AMN Healthcare Services News Release (02/20/14)

AMN Healthcare Services Inc. reported revenues of $248.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, up 0.36% from $247.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, and $1.01 billion for all of 2013, up 5.9% from $954 million in 2012. Net income totaled $8.4 million for the fourth quarter, up 18.3% from $7.1 million, and $32.9 million for the year, up 92.4% from $17.1 million.

In the fourth quarter, revenues totaled $164.1 million for its nurse and allied health care staffing segment, down 6.23% from $175 million in the fourth quarter of 2012; $74 million for locum tenens staffing, up 18.0% from $62.7 million; and $10.4 million for physician permanent placement services, up 3.0% from $10.1 million. For the full year, revenues totaled $682 million for nurse and allied health care staffing, up 4.3% from $653.8 million in 2012; $287.5 million for locum tenens staffing, up 10.0% from $261.4 million; and $42.4 million for physician permanent placement services, up 9.6% from $38.7 million.

Conference Board News Release (02/20/14)

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.3% in January to 99.5, following no change in December and a 0.9% increase in November. Meanwhile, the Coincident Economic Index increased 0.1% in January to 108.1, following a 0.1% increase in December and a 0.4% increase in November. The Lagging Economic Index increased 0.3% in January to 121.6, following a 0.4% increase in December and no change in November.

“The increase in the Leading Economic Index reflects an economy that is expanding moderately, although the pace is somewhat held back by persistent and severe inclement weather in most parts of the country,” says economist Ken Goldstein. “If the economy is going to move on to a faster track in 2014 compared [with] last year, consumer demand and especially investment will need to pick up significantly from their current trends.”

MarketWatch (02/20/14) Gregg Robb

According to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s manufacturing index, manufacturers in that region cited worsening conditions in February. The index declined to negative 6.3 in February from 9.4 in January, the weakest reading since last February and the first negative reading since May. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had forecast a reading of 7.3.

Separately, the flash Markit manufacturing gauge climbed to 56.7, the highest level in nearly four years, from 53.7 in January.