Earnings Season Highlights

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A collection of noteworthy post-earnings reactions
Published on Oct 22, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Opening View

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are trading above fair value this morning, signaling a nearly triple-digit jump for the blue-chip index. Stocks look set to follow the lead of their Chinese counterparts, which soared thanks to reports the country could introduce new stimulus measures, while President Xi also promised to support the private sector. Back in the homeland, traders are preparing for a busy week of corporate earnings releases, though today's earnings and economic slate is somewhat light.

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

  • The China stock halted after a 300% spike.
  • Call traders jumped on this drugmaker's trial update.
  • Plus, 3 big-name stocks on analysts' radars this morning.

stock futures oct 22

5 Things You Need to Know Today

  1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.10 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 906,243 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.82, and the 21-day moving average moved up to 0.65.
  2. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is trading 1% higher in pre-market action following an upgrade to "buy" from "neutral" at Nomura. The stock has been trending lower in recent months, and upside momentum could stall in the face of the formerly supportive 320-day moving average. The company is set to report earnings after the close this Thursday, Oct. 25.
  3. eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) stock has been struggling all year, losing close to 9% on Friday to hit fresh lows after an analyst downgrade. Monness Crespi Hardt and BofA-Merrill Lynch followed this up with downgrades to "neutral" from "buy" this morning, and the latter sliced its price target to $33 from $44. EBAY shares are set to drop another 1.8% at the open. Year-to-date, they're down close to 24%.
  4. Another name seeing analyst attention this morning is Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG), which was upgraded to "outperform" from "sector perform" at RBC. The brokerage firm also boosted its price target to $510 from $450, citing changes to the company's menu and its new focus on delivery. On the other hand, Wedbush lowered its price target on CMG stock to $380 from $445.
  5. It will be a relatively light start to a heavy earnings week, with Halliburton (HAL), Kimberly-Clark (KMB), and TD Ameritrade (AMTD) reporting.

stock market news oct 22

China Stocks Lead Rally In Asia

Stocks in Asia surged today, with a significant lead coming from Chinese markets on optimism over expected stimulus measures. China's Shanghai Composite jumped 4.1% for its biggest daily gain in two years, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 2.3%. Japan’s Nikkei reversed early losses and closed 0.4% higher, while South Korea’s Kospi took home a 0.3% win.

European markets are higher at midday, with stocks in Italy leading the way after credit ratings firm Moody's gave an expected downgrade, but issued a "stable" outlook for the region. Fiat is also in focus, up 5% after the company agreed to sell its Magneti Marelli unit to Japan's Calsonic Kansei for $7.1 billion. Elsewhere, Ryanair is up 5.7% in London after earnings. At last check, London’s FTSE 100 has added 0.9%, Germany’s DAX is 0.8% higher, and France’s CAC 40 is seeing a modest 0.5% gain.

Published on Oct 22, 2018 at 11:51 AM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Midday Market Check

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is down at midday, pivoting lower to surrender modest early gains. Despite optimism stemming from a rally in Chinese markets, the volatility that has come to define this month has flared up once again, with the blue-chip index exploring a 280-point trading range on both sides of breakeven today. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is lower with the Dow, though the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is in the black at last check, on track to snap a three-day losing streak. While the earnings schedule is light today, investors are bracing for an onslaught of corporate reports set to hit later this week. 

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

  • The chip stock soaring on pre-earnings price-target hikes.
  • An FDA decision dropping this drug stock
  • Plus, options bulls eye Mattel; Alibaba stock rallies with China stocks; and Nektar Therapeutics stock continues to struggle.

Midday Market Stats Oct 22

Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) is seeing unusual options volume today. Nearly 7,000 calls are on the tape -- seven times the average intraday volume, and arriving in the 95th percentile of its annual range. Most active is the weekly 11/9 15-strike call, where Trade-Alert suggests new positions are being purchased. MAT was last seen down 1.7% at $13.98, swooning in sympathy with Hasbro (HAS), and the toymaker will report earnings after the close on Thursday, Oct 25.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) stock is up 4% to trade at $149.08, rallying with Chinese stocks while shaking off yet another bear note, this time from Benchmark. BABA fell to an annual low of $135.14 on Oct. 11, and has encountered stiff resistance from its 30-day moving average since late June. 

MMC Daily Chart BABA

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) is down 17.4% to trade at $39.82 -- one of the worst stocks on the S&P 500 today -- despite a discernible catalyst. NKTR moved lower at the start of October following a scathing short seller review of its primary drug NKTR-214. The biotech stock has now shed nearly 34% this month, and has racked up three straight weekly losses going into today. 

Published on Oct 19, 2018 at 4:31 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Market Recap

U.S. stocks closed today mixed, with the Dow staying afloat on the back of impressive blue-chip earnings -- specifically, from American Express (AXP) and Procter & Gamble (PG). The S&P spent the session dancing around breakeven, eventually closing lower alongside the Nasdaq and struggling tech stocks. Regardless, both the Dow and S&P managed to hold onto positive territory for the week, while the Nasdaq suffered its third straight week in the red.

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 25,444.34) tacked on 64.9 points, or 0.3%, for the day. Seventeen Dow stocks ended the day higher, with PG leading the way, closing up 8.8%. Meanwhile, Caterpillar (CAT) paced the 13 losers for the second day in a row, with a 2.7% drop. The blue-chip index added 0.4% on the week.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,767.78) shed 1 point, or 0.04%, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,449.03) lost 36.1 points, or 0.5%, for the day. For the week, the S&P gained 0.02% and the Nasdaq lost 0.6%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 19.89) let go of 0.2 point, or 0.9%, in today's trading, and 6.2% for the week.

Closing Indexes Summary Oct 19

NYSE and Nasdaq Oct 19

5 Items on our Radar Today

  1. A report out of the Wall Street Journal today said Amazon (AMZN) is honing in on the final choice for its new headquarters. Company executives have revisited a handful of the top 20 list of cities released earlier this year, and a permanent decision is expected to be made by the end of 2018. (CNBC)
  2. Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook earlier today publicly demanded that Bloomberg retract its China hacking story, which was released earlier this month. Cook stated there was "no truth" behind the report that compromised motherboards impacted Apple servers, though Bloomberg continues to back its publishing and sources. (MarketWatch)
  3. The Dow stock upgraded on streaming potential.
  4. Analysts head to sidelines on eBay stock.
  5. Which oil stock is sporting pricey puts before earnings.

Corporate Earnings Oct 19

Unusual Options Activity October 19

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Falters for the Week, Surges on Day

Oil posted an impressive daily gain as concerns grew over the missing U.S. Saudi-based journalist, and amid signs of surging demand from China. November-dated crude added 47 cents, or 0.7%, to settle at $69.12 per barrel for the day, and posted a 3.1% decline for the week. 

Gold futures suffered a daily loss but managed to gain on the week, as investors continued to flock toward the precious metal for refuge from a volatile market. December-dated gold fell $1.40, or 0.1%, to close at $1,228.70 per ounce for the day, but logged a 0.5% -- and third straight -- weekly gain.

Published on Oct 22, 2018 at 4:32 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Market Recap

It was another unpredictable session for U.S. equity benchmarks. Today's trading started off strong out of the gate, following suit with a big day for China stocks -- but geopolitical tensions with Saudi Arabia remained at the forefront, and investors quickly turned cautious ahead of an onslaught of earnings reports slated for later this week. By the close, the major market indexes were straddling both sides of breakeven.

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

  • Buy signals flash for Corning before earnings.
  • Earnings speculators bet on lofty moves for Biogen stock
  • Analyst sees big upside for Chipotle
  • Plus, the chip stock popping pre-earnings; BMY falls; and oil futures react to Saudi news.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 25,317.41) fell 126.9 points, or 0.5%, for the day. Eleven Dow stocks ended the day higher, with Intel (INTC) leading the way, closing up 2.3%. Meanwhile, DowDuPont (DWDP) paced the 19 losers with a 2.5% drop.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,755.88) shed 11.9 points, or 0.4%, to tally its fourth straight daily decline. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,468.63) outperformed by adding 19.6 points, or 0.3%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 19.64) shed 0.3 point, or 1.3%, in today's trading.

closing indexes summary Oct 22

NYSE and Nasdaq Oct 22

5 Items on our Radar Today

  1. Just days after its stock was downgraded to "equal weight" at Morgan Stanley, Ford (F) has resumed production on its Ranger pickup truck for the first time since 2011. The company also plans to begin making its Bronco model again for the first time since its discontinuation in 1996. Both initiatives are a part of the truck maker's push to follow U.S. buying trends toward more midsized vehicles. (CNBC
  2. Yet another hurricane is headed toward North America. This time, Hurricane Willa -- presently a Category 5 storm -- is nearing the coast of Mexico, 175 miles southwest of Las Islas Marias. The National Hurricane Center said Willa is "potentially catastrophic," and may drop 18 inches of rain by Tuesday. (MarketWatch)
  3.  How AMD shares managed a pre-earnings pop.
  4.  Bristol-Myers Squibb stock is near annual-low territory after an FDA delay.
  5.  3 stocks making monster moves.

Corporate Earnings Oct 22

Unusual Options Activity October 22

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Edges Higher on Saudi Arabia Reassurance

Oil futures reversed early losses and closed slightly higher, as Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih said the country has "no intention" of staging a repeat of the 1973 oil embargo. The expiring November crude futures contract picked up 5 cents, or 0.07%, to settle at $69.17 per barrel for the day. Crude for December delivery edged up 8 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $69.36 per barrel.

Gold closed today's session slightly lower, pressured by a strengthening U.S. dollar. December-dated gold futures fell $4.10, or 0.3%, to close at $1,224.60 per ounce.

Published on Oct 23, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Opening View

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are pointing to a major sell-off, as traders react to a heavy round of blue-chip earnings. Most notably, shares of 3M (MMM) and Caterpillar (CAT) are set for sharp losses at the open, with 3M's results negatively affected by foreign currency impacts and Caterpillar feeling the crunch of steel tariffs as the U.S.-China trade standoff continues. Investors are also digesting earnings reports from Dow components United Technologies (UTX), Verizon (VZ), and McDonald's (MCD). Financial and tech stocks are signaling notable pre-market losses, too, with futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) trading well below fair value.

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

us stock futures oct 23

5 Things You Need to Know Today

  1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 907,384 call contracts traded on Monday, compared to 519,810 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.57, and the 21-day moving average held at 0.65.
  2. MMM is set to open down 7.8%, and CAT is down 8.1% in pre-market trading. 3M missed third-quarter earnings estimates and gave a weaker-than-expected full-year outlook -- not entirely surprising, after the company warned of rising material costs -- while Caterpillar is also getting hit due to a tepid forecast, and CAT stock could hit fresh lows as a result.
  3. PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) is eyeing a flat open after the homebuilder's third-quarter results. PHM's profit topped expectations for the period thanks to higher home prices, as the stock tries to stem the bleeding from some of its massive losses racked up earlier this year.
  4. Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) is set to drop just 0.2% after earnings -- a far cry from the volatile move options traders were expecting. The company posted a top- and bottom-line beat, fueled by strong sales for its muscle disease drug Spinraza.
  5. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic is scheduled to speak today, as well as Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans. Corning (GLW), Fifth Third (FITB), Harley-Davidson (HOG), Huntington Banc (HBAN), and Lockheed Martin (LMT) are also on the earnings schedule.

stocks in the news premarket 1023

Big Losses For Asian Stock Markets

Asian stocks fell sharply in today's trading, as geopolitical tensions ramped up. Markets quickly reversed from yesterday's impressive gains, with Japan's Nikkei ending down 2.7%, China's Shanghai Composite surrendering 2.3%, and South Korea's Kospi shedding 2.6%. Taking the biggest hit, however, was Hong Kong's Hang Seng, which closed 3.1% lower.

European markets are selling off as geopolitical worries, Brexit talks, and disappointing tech sector earnings weigh on investor sentiment. Leading today's losses is Germany's DAX, which is down 1.7%, at last check. London's FTSE 100 and France's CAC 40 are not far behind, with the indexes sporting 1% and 1.1% losses, respectively.

Published on Oct 23, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Midday Market Check

It's an ugly day on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) down more than 400 points at midday and on track to breach the 25,000 level on a closing basis for the first time since July 12. Weighing on the blue-chip index are negative earnings reactions for Caterpillar (CAT) and 3M (MMM), with results for both firms impacted by President Donald Trump's escalating trade tensions. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are both firmly in the red, as well, as another chip stock sell-off turns up the heat.

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

  • This FAANG stock is sinking on a pre-earnings price-target cut.
  • Analysts continue to pile on struggling eBay stock.
  • Plus, pre-earnings options bulls blast Deutsche Bank; Barrick Gold stays hot; and Nvidia stock breaches a key trendline.

Midday Market Stats Oct 23

Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) is seeing unusual options volume today. Nearly 19,000 calls are on the tape -- eight times the average intraday volume, and pacing in the 98th annual percentile. Most active is the weekly 11/2 6-strike call, with more than 14,000 options changing hands, and data suggesting buy-to-open activity could be occurring. DB is up 0.2% at $10.74, and the banking institution will report earnings before the open tomorrow, Oct. 24. 

Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:ABX) is near the top of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today -- up 3.7% to trade at $13.58, as gold prices climb amid today's stock market sell-off. ABX just wrapped up its sixth straight weekly win, and recently climbed past a key trendline. The gold stock has now added 43% since bottoming at $9.53 back on Sept. 11. 

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is taking a big hit today, down 5.9% to trade at $218.62, after UBS trimmed its price target on the chip stock to $260 from $285. NVDA raced to a record high of $292.76 on Oct. 2 after a flurry of bull notes, but has since shed 25%. In fact, today's drop puts NVDA shares on track to close below their 320-day moving average for the first time since July 2015. 

MMC Daily Chart NVDA

Published on Oct 24, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Opening View

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are trading above fair value this morning, overcoming earlier weakness to now signal a nearly triple-digit jump at the open for the index. It's another huge day of Dow earnings, with Boeing (BA) setting the tone with an impressive quarterly report that has the shares ready to rally at the open. There will be plenty of action after the close, as well, with names like Microsoft (MSFT), Visa (V), and Tesla (TSLA) all preparing to report. However, futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are below fair value, as chip stocks prepare for another rough day.

Outside of corporate earnings, traders will be watching oil prices after yesterday's sell-off. At last check, December-dated crude futures were up 40 cents, or 0.6%, at $66.83 per barrel.

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

  • What the unusual VIX performance means for stocks, courtesy of Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White.
  • How options traders reacted to yesterday's blue-chip earnings. 
  • Why Citron is changing its tune on Tesla ahead of earnings.
  • Plus, Sirius XM set to pop; another semiconductor loser; and AT&T earnings disappoint.

us stock futures oct 24

5 Things You Need to Know Today

  1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.16 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 705,894 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio moved up to 0.61, and the 21-day moving average remained at 0.65.
  2. Elsewhere on the earnings front, Sirius XM Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:SIRI) is gaining 3.3% in pre-market hours, after the company hiked its full-year earnings forecast. The shares needed a lift after hitting their lowest point since February yesterday, as they've struggled since the company announced plans to buy Pandora (P) in September, with an Amazon partnership failing to generate positive buzz.
  3. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) is set to drop over 6%, after the company issued a weak current-quarter outlook. TXN stock has been trending lower in recent months, yesterday falling to its lowest price of 2018 during a sector-wide slide in chip stocks.
  4. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is another notable earnings loser, with the stock pointed down 3.6% before the open, after earnings for the third quarter fell short of estimates. T shares remain well below their early 2018 highs near $39, after the 200-day moving average recently rejected a rally attempt.
  5. New home sales and the weekly crude inventories report are both slated for release today. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester will also speak. Traders will digest corporate earnings from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Ford Motor (F), Hilton (HLT), UPS (UPS), and Whirlpool (WHR). 

stock market news oct 23

Energy Stocks Cap Asian Markets' Upside

Stocks in Asia closed mixed, with a dip in energy stocks limiting gains. Japan's Nikkei managed to close 0.4% higher, with help from the electronic and cosmetics sectors. Meanwhile, China's Shanghai Composite also posted a modest gain, and finished up 0.3%. On the flip side, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi both suffered a 0.4% loss.

European markets are respectably higher in afternoon trading, as a handful of strong earnings and outperforming retail stocks offset the latest eurozone PMI, which fell to a two-year low of 52.7 in October. Plus, the shares of Deutsche Bank are tanking after the financial giant reported a drop in third-quarter profit. At last check, London's FTSE 100 is up 1.2%, France's CAC 40 is 1.3% higher, and Germany's DAX is flirting with a 0.9% gain.

Published on Oct 24, 2018 at 4:33 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Market Recap

Stocks extended yesterday's sell-off, with major U.S. equity benchmarks closing deep in the red. Early enthusiasm over Boeing's (BA) post-earnings surge evaporated after disappointing housing data -- and selling intensified in the afternoon, as the Fed's Beige Book release appeared to bolster the case for a December rate hike amid rising costs and a tightening labor market. As a result, stocks fell to their lowest daily closing levels in months.

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 24,583.42) lost 608 points, or 2.4%, after earlier touching a session low of 24,533.19. A mere five Dow stocks ended the day higher, with Procter & Gamble (PG) leading the way, closing up 2.6%. On the flip side, United Technologies (UTX) paced the 25 losers with a 6.1% drop. Today marked the Dow's lowest daily close since July 6.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,656.10) shed 84.6 points, or 3.1%, extending its daily losing streak to six. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,108.40) fell 329.1 points, or 4.4%, to enter correction territory -- it's now down 12.6% from its Aug. 30 all-time intraday high. The SPX and Nasdaq both hit their lowest closing levels since May 3.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 25.23) jumped 4.5 points, or 21.8%, for the day. That puts the "fear index" back above this year's half-high at 25.15.

Closing Indexes Summary Oct 24

NYSE and Nasdaq Oct 24

5 Items on our Radar Today

  1. The Secret Service today said explosive devices were intercepted en route to former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and appeared similar to a device mailed to billionaire investor George Soros earlier this week. Devices were also sent to CNN's New York studios, former Attorney General Eric Holder, and Rep. Maxine Waters. President Donald Trump publicly condemned the attempted attacks, saying, "acts of threats or political violence have no place in the United States of America." (MarketWatch)
  2. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Xofluza, the first new antiviral flu treatment in over 20 years. Research showed the single-dose drug can reduce a patient's sick time by more than a day, if taken within the first 48 hours of symptoms appearing. (CNBC)
  3. Analysts adjusted their outlook on JetBlue stock after earnings. 
  4. 3D Systems stock scored a pre-earnings upgrade.
  5. Goldman Sachs just added this defense stock to its conviction list.

Corporate Earnings Oct 24

Unusual Options Activity October 24

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Bounces on Big Gasoline Drawdown

Oil futures edged higher today, recovering from the prior session's two-month low as domestic gasoline supplies fell by a steeper-than-forecast 4.8 million barrels. December-dated crude added 39 cents, or 0.6%, to settle at $66.82 per barrel.

Gold, however, fell from its three-month highs as a stronger dollar weighed heavy. December-dated gold futures shed $5.70, or 0.5%, to close at $1,231.10 per ounce.

Published on Oct 25, 2018 at 9:13 AM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Opening View

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are trading comfortably above fair value ahead of one of the biggest earnings days of the year. Blue chip Microsoft (MSFT) is pointed higher after an upbeat earnings release, setting the tone ahead of quarterly results from fellow tech names Intel (INTC), Amazon.com (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL) later in the day. Elsewhere, shares of Twitter (TWTR) and Tesla (TSLA) are sharply higher after earnings, as well.

On the data front, weekly jobless claims rose more than expected last week, though the total of unemployed Americans fell to a 45-year low. As such, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are poised to join the Dow in positive territory following yesterday's sell-off.

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

u.s. stock futures oct 25

5 Things You Need to Know Today

  1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.12 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 794,647 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio moved up to 0.71, and the 21-day moving average moved up to 0.66.
  2. Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is up 11.4% before the open, following the company's impressive quarterly results. Twitter reported stronger-than-expected ad sales for the third quarter, despite the fact that monthly usage continues to fall. Regardless, TWTR put buyers could be hurting today.
  3. Shopify Inc (NYSE:SHOP) is another notable mover before the open, with the shares trading up almost 7% before the bell. The e-commerce firm posted a surprise profit for the third quarter behind a 58% increase in revenue. SHOP stock just hit a new multi-month low yesterday, but this earnings reaction looks much more promising than last quarter's sell-off.
  4. Finally, American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL) is also trying to bounce from recent lows, up close to 5% after the company confirmed its full-year outlook despite a number of headwinds. It's been a rough run for AAL shares, which touched a two-year low of $30.24 yesterday.
  5. Today will be busy, with reports due out on durable goods orders, international trade data, weekly jobless claims, pending home sales, and the Fed balance sheet.

    It'll be another huge day for earnings reports, with Snap (SNAP), Baidu (BIDU), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), Southwest Airlines (LUV), First Solar (FSLR) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN) rolling out earnings.

stock market news oct 25

Earnings Provide a Lift In Europe

Asian markets finished mostly lower, tracking Wall Street's brutal Wednesday finish. Japan's Nikkei set the bearish pace with a 3.7% drubbing, while weakness in chipmakers dragged South Korea's Kospi to a 1.6% drop. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1% by the close, but China's Shanghai Composite -- already firmly in bear-market territory -- recovered from an intraday drop of 71 points to settle fractionally higher, up 0.02% for the session.

European stocks are on firmer footing at midday, with sentiment catching a boost from well-received earnings out of Swiss bank UBS and French automaker Peugeot. Meanwhile, as expected, the European Central Bank (ECB) opted to stand pat on interest rates. At last check, the French CAC 40 is up 1.1%, the German DAX is 0.3% higher, and London's FTSE 100 is off 0.1%.

Published on Oct 24, 2018 at 12:10 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Midday Market Check

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) has explored a more than 400-point range on both sides of breakeven today. While strong earnings from Boeing (BA) initially propped the blue-chip index up over 100 points, a disappointing reading on new home sales -- which fell 5.5% to a roughly two-year low last month -- has soured investor sentiment, putting the Dow on track for its third straight loss.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are also both in the red, with the former pacing toward a sixth straight loss and the latter flirting with correction territory, as tech stocks sell off on a dismal warning from chipmaker Texas Instruments (TXN) . Elsewhere, oil prices continue to climb out of yesterday's hole, with December-dated crude futures up 0.8% at $66.97 per barrel.

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

  • Goldman Sachs says to buy the dip on this Boeing rival.
  • Bearish analysts blasted struggling JetBlue stock.
  • Plus, options bears target downgraded Seagate Technology stock; Lowe's stock rebounds; and Trivago rallies into familiar resistance.

Midday Market Stats Oct 24

Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ:STX) is seeing unusual options volume today, with nearly 5,900 puts on the tape -- double the expected intraday amount. Most active is the December 42.50 put, and data suggests buy-to-open activity here. STX is down 4.6% to trade at $41.47, after being downgraded to "negative" from "neutral" at Susquehanna.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) is up 0.4% to trade at $98.53, on track to snap a five-day losing streak. LOW has shed 16% since its late-September record high of $117.70, but the pullback appears to have been contained by its 160- and 200-day moving averages. Not to mention, the home improvement stock historically tends to outperform in the fourth quarter.

Trivago NV (NASDAQ:TRVG) is up 20% to trade at $5.93, one of the best stocks on the Nasdaq today, after the travel company reported a third-quarter profit. Last year at this time, TRVG gapped 22.5% lower after earnings. Nevertheless, the stock is running out of steam near famililar resistance around the site of its 40-week moving average.

MMC Daily Chart TRVG

Published on Oct 25, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Midday Market Check

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is on the rebound today, up more than 350 points as earnings season hits high gear. A positive reaction for Microsoft's (MSFT) quarterly results has the tech stock at the top of the Dow, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are both confidently higher as well, with the former set to snap its six-day losing streak. In economic data, traders are digesting an unexpected rise in durable goods orders last month, while the U.S. trade deficit widened to a larger-than-anticipated $75.8 billion, and pending home sales rose 0.5% -- more than forecast.

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

  • 2 FAANG earnings to watch tonight.
  • Bears are blasting Electronic Arts stock ahead of earnings.
  • Plus, options bears bet on a big Weight Watchers drop; Spirit Airlines flies higher after earnings; and Align Technology stock nears new lows.

Midday Market Stats Oct 25

Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NASDAQ:WTW) is seeing unusual options volume today, with more than 7,500  puts on the tape -- six times the expected intraday amount. Most active by far is the January 2019 40-strike put, with almost 7,300 contracts changing hands, and the bulk of which appear to be seeing buy-to-open activity. WTW is up 0.9% to trade at $64.78 today, but has shed 39% since its June 20 high of $105.73.

Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE:SAVE) is up 6% to trade at $51.02, one of the best stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, after the airliner reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations. In response, Deutsche Bank upped its price target on the equity to $59 from $53. SAVE earlier flew to a record high of $51.78, and is now on track for its best day since July 12. The shares pulled back earlier this month, but the dip was quickly contained by their 80-day moving average.

181025 MMC Spirit

Despite a new partnership with 3D Systems (DDD), Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALGN) is down 22.6% to trade at $225.09 today, one of the worst stocks on the Nasdaq so far, after the Invisalign parent gave fourth-quarter revenue guidance below expectations. At least seven brokerages have issued price-target cuts, including one to $277 at Evercore. ALGN is heading toward its worst day since October 25, 2007, and is trading at its lowest point in nearly a year.

Published on Oct 25, 2018 at 4:24 PM
Updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM
  • Market Recap

Stocks bounced back in a big way today, with the Dow finishing 401 points higher thanks to a strong earnings reaction from blue-chip tech giant Microsoft (MSFT). Yesterday's steep losses were largely clawed back, as markets today rallied on a combination of positive quarterly reports and well-received economic data. The S&P 500 finally snapped its six-day losing streak, spearheaded by big gains for a pair of high-profile FAANG stocks ahead of earnings. 

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

  • Analyst: Buy the weakness in housing stocks.
  • Buy LNG stock on sale. 
  • 3 stocks popping on activist investor chatter.
  • Plus, pre-earnings skepticism toward EA; options traders flock to GLUU; and HLT gets an Ackman boost.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 24,984.55) added 401.1 points, or 1.6%. A mere seven Dow stocks ended the day lower, with Verizon (VZ) leading the way, closing down 1.8%. On the flip side, Microsoft (MSFT) paced the 23 winners with a 5.8% burst.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,705.57) gained 49.5 points, or 1.9%, snapping its daily losing streak at six. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 7,318.34) jumped 209.94 points, or nearly 3%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 24.22) shed 1 point, or 4%, for the day.

us stock market closing index summary oct 25

nyse and nasdaq stats oct 25

5 Items on our Radar Today

  1. Yeti Holdings, Inc (YETI) priced its initial public offering (IPO) at $18 per share, below the company's estimated range of $19-$21. The retailer specializes in high-priced outdoor camping products such as coolers, mugs, and camping equipment. The company had previously withdrawn its IPO earlier in 2018, citing market conditions. (MarketWatch)
  2. Moody's, the famed credit rating agency, revised its outlook on the U.S. retail industry heading into the holiday season. The industry earned a "positive" rating for the first time since July 2015, and Moody's noted, "U.S retail [is]... finally starting to gain traction from investments made over the past couple of years." (Reuters)
  3. Pre-earnings skepticism ramped up on Electronic Arts stock.
  4. Options traders piled on after a sudden burst from GLUU stock.
  5. News of an Ackman stake was just one of the drivers for HLT today.

Corporate Earnings Oct 25

unusual options volume oct 25

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil, Gold Manage Modest Gains as Stocks Recover

Oil futures edged higher today, recovering from early weakness to move higher alongside stocks. December-dated crude added 51 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $67.33 per barrel.

Gold was modestly higher today, as heightened volatility in the market props up demand for the safe-haven asset. December-dated gold futures added $1.30, or 0.1%, to close at $1,232.40 per ounce.

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