The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Johnson & Johnson, Bayer and McDonald's

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Sep 08, 2014, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Intel Corporation (Nasdaq:INTC-Free Report), Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD-Free Report), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ-Free Report), Bayer (OTC:BAYRY-Free Report) and McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD-Free Report).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Friday's Analyst Blog:

Dow 30 Stock Roundup

The Dow had a lackluster week after weakness in energy shares and a series of other concerns dampened investor sentiment. Crude oil prices plunged on Tuesday leading to a fall in energy shares and losses for the Dow. The blue-chip index gained marginally on Wednesday following the possibility of a cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia initially lifted the markets.

The Dow touched an intraday record high before losing marginally on Wednesday due to a late sell-off in energy shares. The Dow has gained 0.01% during the first four trading days.

The Dow This Week

A drop in crude oil prices impacted the energy sector on Tuesday. Shares of energy companies were hit hard due to a fall in crude oil prices. Brent crude oil prices plunged almost 3% to $100.34 a barrel due to weak demand outlook, its lowest level in 15 months. The Institute for Supply management reported its August PMI had increased 1.9 percentage points from July's reading of 57.1% to 59%. But the day's upbeat manufacturing data was overshadowed by the fall in crude prices. The Dow lost 0.2%.

The blue chip index rose a meager 0.06% on Wednesday. A possibility of a cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia had initially lifted the markets. President Vladimir Putin outlined ceasefire plans. However, reports stated that Ukraine's prime minister had rejected the plan. But a drop in Apple shares weighed on the broader markets. Meanwhile, investors were reluctant to invest heavily ahead of the European Central Bank's monthly policy meeting on Thursday. Domestic economic data was largely encouraging, but failed to enthuse investors.

Benchmarks reversed early gains and settled in the red zone on Thursday due to a late sell-off in energy shares. Investors' anxiety about Friday's U.S. payroll report also restricted them from placing big bets. Early gains came in after the European Central Bank announced rate-cuts and new stimulus measures to combat low inflation. ECB'S unexpected move helped the Dow touch a intra-day record high, before ending in negative territory. The Dow had touched an intraday record high of 17,161.55, before dropping 0.05% to settle at 17,069.58.

Components Moving the Index

Intel Corporation (Nasdaq:INTC-Free Report) has appealed to the European Court of Justice, European Union's ("EU") top court, to overturn the $1.44 billion (1.06 euro) antitrust fine, stating that the lower court's judgment to uphold the decision was unjustified and had legal errors.

In June, Intel lost its five-year legal battle wherein it had appealed against the EU's judgment to levy a record $1.44 billion fine (1.06 billion euros) on the chipmaker for allegedly using anti-competitive practices against fellow competitor Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD-Free Report).

The General Court of Luxembourg, EU's second-highest court, upheld the decision by the EU to penalize Intel, asserting that the judgment was both appropriate and justified given the nature of the incident. The fine is the biggest single antitrust penalty imposed for market abuse by the EU.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ-Free Report) and Bayer (OTC:BAYRY-Free Report) announced that they will be evaluating their anticoagulant product, Xarelto, in three new indications in new studies. The companies intend to expand their global clinical development program on Xarelto for the prevention of potentially deadly blood clots in patients at risk of arterial thromboembolism.

In a global phase III study – NAVIGATE ESUS – Xarelto will be evaluated in patients suffering from embolic stroke of undetermined source. In another phase III study – VOYAGER PAD – the companies will explore the potential benefits of the drug in reducing thrombotic vascular complications in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease undergoing peripheral artery interventions. Xarelto will also be studied for long-term prevention in patients who have suffered an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the phase II GEMINI ACS 1 study.

McDonald's Corp.'s (NYSE:MCD-Free Report) struggles in Russia seem to continue with the closure of several of its restaurants. Reportedly, the Russian consumer-safety agency – Rospotrebnadzor – which was reportedly inspecting more than 100 of McDonald's' restaurants, has now shuttered a dozen of its units citing multiple violations of sanitary rules.

McDonald's temporarily shut four restaurants in Krasnodar, southern Russia bringing the total count to 12 including the eight other outlets that have been closed since Aug 20. These include McDonald's' first Russian outlet – the largest in the country – near Pushkin Square and two other units located at Moscow's Manezh Square and Prospect Mira.Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

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