The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) have hit fresh highs again today, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was also sporting a solid lead at last check, as stocks stay strong ahead of this week's Christmas break. More trade buzz has helped keep the rally alive, while a number of M&A-related headlines have also kept traders busy. This sets up the Nasdaq for another win, which would mark a ninth straight.

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

• IPO buzz has JD.com at new highs.
• The drug stock that's doubling today.
• Plus, bulls bet on Altria; Tesla shares still smoking; and FB reverses lower.

One name seeing unusual options trading is Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO), where calls are trading at four times the rate expected. This is due to the heavy action at the weekly 12/27 52-strike calls, where new positions are being opened, likely showing enthusiasm for upside in MO in the coming days. The cigarette stock was last seen at $51.45.

One stock making headlines again is Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), as the shares add to their blistering rally today. The electric automaker was last seen up 3.3% at $418.89, and earlier it rose above the $420 level, roughly 16 months after CEO Elon Musk said there was a deal to take Tesla private at $420 per share. This also marks record-high territory for TSLA, which is up more than 87% in the past six months. Options activity is accelerated on the day, as well.

One stock move to watch today is coming from Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB), as the shares turned lower after hitting fresh highs earlier. FB shares were last seen down 0.1% at $206.14, as the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) holds near overbought territory, coming into today at 65 -- similar to the setup of the broader equities markets.

The holiday-shortened week started with another record close, and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are set to add more gains this morning. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also on pace for positive opens today, although the news slate is bare and trading volume is likely to be low, with markets closing at 1 p.m. ET for Christmas Eve.

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

• Breaking down some interesting Lyft options trading.
• Options bulls are targeting PepsiCo stock ahead of the holidays.
• Plus, a lofty price-target hike for AMD; Boeing suspends 737 supplier shipments; and Spirit orders more Airbus.  

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.18 million call contracts traded on Monday, compared to 640,391 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio stayed at 0.54, while the 21-day moving average fell to 0.58.
2. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) stock is up 1% in electronic trading, after RBC upped its price target to $53 from $50, citing the chipmaker's gaming and data center businesses. AMD is fresh off an 18-year high of $45.62 yesterday, and has more than doubled in 2019. 
3. After a big day yesterday, Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) is in the news once more, this time after the company reportedly contacted suppliers about suspending parts shipments for one month starting in January for its grounded 737 MAX airliner. BA remains above its year-to-date breakeven point. 
4. The shares of Spirit Airlines Incorporated (NYSE:SAVE) are up ahead of the bell, after the airliner placed an order for 100 Airbus jets through 2027. Spirit stock is up 13% this quarter, but has run headfirst into resistance at its 160-day moving average. 

5. Only weekly crude inventories are expected today.

Overseas Markets Get Holiday Boost

Markets in Asia were mixed during a relatively quiet trading session. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed early for the Christmas holiday, with a 0.2% drop, while the Shanghai composite tacked on 0.7%. Meanwhile, a pop in Apple stock, following a price target hike from Wedbush, is rocking some big Asian tech names, including Japan-based Taiyo Yuden, which got a boost on the bull note, and Korea-based LG Display, which slipped. The respective markets responded, with the Nikkei adding 0.04%, and the Kospi losing 0.6%.

Markets in Europe have closed early for Christmas, with mostly positive results, as geopolitical tensions continue to ease. The London FTSE 100 grabbed a 0.1% win, brushing off a big drop from NMC health following its Monday surge, while the French CAC 40 inched 0.01% higher. The German DAX was the exception, shedding 0.1%.

Following a morning of solid gains, the Dow wound up reversing direction to close the shortened Christmas Eve session modestly lower. The S&P also slipped, with both indexes coming off yesterday's record highs. The Nasdaq, however, clocked a 10th consecutive win and hit fresh highs, despite rather muted price action all around. Looking ahead, markets will be closed tomorrow for the Christmas holiday.

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

• This red-hot chip stock could keep surging, according to one analyst. 
• The energy stock that could start 2020 with a bang. 
• Plus, MBOT stock keeps surging; the bear signal flashing for UBER; and the software stock for options bulls. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,515.45) lost 36.1 points, or 0.1%. Fourteen of the 30 components ended higher. Home Depot (HD) took the lead on a 0.6% win, while Boeing (BA) sunk to the bottom after shedding 1.3%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,223.38) settled 0.6 points, or 0.02%, lower, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,952.88) climbed 7.2 points, or 0.1%. 

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 12.67) rose 0.06 point, or 0.5%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. According to the Harvard Law School rollback tracker, President Donald Trump has made efforts to roll back at least 80 different environmental regulations, which has included easing regulations on methane emissions and the Endangered Species Act. This number marks a historically unprecedented amount, while the Trump administration sees these rollbacks as a way to boost major U.S. industries, including fossil fuel companies. (CNBC)
2. With protests still raging in Hong Kong, police have firrf tear gas into a crowd of protesters near a shopping and tourism district. One person was injured during the chaos, after falling from the second floor to the first floor of a shopping mall. (Reuters)
3. The surgical robotics breakthrough that pushed MBOT stock higher. 
4. UBER stock's rally could be short lived, is history is any indicator. 
5. The software stock options bulls might want to snap up before the new year. 

There are no earnings of note today.

Gold Nabs Seven-Week High During Christmas Eve Session

Oil traded higher after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia agreed to continue cooperating on supply cuts. February-dated crude futures were last seen up 8 cents, or 0.1%, at $60.52 per barrel.

Gold once again move higher, surging atop the $1,500 level, and hitting a seven-week high as investors eyed weaker equity markets, and yesterday's disappointing economic data in the U.S. February gold futures settled up $16.10, or 1.1%, to end at $1,504.08 an ounce. 

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are poised for modest gains this morning, with volume still light in the wake of the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also on pace for positive opens today, with the latter ready to take a crack at an 10th straight record close. U.S.-China trade tailwinds continue to blow, after the Chinese Commerce Ministry said the two sides remain in close contact about signing the trade pact. Elsewhere, weekly jobless claims rose to 220,000 last week. 

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

• Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White outlines the 20 stocks ripe for a short-covering rally in the new year.
• Uber stock flashed a bearish signal after a big court ruling.
• Plus, PayPal eyes 2020 takeovers; Amazon.com reports record holiday season; and Wedbush sees more Tesla gains.  

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 590,330 call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 304,596 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio slipped to 0.52, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.58.
2. PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) stock is up 0.4% in electronic trading, after Chief Financial Officer John Rainey told the Wall Street Journal the payments processor will be pursuing takeover targets in 2020. PYPL is up 29% in 2019, and has found support at its 320-day moving average.
3. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) stock is in focus this morning, after the e-commerce giant reported the holiday shopping season broke all prior records, with "billions of items" ordered worldwide, and millions of Amazon products sold. AMZN is up 19% year-to-date, but has been stymied by its 200-day moving average in the last three months.
4. The shares of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) are ready to resume their hot streak -- up 0.5% ahead of the bell -- after Wedbush hiked its price target to $370 from $270. The analyst in coverage thinks Tesla will "comfortably" meet its fiscal-year delivery forecasts. Tesla spent Christmas Eve nabbing a new record high of $425.47. 

5. MBA mortgage applications fill out today's slate.

Asian Markets Rise; Europe Closed for Holiday

Markets in Asia a nice lift during a relatively quiet trading day, as Hong Hong’s Hang Seng remained closed following the Christmas holiday. The Shanghai Composite added 0.9%, South Korea’s Kospi tacked on 0.4%, and the Nikkei in Japan was up 0.6%. Markets in Europe are closed for holiday.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are grinding to new highs again, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is also higher, as stocks continue to rally into the new year. With the Nasdaq looking for a 10th consecutive record close, traders are monitoring more trade buzz and this morning's jobless claims update that matched expectations. Bulls are also cheering upbeat e-commerce sales data for the holiday season, though trading volumes remain somewhat thin during the holiday-shortened week.

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

• Amazon sales update sends stock to fresh high.
• Drug trial fail sinks pharma stock.
• Plus, First Solar options hot; ACN's rally fades; and MBOT pares recent gains. 

One name seeing unusual options trading is First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), due to 9,600 contracts traded at the weekly 1/24 63-strike call. For comparison, fewer than 600 contracts have crossed at the next most popular option. It looks like traders are buying to open positions, betting on more upside from FSLR shares in the coming weeks. The solar stock has been rising with the broader markets, setting its sighs on the just-above 200-day moving average.

Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) was hot out of the gate, but was last seen up just 0.2% at $211.87, after the stock received bullish analyst attention today. The shares are earlier nabbed a record high of $212.12, and set to close 2019 up 50%.

One stock moving lower is Microbot Medical Inc (NASDAQ:MBOT), giving up some of its recent gains due to a discounted stock offering priced at $10.50 that was a 35% discount to its Christmas Eve closing perch of $16.28. The equity was last seen trading down 16% at $13.67, after peaking at $20.15 in Tuesday's trading.

Stocks hit even more record highs during the post-Christmas session. The Nasdaq, in particular, surged above the 9,000 level for the first time ever, and clocked its 11th consecutive win. This marked its longest daily winning streak since 2009, with the tech-heavy index strengthened by a huge surge in Amazon (AMZN) shares, which rallied amid record-breaking holiday sales. Meanwhile, the S&P and Dow managed to notch fresh highs, too.

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

• If history is any indicator, this tech stock could see big gains in early 2020. 
• 3 reasons options bears should pay attention to OXY stock. 
• Plus, ACN gets a bull note; TSLA grabs new highs; and SPPI stock slammed after study. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,621.39) added 105.9 points, or 0.4%. The 24 winners were led by Apple (AAPL), which added nearly 2%, while Boeing (BA) fell to the bottom of the five losers, shedding 0.9%. Procter & Gamble (PG) finished flat. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,239.91) settled 16.5 points, or 0.5%, higher, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 9,022.39) climbed 69.5 points, or 0.8%. 

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 12.65) lost 0.02 point, or 0.2%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. A new law has just been proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that would make it possible for the government to track nearly all drones in the U.S. The rule would legally require each drone to don a remote tracking device, which could help field security threats. (CNBC)
2. Shipping concern United Parcel Service (UPS) forecast package returns hitting a record high of 1.9 million on Jan. 2, as the holiday season comes to a close. The company cites a surge in online shopping this year, and a changing returns process. (Reuters)
3. The post-Christmas bull note that had Accenture stock celebrating. 
4. Behind Tesla stock's climb toward even more record highs. 
5. One of the worst drug stocks on the Nasdaq today. 

There are no earnings of note today.

Oil Logs Third Straight Win

Oil surged today, clocking its third consecutive win and highest level since September, following a bigger-than-expected weekly drop in crude stockpiles in the U.S. February-dated crude futures added 57 cents, or 0.9%, to end at $61.68 per barrel.

Gold continued to surge today. February gold futures settled up $9.60, or 0.6%, to end at $1,514.40 an ounce -- the metal's highest settlement since Oct. 31.

Fresh off a post-Christmas climb to new record highs, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are signaling a nearly triple-digit pop out of the gate this morning. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also on pace for positive opens today, with the Santa Claus rally taking a strong hold this year amid trade tailwinds. The latter is fresh off its 10th straight record close, with volume expected to be light again in today's trading. 

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

• This airline stock could hit turbulence in early 2020. 
• A trial fail dinged this drug stock.
• Plus, Comcast eyes streaming purchase; Tesla Shanghai factory makes first delivery; and Zynga a best idea in 2020.  

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.15 million call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 499,232 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio slipped to 0.43, while the 21-day moving average fell to 0.57.
2. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) stock is in focus this morning, after the Wall Street Journal reported the broadcasting company is in talks to acquire video-streaming company Xumo. After a Sept. 12 record high of $47.27, CMCSA has spent recent months consolidating below its 50-day moving average.  
3. Staying hot this morning is Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), up 1.1% ahead of the bell after the electric car company announced it will deliver the first 15 Model 3 cars from its Shanghai factory this Monday, Dec. 30. TSLA is fresh off a big bull note and another record high. 
4. The shares of Zynga Inc (NASDAQ:ZNGA) are up 0.9% in electronic trading, after Stephens indicated the online gaming issue will be kept on its Best Ideas list for 2020. ZNGA is up 60% in 2019, but has traded in a tight range between $6 and $6.50 in the last three months, with its 160-day moving average containing pullbacks.

5. There is nothing else on the economic calendar today.

Asian Markets Mixed; European Stocks Join Rally

It was a mixed trading session in Asia, with markets settling on both sides of the breakeven. The Hang Sang in Hong Kong was the biggest winner, reopening after a two-day holiday break and notching a five-month high, closing up 1.3% as investors took a cue from surging U.S. markets amid easing geopolitical sentiments. China’s Shanghai Composite closed slightly lower, down 0.08%, brushing off upbeat industrial profits data for November. Elsewhere, the Nikkei in Japan dropped 0.4% on a worse-than-expected decline in retail sales last month, while the South Korean Kospi added 0.3%, buoyed by a big win for Samsung Electronics. 

Stocks in Europe are taking a cue from Wall Street as well, with all major markets soaring during midday trading. The German DAX is in the lead at last glance, up 0.6%, while the French CAC 40 has tacked on 0.4%, and the London FTSE 100 is up 0.3%. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) hit a new high out of the gate today, extending a Christmas week rally that's put the blue-chip index on track for a third straight weekly win. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) also tagged fresh peaks today, with the latter index holding above the round 9,000 mark, and pacing toward its 12th straight daily gain -- its longest winning streak since July 2009.

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

• Analyst: This red-hot drug stock can rally another 43%.
• Behind Tesla stock's new high.
• Plus, Qiagen bulls bet on a bigger bounce; Amazon keeps rallying; and American Airlines nosedives. 

One name seeing unusual options volume today is Qiagen NV (NYSE:QGEN), with calls running at seven times what's typically seen at this point in the session. The January 2020 35-strike call is most active, and it looks like new positions are being purchased here. QGEN stock sank 20.6% yesterday on news the genetic testing name took itself off the auction block, but is up 3.1% today to trade at $33.94.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is near the top of the S&P 500 today, up 1.6% at $1,898.66. The FAANG stock made a decisive move higher yesterday on strong holiday sales numbers, and is now on track to close north of its 40-week moving average for the first time since September.

American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL) is at the bottom of the S&P this afternoon, down 2.7% at $28.88. The travel shares recently ran into their 160-day moving average -- a trendline that's had historically bearish implications for the AAL stock.

It was another blow-out session on Wall Street, with the Dow notching a triple-digit gain on news that China will be slashing import tariffs on a number of goods. A nearly 3% win for Boeing (BA) also helped boost the blue chip index, after the aircraft company fired CEO Dennis Muilenburg. As far as economic data is concerned, traders weighed a rise in new home sales last month, as well as a 3% drop in durable goods orders for November. Investor optimism extended to the Nasdaq and S&P, with the former grabbing its ninth straight win -- it's longest streak since October 2017. 

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

• The internet stock that Wedbush thinks could surge in the new year. 
• Options bulls like these 2 social media stocks. 
• Plus, options bull bets big on PEP stock; the drug stock that tripled; and why JD.com stock hit a new high. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,551.53) added 96.4 points, or 0.3%. Twenty-four of the 30 components ended higher. Boeing (BA) took the lead on a 2.9% win, while Walt Disney (DIS) sunk to the bottom after shedding 1.5%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,224.01) settled 2.8 points, or 0.1%, higher, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,945.65) climbed 20.7 points, or 0.2%. 

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 12.61) rose 0.1 point, or 0.8%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. Nike (NKE) spokesman and former NFL player Colin Kaepernick's new "True to 7" shoe -- designed in collaboration with the sneaker producer -- was released in North America today, and already sold out. The Air Force 1 shoe retails at $110 and features an embroidered likeness of Kaepernick on the heel tab. (CNBC)
2. Investment manager T. Rowe Price just announced it is putting $1.3 billion into privately owned electric car company Rivian. This marks the fourth investment for the Plymouth, Michigan-based startup, putting it ahead in the highly competitive electric auto market led by Tesla (TSLA). (Reuters)
3. Breaking down one options bulls' big bet on PepsiCo stock. 
4. This pharma stock just had its best day on record. 
5. Behind the IPO report giving JD.com stock a boost. 

There are no earnings of note today.

Oil, Gold Settle Higher Ahead of Holiday

Oil inched higher today as geopolitical tensions eased, brushing off rumors of a pact between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to ease global output at a coming meeting in March. February-dated crude futures added 8 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $60.52 per barrel.

Gold surged to six-week highs today, breaking north of the psychologically significant $1,480 level. February gold futures were up $7.80, or 0.5%, to end at $1,488.70 an ounce. 

The Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq all hit record intraday highs today, building on big Christmas week gains. But while the Dow and the S&P maintained this positive momentum through to the close, the Nasdaq snapped its lengthy winning streak, dampened by Netflix (NFLX) stock, which suffered its third daily loss of the week. Amid the holiday-shortened week and thin trading, all three indexes saw solid wins for the week -- and for the S&P, it was its fifth straight weekly advance.

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

• The recovering healthcare stock that options bulls are coming around to. 
• Behind the monster Rite Aid rally sparking wild options activity today. 
• Plus, TSLA clocks another fresh high; FLXN stock surges; and IMMU gets a bull note.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,645.26) added 23.9 points, or 0.1%. The 19 winners were led by Nike (NKE), which added 0.9%, while Dow (DOW) fell to the bottom of the 11 losers, shedding 0.7%. For the week, the index settled 0.7% higher. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,240.02) settled 0.1 point higher, with a 6% pop for the week. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 9,006.62) fell 15.8 points, or 0.2%, but added 0.9% for the week. 

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 13.43) added 0.8 point, or 6.2%. It rose 7.4% on the week. 

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. Spotify (SPOT) just announced that it will be placing a ban on political advertisements in the new year. The music streaming giant suggested it didn't have adequate resources to review the ads, distancing itself from Facebook (FB), which will continue to allow political ads on its site. (CNBC)
2. Several people have been identified by the FBI as having been linked to Jeffery Epstein, several months after his suicide in prison, following his arrest for sex trafficking charges. The FBI says it will be investigating British socialite and ex-girlfriend of Epstein's, Ghislaine Maxwell, among others, as "people who facilitated" Epstein's alleged crimes. (Reuters)
3. How Tesla stock just notched a new high. 
4. Behind FLXN stock's big breakout on the charts. 
5. The analyst bull note that helped IMMU stock climb higher today. 

There are no earnings of note today.

Gold Snaps Up Three-Month High

Data from Baker Hughes showing a drop in U.S. oil rigs last week kept the commodity afloat today. February-dated crude futures added 4 cents to end at $61.72 per barrel, with a 2.1% gain for the week. 

Gold soared toward a three-month high, as the U.S. dollar cooled. February gold futures settled up $3.70, or 0.2%, to end at $1,518.10 an ounce, with a 2.5% pop for the week, it's biggest since August.

After a Christmas week full of records on Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are much quieter this morning, holding modestly above fair value. Futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are signaling slightly lower opens, with volume likely to be low heading into the New Year's holiday. As far as economic data, the U.S. trade deficit in goods fell 5.4% to $63.2 billion in November.

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

• Breaking down Tesla's big week. 
• An FDA nod sent this drug stock soaring. 
• Plus, Tesla rival scores quarterly win; Goodyear nabs a "buy" rating; and AstraZeneca gets an FDA nod.  

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.16 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 698,615 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.60, while the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.57.
2. Nio Inc (NYSE:NIO) stock is up 18% ahead of the bell, after the Tesla rival reported a third-quarter loss that was slimmer than expected. Revenue topped forecasts and deliveries increased, as well. NIO is set to open above its 160-day moving average, but was still down 62% year-to-date heading into today.  
3. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co (NASDAQ:GT) stock is up 2.8% in electronic trading, after Nomura Instinet initiated coverage with a "buy" rating and $20 price target, forecasting a strong earnings recovery next year. GT stock closed Friday at $15.10, after falling below $11 back in early September.
4. The shares of AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN) are up 0.7% before the open, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lynparza -- an ovarian cancer treatment the company develops with Merck (MRK) -- to treat pancreatic cancer. AZN is set to open a chip-shot under its Dec. 20 record high of $51.23, and is up 33% in 2019.

5. Pending home sales and the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI) will be released. For earnings, there are no other names on the docket. 

Asian Markets Mixed; European Investors Take Profits

It was a mixed session for equities in Asia. China’s Shanghai Composite had a solid day, grabbing a 1.2% win, with brokerage stocks seeing particular strength thanks to new rules around initial public offerings (IPO) in the country. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng also rose, adding 0.3%. Markets in Japan and South Korea lagged behind, however, with the Nikkei and Kospi falling 0.8% and 0.3%, respectively. 

Stocks in Europe are moving lower at the halfway point, as investors likely take profits off the table after last week’s rally. London’s FTSE 100 was last seen with a 0.4% decline, weighed by losses from drugmakers. France’s CAC 40 is lower, too, down 0.2%, while Germany’s DAX has shed 0.7% so far. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is sliding today, suffering triple-digit losses so far, as stocks pull back from record-high territory. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are also under pressure, though trading volumes are unsurprisingly thin for the holiday week. Oil prices have also turned lower after notching fresh highs earlier, with February crude futures last seen down 0.5% at $61.39 per barrel.

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

• Space technology stock takes flight on M&A buzz.
• Why Nio shares are surging.
• Plus, mining stock hits new high; and 2 drug stocks making huge moves.

One name seeing unusual options volume today is Newmont Goldcorp Corp (NYSE:NEM), as the shares touch fresh highs. Traders are opening new positions at the January 2020 45.50-strike call, seemingly betting on more upside in the coming weeks. NEM stock was last seen up 2.1% at $43.59, and earlier peaked at a three-year high of $43.75.

Sol Gel Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:SLGL) is one of the best stocks today, up 93% at $17.85, and earlier touching an all-time high of $21. This move comes after the company's acne cream succeeded in two late-stage trials.

One of the worst stocks, meanwhile, is Wave Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ:WVE), dropping 49% to trade at $8.12. The company's therapy for Huntington's disease failed an early-stage study, sending the shares to a record low of $7.78 earlier. This is WVE stock's second bear gap this month.