Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - US equities open lower after worse than expected US jobless figures, although, given yesterday's sharp rally, losses are not as severe as feared.

October non-farm payrolls data showed the US unemployment rate rose to 10.2% from 9.8% in September. The number of jobs lost in October was 190,000, versus expectations of 175,000 job losses.

The Dow Jones 30-share industrial average is 34 points to the bad at 9.971, while the broader based S&P 500 is 4 points lower at 1,062. The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (NASDAQ: news) is 5 points weaker at 2,099.

Fallen insurance giant AIG is a major faller despite posting its second successive quarterly profit. Net income in the three months to end September was $92m, versus a staggering loss of $24.5bn in the corresponding quarter of 2008.

The shares were marked lower, however, after new company boss warned that shareholders should 'expect continued volatility in reported results in the coming quarters' as the company works through its restructuring programme.

Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN - news) , which issues certificates authenticating e-commerce sites, was another big faller, after it lowered fourth quarter sales guidance to no more than $262m. The median point of sales forecasts from the investment community prior to the new guidance was $263m.

Drinks maker Hansen Natural was punished after third quarter underlying earnings per share came in at 60 cents, some way below market expectations.

On a positive note, slot machine maker International Game Technology shot up after forecasting beating earnings of 20 cents a share for the company's fourth quarter.

Also on the up is JDS Uniphase (NASDAQ: JDSU - news) . The phone equipment maker dialled the right numbers, turning in first quarter sales of $298m, marginally ahead of market expectations.

Overpriced coffee vendor Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX - news) is also wanted after underlying earnings per share in the company's fourth quarter topped market expectations at 24 cents.

S&P 500 - Risers International Game Tech (IGT) $20.28 +9.27% Jds Uniphase Corp. (JDSU) $6.48 +6.75% General Electric Co. (GE) $15.36 +6.44% Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) $13.05 +6.32% Eog Resources Inc (NYSE: EOG - news) . (EOG) $92.17 +4.70% M B I A Inc (NYSE: MBI - news) . (MBI) $4.27 +4.66% Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) $20.59 +4.52%

S&P 500 - Fallers American International Group Inc. (AIG) $35.74 -9.01% Sunoco Inc (NYSE: SUN - news) . (SUN) $29.18 -7.13% Verisign Inc. (VRSN) $22.44 -6.50% Capital One Financia (COF) $37.44 -2.65% Developers Diversified Reality (DDR) $7.85 -2.48% Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) $60.99 -2.21% Avalonbay Communities (NYSE: AVB - news) (AVB) $68.12 -2.14%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers General Electric Co. (GE) $15.36 +6.44% Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $51.83 +2.35%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $43.13 -1.69% Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $28.60 -1.38%

Nasdaq 100 (NASDAQ: news) - Risers Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) $13.05 +6.32% Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ: ATVI - news) . (ATVI) $11.38 +4.70% Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) $20.59 +4.52%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers Hansen Natural Corp. (HANS) $33.49 -9.44% Verisign Inc. (VRSN) $22.44 -6.50% Flextronics International Ltd. (FLEX) $6.94 -2.27%