Dow Jones Industrial Average Poised for Sixth Straight Loss

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:DJI) is poised to end the week on a sour note -- and on a sixth consecutive losing session -- with futures pointed solidly lower in electronic trading. The Swiss National Bank's (SNB) decision to unpeg its currency from the euro continues to weigh on U.S. equities. Even Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS), which just beat the Street's fourth-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, is sitting slightly in the red this morning. Meanwhile, a raft of economic data is due out today -- starting with the consumer price index (CPI) -- and Fed Presidents Narayana Kocherlakota, John Williams, and James Bullard will all give speeches.

• A closer look at how BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) fared after buyout rumors were dispelled.
• This commodity stock, which took part in yesterday's sector-wide rally, saw a block of 18,000 puts cross the tape.
• Puts were also popular on this struggling biotech name.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) are nearly 59 points below fair value.

Market Statistics

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.2 million call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 893,380 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio slipped to 0.72, while the 21-day moving average held at 0.64.

Currencies and Commodities

• The U.S. dollar index has gained 0.2% at 92.50.
• Crude oil is rebounding from yesterday's sell-off, up 2.2% at $47.77 per barrel.
• Gold is 0.2% lower at $1,262.60 per ounce.

Earnings and Economic Data

Today's economic calendar includes the CPI, industrial production data, and the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index. GS, Comerica (CMA), PNC Financial Services (PNC), Private Bancorp (PVTB), SunTrust Banks (STI) will report their earnings data.

Overseas Trading

Asian markets ended mostly lower after the SNB's unexpected currency and interest rate decisions and ongoing energy woes. Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Kospi were each off 1.4%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 1%. However, the Shanghai Composite bucked the bearish trend, gaining 1.2% as financial stocks rallied.

European bourses are mixed at midday, as traders continue to digest the aforementioned news out of Switzerland, and look ahead to next Thursday's European Central Bank meeting -- when additional economic stimulus measures may be announced. The French CAC 40 is up 0.3%, while Germany's DAX and London's FTSE are hovering around breakeven.

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