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A health care worker in Scotland has been diagnosed with Ebola
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) is threatening to extend its losing streak to a second session, with futures pointed lower ahead of the bell. Weighing on the blue-chip index are concerns over crude prices, which landed at a five-year low yesterday. Also, plenty of traders are nervously watching Greece, as the nation heads toward a Jan. 25 snap presidential election after parliament failed to elect a president on Monday. Stateside, Wall Street is awaiting a pair of reports this morning -- the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index and the Conference Board's consumer confidence index.
And now, on to the numbers...
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) are roughly 20 points below fair value.
Market Statistics
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 715,893 call contracts traded on Monday, compared to 460,147 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio jumped to 0.64, while the 21-day moving average edged up to 0.65.
Currencies and Commodities
- The U.S. dollar index is down 0.2% at 90.00.
- Crude oil has slipped 0.7% at $53.23 per barrel.
- Gold has popped 0.3% at $1,185.90 per ounce.
Earnings and Economic Data
The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index and the consumer confidence report are slated for release today. The earnings calendar is bare.
Overseas Trading
Asian benchmarks dropped amid ongoing losses for energy and uncertainty surrounding Greece's presidential election. Japan's Nikkei -- which is closed from now until Jan. 5 -- gave back 1.6% as a number of large-cap stocks tumbled, but still closed the year with a 7.1% gain. Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi lost 1.1% and 0.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, China's Shanghai Composite ended fractionally lower, with state media reporting the country's largest oil field will reduce production next year due to sagging crude prices.
Stocks in Europe are in the red around midday, with energy stocks leading the way south. Also spooking traders is news that a health care worker in Scotland was diagnosed with Ebola, while a second is being tested for the deadly virus. At last check, London's FTSE 100 has shed 0.9%, France's CAC 40 is off 0.8%, and Germany's DAX has lost 0.7%.
Unusual Put and Call Activity:
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