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is down 2.7% in electronic trading, after the pharma name said 1 million of its Covid-19 vaccine shots were withdrawn in Japan due to contamination fears.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%.

Stock futures are higher to begin September, as the S&P 500 Index (SPX) looks to build on its seven-month winning streak. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are eyeing a triple-digit pop, while Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures boast a modest lead, even after less-than-stellar jobs data rolled in. The ADP employment report showed private payrolls increasing by just 374,000, far below Wall Street's estimate of 600,000. Elsewhere, oil prices will be in focus amid the Hurricane Ida fallout and ahead of the OPEC+ meeting later today. 

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

• Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White presents the best and worst stocks to own this Labor Day.
• Why options traders blasted Digital Turbine stock.
• Plus, unpacking Campbell Soup's earnings report; Nio's dismal delivery outlook; and Sunrun stock's bull note. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.5 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 702,613 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.46 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.52.
2. Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) stock is up 0.7% before the open, despite the food processing company beating top and bottom-line forecasts in its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report. Possibly weighing on Campbell Soup stock is a fiscal 2022 adjusted earnings outlook that's lower than Wall Street estimated, as the food producer continues to deal with higher in put costs and a limited workforce. Campbell Soup stock is off 20.7% year-over-year going into today.
3. The shares of Nio Inc (NYSE:NIO) are down 5.1% in electronic trading, after the China-based electric vehicle maker slashed its third-quarter delivery outlook. The company cited supply chain constraints as the reason for the cut. Nio stock is down 19.3% year-to-date but remains up 106.6% year-over-year.
4. Energy stock Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN) is up 6.5% before the market's open, after the security was added to the U.S. Analyst Focus List at JPMorgan Chase. Meanwhile, Wolfe Research hit RUN with a "market overweight," after the company made the move to clean energy. Sunrun stock is down 36% in 2021.
5. A slew of other economic indicators are due out today, including construction spending and motor vehicles sales data. Traders will also be keeping an eye on the final Markit manufacturing PMI, and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing index..

European Markets Buck Yesterday's Inflation Data Woes

Markets in Asia were higher today, led by Japan's Nikkei, which scored a 1.3% pop. Elsewhere, the South Korean Kospi added 0.2%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.6%, and China's Shanghai Composite tacked on 0.7%. Investors eyed economic data out of China, with August's Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) coming in at 49.2, putting it below the mark that separates expansion from contraction at the 50 level.

Following shaky trading during yesterday’s session, thanks to concerning Euro zone inflation data, markets in Europe are higher today. The French CAC 40 is in the lead with a 1.4% gain, while London's FTSE 100 is up 0.9%. The German DAX is 0.3% higher, despite news that German retail sales suffered a much bigger-than-expected 5.1% month-over-month drop in July, compared to the anticipated 0.9% deficit. Meanwhile, the euro zone's final August manufacturing PMI came in at 61.4, which is just below the flash estimate of 61.5.

Stock futures are signaling a higher open today, as Wall Street mulls over the latest jobs data before the holiday weekend. Weekly jobless claims came in at 340,000, their lowest level since March 2020 and better than the 345,000 expectations from analysts. At last check, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are up around 60 points, while futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are higher as well, with the latter coming off a record close.

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

• Beware of this retail stock in September. 
• Mixed signals for Brady stock ahead of earnings.
• Plus, Chewy stock eyes bear gap; Hormel brushes off earnings beat; and Five Below stock dented. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.9 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 853,514 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.45 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.52.
2. Chewy Inc (NYSE:CHWY) stock is plummeting in electronic trading, last seen down 9.5% in electronic trading. The pet producer retailer reported wider-than-expected losses and lackluster revenue in its third-quarter earnings report, and chalked the dismal results up to high levels of out-of-stock products. In response, Chewy issued an outlook that was weaker than analysts anticipated. Heading into today, Chewy stock was battling its year-to-date breakeven level.
3. The shares of Hormel Foods Corp (NYSE:HRL) are down 1.1% before the open, after the food producer reported third quarter earnings that lined up with Wall Street's estimates, alongside revenue that was higher than expectations. Instead, a weaker-than-expected full-year outlook is weighing on the stock. Longer term, HRL is down 9.9% year-over-year.
4. Five Below Inc (NASDAQ:FIVE) stock is plunging on the charts, down 8.4% ahead of the open, despite the discount retailer's quarterly earnings beat. The catalyst for today's dip seems to be revenue that was shy of forecasts, as well as withheld full-year guidance. This negative price action will put a dent in Five Below stock's 88.8% year-over-year lead.
5. Today, investors will see trade balance data and factory orders. Revised capital goods orders, as well as productivity and unit labor costs data are also on the calendar.

Investors in Asia React to Ridesharing Probe

Markets in Asia were mostly higher today, with the exception of the South Korean Kospi, which finished with a 1% loss. Japan's Nikkei added 0.3%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.2%, and China's Shanghai Composite tacked on 0.8%. Investors focused on a meeting between Chinese regulators and 11 ridesharing companies, including Didi (DIDI), about their illegal behavior.

Over in Europe, markets are fairly muted midday, as investors eye upcoming jobs data out of the U.S. London's FTSE 100 is down 0.1%, the French CAC 40 is off 0.06%, and the German DAX is up 0.01%.