Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), Vodafone Group plc (VOD): Global Economic Growth Pushes the Dow Higher

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Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

Heading into this morning’s session, many investors likely feared that the market would be driven by news from around the world. And while that is the case, it’s not that bad global news that’s moving U.S. markets; the Syrian conflict hasn’t really had any impact on the markets today, and the three major U.S. indexes are all forging higher. As of 12:45 p.m. EDT the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 110 points, or 0.8%, to break through the 15,000 mark once again. The S&P 500 is up 0.69%, while the Nasdaq leads the way with a 0.9% gain.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

A revised Japanese GDP figure and economic data from China indicating that its exports grew 7.2% in August have given U.S. investors confidence today. The Chinese exports number is a sign that the country’s economy may not be flagging as much as many had believed. The country is experiencing slower GDP growth than in years past, but it is growing nonetheless, as today’s report reinforces. As for Japan, the initial second-quarter GDP report indicated growth of 2.6%, but today’s revised number of 3.8% means the world’s third-largest economy is also doing much better than previously expected.

Within the Dow, the biggest loser at this time is Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), which has fallen 0.9%. Investors are still considering how the Vodafone Group plc (LSE:VOD) buyout will affect the long-term prospects of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)’s business and how this deal will surely affect the company’s ability to grow in the coming years. Back in June the company had proposed a $700 million offer to buy a small Canadian telecom company, but just last week, after the Vodafone Group plc (LSE:VOD) deal was announced, the expansion into the North was canceled. The move into Canada would have been a great way for Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) to expand its user base in an new country that would be easy to manage. But now that the Vodafone Group plc (LSE:VOD) deal is going to pile a ton of debt onto Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), expansion opportunities will become less of an option until some of the debt is cleaned up.

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