DJIA futures are pointed lower this morning, though blue chip DuPont (DD) is soaring on merger buzz
The
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is staring at a potential
third day in the red, with futures pointed lower this morning. After several days of intense volatility, crude oil will again be in focus, with the release of weekly inventory data at 10:30 a.m. ET. Meanwhile, traders are digesting rumblings of a potential merger between blue chip DuPont (NYSE:DD) and mega-cap Dow Chemical Co (NYSE:DOW), which could be announced as early as tomorrow -- sending both stocks sharply higher ahead of the open.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
And now, on to the numbers…
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are 14 points below fair value.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- Asian markets felt the weight of falling commodity prices, though a well-received move from the People's Bank of China (PBOC) helped mainland stocks edge higher.
- The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 506,864 call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 487,429 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio jumped to 0.96, while the 21-day moving average edged up to 0.74.
- After much speculation, online media mogul Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) has announced it will not spin off its $31 billion stake in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA). Instead, the company will spin off all of its other assets -- including its Internet business and a 35% stake in Yahoo Japan -- into a new publicly traded entity. YHOO shares are up 1.7% on the news.
- Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is bracing for a drop this morning, after the yoga apparel peddler posted weaker-than-expected third-quarter earnings, offered up disappointing current-quarter guidance, and reduced its full-year profit forecast. Specifically, the stock is pointed 12.5% lower pre-market -- on pace for a slightly bigger move than the options market had priced in.
- Tech titan Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is putting on hold plans to launch a live Internet-based TV service, according to a Bloomberg report. The stock is off slightly ahead of the bell, as it continues to churn in the $110-$120 range.
Earnings and Economic Data
Weekly crude inventories are due out today. Companies set to report earnings include Men's Wearhouse (MW) and Ollie's Bargain Outlet (OLLI). To see what else is on this week's agenda, click here.