Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures Higher Ahead of Busy Data Week

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are signaling a higher start ahead of a week saturated with data and Fed talk. Though none will be heard from today, several regional Fed presidents are set to speak throughout the week, with Fed Chair Janet Yellen testifying before Congress on Thursday. As for data, November's nonfarm payrolls report, scheduled for release on Friday, will attract the most attention. In the meantime, traders will continue to consider the latest retail sales figures as the holiday season rages on. 

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• The 7 deadly sins of trading -- and how to avoid them.
• How ESPN factored into this Dow component's dismal Black Friday.
• Sizing up these 2 retail giants as holiday shopping season gets underway.

And now, on to the numbers…

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are 71.5 points above fair value. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

 

1. European markets are leaving their Asian counterparts in the dust. 
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 258,517 call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 197,134 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio moved up to 0.76, while the 21-day moving average edged up to 0.71. 
3. Airline giant Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is on track to open lower this morning, after a Wall Street Journal report suggested U.S. regulators will introduce mandatory inspections on the company's jetliners, which could lead to the replacement of parts for some 1,600 planes. November has already been tough on several travel stocks, following the terrorist attacks in Paris. 
4. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is pointed higher ahead of the open, so recent option bulls could be in luck. Traders may be reacting to news that the company has expanded its policy of offering four months' paid parental leave for all full-time employees to cover those outside the U.S. 
5. As many expected way back when the deal was announced, Staples, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:SPLS) buyout of sector peer Office Depot Inc (NASDAQ:ODP) is likely to meet regulatory resistance, according to the New York Post. ODP is now positioned for a 2.8% drop out of the gate, while SPLS is expected to open higher. 

Earnings and Economic Data

 

The week begins with the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI), the Dallas Fed's manufacturing index, and pending home sales data. Infoblox (BLOX), NQ Mobile (NQ), and Shoe Carnival (SCVL) will report quarterly earnings. To see what else is on this week's agenda, click here.