, RBS +0.6%.

Other news: DRL +32% (cont strength following yesterday's court appeal win), VRS +23.1% (commences debt exchange offers ), APP +12% (Apparel CEO has given stake to hedge fund, according to reports), ATNY +6% (received new order to supply high-power amplifier systems as part of a DoD maritime requirement), BODY +3.7% (disclosed Richard Walters appointed as CFO, Fred Lamster was appointed to the Board of Directors and named Chairman), LULU +3.6% (founder considering buyout despite hurdles a deal may face, according to reports), PCAR +3.5% (M&A speculation, Volkswagon (VLKAY) has denied that it is bidding for PCAR next year following Daimler (DDAIF) comments, according to reports), RYAAY +2.9% (may be attributed to exec comments suggesting strong June traffic), GSAT +2.3% (cont strength), QTS +1.7% (acquired New Jersey data center from McGraw Hill Financial (MHFI) and formed strategic partnership with ATOS), LITB +1.7% (still checking), RAD +1.5% (trading higher ahead of SSS release), SFLY +1% (cont specluation of M&A), GPRO +1% (continued vol after recent IPO), TSLA +0.9% (following PA store news),VOD +0.9% (Vodafone PLC and ESB to invest EUR 450 million in 100% fibre broadband network across Ireland in European first).

Analyst comments: AERI +4.2% (initiated with a Buy at Canaccord Genuity), CREE +2.6% (upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer), ITMN +1.9% (disclosed that the FDA has acknowledged receipt of the resubmitted Class 2 New Drug Application for pirfenidone, which the Company resubmitted to the FDA on May 23, 2014), TS +1.8% (upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman)

>>> RBC top 30 Global Ideas...few names in Europe

Top 30 Ideas: AAP, APH, AZJ AU, CS FP, BAM, CAE CN, CBS, CLH, CXO, DFS, DOL CN, UFS, G CN, JCI, MNST, NESN VX, OSH AU, PCP, RDSB LN, R, SAF PA, SBAC, SU CN, TCK/B CN, PNC, TD CN, UBSN VX, URI, VOYA

--> European Names :
AXA (CS FP ), Nestle (NESN VX), Royal Dutch (RDSB LN), Safran (SAF FP), UBS (UBSN VX)

>>> CREE upgraded to OP at Oppenheimer

Cree upgrade details -- to Outperform at Oppenheimer; tgt $59 -- best LT play in LED space 

Oppenheimer upgrades CREE to Outperform from Perform and sets target price at $59; they view CREE as the best pure play to benefit from the secular trend of LED lighting adoption. They like CREE's operating leverage, technology leadership, and disciplined and focused mgmt. Meanwhile, the pricing environment in the LED industry has moderated due to improving supply-demand balance. Additionally, CREE's vertically integrated model and substantial cash position should benefit from accelerating industry consolidation. They believe the stock is undervalued due to near-term margin concerns and weak commercial market growth.

>>> US Early premarket gappers

Early premarket gappers

Gapping up: DRL +4.5%, LULU +4.3%, RYAAY +2.9%, QTS +1.7%, RAD +1.5%, TSLA +1.1%, DB +1%, BCS +1%, UBS +0.8%, GLNG +0.7%, RBS +0.7%

Gapping down: RGDO -38.6%, TKMR -20.1%, BIND -14.6%, BIND -14.6%, SNX -1.9%, PBR -1.5%, FUN -1.2%, AZC -0.6%

NY Post : Consumer Reports slams big fast-food chains in ratings

Bigger is anything but better in the fast-food world.
Consumer Reports readers slammed McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell and Sbarro, saying those gigantic national chains have the nation’s worst burgers, chicken, Mexican food and pizza, respectively.
McDonald’s rated dead last among 21 national and regional burger chains, according to Consumer Reports, with big-name rivals Burger King (No. 20) and Wendy’s (No. 16) not doing much better.
Famed California chain In-N-Out was named the No. 1 burger joint, followed by its Golden State neighbor, The Habit Burger Grill.
A McDonald’s rep wasn’t too concerned about the poor ratings, citing the burger giant’s massive bottom line of 27 million daily customers.
“We’re proud to serve 27 million customers every day at McDonald’s restaurants in the US,” a Golden Arches spokeswoman said. “It’s important for us to listen to their feedback as it helps us better meet their needs and expectations.”
KFC ranked eighth and last among chicken restaurants, according to Consumer Reports, while Chick-fil-A and Boston Market topped that category.

Among Mexican fast and fast-casual chains, Taco Bell came in last out of eight companies as Consumer Reporters readers tabbed Rubio’s and Chipotle as Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
A Taco Bell official said the company will be “listening to our customers’ wants and needs,” which in this case, seems to be a demand for better food.
“As a growing brand, we’re constantly listening to our customers’ wants and needs, and are committed to great customer service, outstanding value and category-leading innovation,” said Chris Brandt, the taco joint’s chief marketing officer.
In the pizza wars, local operations were clearly favored over national brands. Out of 10 competitors, Sbarro was dead last with Pizza Hut at No. 8. Domino’s (No. 7), Little Caesars (No. 6) and Papa John’s (No. 5) also occupied bottom-half spots.
Washington state-based Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, Jet’s Pizza of Michigan and Marco’s Pizza of Ohio took the top three pizza spots.
Reps for KFC and Sbarro didn’t return messages seeking their comments.

(BFW) Goldman Sachs Raises U.K. 2014 GDP Forecast to 3.4%; Prior 3.0%

Goldman Sachs Raises U.K. 2014 GDP Forecast to 3.4%; Prior 3.0%
2014-07-03 08:11:20.758 GMT


By Andre Tartar
     July 3 (Bloomberg) -- Goldman Sachs releases new U.K.
economic forecasts today dated July 2
  * 2014 GDP Forecast Raised to 3.4%; prior 3%
  * 2015 GDP Forecast Raised to 3%; prior 2.7%
  * 2014 CPI Forecast Lowered to 1.5%; prior 1.7%
  * 2015 CPI Forecast Lowered to 1.5%; prior 1.7%
NOTE: For full comparison table see {NSN N84MLT6M62GY <GO>}


For Related News and Information:
First Word scrolling panel: FIRST <GO>
First Word newswire: NI BFW <GO>
Economic Calendar: ECO <GO>
Economic Forecasts: ECFC <GO>

To contact the reporter on this story:
Andre Tartar in London at +44-20-3525-3159 or atartar@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Joshua Robinson at +44-20-7073-3318 or jrobinson37@bloomberg.net
Joshua Robinson

>>> Ahold eyes Carrefour shops in Belgium

Ahold eyes Carrefour shops in Belgium

Dutch supermarket group Ahold is eyeing Belgian shops owned by French retail giant Carrefour, a report in Dutch financial daily the Financieele Telegraaf said, citing Gerard Rutte, a supermarket expert from Uwsupermarkt.nl.

Carrefour's operations in Belgium are not doing well and Ahold wants to boost its presence in the country from 21 to 50 stores in the next few years, the report said.

Ahold has enough cash reserves to finance takeover deals, it added.


Source De Financieele Telegraaf

(HSBC) Global Consumer & Retail - Lists Most/Least Compelling Global Consum

HSBC Lists Most/Least Compelling Global Consumer Stocks
Overweight: AB InBev, Nike, Essilor, Danone, Mengniu Dairy, Samsonite, Li & Fung, SCA, Anta, AmorePacific, Biostime, Burberry, Daimler, Haier, Orion, Sands China, Casino, H&M, ITC, Puregold, Lotte Shopping, Chow Tai Fook, Richemont, Tiffany, Pandora, Folli Follie
• Underweight: Beiersdorf, Belle, Carlsberg, Grupo Bimbo, Morrison, Tesco