Stocks ended the week on a dour note, with the Dow closing nearly 500 points in the red, marking its lowest settlement since May. The losses started with weak economic data out of China, and piled on after healthcare icon Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) came under fire amid a report the company was aware of asbestos in its baby powder products for years. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also finished significantly lower -- and the former marked its lowest close in eight months -- while all three indexes piled up weekly losses to boot. Amidst concerns of a global economic slowdown, Wall Street's "fear gauge" snapped a four-day losing streak. 

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

• 2 small-cap stocks making big moves.
• Analyst: This drug stock could double.
• Plus, a pharma stock flashing a bearish signal; tariff buzz helps Ford stock; and a pre-earnings bear signal for Micron.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 24,100.51) ended down 497 points, or 2%. Of the 30 Dow components only Caterpillar (CAT) and Procter & Gamble (PG) finished higher, up 0.7% and 0.2%, respectively. JNJ paced the 28 laggards with a 10% drop. For the week, the Dow shed 1.2%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,599.95) lost 50.6 points, or 1.9%. For the week, it gave back 1.3%. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 6,910.67) lost 159.7 points, or 2.3%. It shed 0.8% for the week.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 21.63) ended the day up 1 point, or 4.8%, but still turned in a weekly loss of 6.2%.

5 Items on our Radar Today

1. Social media giant Facebook (FB) is in more privacy hot water, after an Irish regulator announced it was launching a probe into the company over a bug that may have exposed private photos of over 6 million users. The European Union (EU) has recently imposed stricter privacy rules in response to the high-profile breaches in the past year. (Reuters)
2. In an effort to get merger approval, telecom giants Sprint (S) and T-Mobile (TMUS) are allegedly considering trimming their use of equipment supplied from Huawei Technologies. Following the high-profile arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, U.S. government officials have been pressuring companies to stop using the Chinese company's equipment, citing cyber espionage risks. (Reuters)
3. This pharma stock is flashing a "sell" signal.
4. Ford stock got a boost from the tariff buzz today.
5. Tread lightly on Micron stock ahead of earnings.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil, Gold Drop, Log Weekly Losses

Oil futures joined U.S. equities in the red today, dropping sharply in the wake of weak the economic data out of China. January-dated crude futures shed $1.38, or 2.6%, to finish at $51.20 per barrel. For the week, black gold declined 2.7%. Elsewhere, natural gas prices took a nosedive on concerns about demand, with futures falling 15% on the week.

Gold futures dropped today too, as a strengthening dollar and fears of ebbing Chinese demand outweighed the metal's "safe haven" appeal. February-dated futures shed $6, or 0.5%, to settle at $1,241.40 per ounce. For the week, it shed 0.9%.

Fresh off a historically awful Christmas Eve, stocks bounced back in a big way today. The Dow traded on both sides of breakeven early in the session, only to stabilize around midday and ultimately rally over 1,000 points -- its biggest point gain ever -- to snap a four-day losing streak. Investors were encouraged today after Kevin Hassett, White House economic adviser, said Fed Chair Jerome Powell's job was "100% safe" and that the president was "highly confident" in Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, whose impromptu phone summit with bank CEOs was widely credited for Monday's brutal selling.

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

• 30 stocks to jump-start your New Year, courtesy of Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White.
• Beleaguered Roku stock gets a big "Top Pick" nod.
• Plus, more Tesla Model 3 news; bull notes for two drug stocks; and an auto parts name ripe for a put play.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 22,878.45) closed the day on a gain of 1,086.3 points, or nearly 5%. The rally was its biggest ever in point terms, and its heftiest since March 2009 on a percentage basis. All 30 Dow components finished higher, led by a gain of 7.2% for Nike (NKE). Bringing up the rear was Coca-Cola (KO), with its 2.1% rise.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,467.70) vaulted to a gain of 116.6 points, or about 5%. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 6,554.36) advanced 361.4 points, or 5.8%. Like the Dow, both the SPX and Nasdaq recorded their biggest one-day percentage gains since March 2009. 

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 30.41) ended the day significantly lower, down 5.7 points, or 15.7%. Earlier in the session, VIX had set a new 10-month intraday high of 36.20.

5 Items on our Radar Today

1. Retail sales soared by 5.1% this holiday season to a six-year high of $850 billion, per Mastercard. In addition, e-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN) announced a "record breaking" selling season led by strong demand for its devices (Reuters)
2. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home-price index rose 0.4% for October, on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, the year-over-year increase in home prices fell to 5% -- in line with expectations, but marking its lowest point in two years. (MarketWatch)
3. Model 3 buzz jolted Tesla stock.
4. 2 drug stocks soared on "buy" ratings.
5. One auto parts stock primed for put buyers.

There are no earnings to report.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Futures Notch Biggest Jump Since November 2016

Oil futures mirrored U.S. equities today by erasing their sharp losses from Christmas Eve. February-dated crude futures settled up $4.69, or 8.6%, at $46.22 per barrel -- their biggest daily gain in over two years.

Gold futures edged up to settle at a six-month high, as the precious metal continues to find an underpinning of safe-haven demand amid ongoing market volatility. February-dated gold futures added $1.20, or 0.1%, to settle at $1,273 an ounce.

The shares of Bumble Inc (NASDAQ:BMBL) are soaring today, up 41.3% to trade at $23.55. The dating platform posted fourth-quarter earnings of 13 cents per share, which is higher than analysts' estimated breakeven results, as well as a strong 2022 outlook, though revenue came in slightly lower than expected. Separately, Bumble announced that it will be discontinuing operations in Russia. 

To follow, BMO upgraded BMBL to "outperform" from "market perform," noting that online dating will benefit from easing mobility restrictions caused by the pandemic as it transitions to an endemic. No fewer than five analysts slashed their price targets, however, while Cowen and Company raised its price objective by $2 to $38. 

Today's bull gap has BMBL rebounding from yesterday's record low of $15.41. Several moving averages still linger above as potential pressure, however, including the stock's 30-day trendline, which has helped guide the stock lower in recent months. Year-to-date, the equity is still down 30.4%. It's worth noting that Bumble stock was due for a short-term bounce, as its 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 15.5 sits firmly in "oversold" territory. 

An unwinding of pessimism in the options pits could give the security a further boost. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), BMBL's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.41 is higher than all but 1% of readings from the past year. 

This shift in sentiment appears to have already begun, as options are picked up at 30 times the typical intraday average, with overall volume pacing for the top percentile of its annual range. So far, 25,000 calls and 16,000 puts have crossed the tape. The March 30 call is the most popular, followed by the 25 call in the same monthly series, with new positions being bought to open at both. 

The shares of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) are up 2.1% at $2,778.02 this morning, as investors brush off news that the House Judiciary Committee has just requested that the Justice Department begin a criminal probe of the e-tail giant. The Wall Street Journal reported that a letter seen by the paper accuses Amazon of possible criminal obstruction of Congress by failing to provide information requested by lawmakers as part of an antitrust investigation into its competitive practices. 

Yesterday, the stock hit its lowest level since June 2020, as the equity feels the weight of several major moving averages including its 50-day. The move also put AMZN below a recent floor at the $2,750 level, too, and bringing its year-to-date deficit to 18.4%. Today's move higher has the equity set to open back above the region, however. 

Analyst sentiment still remains incredibly high. The security earned a bevy of post-earnings bull notes in early February, and these analysts have maintained their positions since, with all 29 in coverage calling the stock a "buy" or better. What's more, the 12-month consensus price target of $4,099.88 is a 47.5% premium to current levels. 

Options traders, on the other hand, have been extremely bearish. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock sports a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.11, which stands higher than all other readings from the past year. In other words, long puts haven't been more popular than they've been during the past two weeks. 

Short-term options traders have also been quite put-biased. This is per the equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.13, which stands higher than 73% of readings from the past year. 

Today job openings and quits are on tap.

The following public company is slated to release corporate earnings today, March 9:

Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE:CPB -- $42.30) manufactures and markets food and beverage products the United States and internationally. Campbell Soup will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Diversey Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:DSEY -- $7.50) provides infection prevention and cleaning solutions worldwide. Diversey Holdings will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Ebix Inc. (NASDAQ:EBIX -- $25.37) provides on-demand software and e-commerce services and solutions to insurance, financial, healthcare, and e-learning industries in the United States and internationally. Ebix will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY -- $61.01) provides organizational consulting services worldwide. Korn Ferry will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Oatly Group AB (NASDAQ:OTLY -- $5.73) provides a range of plant-based dairy products made from oats in Sweden. Oatly Group AB will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

REV Group Inc. (NYSE:RVLV -- $41.68) operates as an online fashion retailer for consumers in the United States and internationally. REV Group will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

The Children's Place Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE -- $58.00) operates as a children's specialty apparel retailer. The Children's Place will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Thor Industries Inc. (NYSE:THO -- $84.68) designs, manufactures, and sells recreational vehicles (RVs), and related parts and accessories in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Thor Industries will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

United Natural Foods Inc. (NYSE:UNFI -- $39.67) distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. United Natural Foods will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Vera Bradley Inc. (NASDAQ:VRA -- $6.79) designs, manufactures, and sells women's handbags, luggage and travel items, fashion and home accessories, and gifts. Vera Bradley will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Vertex Inc. (NASDAQ:VTNR -- $7.66) provides a range of services designed to aggregate, process, and recycle industrial and commercial waste systems in the Gulf Coast and Central Midwest regions of the United States. Vertex will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 before the open today.

Asana Inc. (NYSE:ASAN -- $44.49) operates a work management platform for individuals, team leads, and executives in the United States and internationally. Asana will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

Couchbase Inc. (NASDAQ:BASE -- $17.46) develops and provides a NoSQL database for enterprises worldwide. Couchbase will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD -- $156.77) provides cloud-delivered endpoint and cloud workload protection solutions in the United States and internationally. CrowdStrike will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

Embraer S.A. (NYSE:ERJ -- $12.33) designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircrafts and systems in Brazil, North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, and internationally. Embraer will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

Franco-Nevada Corp. (NYSE:FNV -- $161.85) operates as a gold-focused royalty and stream company in the United States, Latin America, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Africa, and internationally. Franco-Nevada will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE -- $13.42) engages in operating an integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services in the People's Republic of China. KE Holdings will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

Marqeta Inc. (NASDAQ:MQ -- $9.73) operates a cloud-based open application programming interface platform that delivers card issuing and transaction processing services to developers, technical product managers, and visionary entrepreneurs. Marqeta will report its Q4 earnings of 2021 after the close today.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, Thursday will see initial and continuing jobless claims, the core CPI, information on real domestic nonfinancial debt for the fourth quarter, as well as the fourth quarter's real household wealth data. The Federal budget deficit will also be out later in the day. 

All economic dates listed here are tentative and subject to change.

Subscribers to our Schaeffer's Weekend Trader services scored a 181% profit with our Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) April 14, 2022, 44-strike call recommendation in less than one month. Let's explore our reasoning for initiating a long position on the grocery retailer (and Cincinnati staple!), and dive into how KR has performed since then. 

When we made our recommendation on Sunday, Feb. 13, the equity had not long before received a downgrade from Citigroup on Jan. 28, and formed a doji pattern. The security then climbed up the charts, though short-term options traders remained put-biased, with its Schaeffer’s put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.52 standing higher than 90% of readings from the past year. 

The brokerage bunch was leaning bearish, too. At that point in time, just two of the 16 analysts in coverage called KR a “strong buy,” compared to 10 “hold” ratings, and four “strong sell” ratings.

Later in February, founder and CEO Bernie Schaeffer noted Kroger stock had technical and historical qualities going for it. More specifically, the security had pulled back to its 80-day moving average, a trendline that had assisted KR in the past.

In fact, Kroger stock had seen positive, one-month returns almost 70% of the time in at least six instances over three years, averaging a 3.4% pop. A similar move would have placed the stock within chip-shot of its January record peak.

This trendline later proved to be spot-on. At the time of our recommendation, Kroger stock closed at $46.27. The shares scored a post-earnings pop of 11.6% back on March 3, bouncing off their aforementioned 80-day moving average and getting an additional boost from analysts rushing to adjust their price targets on the underloved grocery name.

On that day, KR gapped higher at the open and continued to ascend. Trader procedure in these situations is to take the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) for one hour after target has been hit. They used 9.68 as the exit price on this option (181% gain), with the closing price for KR of $55.00. So in less than a month, subscribers were able to lock in a 181% profit on Kroger's big breakout.