Market Roundtable, Opening Bell, Last Call, CNNfn. (30-APR-04) Finance Wire

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Market Roundtable, Opening Bell, Last Call, CNNfn.

Publication: Finance Wire

Publication Date: 30-APR-04

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Original Source: MARKET CALL

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNNfn ANCHOR, MARKET CALL: A couple seconds away from a new trading day. Stocks getting ready to open mixed. Kicking things off at the Nasdaq executives from the Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

And getting set to ring the opening bell at the Big Board, Citigroup [Company: Citigroup Inc.; Ticker: C; URL: http://www.citi.com/] senior vice chairman and senior international officer William Rhoads. Earnings in focus, watch the economic data as well as how that plays out. New trading day is under way.

First words from the floor now and Miss Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNNfn CORRESPONDENT, MARKET CALL: Hi there, Rhonda.

And earnings, once again, in focus. The question is, will the Dow be able to gain today because it`s on track to post a loss for not other the week but for the month of April. Some of the stocks to be in focus today, Procter & Gamble, [Company: The Procter & Gamble Company; Ticker: PG ; URL: http://www.pg.com/] one of the Dow 30, came out with its earnings that beat expectations.

Procter & Gamble citing a number of areas of strength, including strength in its hair care business. It bought Wella back in the fall from, a German company. Also saying that it saw strength in things like Tide laundry and its Crest toothpaste. Also said that it benefited from currency exchange. Saying that it will be inline with analyst forecasts for the quarter.

CIGNA, [Company: CIGNA Corporation; Ticker: CI ; URL: http://www.cigna.com/] the health insurer, reporting a drop in first quarter net profit. This because of an accounting change. However, the numbers beat analysts` expectations. Cigna also raised its outlook for the year.

Another company that beat expectations is Avon Products. Avon saying that its revenue for this quarter grew by some 20 percent. Profits and margins both up. It raised its guidance for the full year. Some of the things saying that it helped this past quarter. Strength in its operations in both Europe and Latin America.

So those are some of the companies we`ll be watching for. Right now the Dow up 20 points. Rhonda, back to you.

SCHAFFLER: Mary, thanks so much.

Let`s go to the Nasdaq MarketSite. Greg Clarkin causing trouble there.

Greg.

GREG CLARKIN, CNNfn CORRESPONDENT, MARKET CALL: Hi there, Rhonda. We are, indeed.

SCHAFFLER: Greg, by the way, I am not a gamer, contrary to your opinion. I know that might shock you.

CLARKIN: All the talk around the office is how much you love those video games, Rhonda.

SCHAFFLER: Yes, I have so much free time here that`s usually what I`m doing.

CLARKIN: Exactly.

All right. We`re going to look at Electronic Arts [Company: Electronic Arts Inc.; Ticker: ERTS; URL: http://www.ea.com/] in a second. Take a look at the...

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