Stock Futures Tentatively Higher as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Roil

Last week's inflation numbers are still looming over markets, too

Digital Content Manager

Feb 14, 2022 at 9:03 AM

Stock futures are looking to open flat on Monday, as investors continue to monitor the increasingly high tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The potential for war to break out between the two countries has a few airlines redirecting or pausing flights to the Ukraine, while U.S. military troops have now been deployed to the region. The possibility that the relationship between the U.S. and China could break down even further, as China goes to back Russia, is also fraying nerves amid the turmoil.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) were last seen just above the breakeven, while the S&P 500 (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are both struggling for direction. Meanwhile, an impending Federal Reserve decision, following last week's red-hot inflation data, is also keeping markets quiet in premarket trading.

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

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Which weed stocks were buzzing before the Super Bowl.
Plus, LLY's new Covid drug gets emergency approval; BX finalizes major acquisition; and why RIVN is on the rise.

futures feb 14

5 Things You Need to Know Today

The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.67 million call contracts traded on Friday, and 1.07 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.64, and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.54.
Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency approval to its new Covid-19 antibody drug for use in adults and teens. LLY is down 1.5% in pre-market trading.
The shares of Blackstone Inc (NYSE:BX) have edged 0.6% lower ahead of the open, amid news that the company finalized its $6.3 billion deal to acquire Crown Resorts, with a shareholder vote to take place next quarter, and regulatory approval pending.
News that Soros Fund Management purchased 20 million shares of electric vehicle name Rivian Automotive Inc (NASDAQ:RIVN), are giving the former's stock a boost, last seen up 3% ahead of the bell.
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Another Covid-19 Wave Weighs on Asian Markets

Markets in Asia slipped today, as Hong Kong struggles with its fifth wave of Covid-19, and investors eye developments between Ukraine and Russia. Japan's Nikkei led the losses with a 2.2% drop, while the South Korean Kospi fell 1.6%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng and China's Shanghai Composite lost 1.4% and 1%, respectively.

Russia-Ukraine concerns are weighing on the European bourses as well, as global markets still consider the U.S. Federal Reserve's potential interest rate hikes. The French CAC 40 is down 2% at midday, while the German DAX dips 1.9%, and London's FTSE 100 takes a 1.2% haircut.

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