President Trump and China's Vice Premier Liu will meet later today
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is confidently higher today, up triple digits as optimistic investors await news from this afternoon's trade talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. The blue-chip index is headed toward its ninth straight weekly win, its longest weekly winning streak since 1995.
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are also higher, on pace to extend their weekly winning streaks of four and nine, respectively -- which would mark the Nasdaq's longest since 2009. Oil prices are getting a lift on hopes for a trade resolution, too, with April-dated crude up 0.8% at $57.42 per barrel.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Morgan Stanley is calling a big Intel stock rally.
- Roku stock is heading toward a record weekly win streak.
- Plus, options bears pour it on Kellogg stock; CPB hit with sector peer headwinds; and record highs for INTU after earnings beat.
Options volume is accelerated on cereal maker Kellogg Company (NYSE:K). Nearly 9,000 put options have changed hands, 10 times the average intraday amount and volume pacing in the 100th annual percentile. Most of the action is centered at the March 55 put, but there is spread activity detected at the January 2020 40- and 50-strike puts. At last check, Kellogg stock was down 4.3% to trade at $55.79, breaching its year-to-date breakeven level.
Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) is down 8.3% to trade at $32.49, one of the worst stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today. The Pepperidge Farm parent is being dragged down by sector peer Kraft Heinz (KHC), which is getting pummeled after the firm gave dismal 2019 guidance, unveiled a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) subpoena, and slashed its dividend. CPB is now dangerously close to its Jan. 2 six-year low of $32.04, and has erased its year-to-date lead.
On the other end of the spectrum is Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU), up 6.4% to trade at $249.19, the top stock on the S&P 500 today. The tax company reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that exceeded the consensus estimate. No fewer than six bull notes have followed, including a price-target hike to $272 from $245 at Jefferies. INTU, one of the best stocks to own in February, earlier tapped a record high of $250.16, with its rising 10-day moving average cushioning pullbacks in the past month.
