Schacknow - Today's Brief, February 5, 2013

TODAYS PRIMER

Peter Schacknow, Senior Producer, CNBC Breaking News Desk

The new trading day begins with the major U.S. stock averages coming off their biggest one-day losses of 2013. The Dow is now back below 14,000, and both the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hadn't seen losses of this magnitude in about three months. The Monday drop immediately puts the market in danger of suffering its first weekly drop of the new year, though the week is still young.

Just one economic report is ahead today in a relatively light week for numbers, with the ISM non-manufacturing index set for release at 10 a.m. New York time. Economists are looking for the measure of the U.S. services economy to come in at 55.0 for January, compared to December's 55.7.

Cereal maker Kellogg (K) and payroll processor ADP (ADP) are among the companies set to release quarterly earnings this morning, along with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Allergan (AGN), Becton Dickinson (BDX), Cardinal Health (CAH), Estee Lauder (EL), and Sirius XM Radio (SIRI).

Dow component Walt Disney (DIS) leads the list of companies set to report after today's closing bell. Also out this afternoon: Aflac (AFL), Expedia (EXPE), Genworth Financial (GNW), and Panera Bread (PNRA).

Yum Brands (YUM) leads our list of stocks to watch this morning, as it reports fourth quarter profit of $0.83 per share, one cent above estimates. However, same-store sales in China - ts fastest growing market - fell 6 percent, and the parent of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut said it no longer expects to achieve any earnings growth in 2013 as it deals with a food safety scare in China.

Boeing (BA) has asked the FAA for permission to resume test flights of its currently grounded 787 jets. CNBC's Phil LeBeau reports that Boeing now sees a need to test the batteries and other components in flight.

BP (BP) is reporting an 80 percent drop in quarterly profit, mostly due to payouts from the 2010 Gulf oil spill. However, its fourth quarter profit of $1.62 billion was above analyst expectations.

Barclays (BCS) has set aside another $1.6 billion dollars for customers who were allegedly sold various products on misleading terms. This marks the fourth such set-aside for Barclays, going back nearly two years.

Limited Brands (LTD) is increasing its quarterly dividend by 20 percent, with the retailer's new quarterly payout set at $0.30 per share from the prior $0.25.

J.C. Penney (JCP) has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to block bondholders from declaring a default on nearly $3 billion in debt. A bondholders group is claiming that the retailer violated its bond agreements by granting a lien on its inventory, and that the debt can now be declared payable in less than three months.

McGraw-Hill (MHP) is on the watch list for a second day, after the S&P parent tumbled yesterday on word that the government would file a civil lawsuit over financial crisis-era ratings. That lawsuit was in fact filed late in the day. Competitor Moody's (MCO) also was hit on that report and will be on our watch list today.

Anadarko Petroleum (APC) reported fourth quarter profit of $0.91 per share, 20 cents above estimates, as the company was able to produce more higher priced oil from the Gulf of Mexico and from U.S. shale basins.

Baidu.com (BIDU) earned $1.28 per share for the fourth quarter, a penny below estimates. China's biggest search engine operator saw its slowest profit growth in three years during the quarter due to competition and a shift to mobile search.

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reported fourth quarter profit of $0.50 per share, excluding certain items, two cents above estimates, with revenue also above consensus. The quarter's bottom line was driven by increased sales of Gilead's HIV drugs.

Hartford Financial (HIG) earned $0.54 for the fourth quarter, well above estimates of $0.30, as it was able to command higher prices for its property and casualty insurance. Hartford also says it's planning to buy back shares and cut its debt load by $1 billion.

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) beat analyst estimates by 13 cents with fourth quarter profit of $0.90 per share. Revenue was also above analyst estimates, driven by sales of its new "Sapien" heart valves.

Toyota (TM) has raised its fiscal year profit forecast to $9.3 billion from the prior $8.5 billion, thanks to increasing sales and a favorable exchange rate.

BlackBerry (BBRY) CEO Thorsten Heins tells AP he's disappointed that new phones featuring the BlackBerry 10 operating system won't be released until mid-March, but says sales in the U.K. already appear to be above expectations.