Dow Futures Rise, But Stocks Set for Yearly Losses

The major equity benchmarks are on pace for their worst annual performance in a decade

Josh Selway

Dec 31, 2018 at 9:10 AM

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are trading above fair value, signaling a positive New Year's Eve session. There's almost nothing on the docket today, save the Dallas Fed manufacturing survey, though some traders are focusing on upbeat trade comments from President Donald Trump over the week. Specifically, Trump tweeted that "big progress" is being made between the U.S. and China. Still, trading volumes are likely to remain thin today ahead of the New Year's holiday tomorrow -- and the Dow and S&P look set to record their first yearly declines since 2015, while the Nasdaq Composite is pacing for its first annual loss since 2011.

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

Shutterfly stock could be ripe for a short squeeze.
How options traders profited off this flailing chip stock.
Plus, Amazon gets even bigger; Canada Goose makes a splash in China; and a luxury retailer's new identity.

stock futures dec 31

5 Things You Need to Know Today

The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.13 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 491,363 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.44, and the 21-day moving average ticked down to 0.73.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is in focus this morning after the Wall Street Journal reported the company is planning to expand the number of domestic Whole Foods stores. AMZN shares are up 2% in premarket trading, trying to chip away at their worst quarter since 2001.
Also creating buzz is Canada Goose Holdings Inc (NYSE:GOOS), following the opening of the retailer's first store in mainland China over the week. News outlets are reporting on huge crowds at the store, with shoppers standing in line for hours despite frigid temperatures. GOOS impressed with its last earnings report, which sent the shares to a record high.
Staying in the retail sector, Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (NYSE:KORS) just announced it's changing its name and ticker symbol to Capri Holdings (CPRI), which will go into effect this Wednesday, Jan. 2. The identity change comes as the company completes its acquisition of Versace. KORS stock is down almost 46% in the past three months.
The stock market will be closed tomorrow for New Year's Day.

China Manufacturing Data In Focus

On the last day of 2018, most markets in Asia were closed for holiday. Amid an abbreviated session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.3%, but still finished the year with a 13.6% decline. China's December manufacturing activity came in lower than expected, fueling concerns over the impact of the trade dispute with the U.S.

Over in Europe, stocks are a mixed bag in a low-volume, holiday-shortened session. London's FTSE 100 is down 0.1%, at last check, and is heading toward a more than 12% decline for 2018 amid Brexit uncertainty. The U.K. parliament will vote on a deal in mid-January. Elsewhere, the French CAC 40 is up 1.1% today, while the German DAX is closed for the holiday.

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