Stock futures are pointed lower this morning, after fresh data out of China showed a worse-than-expected slowdown in economic growth. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are eyeing a 122-point drop this morning, while futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) are looking to dip into the red as well, with both benchmarks pacing to snap their winning streaks. Futures on the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are lower too, as investors grow concerned that the central bank could announce the tapering of bond purchases in September, and reduce buying a month later.

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

• Can this food and drug retailer extend its record highs?
• Domino's Pizza stock could enjoy a shift in analyst sentiment.
• Plus, CMG slammed with downgrade; Oatly stock brushes off quarterly losses; and why HNST earned an upgrade.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.8 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 1 million put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.57 and the 21-day moving average jumped to 0.53.
2. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is up 0.6% in electronic trading, despite receiving a downgrade from Raymond James to "outperform" from "strong buy." The analyst noted the company's valuation, after shares added 37% over the last six weeks. The security just notched an Aug.5, all-time high of $1,912.75, and sports a roughly 58% year-over-year lead.
3. The shares of Oatly Group (NASDAQ:OTLY) are up 3% ahead of the bell, brushing off a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss, as well as a revenue miss. However, the company said it was able to work out Covid-19 and manufacturing issues, and that it is currently expanding its manufacturing capacity. Quarter-to-date, OTLY remains off 31%.
4. Consumer goods concern Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) is down 1% before the open, after the company earned an upgrade from Guggenheim to "buy" from "neutral." The firm highlighted the company's valuation, after the security fell more than 28% on Friday to an all-time low of $10, following worse-than-expected second-quarter losses. Over the last quarter, HNST has shed 37.8%.
5. The week kicks off with the Empire State manufacturing index.

Chinese Economic Data Weighs on Global Markets

Stocks in Asia pulled back today, as economic data out of China saw retail sales in the country rise by 8.5% -- well below the 11.5% forecasted by analysts. Also weighing on bourses is China’s industry production data that grew at a slower-than-expected rate in July. In response, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.8%, while China’s Shanghai Composite finished just above breakeven, adding 0.03%. In addition, gross domestic product (GDP) readings in Japan showed growth of 0.3% in the second quarter, which was slightly higher than estimates; however, losses from Fast Retailing and SoftBank Group led the Nikkei lower, with the index losing 1.6% on the day. South Korea’s Kospi was closed today for holiday.

Europe markets are falling at midday, following the release of lackluster economic data out of Asia. Elsewhere, the geopolitical scope is focused on Afghanistan, where Taliban insurgents took over the capital city of Kabul following a mass exodus of U.S. and coalition forces. In response, London’s FTSE 100 is down 1.2%, France’s CAC 40 has shed 0.9%, and the German DAX is off 0.5%.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are pointed sharply lower this morning, fresh off their fifth-straight record close. Weighing on Wall Street today is a lackluster earnings report from blue-chip Home Depot (HD), that saw same-store sales whiff on expectations. Contributing to this pessimism is a 1.1% drop in retail sales for July, which came in well above expectations of a 0.3% dip, as shoppers held back amid Covid-19 delta variant fears. Futures on the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are firmly in the red, too. 

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

• Schaeffer's V.P. of Research Todd Salamone is keeping an eye on credit investors.
• This pharma stock surged after a Covid-19 therapy update.
• Plus, Walmart stock brushing off earnings beat; operational problems hit airline stock; Roblox misses analysts' estimates.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.8 million call contracts traded on Monday, compared to xx 974,621 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.54 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.53.
2. Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) is down 0.9% in electronic trading, despite the blue-chip retailer reporting better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and revenue, as comparable-store sales grew beyond analysts' estimates by 5.2%. Additionally, the company raised its full-year outlook as customers return to stores. Walmart stock surged to its highest level since December yesterday, and is up 13.7% year-over-year heading into today.
3. The shares of Spirit Airlines Incorporated (NYSE: SAVE) are off 4.4% ahead of the bell, after the company said it lost $50 million due to operational problems. The airline had already been experienced staffing, technical, and weather issues, resulting in over 2,800 flights cancelled between late July and early August. Spirit stock has been trending lower on the charts since March, and has shed 20.3% over the last quarter.
4. Video game name Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX) is down 6.4% before the open, after the company reported wider-than-expected second-quarter losses, in addition to a revenue miss. The dismal results were attributed to a reduction in social restrictions put in place during the pandemic. Quarter-to-date, RBLX has lost 11.6%.
5. Industrial production data, business inventories, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) home builders' index are due out today.

European Markets Drop Amid Afghanistan, Covid-19 Concerns

Asian markets fell again today. In an attempt to stop unfair competition on the internet, China’s market regulator issued new draft rules, which cover everything from the ways companies use customer data to cracking down on fake product reviews. As a result, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite and lost 2% and 1.7%, respectively, as shares of Hong Kong-listed tech names like Tencent Music Entertainment (TME), Alibaba (BABA), and JD.com (JD) all fell over 4%. Rounding out the region, South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.9%, while Japan’s Nikkei finished 0.4% lower.

Stocks in Europe are mostly lower at midday, as investors weigh the escalation in Afghanistan against the backdrop of a worsening Covid-19 situation. Meanwhile, U.K. mining giant BHP Group struck an all-stock deal to sell its petroleum assets to Woodside Petroleum. At last check, London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.1%, the German DAX is off 0.2%, and France’s CAC 40 has shed 0.6%.

Stock futures are pointed lower this morning, as investors look toward the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes, due out later today, which could hint at the central bank's next steps. The 10-year Treasury yield inched higher in response, last seen up 1.28%, amid growing support among the Fed to taper off bond purchases starting in October. Futures on both the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are lower, after the two benchmarks yesterday snapped their five-day win streaks. Meanwhile, futures on the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also below breakeven.

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

• This chip stock cooled ahead of today's earnings report.
• How defined outcome ETFs differ from standard options.
• Plus, Target stock brushes off earnings win; Tilray pens deal with U.S.-based company; and unpacking Lowe's beat-and-raise.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.6 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 952,493 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.58 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.53.
2. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is down 1.7% in electronic trading, despite the retail giant reporting a second-quarter earnings and revenue beat. The company attributed the strong results to a better-than-expected 8.9% jump in comparable store sales. The security has been cooling off from its Aug. 11, record high of $267.06, though it still boasts an 84.2% year-over-year lead.
3. The shares of Tilray Inc (NASDAQ:TLRY) are surging ahead of the bell, last seen up 8.8%, after the cannabis name said it would buy $166 million in convertible debt from MedMen Enterprises. The deal could boost Tilray when U.S. regulations change, as Canada-based companies are not yet allowed to own U.S. weed businesses. The security has been trending lower since February, but remains up 85.8% year-over-year.
4. Home improvement name Lowe`s Companies Inc (NYSE:LOW) is up 4.5% before the open, after it posted better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and revenue. To boot, the company raised its full-year financial forecast, thanks to an increase in spending by builders. Shares yesterday pulled back to the $182 level, but have added 15.1% over the past nine months.
5. Today will feature building permits and housing starts data. Plus, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes will be released later this afternoon. 

European Markets Lower Following U.K. Inflation Data

Markets in Asia pared yesterday’s losses, led by China’s Shanghai Composite, which added 1.1%. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei tacked on 0.6%, after a local news agency reported the country’s government decided to extend the Covid-19 state of emergency in the area until Sept. 12. Rounding out the region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and South Korea’s Kospi each eked out a 0.5% gain.

European stocks, meanwhile, are in the red this afternoon, although U.K. inflation data unexpectedly fell to 2% in July. Nevertheless, anxiety looms surrounding the potential geopolitical implications of the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, while Covid-19 Delta variant cases continue to tick higher. As a result, France’s CAC 40 is down 0.4%, London’s FTSE 100 is 0.3% lower, the German DAX is off a paltry 0.04%.

Stock futures are pointed sharply lower this morning, after the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes stoked fears among investors that officials could remove stimulus by the end of the year, even as the economy slows down again amid the fast-spreading delta variant. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are staring at a 309-point drop, while S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are also firmly in the red.

The latest unemployment figures may offer a glimpse of hope, however. Weekly jobless claims hit a new pandemic low, totaling 348,000 last week, as opposed to the 365,000 Wall Street anticipated. Numbers have not been this low since March 2020, when Covid-19 began to take hold of the U.S. economy.

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

• Options traders blasted this tumbling semiconductor stock.
• Foot Locker stock could be a dividend play.
• Plus, Macy's stock bucking broad market selloff; Toyota cutting production; and unpacking NVDA's earnings beat.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.5 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 823,505 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.52 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.53.
2. Macy's Inc (NYSE:M) stock is up 4.2% in electronic trading, after the retailer reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and revenue. The company attributed the results to an increase in comparable-store sales, which led it to hike its annual revenue forecast. To boot, Macy's announced the reinstatement of dividends and a share buyback program. Macy's stock boasts a 175.9% year-over-year lead.
3. The shares of Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:TM) were last seen down 3.1% ahead of the bell, after the Japan's Nikkei News Service reported the automaker would cut its production by 40% in September, as a result of the ongoing chip shortage. TM has cooled off from an Aug. 3, all-time high of $185.99, but is up 29.1% in the past 12 months.
4. Semiconductor stock NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is up 1.3% before the open, after reporting a second-quarter earnings and revenue beat. The chipmaker also posted a current-quarter revenue forecast was well above analysts' estimates. Year-over-year, NVDA is up 55.3%.
5. The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index, and the index of leading economic indicators for July are also due out today.

European, Asian Markets Drop Amid Global Selloff

Asian stocks finished lower across the board today, with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong losing 2.1% after shares of tech giants Alibaba (BABA) and Tencent (TME) both pulled back considerably. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.1% after major automakers in the country, including Toyota (TM), Honda (HM), and Nissan, all shed at least 2.6%. Elsewhere, South Korea’s Kospi retreated 1.9%, while China’s Shanghai Composite rounded out the region with a 0.6% dip.

European markets are joining the global selloff this afternoon, dragged down following the release of the Fed’s July minutes. The central bank discussed removing monetary stimulus before the end of 2021, though officials noted this doesn’t necessarily mean an imminent rate increase. At last check, France’s CAC 40 was 2.6% lower, London’s FTSE 100 was down 1.9%, and the DAX in Germany sported a 1.8% deficit.