The DJIA is modestly higher, as traders keep a close eye on jobs data
Futures on the
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are signaling a modestly higher start -- and a potential end to
the blue-chip barometer's recent losing streak -- following yesterday's
mixed messages from a pair of central bank officials. Speculation over the Fed's next move will remain front and center today, after data showed weekly jobless claims rose for a second straight week, but remained in line with estimates. This comes ahead of
tomorrow's nonfarm payrolls report -- and in the wake of Wednesday's
disappointing read on private-sector employment. Additionally, the latest round of corporate earnings should garner their fair share of attention, including those from
Wall Street rookie Fitbit Inc (NYSE:FIT) -- which is down 10% in electronic trading.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
And now, on to the numbers…
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are more than 26 points above fair value.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- Tumbling energy prices weighed on Asian benchmarks, while stocks in Europe are brushing off talk of a 2016 interest-rate hike.
- The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) notched a notable milestone on Wednesday -- hitting a new annual low of 10.88, before settling down 3.8% at 12.51. In the options pits, calls outpaced puts by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio, with the August 15 call garnering the most attention.
- Republican presidential candidates will hold their first prime-time debate tonight in Cleveland, Ohio. Ten of the 17 candidates will take the stage, with the other seven debating at an earlier forum. Highly contentious candidate -- and lead poller -- Donald Trump will be placed in the center-stage position.
- With his short position in Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) not going according to plan, Bill Ackman has turned his attention to Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ). Specifically, the activist investor is taking a 7.5% stake in the firm, sending the shares up 5.1% in electronic trading -- and on their way to notch a new record high. (Separately, HLF is 7% higher ahead of the bell, after its quarterly earnings report was met with a price-target hike at Canaccord Genuity.)
- Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is bracing for a 7% drop out of the gate, after the electric car concern downwardly revised its full-year delivery forecast. While the stock appears poised to lose a foothold atop its 50-day moving average, it could find support near its 80-day trendline.
Market Statistics - Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (NYSE:LL), First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), and GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY) were among the equities with unusual call and put activity on Wednesday. For the entire list, read Unusual Options Activity: LL, DIS, FSLR, and GDDY.
- The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 899,234 call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 688,704 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.77, while the 21-day moving average edged down to 0.67.
- For info on currencies, commodities, trading volume, market breadth, and more, read Stock Market Stats for August 5, 2015.
Earnings and Economic Data
Weekly jobless claims data were released this morning. 3D Systems (DDD), DryShips (DRYS), Groupon (GRPN), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Zynga (ZNGA), Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD), Allergan (AGN), Amarin (AMRN), AMC Networks (AMCX), Brinker International (EAT), Build-A-Bear Workshop (BBW), Clovis Oncology (CLVS), Duke Energy Corp (DUK), FXCM (FXCM), Gogo (GOGO), hhgregg (HGG), Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF), Marathon Oil Corporation (MRO), Melco Crown Entertainment (MPEL), Molson Coors Brewing Company (TAP), Mobileye NV (MBLY), Monster Beverage (MNST), Mylan (MYL), New York Times (NYT), Orbitz (OWW), Plug Power (PLUG), SeaWorld (SEAS), Shutterstock (SSTK), Sunedison (SUNE), TrueCar (TRUE), Viacom (VIAB), and Wingstop Inc (WING) are scheduled to report. To see what is on tomorrow's agenda, click here.