Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures Cautiously Higher; Deutsche Bank, Inflation in Focus

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointed modestly higher ahead of the bell, a day after stocks were spooked amid concerns about beaten-down Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) -- which has already drawn comparisons to Lehman Brothers. Elsewhere, August personal spending came in flat, compared to expectations for a slight gain, while personal income rose 0.2%. The core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index -- a Fed-watched inflation measure -- also rose 0.2% month-over-month, and 1.7% on a year-over-year basis.

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

• What to expect when your option's expiring.
• 5 travel stocks to watch in the fourth quarter.
• The latest Autopilot drama pressuring Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA).
• Plus... Asian stocks fall on oil and banks, more on Deutsche Bank, and Costco delivers an earnings beat.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are about 37 points above fair value.

5 Things You Need to Know Today
 

1. Asian stocks fell under pressure from the energy and banking sectors.
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 853,347 call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 629,331 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.74, while the 21-day moving average rose to 0.65.
3. DB is up 1.2% in electronic trading, paring some of its losses from yesterday, which saw the finance stock hit record lows. DB's troubles have pressured markets lower worldwide, although CEO John Cryan is trying to reassure staff about the departure of several hedge funds.
4. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is sitting up 2.1% in pre-market trading -- likely to the dismay of recent option buyers -- after delivering a per-share earnings beat last night, although revenue fell just shy of expectations. This morning, Goldman Sachs raised its price target on COST to $183 from $182.
5. Biotech Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CATB) is set to open 4% higher, after James Flynn disclosed a stake. CATB yesterday announced it would be working with Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SRPT) in a joint research venture on SRPT's much-anticipated Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug, sending CATB skyrocketing.

Earnings and Economic Data

Rounding out the week are the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI) and consumer sentiment. McCormick (MKC) is the only company set to report earnings. To see what is coming up on next week's schedule, click here.