The DJIA is down slightly today, as earnings season kicks into high gear
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is modestly lower, as traders digest
lackluster growth data out of China and a largely
unimpressive round of earnings -- which are overshadowing an
analyst-induced record high at blue chip Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE). Among other items in the Street's crosshairs, oil futures -- and Dow components Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) -- are lower after Chinese data exacerbated concerns about demand, while the NAHB housing market index jumped to its highest level in 10 years. Meanwhile, a rally in biotechs -- with a
few notable exceptions -- has the
Nasdaq Composite (COMP) comfortably higher. Looking ahead, blue chip
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) will report after the close.
Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:
Among the stocks with notable put activity is semiconductor firm Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), with the contracts crossing at 10 times the average intraday rate. The stock is unchanged at $1.94, just a day after giving up ground on downbeat guidance. According to Trade-Alert, put sellers are initiating new positions at the January 2016 1.50 and 2 strikes, where blocks of 50,000 and 20,000 contracts, respectively, have changed hands.
The Big Board's top gainer is Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE:WTW), after this media mogul took a 10% stake in the company. At last check, shares of the dieting specialist are nearly 90% higher at $12.86.
Among the biggest advancers on the Nasdaq is chipmaker PMC-Sierra Inc (NASDAQ:PMCS), up 13.8% at $11.65 -- and fresh off a nine-year high of $11.73. The stock is getting a lift from yet another buyout offer.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is off 0.1 point, or 0.9%, at 14.91.
Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 2.78, with puts nearly tripling calls. At last check, SPY is off 0.1% at $203.09.