>>> US Close Dow+0,06% S&P-0,03% NAsdaq-0,20% Russell-0,49%

Closing Market Summary: Stocks Begin 2015 on Flat Note

The stock market began 2015 on a cautious note with the major averages surrendering their opening gains. The S&P 500 ended flat while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+0.1%) settled just above its flat line.

Equity indices started the day with broad-based gains, but the early buying spree ended in a flash. The S&P 500 marked its high 11 minutes after the start of the session before reversing course. The index continued its retreat through the 9:00 ET release of disappointing Construction Spending and ISM reports, and marked its session low shortly after 13:30 ET.

The S&P 500 tried to fight its way back into the green during the afternoon, but losses among influential sectors like consumer discretionary (-0.7%), consumer staples (-0.4%), industrials (-0.2%), and technology (-0.2%) proved too large to overcome.

Notably, the discretionary sector suffered from broad weakness. Homebuilders and retailers lagged with iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction ETF (ITB 25.67, -0.21) and SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT 95.34, -0.67) falling 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. The two groups helped the sector finish at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Elsewhere, industrials contributed to the persistent pressure as transport stocks underperformed. The Dow Jones Transportation Average lost 0.5% with all but five components ending in the red. Shipper Kirby (KEX 81.53, +0.79) outperformed while freight carrier CH Robinson (CHRW 73.84, -1.05) brought up the rear.

Similar to industrials, the technology sector kept the market under pressure during the afternoon. Large cap listings settled in mixed fashion, but Apple (AAPL 109.33, -1.05) fell 1.0%, which contributed to the underperformance of the Nasdaq Composite. However, chipmakers lagged early, but climbed into the afternoon, allowing the PHLX Semiconductor Index to end flat.

On the upside, the utilities sector (+0.6%) ended in the lead, but more notable was the outperformance of health care (+0.4%). The countercyclical group benefitted from daylong strength in biotechnology that sent the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB 306.34, +2.99) higher by 1.0%.

Also of note, the energy sector (+0.4%) ended in the green even as crude oil continued its retreat, dropping 1.6% to $52.57/bbl. Greenback strength factored into the move as the Dollar Index jumped 0.9% to 91.12. The dollar picked up about 1.5% against the British pound and 1.0% against the euro, with the latter sliding after a Financial Times op-ed penned by Mario Draghi was viewed as a preamble to a sovereign QE announcement from the European Central Bank.

Treasuries registered solid gains after erasing their overnight losses. The benchmark 10-yr yield fell five basis points to 2.12%.

Participation was in-line with recent totals as 628 million shares changed hands at the NYSE floor.

Economic data was limited to Construction Spending and ISM:
  • Construction spending in November declined 0.3% from October, which was revised up to show an increase of 1.2% versus 1.1% previously 
    • The November reading was below the consensus estimate, which called for a 0.1% increase 
    • The disappointment was rooted in public construction spending, which declined 1.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $277.30 billion largely due to a 2.5% pullback in educational construction spending 
  • The ISM Index for December checked in at 55.5, down 3.2 percentage points from the high 58.7 reading in November 
    • The December reading marked the 19th consecutive month of expansion; however, it was weaker than the consensus estimate, which was pegged at 57.5 
    • A number above 50 denotes expansion, so the pullback in December doesn't connote weakness so much as it connotes the manufacturing sector cooling down from a very hot November 
Monday's session will be free of economic data.
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.1% YTD
  • S&P 500 UNCH YTD
  • Nasdaq -0.2% YTD
  • Russell 2000 -0.6% YTD

(TechCrunch) How Big Data Will Transform Our Economy And Our Lives In 2015

How Big Data Will Transform Our Economy And Our Lives In 2015

Codementor Wants To Help Developers Launch Projects In 2015 With Makers Year

Editor’s note: Deven Parekh is a managing director at Insight Venture Partners where he manages investments in e-commerce, consumer Internet data, and application software businesses on a global basis.

The great Danish physicist Niels Bohr once observed that “prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” Particularly in the ever-changing world of technology, today’s bold prediction is liable to prove tomorrow’s historical artifact. But thinking ahead about wide-ranging technology and market trends is a useful exercise for those of us engaged in the business of partnering with entrepreneurs and executives that are building the next great company.

Moreover, let’s face it: gazing into the crystal ball is a time-honored, end-of-year parlor game. And it’s fun.

So in the spirit of the season, I have identified five big data themes to watch in 2015. As a marketing term or industry description, big data is so omnipresent these days that it doesn’t mean much. But it is pretty clear that we are at a tipping point. The global scale of the Internet, the ubiquity of mobile devices, the ever-declining costs of cloud computing and storage, and an increasingly networked physical word create an explosion of data unlike anything we’ve seen before.

The creation of all of this data isn’t as interesting as the possible uses of it. I think 2015 may well be the year we start to see the true potential (and real risks) of how big data can transform our economy and our lives.

Big Data Terrorism

The recent Sony hacking case is notable because it appears to potentially be the first state-sponsored act of cyber-terrorism where a company has been successfully threatened under the glare of the national media. I’ll leave it to the pundits to argue whether Sony’s decision to postpone releasing an inane farce was prudent or cowardly. What’s interesting is that the cyber terrorists caused real fear to Sony by publicly releasing internal enterprise data — including salaries, email conversations and information about actual movies.

Every Fortune 2000 management team is now thinking: Is my data safe? What could happen if my company’s data is made public and how could my data be used against me? And of course, security software companies are investing in big data analytics to help companies better protect against future attacks.

Big Data Becomes a Civil Liberties Issue

Data-driven decision tools are not only the domain of businesses but are now helping Americans make better decisions about the school, doctor or employer that is best for them. Similarly, companies are using data-driven software to find and hire the best employees or choose which customers to focus on.

But what happens when algorithms encroach on people’s privacy, their lifestyle choices and their health, and get used to make decisions based on their race, gender or age — even inadvertently? Our schools, companies and public institutions all have rules about privacy, fairness and anti-discrimination, with government enforcement as the backstop. Will privacy and consumer protection keep up with the fast-moving world of big data’s reach, especially as people become more aware of the potential encroachment on their privacy and civil liberties?

Open Government Data

Expect the government to continue to make government data more “liquid” and useful – and for companies to put the data to creative use. The public sector is an important source of data that private companies use in their products and services.

Take Climate Corporation, for instance. Open access to weather data powers the company’s insurance products and Internet software, which helps farmers manage risk and optimize their fields. Or take Zillow as another example. The successful real estate media site uses federal and local government data, including satellite photography, tax assessment data and economic statistics to provide potential buyers a more dynamic and informed view of the housing market.

Personalized Medicine

Even as we engage in a vibrant discussion about the need for personal privacy, “big data” pushes the boundaries of what is possible in health care. Whether we label it “precision medicine” or “personalized medicine,” these two aligned trends — the digitization of the health care system and the introduction of wearable devices — are quietly revolutionizing health and wellness.

In the not-too-distant future, doctors will be able to create customized drugs and treatments tailored for your genome, your activity level, and your actual health. After all, how the average patient reacts to a particular treatment regime generically isn’t that relevant; I want the single best course of treatment (and outcome) for me.

Health IT is already a booming space for investment, but clinical decisions are still mostly based on guidelines, not on hard data. Big data analytics has the potential to disrupt the way we practice health care and change the way we think about our wellness.

Digital Learning, Everywhere

With over $1.2 trillion spent annually on public K-12 and higher education, and with student performance failing to meet the expectations of policy makers, educators and employers are still debating how to fix American education. Some reformers hope to apply market-based models, with an emphasis on testing, accountability and performance; others hope to elevate the teaching profession and trigger a renewed investment in schools and resources.

Both sides recognize that digital learning, inside and outside the classroom, is an unavoidable trend. From Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to adaptive learning technologies that personalize the delivery of instructional material to the individual student, educational technology thrives on data. From names that you grew up with (McGraw Hill, Houghton Mifflin, Pearson) to some you didn’t (Cengage, Amplify), companies are making bold investments in digital products that do more than just push content online; they’re touting products that fundamentally change how and when students learn and how instructors evaluate individual student progress and aid their development. Expect more from this sector in 2015.

Now that we’ve moved past mere adoption to implementation and utilization, 2015 will undoubtedly be big data’s break-out year.

>>> YHOO - Recode's Kara Swisher: Yahoo is not going to buy CNN, the costs and m

Recode's Kara Swisher: Yahoo is not going to buy CNN, the costs and management issues involved in running a news network would be overwhelming - CNBC 

- Separately, Variety reports that Yahoo has not approached SNI about buying the Food Network or the entire company.

Syriza MP-Mr Tolios- comments on Grk debt default & borrowin

**Syriza MP-Mr Tolios- comments on Grk debt default & borrowing from depositors**

{http://www.euro2day.gr/news/economy/article/1289897/tolios-hrhmatodothsh-me-entoka-poy-tha-agorazoyn-m.html}

During the wknd Greek media were busy reproducing the interview of a Syriza MP- Mr Tolios- who said that "if needed Greece will stop paying interest on its debt for a period of time"

Even PM Samaras responded to this by saying "such a proposal clearly guarantees the impoverishment of the nation..and that the public should know by now what Syriza stands for..it is unbelievable!!"

After such publicity Mr Tolios "attacked again" saying that all his comments originate from Syriza's official pre-election policies in May14 which explicitly say that .." debt repayment will be linked to GDP recovery and social factors and will take place after a period during which no interest/capital repayments will be made"

Trying to smooth his comments he said that even Syriza leader-Tsipras- said that Greece will not take any unilateral action unless is forced to.. ..but when asked how Syriza will find financing when markets are shut, Mr Tolios said that there is no need for T Bills to be bought by foreigners, as Greek gov may borrow from Greek depositor....

which allowed ND to come out and say that Syriza will not only default on the debt but will also borrow money from Greek depositors every 2 weeks..

>>> IBD presents speculative predictions for 2015 equity market deals (update) T

IBD presents speculative predictions for 2015 equity market deals (update) Ten bold predictions for 2015: 

1) TWTR is acquired by a company such as GOOG; 

2) A major Web player buys NFLX; 

3) GOOG buys PayPal; 

4) QCOM acquires AMDB; 

5) RHT buys Cloudera; 

6) At least one 3D printer maker gets acquired;

7) CSCO chief John Chambers steps down; 

8) VMW acquires NOW; 

9) More FB users switch to Ello; 

10) The ZNGA brand will disappear, either though an acquisition or by going out of business

>>> US Gapping down

Gapping down

In reaction to disappointing earnings/guidance: BLDP -6.6% (terminates license agreements with Azure; says 'The Company will not achieve its 2014 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance').

Oil/gas related names showing early weakness (LINE / LNCO also weighing on select E&P names): LNCO -8.9% / LINE -7.2% (announces 2015 oil and gas capital budget; reduces annual distribution to $1.25 per unit from the previous level of $2.90; approves 2015 CapEx budget of $730 mln, down 53% y/y), BBEP -2.9%, STO -2.3%, SWN -2.2%, SDRL -2%, DVN -2%, SSL-1.5%, FI -1% (downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS ), FTI -1% (downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS ), BP -0.8%, RDS.A -0.8%.

Select Biotech/pharma names are modestly lower: PRGO -1.2%, SNY -1.1%, SHPG -1%,

Brazil ADRs are trading lower: PT -4.7%, VIV -2.9%, BBD -2.8%, PBR -2.7%, ABEV -2.7%, ITUB -2.3%, CZZ -1.9%, BSBR -1.8%, ELP -1.8%, VALE -1.6%,

Other news: MDXG -9.8% (filed a federal lawsuit against Organogenesis), HNR -6.1% (announces termination of agreement to sell remaining interests in Venezuela as a result of the failure to obtain approval of the transaction from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by December 31, 2014), TGTX -5.4% ( files for $250 mln mixed securities shelf offering), NRX -3.4% (following 180%+ move on Wed), RYAAY -1.5% (disclosed it issued share capital that consists of ~1.387 mln ordinary shares of nominal value EUR 0.00635 each with voting rights), ABX -0.9% (reports that the Supreme Court of Chile has declined to consider an appeal of a lower court decision regarding sanctions imposed on the Pascua-Lama project), ARMH -0.9% and UL -0.8% (still checking).

Analyst comments: VIVO -1.6% (downgraded to Underperform from Mkt Perform at Raymond James), SWIR -0.5% (downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Northland Capital)

(TechCrunch) Montblanc Announces A Smart Bracelet For Your Fancy Watch

Montblanc Announces A Smart Bracelet For Your Fancy Watch
What did I tell you? In a last-ditch effort to save themselves, watchmakers are now turning to the band in order to ensure that timekeeping remains well in the realm of the mechanical.
The new band, part of the Montblanc Timewalker Urban Speed collection, is a little metal screen that can receive notifications and messages. From A Blog To Watch:
The e-Strap features a high-end leather strap that has a carbon fiber texture to it that Montblanc calls “Extreme Montblanc Leather” and is produced by them in Florence, Italy. At the bottom, sitting under your wrist is an electronic module made from DLC (diamond like carbon) coated steel or in gray steel. Apparently, there are a few color and size options.

I fully expect this to be the stupidest thing ever, on par with the Prada phone, and this shows exactly what companies like Montblanc are up against. Wearables are replacing some watches and the Apple Watch will replace the rest. I expect that the mechanical watch manufacturers will soon be facing a massive slowdown at best and bankruptcy at worst.
Don’t worry, though: you can buy the Montblanc band separately for about $300 (the mechanical watches are about $3,000) so you can strap it to your Apple Watch.

>>> US Gapping up

Gapping up
M&A related: K +1.1% (reports indicate Kellogg outbid PE firm for Bisco Misr - as expected), YHOO +0.3% (BI reported that YHOO considered SNI acquisition last year and is now looking into CNN purchase).

A few Euro financial related names showing modest strength: CS +3.7%, BBVA +2%, DB +1.4%, LYG +1.3%, ING +1.2%.

A few India ADRs are trading higher: SSLT +3.8%, IBN +3%, TTM +2.4% (discloses Dec sales update - total sales of commercial and passenger vehicles in December 2014 of 41,734 vehicles, an increase of 10% y/y )

Other news: SGOC +52.5% (announces sale of SGOCO (Fujian) Electonic Co to Apex Flourish Group), BCLI +19.7% (continued strength ahead of the release of final results from its phase 2a clinical trial of NurOwn in ALS on Monday, January 5), ARWR +8.4% (still checking; name is frequently the target of M&A speculation), CLF +5.3% ( concludes the sale of Logan County Coal and provides update on Bloom Lake; confirms that active production at Bloom Lake has completely ceased and the exit from Eastern Canada continued to be executed on schedule as previously announced ), VA +1.7% (positive analyst comments on CNBC this morning), NDRM +1.5% (continued strength), NOK +1.4% (still checking; co provided Stock Option Plan update), NXST +1.3% (Nexstar announced that it reached a new distribution agreement with Charter), CVEO +1.2% (JANA Partners closes stake in Civeo; JANA had an 11.5% stake as of October 24, 2014), CNC +1.1% (disclosed that its Superior HealthPlan subsidiary signed an agreement with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission providing for reimbursement of the Affordable Care Act annual Health Insurer Fee and related tax gross-up), GM +0.8% ( redeems all outstanding series a preferred shares), AAPL +0.7% (higher despite Business Insider detailing negative review on Apple Watch ), TWTR +0.7% and FB +0.7% (social network peers Snapchat valued at ~$10 bln), AA +0.7% (still checking), AMZN +0.7% (Times of India discusses that Amazon may introduce Prime service in country), IBM +0.2% (positive mention on FastMoney)

Analyst comments: BBBY +1.2% (upgraded to Buy from Hold at Canaccord Genuity), KITE +0.3% ( target raised to $71 from $34, maintain Outperform at Credit Suisse)