DJIA futures are pointed higher, as stocks look to wrap up the year on a high note
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointed higher ahead of the open, as the final trading session of 2016 begins and stocks look to
pare yesterday's losses. While the Dow is on track for a healthy 2016 win of 13.7%, the index is set to snap its
historic weekly winning streak, and capturing the 20,000 level today would require a notable triple-digit rally. Meanwhile, traders are looking ahead to today's release of the Chicago purchasing managers manufacturing index (PMI).
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are about 46 points above fair value.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 569,581 call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 351,566 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.62, while the 21-day moving average lifted to 0.62..
- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is up 0.3% in electronic trading, despite being just one of several retailers -- including rival retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) -- under fire for allegedly selling Run-DMC merchandise that infringes on the rap group's trademark. Run-DMC founder Darryl McDaniels is leading the charge, hoping to receive $50 million in compensation.
- Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is up 0.4% ahead of the bell, after news the aerospace company was awarded a $450 million contract modification with the Pentagon. The contract will involve producing F-35 fighter jets for South Korea, the same jets that came under fire from President-elect Donald Trump for their costs.
- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is up 0.2% before the open, following a reportedly strong holiday season, amid reports that one of AAPL's equipment managers, Wistron, will be opening a manufacturing plant in Bengaluru, India, with production set to start as soon as next April. There is also chatter of AAPL expanding its production capabilities in the country as a way to crack into the Indian cell phone market, where AAPL has struggled, with the company allegedly seeking tax concessions.
- There are no earnings or economic reports due out today.
Overseas Trading
The final trading day of 2016 ended on a mostly positive note in Asia. Leading the way higher was Hong Kong's Hang Seng, jumping 1% for its third consecutive daily win, as financial stocks trekked higher. China's Shanghai Composite added 0.2%, but still finished 2016 on a 12% loss. On the negative side of the ledger was Japan's Nikkei, which slid 0.2%, despite a bounceback session for shares of Toshiba. South Korea's Kospi, meanwhile, was closed for holiday.
European markets are eyeing a solid end to the calendar year, shaking off a rough session for healthcare and bank stocks. London's FTSE 100 closed early -- and at a record high -- in advance of the long New Year's weekend; its annual gain of 14.4% represented its best year since 2013. The German DAX also settled an abbreviated session higher, adding 0.3%. Elsewhere, France's CAC 40 is up 0.2%.
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