Stock futures are muted this morning, after last week surging in response to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium, which eased fears surrounding interest rate hikes. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are inching higher this morning, while S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are pointed slightly above breakeven, too, after the two benchmarks nabbed fresh record in the previous session. Traders are now looking ahead to the release of the August jobs report, which is due out Friday.

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

• Options traders blasted this retail stock ahead of today's report.
• Snowflake stock attracted several bull notes after its quarterly win.
• Plus, MRNA suspends vaccine doses; LEVI notches fresh coverage; and buyout buzz boosts drug maker.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.9 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 951,728 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.49 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.53.
2. Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) is down 2.7% in electronic trading, after the pharma name said 1 million of its Covid-19 vaccine shots were withdrawn in Japan due to contamination fears. Last week, 1.63 million doses were suspended after two deaths were linked to foreign substances found in its vaccine. The security has been struggling with overhead pressure at the $410 level recently, though it still boasts an impressive 461.8% year-over-year lead.
3. The shares of Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE: LEVI) are up 1.2% ahead of the bell, after Wells Fargo initiated coverage of the security with an "overweight"
   rating. The analyst in question noted a new denim cycle, as well as the apparel retailer's global reputation as a quality brand. Shares have been middling since July, but LEVI is up 11.7% year-over-year.
4. Drug maker Catalent Inc (NYSE:CTLT) is up 2.8% before the open, after reporting blowout fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and revenue. The company also announced it will buy supplement maker Bettera for $1 billion. The equity notched an all-time high of $131.63 in Friday's session, and has added 48% over the last 12 months.
5. The week is off to a quiet start, with only pending home sales data on tap.

Asian, European Markets Enjoying Global Optimism Wave

Stocks in Asia began the week on a positive note, rising after Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated the central bank is likely begin tapering before the year’s end, but reiterated that there’s no immediate threat of interest rate hikes. In other news, Beijing is mulling over new restrictions for domestic internet firms looking to go public in the U.S. The Nikkei in Japan and Hang Seng in Hong Kong each added 0.5%, while South Korea’s Kospi and China’s Shanghai Composite tacked on 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. 

European stocks are on board with the upbeat sentiment seen around the globe, while U.K. markets are closed for a public holiday. And while there’s no earnings of note, investors are keeping an eye on preliminary inflation readings out of Germany, as well as euro zone economic sentiment and business climate data. At last check, London’s FTSE was 0.3% higher, while France’s CAC 40 and the German DAX were each up 0.2%.

Stock futures are just below breakeven this morning, as the major benchmarks look to wrap up the month of August with gains. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are pointed slightly lower, though both indexes are eyeing wins for the month. And while S&P 500 Index (SPX) futures are inching lower as well, the latter is looking to score its seventh-straight monthly gain, while standing at record levels. Elsewhere, investors are sighing with relief as America's longest war comes to an end, after the Pentagon announced the U.S. completed evacuation efforts at Kabul airport.

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

• Retail traders squeeze heavily shorted Support.com stock.
• Watch these key SPX levels after last week's Fed update.
• Plus, Zoom brushes off quarterly win; Virgin Galactic scores fresh analyst coverage; Textron upgraded on jet demand.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.9 million call contracts traded on Monday, compared to 820,023 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.42 and the 21-day moving average dropped to 0.52.
2. Zoom Video Communications Inc (NASDAQ:ZM) is plummeting today, last seen down 12.7% in electronic trading, despite the tech concern beating second-quarter earnings and revenue estimates, with the latter crossing the $1 billion for the first time. Weighing on the company is slower growth rates, which fell from pandemic levels. The equity has seen some volatility over the past 12 months, and shed 27.4% in the past nine months. 
3. The shares of Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc (NYSE:SPCE) are up 3.1% ahead of the bell, after Jefferies initiated coverage of the security with a "buy" rating. The firm noted growing demand for the space travel concern, and added it expects increased capacity. Shares have been cooling off from a June rally to the $47 mark, but remain up  42.5% year-over-year.
4. Industrial conglomerate Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) is up 1.7% before the open, after the security received an upgrade to "outperform" from "market perform" from Cowen and Company. The analyst in coverage noted substantial jet demand, in addition to opportunities in the electric helicopter sector. The equity just hit an Aug. 12, record high of $74.79 and sports a roughly 80% year-over-year lead.
5. Today brings the Case-Shiller home price index and the consumer confidence index. Plus, the year-over-year Chicago purchasing managers' index (PMI) is due.

Asian Markets Brush off Lackluster Factory Data

Stocks in Asia were higher today, shaking off lackluster factory activity data for August. The official non-manufacturing PMI finished at 47.5, its lowest reading since early 2020 and signaling a contraction in the country’s economy. Meanwhile, tech stocks in the area pulled back considerably, after China’s National Press and Publication Administration revealed plans to limit children under 18 years to just three hours of a video games a week. Nevertheless, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong rose 1.3%, while China’s Shanghai Composite notched a 0.5% win. Rounding out the region, South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei popped 1.8% and 1.1%, respectively.

Over in Europe, markets are a little more quiet, as investors react to economic data in the region and abroad. Euro zone inflation data for August showed consumer prices increased by 3% year-over-year, an added blow after economic sentiment data from Monday confirmed optimism tumbled from July’s record highs. At last check, London’s FTSE 100 was down 0.5%, France’s CAC 40 was off by 0.2%, and the German DAX has shed 0.1%.