9:00AM Stock futures pointed to a lower start on rates worries
U.S. stock futures moved lower, following a surprising interest-rate increase by the Bank of England''s which raised concern about more global rate increases. Negative sentiment was also generated by disappointing sales report from Starbucks Corp. (SBUX: chart), weighing on the outlook for consumer spending. Starbucks shares dropped 9.6% before the bell on the Inet.

The Bank of England on Thursday surprisingly hiked its key interest rate by a quarter point to 4.75%. That move was followed by the European Central Bank''s raising interest rates, also by a quarter point, to 3%. The Fed Reserve will meet on Tuesday to decide on rates.

Automaker Ford Motor Co. (F: chart) on Wednesday said its Q2 loss was more than double what it previously reported due to higher pension-related costs. Ford shares dropped 4%. Medical device maker Medtronic Inc. (MDT: chart) warned its quarterly revenue and earnings would fall short of expectations due to a decline in the U.S. market for its implantable devices. The stock dropped more than 9% on Inet. S&P 500 futures were down 5.30 points, below fair value. Dow Jones industrial average futures fell 36 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 7.75 points.


Cooper Tire & Rubber Co, (CTB: chart), manufacturer of replacement tires, reported its Q2 loss widened to 34 cents a share, from 11 cents a share, in the year-ago period. On a continuing operations basis, the company lost 10 cents a share in Q2. Sales advanced to $624.8 million from $510.9 million in the same period a year earlier. The company missed analysts’ estimate for a loss of 7 cents a share.

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc, (PTEN: chart), provider of onshore contract drilling services, reported that Q2 net income more than doubled on 63% higher revenue. Net reached $1 a share, from 43 cents, in the year-earlier period. The company beat analysts’ expectations for earnings of 95 cents for PTEN. Revenue grew to $637 million from $390 million.

LaBranche & Co. Inc, (LAB: chart), holding company, reported that it swung to a Q2 loss of 37 cents a share, from year-ago net income of 14 cents a share. Revenue fell to $53.2 million from $77.7 million. Included in the revenue figure was a pre-tax loss of approximately $30.3 million in connection with the decline of the estimated fair value of the restricted shares of NYSE Group, Inc. common stock held by LaBranche. If not for charges, LaBranche lost 9 cents a share in the latest period, missing on that basis analysts’ forecasts for earnings of 11 cents a share..

Investment Technology Group, (ITG: chart), electronic trading firm, reported its Q2 profit rose 60% to 63 cents a share from 41 cents a share in the year-ago period. Total revenue for Q2 rose to $153.6 million from $102.2 million. The company beat analysts’ expectations for earnings of 55 cents a share.

Revlon Inc, (REV: chart), mass-marketer of cosmetics brands, reported Q2 net loss more than doubled to 21 cents a share, from a loss of $ 10 cents a share in the year-ago period. Sales rose 1% to $321 million. Adjusted loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortziation narrowed to $20 million from $24 million. The company topped analysts’ forecasts for a loss of 23 cents a share.


8:00AM Starbucks reported 16% profit rise and 6% same-store sales growth in Q3.
Starbucks (SBUX: chart) reported it earned $145 million, or 18 cents a share in Q3, up from $125.5 million, or 16 cents, in the year-ago period, beating estimates of 17 cents a share. The 16% profit rise and 23% growth in revenue to $1.96 billion are due to new outlets, along with same-store sales gains. Same-store sales at the Seattle-based coffee chain rose 6%.

For the quarter, company-operated retail revenues rose 22% to $1.7 billion, largely on the back of 955 new stores and same-store sales growth. Starbucks added that its July revenue climbed 20% to $596 million on a same-store sales increase of 4%, vs. expectations of 6.4% and a 7% rise in July of 2005.

Starbucks forecasted earnings from 72 cents to 73 cents a share for the full year, up from 61 cents in fiscal 2005 and in-line with analyst estimates. Revenue growth of for the year will be about 20%, with same store sales up 3% to 7%. Starbucks also said it expects to open at least 2,000 net new stores on a global basis in fiscal 2006, an increase of 200 new stores than its previous target, leading it to boost its estimate of capital expenditures to $800 million from a previous $750 to $775 million.

Federated Department Stores (FD: chart) posted same-store sales rise of 3.3%, slightly higher than forecasts of 3.2%. Total sales rose 61.3% to $998 million. For Q2 Federated said total sales rose 65.5% to about $6 billion. Federated expects same-store sales to increase by 3% to 4% in August.

Costco Wholesale (COST: chart), warehouse-club store chain, reported that July sales rose 11%, while same-store sales rose 7%, slightly above estimate of a 6.8% rise.

Bebe Stores (BEBE: chart), retailer, said same-store sales rose 10% in July, exceeding expectations of a 4% climb.

Limited Brands (LTD: chart) said its July same-store sales rose 7%, beating estimates of 4.5%.

Mother’s Work (MWRK: chart) said July same-store sales rose 3.9%, slightly beating analyst expectations of a 3.3% rise.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT: chart), the world''s largest retailer, posted a 2.4% rise in July sales from stores open at least a year, matching forecast.
Gap Inc. (GPS: chart), the apparel retailer, posted a 4% drop in July sales from stores open at least a year.

Chico-s FAS (CHS: chart), retailer, said same-store sales rose 4.9% in July from the same period a year ago, but came in below the estimated figure of 5.6%.