Stocks spent most of the day trading in positive territory, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all hitting record highs, though they closed with only modest gains. Retail earnings were again in focus, with mostly favorable reactions, while investors also weighed a batch of lukewarm economic data. Overall, however, it was a somewhat low-volume session on Wall Street, with many traders possibly already stepping away from their desks ahead of Thursday's Thanksgiving Day holiday.

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

• How call traders rode the huge rally in Global Blood Therapeutics.
• The options market responded quickly to one retailer's weak outlook.
  
• Plus, bulls stay on Disney; beverage stock set up for bulls; and 3 stocks with heavy options trading.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,121.68) rose 55.2 points, or 0.2%, with 17 of 30 components closing higher. Merck (MRK) had the best day, adding 1.9%, and Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) was the worst off with its 1.7% decline.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,140.52) rose 6.9 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,647.93) added 15.5 points, or 0.2%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 11.54) dipped 0.3 point, or 2.8%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) CBD warning last night sent waves throughout the weed sector today. The FDA on Monday said there are "serious concerns about potential harm from CBD." (MarketWatch)
2. Mexico's economy has entered what one economist deemed a "technical recession." It's rare to see the Mexican economy retract while the U.S. keeps growing, and this comes as Congress still has yet to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement -- a replacement for NAFTA. (CNBC)
3. Bulls keep targeting Disney.
4. A beverage stock for call buyers to bet on.
5. 3 stocks that saw heavy options trading.

Oil and Gold Prices Gain

Oil prices rose today thanks to trade-deal hopes. January crude futures finished up 40 cents, or 0.6%, at $58.41 per barrel.

Gold prices also grabbed a win today. December gold futures added $3.40, or 0.2%, at $1,460.30 an ounce.

Stock futures are pointing to a positive open ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, as U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. and China are in the "final throes of a very important deal." The comments followed a phone call between the two nations in which negotiations were discussed, and an agreement to keep working through the key issues was made. As a result, stocks are on track to notch fresh highs yet again.

On the economic docket, investors are poring over a 2.1% rise in gross domestic product (GDP) data for the third quarter, which exceeded analysts' expectations. Durable goods data also topped estimates with an unexpected 0.6% rise in October. 

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

• The best & worst Black Friday stocks, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White. 
• Options bulls are betting on new highs for this blue chip. 
• Plus, Deere stock sputters on disappointing forecast; AAPL increases AirPod production; VMware get blasted with bull notes.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 974,479 call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 554,578 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio moved down to 0.57, while the 21-day moving average came in at 0.58.
2. Tractor issue Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) is down 4% in electronic trading. In its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report, the agriculture-dependent firm warned that "lingering trade tensions" have impacted demand, and offered a full-year 2020 earnings outlook that missed the mark. 
3. Shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are inching 0.4% higher ahead of the bell after a Nikkei report said that Chinese manufacturer Luxshare has been asked to double its production of AirPods Pro earbuds to roughly 2 million units per month. 
4. Software concern VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW) is set to open up 2.9% this morning after posting third-quarter earnings of $1.49 per share, and revenue of $2.46 billion, both of which beat analysts' estimates. In response, at least six brokerage firms have already lifted their price targets on VMW stock. 
5. Today's economic calendar also includes personal income and spending, pending home sales, weekly crude inventories, and an early look at weekly jobless claims. The Fed's Beige Book is also slated for release, while GameStop (GME) will report earnings.

Asian, European Markets Inch Higher Amid Economic Data 

Markets in Asia finished mostly higher, but investors are still eager for the next U.S.-China trade deal development. China's Shanghai Composite was the region's only loser, closing down 0.1%, after the National Bureau of Statistics showed industrial profits declined year-over-year in October. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.1%, and both Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Kospi added 0.3%.

Over in Europe, stocks are inching higher around midday. The French CAC 40 is up 0.1% after consumer confidence grew by a larger-than-expected amount and reached two-year highs in November. London's FTSE 100 is up 0.5% at last check, while the German DAX is 0.3% higher, despite a rough post-earnings outing from auto parts manufacturer Knorr Bremse.

It was another up day for stocks, as the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all hit new highs yet again. While upside was somewhat limited in the pre-holiday trading, there was still plenty of data for traders to consider, including a solid update on third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP). Retailers also made big moves again, including outside the earnings space, with Under Armour (UAA) jumping on positive analyst attention.

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

• The FAANG stock that could underperform.
• Bearish signal flashes in the healthcare sector.
  
• Plus, a sector for bulls; Under Armour's rally; and a quantitative look at Black Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,164.00) enjoyed a 42.3-point, or 0.2%, win, with 19 of 30 blue chips ending with gains. Apple (AAPL) jumped 1.3% to pace the gainers, and Boeing (BA) had the worst day, dropping 1.5%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,153.63) added 13.1 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,705.18) rose 57.2 points, or 0.7%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 11.75) also gained, adding 0.2 point, or 1.8%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. Ford (F) and Tesla (TSLA) are, apparently, serious about having a tug of war between their pick-up trucks, and people are betting on the contest. Tesla is favored to win at 5-to-2 odds. (Reuters)
2. A major winter storm is moving in just behind the Thanksgiving holiday. So far, it's dropped a foot of snow in some areas, while Minneapolis in particular got hit with nine inches. Meanwhile, some airports are already reporting delays. (AP)
3. One sector bulls could trade next month.
4. Embattled Under Armour attracts a bull note.
5. ICYMI: Stocks that outperform after Black Friday.

Oil Drops on Inventory Update

Oil prices moved backwards today on a surprise increase in domestic crude inventories. January-dated crude futures finished down 30 cents, or 0.5%, at $58.11 per barrel.

Gold prices were under pressure during the rise in equities. February gold futures shed $6.60, or 0.4%, to settle at $1,455 an ounce.

Stock futures are in cool-down mode ahead of today's shortened session, following this month's string of fresh highs. Despite this, major equity benchmarks are eyeing impressive monthly gains, with the S&P looking to clock its biggest one-month percentage jump since June. The retail sector is in focus as the Black Friday shopping event rears its head, with early data from Adobe suggesting online sales hit a new record on Thanksgiving. 

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

• How drug stock options bears could double their money by Christmas. 
• One bullish analyst isn't shaken by Under Armour's SEC probe. 
• Plus, PCG set to slide again; TECD stock soars on buyout offer; and CVX eyes an exit from Nigeria. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 980,600 call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 572,674 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio moved up to 0.58, while the 21-day moving average came in at 0.58.
2. Utility stock PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is set to drop again, this time after the company lost a legal challenge that means it's liable for damage from California wildfires. PCG shares hit a new low last month, and are trading down 2.4% before the open.
3. Tech Data Corp (NASDAQ:TECD) is up 11.9% to trade at $144.30 before the open on news Apollo Global Management raised its buyout offer for the company by $15 per share to $145, valuing TECD at $5.14 billion (excluding debt). The move comes after another suitor stepped up with a competing bid, and CNBC is reporting that was in fact Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA).
4. The shares of blue chip name Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) are inching higher this morning, up 0.9% in electronic trading, after the company confirmed a Reuters report that it's planning to sell its stakes in two separate Nigerian offshore oil and gas blocks. Chevron is looking to exit the theft-prone Nigerian market in favor of focusing on its U.S.-based production business, per the report.
5. Today's shortened session will feature the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI). The focus stays on consumer discretionary stocks next week, as retail earnings and Cyber Monday sales numbers are set to hit Wall Street.

Hong Kong Tensions Slam Asian Markets 

Stocks in Asia were lower across the board to end the week, as escalating tensions over Hong Kong threaten to dampen prospects of a U.S.-China trade agreement. Beijing accused the U.S. of "sinister intentions" after President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a bill in support of Hong Kong protesters. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gave back 2% as health insurer AIA took on heavy losses, while China's Shanghai Composite shed 0.6%. Rounding out the region, South Korea's Kospi fell 1.5% after the Bank of Korea decided to keep interest rates steady, and Japan's Nikkei lost 0.5%.

Markets are mixed in Europe, as investors weigh the U.S.-China trade headlines alongside economic data. London's FTSE 100 is down 0.2%, at last check, after November consumer confidence fell to its lowest point since 2013. Elsewhere, the French CAC 40 is up 0.2% after third-quarter gross domestic product grew in line with estimates, while the German DAX is also up 0.2%.

Stocks are little changed at midday, as traders look ahead to tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day holiday. While the price action is muted, there's plenty of economic data to digest, including a stronger-than-anticipated reading on third-quarter gross domestic product (GPD) and an eighth straight monthly rise in consumer spending in October. At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are all holding near yesterday's record highs.

• A third-quarter beat is putting the squeeze on VMware shorts.
• Deere breaches key trendline in trade-related tumble.
• Plus, Guess sees surge in post-earnings options volume; UAA pops; and one retailer moving lower.

Guess?, Inc. (NYSE:GES) is seeing unusual options volume amid the retail stock's volatile post-earnings session. Roughly 22,500 options have changed hands -- 31 times what's typically seen, and volume pacing in the 100th annual percentile. GES stock was down 6.9% earlier on weak third-quarter revenue and full-year revenue guidance, but was last seen up 4.3% at $19.90, possibly in reaction to the retailer's quarterly profit beat.

Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UAA) is at the top of the S&P, after Raymond James upgraded the athletic apparel retail stock to "strong buy" from "outperform." UAA stock is up 4.8% at $18.85, but is running out of steam at its descending 80-day moving average, and has a ways to go before filling an early November bear gap.

PVH Corp (NYSE:PVH) is near the bottom of the SPX, down 2.2% at $97.82 -- back below the key century mark. The retail stock was hit with an onslaught of analyst attention following Monday night's earnings report, including a price-target cut to $110 from $120 at Evercore ISI.

Fresh off the market's best month since June, stock futures are muted to start December. Trade talks between the U.S. and China remain in focus ahead of the Dec. 15 tariff deadline, especially after Chinese state media reiterated over the weekend that the rollback of existing tariffs remains a key focus for Beijing in phase one talks. President Donald Trump also made headlines this morning by tweeting he'll restore duties on metal imports from Brazil and Argentina. Elsewhere, Wall Street will also be eyeing the retail sector today, with Adobe forecasting $9.4 billion in online sales as Cyber Monday kicks off.

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

• Calls surge on this brick & mortar giant ahead of Cyber Week. 
• Behind Deere stock's miserable post-earnings trading session. 
• Plus, red-hot Splunk upgraded; Fiat Chrysler reaches deal with United Auto Workers Union; and WYNN tries to shake off weak Macau data.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 539,757 call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 320,997 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio edged up to 0.59, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.58.
2. The shares of Splunk Inc (NASDAQ:SPLK) are up 2.5% in electronic trading, after Goldman Sachs upgraded the software concern to "buy" from "neutral," while hiking its price target to $180 from $147. After a post-earnings bull gap on Nov. 22, SPLK nabbed a record intraday high of $151.26 just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, and is up 42.3% year-to-date.  
3. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE:FCAU) is in focus this morning, after the automaker over the weekend struck a tentative four-year labor deal with the United Auto Workers union. FCAU has taken a 9% haircut since its Nov. 12 annual high of $16.25, ceding support at its 30-day moving average in the process. 
4. Casino stock Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) is fractionally lower in electronic trading after data showed Macau casino revenue sliding by 8.5% in November -- worse than October, but a slimmer decline than analysts expected amid simmering trade tensions and ongoing Hong Kong protests. WYNN is down about 40% from its first-half 2018 highs around the $200 mark, but has recently regained a foothold above its uptrending 40-day and 80-day moving averages.
5. Today's economic calendar will feature Markit's purchasing managers manufacturing index (PMI), the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing index, and construction spending data. In addition to earnings from Conn's (CONN), retail names will be in focus on the Cyber Monday shopping holiday.

Asian Markets Lifted By Upbeat Data; European Stocks Pivot Lower

Stock markets in Asia were able to overcome fresh trade uncertainty, thanks to upbeat economic data out of China, to close mostly higher. The country’s manufacturing PMI for November was 50.2, exceeding expectations. The Shanghai Composite added 0.1% in response, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong closed up 0.4%. Japan’s Nikkei had an even better day, closing up 1%, and South Korea’s Kospi managed to add 0.2%.  

The major European bourses began the day in positive territory thanks to Asia’s strength, but have since gone negative. London’s FTSE 100 has seen one of the largest reversals, rising as high as 0.7% early on, but checking in 0.03% lower at last glance. France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX, meanwhile, are down 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. 

Stocks are moving sharply lower today, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) down 200 points at the halfway point. Despite more strong Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales numbers from the retail sector, traders are focusing on a manufacturing update for the U.S. that showed the sector again contracting in November, while trade headlines continue to linger, as well. This price action has the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) on pace for its biggest one-day rise since August 5.

• The software stock rising to new highs on an upgrade.
• Why it hasn't been a fun session for amusement park stock Cedar Fair. 
• Plus, GrubHub options pop; a red-hot drug stock; and Roku's sell-off.

One name seeing unusual options trading is GrubHub Inc (NYSE:GRUB), with heavy interest on near-term contracts on both the call and put side. Most popular overall are the December 39 and 40 puts, followed by the weekly 12/6 41.50- and 42.50-strike puts and the 43-strike call. The shares were last seen down 3.5% at $41.06, momentarily breaking a recent uptrend since their late-October lows near $32.

One of the best stocks today is Kodiak Sciences Inc (NASDAQ:KOD), soaring almost 86% to $55.02, earlier hitting a record high of $72.97. Sparking the move is a funding agreement of $225 million with Baker Bros. Advisors for 4.5% royalties to the company's KSI-301 drug, which is being tested in trials for treating various ocular conditions.

Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU) is one of the worst stocks on the Street, sinking 16.1% to $134.57, but remains 9 points above the 120-day moving average, a trendline that's acted as support in recent months. The huge sell-off in ROKU comes after Morgan Stanley downgraded the streaming stock to "underweight."

Stocks took a hit in today's low-volume, holiday-shortened session to close out November. The Dow shed more than 121 points at its session lows, as investors unpacked the latest U.S.-China trade tensions and the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season. Despite today's drop, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all posted solid weekly wins. And on top of that, all three benchmarks locked up their best month since June.

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

• Western Digital stock faces off with key trendline before a bullish month.
• Tech Data stock ramped higher as Buffett got outbid.
  
• Plus, an ULTA bear note; Deere under pressure; and Facebook fixes its Thanksgiving outage.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 28,051.41) posted a 112.6-point, or 0.4%, loss, with only seven of 30 blue chips ending higher. International Business Machines (IBM) jumped 0.5% to pace the gainers, and Dow Inc (DOW) had the worst day, dropping 1.7%. For the week, the Dow advanced 0.6%; for November, it gained 3.7%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,140.98) shed 12.7 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,665.47) lost 39.7 points, or 0.5%. The S&P 500 gained nearly 1% for the week and 3.4% on the month, while the Nasdaq posted weekly and monthly gains of 1.7% and 4.5%, respectively.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 12.62) popped, adding 0.9 point, or 7.4%. It added 2.3% on the week, but shed 4.5% for the month.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. President Donald Trump visited Afghanistan for the first time over Thanksgiving. Both the U.S. and the Taliban expressed interest at ending the 18-year conflict, with the latter group ready "restart the talks." (Reuters)
2. Reports indicate Apple (AAPL) is considering shaking up its iPhone sizes in 2020. LG and Samsung have been named as suppliers for the screens and panels for the rumored launches. (CNBC)
3. Ulta Beauty stock just suffered a pre-earnings blow.
4. Deere stock picked up a new "sell" rating.
5. Facebook went down over Thanksgiving yesterday.

There are no earnings to report today.

Gold Eyes Worst Month In Three Years

Oil prices pulled back today as well, likely in response to the resignation of Iran's prime minister. At last check, January-dated crude futures were down $1.20, or 4.5%, at $55.43 per barrel. For the week, black gold slipped, but was on track to gain more than 3% for the month. 

Gold prices were cautiously higher as investors await the next U.S.-China trade headline. February gold futures edged up $6.40, or 0.4%, to trade at $1,459.40 an ounce. For the month, the precious metal is down more than 3%, eyeing its worst month since November 2016. 

The Dow took another hit today, shedding over 260 points -- its biggest one-day drop since Oct. 8 -- after disappointing U.S. manufacturing data was released earlier in the day. Traders also reacted to reports of new Trump administration tariffs, which offset this weekend's strong holiday shopping numbers. The Nasdaq and S&P also slipped, suffering their worst days since early October. In contrast, today's sharp decline had the Cboe Volatility Index notching its biggest one-day percentage gain since August.

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

• Call options look good for this FAANG stock in December. 
• Why options bears might want to board Carnival Cruise stock right now. 
• Plus, a red-hot bank stock; FUN drops on bearish analyst attention; and the $50 million news that sent XENE stock soaring. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 27,783.04) lost 268.4 points, or nearly 1%. Only six of the 30 blue chips ended higher, with Coca-Cola (KO) pacing the gainers with its 0.7% pop. Boeing (BA) sunk to the bottom of the barrel on its 3% dip.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,113.87) shed 27.1 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,567.99) sloughed off 97.5 points, or 1.1%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 14.91) saw its highest close in over a month, adding  adding 2.3 points, or 18.2%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. A new Second Amendment case was taken to the Supreme Court today, challenging a New York City ruling that bans the transportation of handguns outside city limits. While conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito initially wanted to bend the case to address recent gun law controversy in the U.S., it looks as if the case will eventually be dismissed. (CNBC)
2. According to J.P. Morgan Securities analyst Samik Chatterjee, Apple (AAPL) will be expected to release four new iPhones, with a range of screen sizes, in the fall of next year. The smartphones are expected to have 5G connectivity, and could mark the beginning of a new launch strategy for the tech titan, which is projected to begin staggering its phone productions. (MarketWatch)
3. This financial stock is red-hot ahead of next week's Fed meeting.  
4. Why this amusement park stock is sputtering out. 
5. The $50 million agreement that sent Xenon stock soaring. 

There are no earnings of note today.

OPEC Optimism Boosts Oil Prices 

Optimism over the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies' plans to potentially deepen output cuts during this week's meeting had oil settling higher today. January-dated crude futures were up 79 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $55.96 a barrel. 

Gold prices dipped on Monday, as traders digested global manufacturing data. February gold futures dropped $3.50 , or 0.2%, to close at $1,469.20 an ounce.

After the market kicked off December on a sour note, Dow futures are now staring at an over 200-point drop, pivoting away from earlier gains after President Donald Trump's remarks at a London news conference. Speaking ahead of a NATO meeting, Trump's noted he "like[s] the idea of waiting until after the [2020] election for the China deal," casting doubt that a trade deal with Beijing will be reached ahead of the looming Dec. 15 deadline for tariff hikes. Elsewhere, Trump also took aim at France's new digital services tax, after the White House threatened yesterday it could impose duties of up to 100% on $2.4 billion worth of French imports. 

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

• Schaeffer's Senior V.P. of Research Todd Salamone explains why IWM call options are a smart way to manage risk right now.
• Breaking down these big Ford options bets.
• Plus, AK Steel bought out by Cleveland-Cliffs; PG&E hit with damning probe; and Facebook has a fan in Piper Jaffray.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 991,406 call contracts traded on Monday, compared to 654,018 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio edged up to 0.66, while the 21-day moving average rose to 0.59.
2. AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE:AKS) stock is up 8.3% in electronic trading, after Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (NYSE:CLF) agreed to buy the company for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of next year, barring regulatory approvals. AKS is on track for its highest open since late February, and looks ready to clear resistance at its 320-day moving average.
3. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) stock is down 1.5% ahead of the bell, after a California state probe showed the utility company neglected inspection of transmission lines that caused the deadly 2018 Camp Fire. PCG is down 67% year-to-date, and facing stiff pressure from its 50-day moving average.
4. The shares of Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) are down 1.1% in electronic trading, despite a bullish initiation from Piper Jaffray. The brokerage firm doled out an "overweight" rating and $230 price target for the FAANG stock, citing online ad spending as a 2020 catalyst. FB has added 15% since its early October pullback to support at its 200-day moving average.
5. Today's economic calendar will feature monthly auto sales. AeroVironment (AVAV), AutoZone (AZO), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Salesforce.com (CRM), Workday (WDAY), and Zscaler (ZS) will report earnings.

European Stocks Weighed Down By Trade Barbs

Stocks in Asia closed mostly lower, though they managed to pare much of their early deficits, with the Shanghai Composite coming all the way back to close in positive territory. The Chinese benchmark added 0.3% for the day, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng settled with a 0.2% loss, weighed down by disappointing retail data for October. Japan’s Nikkei ended in the red, as well, dropping 0.6%, and South Korea’s Kospi closed down 0.4%. 

European indexes are moving lower today on heightened trade war fears. London’s FTSE 100 is leading the sell-off with a 1.4% decline, putting the index on pace for its lowest close since mid-October. France’s CAC 40 is also getting hit hard, last seen 0.7% lower, with luxury retailers in particular suffering big losses after Trump threatened more tariffs on the country's imports. The German DAX, meanwhile, has managed a 0.4% gain. 

Stocks are getting hammered again today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) dropping more than 400 points, to put it on pace for its worst day since early October. The selling comes after President Donald Trump suggested a trade deal with China may not happen until after the 2020 presidential election, while his tariff threats toward France are applying additional pressure. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are falling fast too, with heavy losses piling up in the tech sector, as the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) makes another double-digit percentage move to the upside.

• Why option bears were blitzing this penny stock out of the gate.
• The options indicator nearing extreme levels on Lululemon.
• Plus, Shopify weeklies popular; 2 healthcare stocks making huge moves.

One name seeing unusual options trading is Shopify Inc (NYSE:SHOP), as the shares move up 2.1% to $336.69, moving higher from long-term chart support. The weekly 12/6 series is seeing most of the action, and the 340- and 350-strike calls are leading the way. New positions are opening here, and those buying the contracts are betting on more upside for SHOP through the end of the week, when the series expires.

One of the best stocks today is Audentes Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:BOLD), exploding 105% to $58.74, thanks to news Japan's Astellas Pharma plans to buy the gene therapy company for $3 billion. Those who were holding BOLD shares since the start of the year have seen the stock rise 176% year-to-date.

Another healthcare stock making a big move is Cara Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:CARA), though to the downside. The biopharma concern is down 27.8% at $18.68 following mixed trial data for the company's anti-itch drug Korsuva. Despite the slide, the shares seem to be finding familiar support near the $17.50-$18 range, which has served as a floor since March.

After the market spent the last three days swimming in red ink, Dow futures are poised for a triple-digit bounce-back today. A Bloomberg report cited sources that claimed the U.S. and China were making progress toward a "phase one" deal, assuaging concerns that tensions between the two sides had intensified. Elsewhere, investors are unpacking the latest ADP employment report, which showed private payrolls rose by a weak 67,000 in November, far short of the 150,000 consensus estimate. 

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

• The Dow's not at new highs if you look beyond the dollar, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White.
• These two stocks moved in opposite directions yesterday.
• Plus, Campbell Soup dinged by sales forecast; Mastercard increases quarterly dividend; and Alphabet's C-suite shakeup.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.00 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 704,555 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio edged up to 0.70, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.59.
2. Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) stock is down 1.7% in electronic trading, after the packaged food titan cut its 2020 organic sales forecast. This is overshadowing the company's fiscal first-quarter earnings beat. CPB is up 44% in 2019, with support in place at its 80-day moving average. 
3. Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA) stock is up 1.2% ahead of the bell, after the credit card company increased its quarterly dividend by 21% to 40 cents per share. Mastercard also announced an $8 billion share buyback program. MA is up 52% year-to-date, and remains a chip-shot from its Sept. 9 record high of $293.58. 
4. The shares of Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) are up 0.7% in pre-market trading, after the Google parent company announced co-founder Larry Page would step down and be replaced by Sundar Pichai, the current CEO of Google. GOOGL has shed 1.3% in the last seven days, but support has emerged at its 40-day moving average.
5. Today's economic calendar also features Markit's services PMI, and the ISM non-manufacturing index. At Home (HOME), Five Below (FIVE), G-III Apparel Group (GIII), H&R Block (HRB), National Beverage (FIZZ), Slack Technologies (WORK), RH (RH), Tilly's (TLYS), and Verint Systems (VRNT) will step into the earnings confessional.

Trade Uncertainty Weighing on Asian Markets

Stocks in Asia struggled during today’s session, taking a cue from their U.S. counterparts and falling under pressure from trade uncertainty. Starting in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng paced the selling, dropping 1.3% for its lowest close since Oct. 10. Traders were met with more downbeat data from the territory, with the IHS purchasing managers index falling the most since 2003.  China’s Shanghai Composite also fell, dropping 0.2%, and Japan’s Nikkei pulled back 1.2%. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kospi closed with a 0.7% loss. 

European markets are mostly on the rise today, though, benefiting from Bloomberg’s report of progress on a potential trade deal between the U.S. and China. The one outlier is London’s FTSE 100, which was last seen down 0.05%, on pace for a fifth straight loss. On the other hand, the French CAC 40 is up 1.2%, and Germany’s DAX is up 1.1%.