ECONOMIC NEWS

The housing market continues to fuel the economic expansion in the U.S. The July existing home sales were estimated 2.6% lower to 7.16 million from revised 7.35 million in June. The median existing-home price across all housing categories was $218,000 up 14% from a year ago.

ENERGY, METALS AND CURRENCIES MARKETS

Bonds climbed, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note at 4.19%, down vs. 4.22% late Monday.

Oil prices advanced toward $66 on worries over global supply disruptions. U.S. light crude was 6 cents up at $65.71 a barrel. London Brent crude added 10 cents to $64.60 a barrel.

The dollar regained strength and was last up 0.4% at 110.06 yen, while the euro added 0.05% to $1.2228.

The Energy Department reported Monday that the retail price of gasoline climbed more than 6 cents last week to an average $2.61 a gallon nationwide, hitting a new record. The previous record high was $2.55 per gallon, set the previous week. Adjusting for inflation, retail gasoline prices topped $3 a gallon in March 1980.

EARNINGS NEWS

Myriad Genetics, biopharmaceutical company, posted 4Q net loss of 32 cents per share, up from 37 cents per share for the same period last year on 60% revenue growth.

Williams-Sonoma, home products retailer, reported 2Q earnings of 26 cents per share, up vs. 23 cents per share for the year-ago period on 12.6% net revenue growth.

Weider Nutrition, label vitamins and nutritional supplements manufacturer, reported a 4Q net loss of 7 cents per share, down vs. a net income of 5 cents per share for the same period last year on sales decline.

Shoe Carnival, a leading retailer of value-priced footwear and accessories, announced 2Q earnings per share rose 33 % to 20 cents from 15 cents per share in the year-ago period on 39% net income growth.

Sanderson Farms, prepared food producer, reported 3Q net income of $1.19 per share, down from $1.69 per share for the year-ago period on slight sales decline and lower- than-experienced-last-year prices.

Brown Shoe, retail shoe stores operator, posted 2Q earnings of 22 cents a share, down vs. 40 cents a share a year-earlier despite strong sales, missing analysts’ forecasts of 28 cents a share.

The Toro Company, lawnmower maker, posted record 3Q net earnings of 74 cents per share, up vs. 66 cents per share for the year-ago period on strong sales growth.

Pier 1 Imports, home furnishings retailer, expects a larger-than-planned 2Q loss on decline in customer traffic and weak same-store sales. 2Q losses are forecasted in the range of 12 cents to 14 cents per share, missing analysts’ expectations of a loss of 6 cents per share.

Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. (BCF: chart) after Monday's closing bell posted 4Q net earnings of 34 cents a share, down 41% vs. 48 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue at the clothing retailer climbed to $763.7 million vs. $684.8 million a year ago.

La-Z-Boy Inc. (LZB: chart) after the closing bell Monday reported 1Q net earnings of 6 cents a share vs. a net loss of 7 cents a share in the same period a year ago. Sales at the furniture company dropped to $451.5 million vs. $455.1 million a year earlier. The company sees 2Q earnings in the range of 17 to 21 cents a share.

ResMed Inc. (RMD: chart) after Monday's closing bell posted 4Q net earnings of 43 cents a share, down 1.7% vs. 45 cents a share in the year-ago quarter. On a pro forma basis, the company posted earnings of 60 cents vs. 45 cents a share last year. Revenue at the medical equipment company climbed to $125.4 million vs. $92.9 million last year.

WPT Enterprises Inc. (WPTE: chart) after Monday’s closing bell posted a 2Q loss of 2 cents a share vs. net earnings of 6 cents a share, for the same quarter a year ago. The entertainment company reported revenue of $6.6 million vs. $4.7 million a year ago. Gross margins were 33.7% in 2Q of 2005 vs. 43.9% in 2Q of 2004.

Hughes Supply Inc. (HUG: chart), wholesale construction materials distributor, posted late Monday 2Q 2006 net earnings of 59 cents a share, down vs. 63 cents a year ago. Revenue for the quarter ended July 31 was $1.33 billion, up 17% from $1.14 billion a year earlier. Analysts had expected the company to earn 58 cents a share on sales of $1.34 billion.