DJIA futures are up slightly ahead of the open, despite a sell-off in China
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is poised to open modestly higher, in what's expected to be a quiet post-Thanksgiving session -- with U.S. markets scheduled to close at 1 p.m. ET. With nothing in the way of earnings or economic data to digest, traders will await Black Friday updates from retailers. Investors are also turning their attention overseas, where Chinese stocks were crushed by news of government probes into a few brokerage firms. Next week promises to be far more eventful, with a pair of speeches from Fed Chair Janet Yellen, plus the Labor Department's all-important nonfarm payrolls report.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
And now, on to the numbers…
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are nearly 20 points above fair value.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- Chinese stocks got whacked, with brokerage firms and airlines among the hardest-hit sectors.
- The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 532,578 call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 347,036 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio edged down to 0.65, while the 21-day moving average held at 0.70.
- Energy giant Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) denied reports that an explosion occurred yesterday at its refinery in Joliet, Illinois. Nonetheless, the shares are off 0.5% pre-market.
- Dove soap parent Unilever plc (ADR) (NYSE:UL) announced plans to stop using energy from coal by 2020, and eventually use only renewable energy by 2030.
- International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Sebastian Coe has bowed to public pressure to give up his ambassadorial role with Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE). The stock is up 0.4% ahead of the bell, putting it on track to open at a record high.
Earnings and Economic Data
The calendar will be quiet today, as U.S. markets will close at 1:00 p.m. ET on Black Friday. To see what's coming up on next week's agenda, click here.