Trading volumes have been light for about two weeks in part because there has been relatively little news to move markets. Many companies are quiet ahead of earnings season, which begins in earnest next week.
The government will release its March jobs report on Friday. Economists expect that hiring slowed modestly last month. The report's impact on the market might be muted because markets will be closed for the beginning of Easter weekend.
In corporate news:
— Molson Coors Brewing Co. fell 5.4 percent after the company made a major investment overseas, putting up more than $3.5 billion to snap up StarBev and its nine breweries in central and eastern Europe.
— Investment bank Morgan Stanley fell 2.2 percent after the Federal Reserve said a mortgage division had abused consumers in the foreclosure process. Morgan Stanley has since sold the division, Saxon Mortgage Services Inc., to Ocwen Financial Corp.
— Home products retailer Conn's Inc. surged 15.5 percent after it beat analysts' profit forecasts in the fourth quarter and boosted its earnings guidance for the upcoming year.
— Express Scripts Inc. gained another 3.9 percent a day after completing its $29.1 billion acquisition of Medco Health Solutions, forming the largest pharmacy benefits manager in the country. The stock is up 6.4 percent this week.
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Daniel Wagner can be reached at www.twitter.com/wagnerreports.
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