Summary: Stocks were little moved at Wednesday's opening bell ahead of the minutes from the last Fed policy meeting which are due out at 2 pm, eastern. News from the home front include the Mortgage Bankers Association saying total applications unexpectedly rose 4.9% for the week ending November 14. The increase was from applications to purchase rather than refinance a home. The Commerce Department's report showed housing starts took a surprise drop in October. Groundbreaking fell but building permits jumped. Lowe’s (LOW) impressed Wall Street this morning with its earnings results. The home improvement chain also raised its full-year guidance. Target (TGT) is another early gainer after beating its earnings expectations. And Microsoft (MSFT) shareholders are being advised to vote ‘no’ on their CEO’s pay package. The proxy adviser ISS criticized what it calls a ‘mega’ grant of restricted stock to Satya Nadella, that it valued at $65 million.
