Stocks were expected to open narrowly lower the day after the Federal Reserve lifted Wall Street's mood by announcing plans to inject $200 billion into the troubled financial system.
Investors celebrated Tuesday's news by sending major stock indexes 3.5% to 4% higher. On Wednesday, stocks face a key test: Has the Fed move shifted psychology on Wall Street, or was Tuesday's rally a one-time event?
"To break the pattern of one-day wonders, the market can rally big today," said Phil Roth of Miller Tabak. "We don't know if it will do that, but now we get to see if strength can beget strength."
On Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average surged 416.66 points, or 3.55%, to 12,156.81 -- the largest point gain since July 24, 2002. The broader S&P 500 index rose 47.28 points, or 3.71%, to 1,320.65. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index jumped 86.42 points, or 3.98%, to 2,255.76.
Along with other central banks, the Fed will offer 28-day loans to banks and allow mortgage-backed debt to be used as collateral. It's a move aimed at easing the credit crunch, and investors will be watching to see if it continues to soothe debt markets.
"Despite the move by the Fed to temporarily accept mortgage-backed securities as collateral, this is not a bail-out," said Ben Eldred of Daiwa Securities in London. "Rather, it is the latest attempt by the various central banks to provide institutions with sufficient breathing space to make the necessary adjustment to their balance sheets in a more orderly fashion."
Oil prices were on their way higher. Oil nearly hit $110 per barrel on Tuesday before retreating. In NYMEX trading Wednesday, crude oil was trading 17 cents higher at $108.92 per barrel. Data on energy inventories will be released Wednesday morning.
Among stocks in the news Wednesday, Caterpillar (CAT) stuck with its 2008 estimate for earnings growth of 5% to 15%, and revenue growth of 5% to 10%. The industrial firm says it will invest $2.3 billion in capital expenditures this year.
Humana (HUM) cut its first quarter earnings guidance nearly in half, from a range of 80 to 85 cents to a range of 44 to 46 cents.
AMR Corp. (AMR), the parent of American Airlines, was reportedly downgraded by JPMorgan analysts along with other airlines Alaska Air Group (ALK), Continental Airlines (CAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), US Airways (LCC) and UAL Corp. (UAUA).
Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) reported a loss of 52 cents per share, vs. a 30-cent loss a year ago, as revenues at the video game maker fell 13%. The firm raised its fiscal 2008 guidance to $1.25 billion to $1.4 billion in revenue and $1.35 to $1.55 per share in earnings.
J. Crew Group (JCG) posted earnings of 39 cents per share, vs. 71 cents a year ago. Same-store sales rose 4%.
European indexes were higher on Wednesday. In London, the FTSE 100 index was up 1.42% to 5,771.40. In Paris, the CAC 40 index added 1.45% to 4,694.68. Germany’s DAX index rose 1.15% at 6,599.75.
Asian indexes gained ground overnight. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.6% to 12,861.13. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index rose 1.86% to 23,422.76.
Treasury market
Treasuries were barely moving on Wednesday. The two-year note was flat at 100-16/32 for a yield of 1.743%; the ten-year note was up 01/32 to 99-08/32 for a yield of 3.594%; and the 30-year were off 03/32 to 97-22/32 for a yield of 4.519%.