DJIA futures are just below fair value after this morning's jobs report
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointing to yet another down day, sitting below fair value after the Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls report showed 161,000 jobs added in October -- fewer than the 175,000 expected. The blue-chip index is on track to extend its losing streak to seven, while the
S&P 500 Index (SPX) and
Nasdaq Composite (COMP) could mark nine losses in a row -- something the SPX hasn't done in decades.
Election anxiety continues to weigh on stocks as Tuesday's vote approaches, and o
il prices are also on track for their sixth consecutive daily loss. December-dated crude futures are off 1.1% at $44.19 per barrel, amid reports that Saudi Arabia has threatened to increase output.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are roughly 10 points below fair value.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 750,895 call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 558,889 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio dropped to 0.74, while the 21-day moving average edged higher to 0.69.
- Option bears may be rewarded with GoPro Inc (NASDAQ:GPRO) on track to open 19% lower -- not far off its May record low. The company reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss, and has already received some bearish attention from the brokerage bunch.
- Supplement seller Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is getting a boost from news activist investor Carl Icahn increased his position by more than 1.8 million shares. Icahn now holds a 23.1% stake in the stock, which is up 1.2% in electronic trading after slumping following an earnings beat and C-suite shake-up earlier this week.
- After falling to a record low on Wednesday, cybersecurity specialist FireEye Inc (NASDAQ:FEYE) is booming back on a slimmer-than-predicted quarterly loss, up 16.7% ahead of the bell. Analysts don't appear so impressed, however -- three have already trimmed their price targets on the long-term underperformer.
- This morning's jobs data could draw some attention in scheduled speeches from Federal Reserve officials. The week's earnings docket will wrap up with results from Humana (HUM), Duke Energy (DUK), Genworth Financial (GNW), Microchip Technology (MCHP), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN), and Shutterstock (SSTK).
Overseas Trading
Asian markets moved lower, as investors turned to safe-haven assets amid increasing anxiety about the outcome of Tuesday's U.S. presidential election. Japan's Nikkei shed 1.3%, as the yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar -- and despite the Nikkei Japan services purchasing managers index (PMI) rising to 50.5 in October, indicating expansion. Both China's Shanghai Composite and South Korea's Kospi ended 0.1% lower, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.2%.
European stocks are down at midday, also pulled lower by growing uncertainty about the outcome of the U.S. presidential race. London's FTSE 100 sits down 1.5%, as the British pound continues to gain ground against the U.S. dollar in the wake of yesterday's court ruling on a "Hard Brexit." Post-earnings losses for Commerzbank and BMW have Germany's DAX 0.8% lower, while the French CAC 40 has given up 0.9%.
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