As well as events out of Europe, U.S. earnings data have been a guide for sentiment of late. Earnings from U.S. investment banks have overall been pleasing this week and have helped to push European bank stocks higher.
But shares in Banco Popular Espanol plunged Friday, falling 7% before recovering some ground as 13.8 million new shares started trading Friday after the bank exchanged convertible bonds for new stock. At 0900 GMT, Banco Popular was down 5.2%.
Investors' attention has now turned to the tech sector, after Google missed analysts' expectations Thursday, despite a 6% rise in fourth-quarter earnings. Trading in Frankfurt, Google was down 8.4%. On the other hand, Intel beat its trimmed revenue expectations for the fourth-quarter. The Stoxx Europe 600 technology index was down 0.3% at 200.02.
Meanwhile, Vodafone gained 1.5% in London after India's Supreme Court ruled that authorities there cannot tax Vodafone on its 2007 purchase of a majority stake in Hutchison Essar.
General Electric(GE) is expected by analysts to post fourth-quarter earnings of 38 cents a share. Investors and analysts will be keying on three stock catalysts: a reinstated dividend payment from GE Capital to the parent company, Europe's impact on the company's sales, and improvement in GE's industrial margins.
Google(GOOG) shares slid almost 10% in after-hours trading Thursday after profit from the search giant fell short of analysts' estimates.
Google posted adjusted earnings of $9.50 a share; analysts were expecting earnings of $10.51 a share. Google also said rising operating expenses and adverse impact of foreign currency fluctuations clipped revenue in the quarter
Microsoft(MSFT) earned $6.62 billion, or 78 cents a share, on revenue of $20.89 billion in the fiscal second quarter. A year earlier, the software giant earned $6.63 billion, 77 cents a share, on revenue of $19.95 billion.
Microsoft's profit topped analysts' expectations by 2 cents a share, while revenue came in a bit light.
IBM(IBM) said fourth-quarter earnings rose 4.4% and gave an upbeat outlook for fiscal 2012.
Schlumberger(SLB), the oilfield services company, is seen posting quarterly earnings of $1.09 a share.
Fifth Third(FITB) is expected by analysts to post profit of 36 cents a share.
SunTrust Banks (STI) is forecast by analysts to earn 26 cents a share in the fourth quarter.
eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) gained more than any other constituent, with the exception of Morgan Stanley EBAY gained nearly four percent during the trading day on more than double the average volume. Better-than-expected sales helped propel the stock higher in the after-hours as well. EBAY added another two cents to $31.53. There was a bid of $31.38 on 200 shares and an ask of $31.55 on 100 shares.
Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) was another widely-held winner. The share price was up more than three percent during the trading day; however the stock fell 20 cents in the after-hours hitting $15.75.
The energy sector stock, Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB), was another champion, up more than three percent. The S&P energy sector as a whole only gained 0.41 percent, as gasoline and crude oil prices dropped.
The share price of Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX) gained nearly three percent during the trading day. The stock fell six cents to $8.65 in the after-hours. For the latest updates on the stock market, visit Stock Market Today
Banco stock prices jan 20 2012,Vodafone shares jan 20 2012, For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today
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