MMR

Dow Eyes Five Straight, S&P 500 Streak in Doubt

U.S. retail sales rose by more than expected last month

Managing Editor
Jul 16, 2019 at 11:55 AM
facebook X logo linkedin


The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is once again hovering around breakeven at midday, as the blue-chip index tries for a fifth straight win. Goldman Sachs (GS) powered the Dow to a fresh record high, following a well-received earnings report, but a negative post-earnings reaction from fellow blue chip Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has offset any outsized gains. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is also flat, putting its six-day streak in danger, in what would be its longest winning streak since early April. Elsewhere, investors are digesting the latest retail sales data, which rose by 0.4% in June, surpassing expectations.

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

  • Goldman Sachs pumps the brakes on Fiat Chrysler stock.
  • Analyst: Time to sell this penny stock.
  • Plus, crazy call volume on Skechers stock; J.B. Hunt a big earnings winner; and Domino's gets drilled.

Midday Market Stats July 16

Skechers USA Inc (NYSE:SKX) is seeing highly accelerated options trading today. More than 8,600 call options have traded -- 16 times what's typically seen at this point in the day, and more than 21 times the number of puts traded. Most of this action is occurring at the August 37 call, where new positions are being opened. The retail stock was last seen trading at $34.45, on track for its fifth straight win, ahead of the company's earnings report after the close on Thursday, July 18. 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ:JBHT) is the top stock on the S&P 500 today, up roughly 7% to trade at $99.12, after the logistics company's second-quarter earnings surpassed expectations. In addition, the transport issue predicted positive load growth in the second half. The upbeat results have been met with no fewer than seven price-target hikes from analysts, the highest coming from Cowen, to $113. Despite the breakout today, JBHT remains stifled by its 200-day moving average, a trendline of resistance in place since October.

MMC Daily Chart JBHT

One of the worst stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today is Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE:DPZ), down 6.8% to trade at $251.50 -- set for its worst session since February. The company reported the slowest U.S. same-store sales growth in at least three years, rising just 3% in the second quarter. DPZ stock is set to close below its 200-day moving average for the first time since Apri.

 

AI has exploded ever since ChatGPT set the world on fire near the end of 2022.

Numerous companies with connections to artificial intelligence have seen their stocks soar.

That includes Nvidia, the poster boy of AI.

Its stock has skyrocketed 716% since ChatGPT’s debut. But here’s the thing …

While everyone’s still counting their money from this first AI boom … Nvidia and countless others have moved on to the next stage.

That includes Big Tech, which is currently making a series of peculiar investments in a few strange companies. This has nothing to do with tech. At least on the surface …

Yet, these strange investments could be the early ripples of a massive wave …Without them, ChatGPT could stop operating … Amazon, Google, Microsoft and more could see profits drop drastically.

In fact, Elon Musk says these investments are critical when it comes to solving the number one problem facing AI.

Now, Silicon Valley legend Michael Robinson has identified two companies that could play a significant role in the solution.

Their stocks just may be the key to AI 2.0.

Find out more about these two companies today.
 (ad)