Stocks Down After Ross China Comments

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are indicating a lower open this morning, as traders prepare for a huge day of earnings. While no blue-chip numbers are set to come through until Intel (INTC) reports after the close, there are still plenty of other quarterly updates to digest this morning. Adding to the busy backdrop are fresh headlines on U.S.-China relations, with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross telling CNBC this morning the two countries are still "miles and miles" apart on a trade deal. Elsewhere, the Senate is expected to vote on two bills that could end the record government shutdown, though neither is expected to pass. It could very well turn into another volatile session on Wall Street. 

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

• 2 reasons Tesla shares landed in the red.
• The 7-figure options trade on the drug sector.
• Short seller: This stock could fall 50%.
• Plus, a chip stock set to surge; drugmaker pulls the plug on a cancer treatment; and big move for airline stocks. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 878,205 call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 560,465 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio stayed at 0.64, and the 21-day moving average registered at 0.66.  
2. Semiconductor stock Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) is one of the biggest pre-market winners, set to jump almost 10% at the open. The company reported strong earnings for the fiscal third quarter on record revenue, and this price action would have the shares in record-high territory, putting them right near Mizuho's recent $100 price target.
3. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) said it's pulling its marketing application for its Opdivo and Yervoy combination treatment for lung cancer, and the shares are set to open down 3.2%. BMY stock has recovered somewhat from its bear-gap lows sparked by its Celgene (CELG) purchase, but has struggled near the round $50 level.
4. The airline sector is also in focus this morning, with American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL), JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU), and Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) all set to rise at the open. AAL is pacing for the biggest move, up 6%, though this is actually less than the options market was anticipating.
5. Weekly jobless claims, the weekly crude inventories report, and the Fed balance sheet are all slated for today. Dow member Intel (INTC), Alaska Air (ALK), E*TRADE (ETFC), Starbucks (SBUX), and Western Digital (WDC) are all entering the earnings confessional.
   
   

European Stocks Higher as Draghi Speaks

It was a mostly higher finish in Asia, with tech stocks providing tailwinds. Both China's Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4%, while South Korea's Kospi gained 0.8% as chipmaker SK Hynix brushed off a rare profit miss to rally 5.5%. However, Japan's Nikkei lagged again, shedding 0.1% after the Markit/JMMA flash purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 50 in January -- on the cusp of contraction territory -- from its December reading of 52.6.

European markets are mostly higher at midday, even after PMI data showed German manufacturing and France business activity contracted this month. Also in focus is the European Central Bank's (ECB) decision to stand pat on interest rates, as well as a press conference from ECB President Mario Draghi, which is currently underway. At last check, the German DAX is up 0.4%, the French CAC 40 is 0.7% higher, while London's FTSE 100 is fractionally lower.