Stocks Shrug Off Job Losses

Pfizer deal drives gains
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 26, 2009 8:58 AM CST
Stocks Shrug Off Job Losses
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Friday, Jan. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Pfizer’s massive deal to buy Wyeth helped investors shrug off the bloodbath at Caterpillar, Home Depot and Sprint-Nextel this morning, sending indexes slightly higher at the open. The Dow rose 55 points, while the S&P and Nasdaq rose 11 and 18 points respectively. Caterpillar fell 10% pre-market after announcing an 18% cut in its workforce, which adds up to 20,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Home Depot slashed 7,000 and Sprint-Nextel 8,0000.

Pfizer posted a 90% earnings drop, but the big news was its $68 billion acquisition of rival Wyeth. Pfizer shares fell 4% pre-market, while Wyeth rose 5%. Crucell meanwhile sank 12%, as Wyeth called off talks to buy the Dutch pharmaceutical. (More stock market stories.)

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