Markets Mostly Flat, Goldman Sachs Posts Higher Profit

Following the market opening Tuesday, the Dow traded up 0.01 percent to 15,485.28 while the NASDAQ gained 0.03 percent to 3,608.68. The S&P fell, dropping 0.05 percent to 1,681.59.

Top Headline
Goldman Sachs Group (GS) reported a rise in its second-quarter net earnings.

Goldman Sachs's quarterly net profit surged to $1.93 billion, or $3.70 per share, versus $962 million, or $1.78 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Its net profit applicable to common shareholders jumped to $1.86 billion versus $927 million.

Its revenue gained to $8.61 billion from $6.63 billion. However, analysts were projecting earnings of $2.79 per share on revenue of $7.95 billion. Its quarterly investment banking revenue climbed 29% to $1.55 billion.

Equities Trading UP
SHFL entertainment (SHFL) shot up 22.14 percent to $22.84 after the company agreed to be acquired by Bally Technologies (BYI) for $1.3 billion.

Shares of Bally Technologies (BYI) got a boost, shooting up 6.80 percent to $65.05 after the company announced its plans to buy SHFL Entertainment.

Baidu (BIDU) was also up, gaining 5.74 percent to $107.42 after the company announced its plans to buy 91 Wireless in a $1.9 billion deal.

Equities Trading DOWN
Shares of Liquidity Services (LQDT) were down 12.75 percent to $28.25 after the company cut its Q3 outlook.

Koppers Holdings (KOP) was down, falling 8.53 percent to $36.25 after the company lowered its 2013 profit view.

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) shares tumbled 2.73 percent to $39.89 after the company reported a drop in its second-quarter net profit.

Commodities
In commodity news, oil traded up 0.55 percent to $106.91, while gold traded up 0.43 percent to $1,289.00.

Silver traded up 0.23 percent Tuesday to $19.89, while copper rose 1.38 percent to $3.19.

Eurozone
European shares were mostly lower following the weak ZEW report. The German ZEW Economic Sentiment Index came in below estimates showing that German economists are less optimistic than expected on the economy. The index printed 36.3, worse than the expected 39.6 and marking a declined from last month's 38.5.

The Spanish Ibex Index fell 0.95 percent and the Italian FTSE MIB Index dropped 0.23 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX declined 0.41 percent and the French CAC 40 fell 0.64 percent while U.K. shares surged 0.02 percent.

Economics
US consumer prices climbed 0.5% in June, while the core CPI rose 0.2%. However, economists were expecting a 0.5% rise in the CPI and a 0.2 % increase in the core CPI.

The ICSC-Goldman Sachs store sales index fell 1.1% in the week ended Saturday versus the earlier week.

The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index rose 0.8% for the first week of July versus June.

Industrial production climbed 0.3% in June, versus economists' expectations for a 0.1% rise.

The NAHB builder-confidence index surged to 57 in July, versus 51 in June.

Fed President Esther George is expected to speak today.

BY Jake L'Ecuyer