For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – April 11, 2016 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Allergan plc (AGN), Boeing Co. (BA), General Electric Company (GE) and International Business Machines Corporation ( IBM). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog: Dow 30 Stock Roundup The Dow moved lower this week due to heightened concerns about global growth and declining oil prices. The index decreased on Monday following a decline in oil prices which curbed gains in healthcare stocks. The index moved lower again on Tuesday following concerns over weak global economic growth. The index increased on Wednesday following gains in biotech and energy stocks. The index suffered losses on Thursday following heightened concerns regarding weak global growth and another decline in crude prices. The Dow has lost 0.3% over the first four trading days of the week. Last Week’s Performance The index decreased 0.3% on Monday following a decline in oil prices which curbed gains in healthcare stocks. Oil prices hit their lowest level in a month after Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman said the country will agree to a production freeze only if Iran agrees to do the same. Additionally, on Sunday, Iran’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said the country’s crude exports increased by 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March. Jump in Iran’s crude exports and prince Salman’s comments raised worries over the possibility of a production control agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC members in a meeting to be held in Doha this month. Meanwhile, copper prices slumped following worries over a fall in Chinese demand and sooner-than-expected Fed rate hike chances due to encouraging job reports. Copper prices fell for the seventh consecutive trading day, its lowest level since Mar 3. Decline in copper prices dragged material stocks downward. The index declined 0.8% on Tuesday following concerns over weak global economic growth. The Dow fell three-digit points for the first time since Mar 8 and registered the biggest one-day decline since Feb 23. Both the European and Japanese stock indexes fell following weaker-than-expected economic data. According to Markit, Europe’s final composite March PMI for output came in at 53.1, lower than the flash estimate of 53.7, whereas PMI for services came in at 53.1, lower than the flash estimate of 54. Moreover, Nikkei Japan Services PMI declined from 51.2 in February to 50 in March. Disappointing output and services data had a negative impact on key indexes in both Europe and Japan. Germany’s DAX slumped 2.6%, its biggest loss since Feb 24, while the Stoxx Europe 600 declined 1.9% to its lowest settlement since Feb 25. Also, Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average declined 2.4%. Additionally, lackluster earnings outlook for the first quarter dampened investor sentiment. Total first quarter earnings for the S&P 500 index are expected to be down 10.3% from the same period last year. The index increased more than 0.6% on Wednesday following gains in biotech and energy stocks. Healthcare stocks rose following strong gains in Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Allergan plc ( AGN). Despite calling off the planned merger between the two pharmaceutical giants, shares of Pfizer and Allergan jumped 5% and 3.5%, respectively. Moreover, oil prices increased following a decline in crude inventories. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the U.S. commercial crude oil inventories fell 4.9 million barrels to 529.9 million for the week ended Apr 1. Further, the minutes on Federal Reserve’s March two-day policy meeting released on Wednesday indicated that Fed officials shared diverse views regarding rate hike chances. Some Fed officials believed that “a cautious approach to raising rates would be prudent.” The index lost 1% on Thursday following heightened concerns regarding weak global growth and another decline in crude prices. The yen continued to rise despite Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) introduction of negative interest rates earlier this year. This intensified worries that economic stimulus measures, which include negative interest rate, taken by BOJ in order to boost the economy failed to have any significant impact. Additionally, oil prices snapped the two-day winning stretch following an increase in Iraq’s crude exports. Iraq’s crude exports in April were 3.494 million bpd, more than March’s average of 3.286 million bpd. Also, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that the country “wants to regain its place on the oil market.” It is being speculated that Iran may participate in the production freeze meeting this month but will freeze production only when it reaches its pre-sanction level of 3 million bpd. Oil prices were also negatively impacted by reports that crude inventories in the delivery hub of Cushing, OK have increased by 255,804 barrels for the week ending Apr 5. Components Moving the Index The Boeing Co. (BA) secured two major contracts, worth $510.3 million in total, from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on Apr 5.The larger of the two, worth $275 million, is allotted to conduct research and engineer technology that increases ground-based space capabilities. The latest contract is expected to boost scientific knowledge of these capabilities and apply the results to "achieve Air Force and national goals." The contract will run through Nov 3, 2020. Boeing also received a $235.3 million modification contract for the procurement of long-lead items for the manufacture and delivery of 11 Lot 8 full-rate production IV P-8A aircraft for the U.S. Navy. The contract will run through Jan 2017 and most of the work will be carried out in Seattle, WA (82.6%); while the rest in Baltimore, MD; Greenlawn, NY; North Amityville, NY and Cambridge, United Kingdom. General Electric Company (GE) announced that it has sold its lending and leasing business in Japan to Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL). Alongside, General Electric also completed the sale of its lending and leasing business in Mexico to Linzor Capital Partners. Together these two transactions represent approximately $6.2 billion in ending net investment (ENI). Additionally, General Electric announced the sale of GE Capital’s majority shares in Bank BPH’s Core Bank to Alior Bank. The transaction represents assets totaling approximately $2.1 billion in ENI. This transaction is expected to reap approximately $0.2 billion of capital for the company. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) recently revealed that it is considering the acquisition of Bluewolf Group LLC, a prominent player in cloud consulting and implementation services. Bluewolf is expected to add significant value to IBM’s cloud business. The deal is expected to be concluded by the second quarter of 2016. Media reports estimate the deal value to be $200 million, though it has not yet been affirmed by IBM or Bluewolf. IBM expects to combine its own strengths (experience design, data integration, cloud and analytics) with Bluewolf’s capabilities to develop cutting-edge Salesforce consulting practices, especially in the midmarket and enterprise segment. Following the acquisition, Bluewolf will be integrated with IBM’s Interactive Experience (iX) division. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? 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Click to get this free report PFIZER INC (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report ALLERGAN PLC (AGN): Free Stock Analysis Report BOEING CO (BA): Free Stock Analysis Report GENL ELECTRIC (GE): Free Stock Analysis Report INTL BUS MACH (IBM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.