Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures Point to a Strong Start; Apple on Tap

Did Time Warner Cable Already Find a New Suitor?

Karee Venema

Apr 27, 2015 at 9:08 AM

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is signaling a strong start, with futures pointed higher ahead of the bell. It's going to be a busy week on Wall Street, with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kicking off its two-day policy-setting meeting tomorrow. Today, all eyes should continue to be focused on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), with the firm slated to unveil its first earnings report as a Dow component after the close. Meanwhile, the bullish buzz is building elsewhere on the Street, with the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (COMP) both poised to extend last week's record-setting run.

The deal with Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) may have fallen through, but Time Warner Cable Inc (NYSE:TWC) traders may still be betting on a merger.
This Internet stock may be in line for a big post-earnings move, while this chemical name flirted with triple digits following its strong quarterly report.
How bears are flocking to this stock bucking the biotech uptrend.

And now, on to the numbers...

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Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are nearly 68 points above fair value.

Market Statistics

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.2 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 696,136 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.60, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.63.

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Currencies and Commodities

The U.S. dollar index is up 0.2% at 97.12.
Crude oil is down 0.2% to hover at $57.04 per barrel.
Gold is 0.7% higher at $1,183.30 per ounce.

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Earnings and Economic Data

The Dallas Fed's manufacturing survey will kick off the week. AAPL, Barrick Gold (ABX), Changyou.com (CYOU), Overstock.com (OSTK), Restaurant Brands International (QSR), and Sohu.com (SOHU) will report earnings.To see what else is on this week's agenda, click here.

Overseas Trading

Asian markets finished on both sides of breakeven today, ahead of this week's policy decisions from the Bank of Japan and the FOMC (due Thursday and Wednesday, respectively). At the close, China's Shanghai Composite was up 3%, despite a drop in the mainland's first-quarter industrial profits, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng tacked on 1.3%. Japan's Nikkei, meanwhile, shed 0.2%, while South Korea's Kospi settled 0.1% lower.

European benchmarks have reversed course to trade higher at midday, with all eyes trained on Greece. The fiscally strapped nation was told over the weekend it needed to hash out an economic reform plan in order to receive its next batch of bailout aid, and will hold a phone conference with eurozone leaders today. At last check, the German DAX is up 1%, the French CAC 40 is flirting with a 0.5% lead, and London's FTSE 100 is 0.3% higher.

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Unusual Put and Call Activity

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