Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures Slip; Oil, Inflation Data Eyed

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are modestly lower this morning, as oil prices continue to cool off. March-dated crude is down 2.6% at $29.97 a barrel, at last check. Today's consumer price index (CPI) showed no change from December to January, compared to the 0.1% decline predicted by economists. Excluding food and energy -- flat and down 2.8%, respectively, last month -- the core CPI rose 0.3%, marking the biggest monthly gain since August 2011.

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

• The blue chip Morgan Stanley believes "warrants a premium" over its competitors. 
• Another solar energy stock bites the dust. 
• Why GoPro Inc (NASDAQ:GPRO) bears might be holding their breath today. 
• Plus... Global stocks slide, Deere reports earnings, and Yahoo makes a big move.
  

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are 41 points below fair value.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

 

1. Slipping crude prices hit global stocks, but one Asian exchange eked out a win.
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 695,091 call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 518,206 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio climed to 0.75, while the 21-day moving average slid down to 0.72.  
3. Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) posted disappointing quarterly sales and lowered its full-year outlook for 2016, sending the stock 2.2% lower in pre-market trading. 
4. Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) said it will cut another $10 billion over the next five years -- just four years after announcing a cost-cutting goal of the same amount. CEO David Taylor told analysts that the company has not met his expectations, despite the stock's recent earnings beat.
5. According to reports, Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) has formed a committee to explore strategic alternatives, likely to the delight of Starboard Value. The restructuring efforts already underway have resulted in a shutdown of numerous digital magazines and several job cuts. YHOO is pointed 2.5% higher ahead of the bell.

Earnings and Economic Data

The week wraps up with the CPI and a speech from Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester. Earnings will also take a breather, with Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) and V.F. Corp (VFC) among a short list of companies giving their quarterly reports. To see what's coming up on next week's agenda, click here.