Stock Futures Drop as Bond Yield Concerns Continue

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are off by almost 150 points, just after the blue-chip index barely secured a weekly win. S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are firmly in the red as well, as the tech sector struggles and investor concerns regarding rising bond yields continue to grow. At last check, the 10-year treasury yield climbed up to 1.37%, near annual high levels. Meanwhile, oil futures are on the rise today too, amid increased uncertainty about output recovery after the winter storms. 

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

• Founder and CEO Bernie Schaeffer unpacks three option-based indicators that have been useful lately. 
• Several cannabis stocks made headlines last week.  
• Plus, Boeing falls on jet complications; CTB soars on buyout; and TPR receives an upgrade. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 2.6 million call contracts traded on Friday, and 1.1 million put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.43 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.41.
2. Boeing (NYSE:BA) stock is down 3.3% ahead of the bell, after the engine failed on one of its 777 jets. For now, Boeing has recommended that airlines suspend use of the jets until the necessary inspections are completed. Year-over-year, Boeing stock has fallen 35.3% coming into today.
3. The shares of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE:CTB) are up 17.6% in electronic trading, after news that Goodyear Tire (GT) will acquire the company for $2.8 billion in a cash and stock deal. Year-over-year, CTB is posting a 60.4% gain. 
4. Tapestry Inc (NYSE:TPR) is up 1.9% ahead of the open this morning, after Credit Suisse upgraded the stock to "outperform" from "neutral," with an added price-target hike to $50 from $39. The firm stated that the Kate Spade parent is on track for a strong rebound. In the past nine months, TPR is already up a whopping $182.3%. 
5. Today's economic data will feature leading home indicators.    

Stocks Also Lower in Asia, Europe

Asian markets were mostly lower on Monday, despite China’s decision to leave its one-year and five-year loan prime rates (LPR) unchanged at 3.85% and 4.65%, respectively. Though the move was in line with expectations, China’s Shanghai Composite still lost 1.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.1%. Elsewhere, South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.9%, while Japan’s Nikkei was the only index to finish on top, with a 0.5% gain.

European stocks are lower as well, mirroring the lackluster trend set in Asia and the U.S. Investors remain concerned about rising bond yields, and are carefully monitoring Covid-19 developments. Later today, the United Kingdom will announce a plan to slowly lift lockdown measures, while the White House is expected to ship millions of vaccine doses delayed by winter storms. In terms of data, Germany’s Ifo Institute business climate index rose for February, indicating better-than-expected sentiment towards current conditions and expectations. Nonetheless, both the German DAX and London’s FTSE 100 are down 0.7%, while France’s CAC 40 has shed 0.5%.