After starting the day on a slow note, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) turned higher in the afternoon to finish with healthy gains. Boosting equities across the board -- and energy stocks in particular -- were reports that the informal meeting of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members and other crude producers, which kicked off today in Algeria, may have already led to a deal to limit crude oil output. The news sent oil prices substantially higher, and largely overshadowed ugly Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) earnings and Fed Chair Janet Yellen's testimony before the House Financial Services Committee. Yellen's comments were principally focused on the state of U.S. banks, and offered few clues on the timing of future interest-rate hikes.

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

• 25 stocks that could heat up in October.
• 2 bank stocks approaching key trendlines.
• Why options traders have been targeting tech favorites Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
• Plus... More on the possible OPEC agreement, Obama's first override, and 2 big names preparing for earnings.
  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,339.24) added 110.9 points, or 0.6%, with Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) leading 21 of the large-cap stocks higher on a 4.5% daily gain. Pacing the eight losers was NKE, shedding 3.8%, while United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) ended the day unchanged.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,171.37) climbed 11.4 points, or 0.5%. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,318.55) gained 12.8 points, or 0.2%, underperforming its peers after Tuesday's hefty gains.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 12.39) gave back 0.7 point, or 5.4%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voted to override President Obama's veto of a bill that would allow families of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue the Saudi Arabian government. The successful vote means the bill will now become law, and marks the first veto override of Obama's presidency. (The Associated Press, via CNBC)
2. Informal talks in Algeria have reportedly resulted in an agreement among OPEC members to cut crude oil production by some 750,000 barrels per day, which would mark the first such deal in eight years. The decision is not yet official, and it is unclear whether details will be released soon, or withheld until the group's official meeting in Vienna in late November. (Bloomberg, MarketWatch)
3. The drug deal that sent options volume soaring on biotech Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (NASDA:AVXL).
4. Why put players have set sights on these 2 big names ahead of earnings.
5. The fast-food firm getting slammed on a disappointing outlook.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

Crude oil finished sharply higher after reports of a production cap agreement among OPEC members, and after a fourth consecutive drop in weekly crude inventories. Hopes that the ongoing global glut will soon see some relief helped crude futures for November finish $2.38, or 5.3%, higher, to $47.05 per barrel -- its highest close in nearly three weeks, and its best session since April.

Gold futures traded lower through the session, as the dollar strengthened on Fed Chair Janet Yellen's testimony and the OPEC buzz. For the day, December-dated gold shed $6.70, or 0.5%, to $1,323.70 an ounce.

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Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are signaling a lower start for stocks, as oil pares yesterday's gains inspired by reports of an Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreement to cut output. After oil prices enjoyed their best session since April, November-dated crude futures were last seen 0.3% lower at $46.91 per barrel, as doubts about longevity and enforcement of the deal emerge. Outside of oil, the Fed will remain in focus; Kansas City Fed President Esther George this morning advocated removing some accommodation, and Fed Chair Janet Yellen will participate in a conversation at the Kansas City Fed's Minority Bankers Forum. Meanwhile, weekly jobless claims came in lower than expected, and second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth was upwardly revised to 1.4%.

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

• Janet Yellen: It's "essential" this company's senior management "be held accountable."
• Even M&A buzz couldn't save Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR).
• The burger joint being booed by analysts.
• Plus... Energy stocks lead a global rally, Pepsi earnings, and the biotech headed for a harsh open.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are about 39 points below fair value.

5 Things You Need to Know Today
 

1. Energy stocks led the advance in Asia, as traders celebrated an OPEC deal.
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 784,449 call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 508,014 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.65, while the 21-day moving average rose to 0.64.
3. Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc (NASDAQ:ITCI) is headed for a 64% drop out of the gate, after the company's lead drug -- schizophrenia treatment ITI-007 -- failed a key study. In a reversal from this time last year, a handful of analysts are issuing negative notes, with SunTrust Robinson downgrading ITCI to "neutral" from "buy" and slashing its price target to $15 from $60.
4. PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) is sitting up 2.8% ahead of the bell, after an earnings beat and upwardly revised full-year guidance. The food and beverage stock is set to open within a chip-shot of its July record highs, and credited the strong quarter to an increased demand for snack food and drinks, as well as the popularity of its "guilt-free" snack options.
5. Himax Technologies, Inc. (ADR) (NASDAQ:HIMX) is set to open up 5.4%, after the semiconductor firm reiterated its third-quarter forecast and second-half business outlook. In addition, Roth Capital initiated coverage on HIMX with a "buy" rating and $10 price target -- a welcome bit of analyst attention after a downgrade and price-target slash by Nomura sent the stock tumbling earlier this week.

 

Earnings and Economic Data

Pending home sales and international trade data will also be released. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart, and Fed Board Governor Jerome Powell will all speak throughout the day, as well. To see what else is coming up on this week's schedule, click here. 

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is struggling at midday, as stocks cool after an oil-backed rally on Wednesday. Equities are taking their bearish cues from fluctuating oil prices, with traders questioning the legitimacy of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) output agreement -- though November-dated crude futures have swung higher at last check, up 0.5% at $47.31 per barrel. Elsewhere, a smaller-than-expected increase in weekly jobless claims and an upwardly revised second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) reading have seemingly sparked chatter of a December rate hike, as Wall Street digests a busy day of speeches from Fed members. Meanwhile, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also weighing on the Dow after a negative analyst note.

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

• 3 stocks rallying after impressive earnings reports. 
• Why this beaten-down biotech and its sector peer have given up more than 50% today.
• Plus ... Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.

Among the stocks with unusual option volume is Chinese e-tailer Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA), as the stock sinks 3.5% to $104.96, on reports rival Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is in talks to buy a stake in India-based e-commerce firm Flipkart. BABA options were last seen trading at 1.6 times the normal intraday pace, and traders are mostly taking a short-term approach. More specifically, the weekly 9/30 series accounts for five of the six most popular strikes, as traders on both sides of the aisle place bets before the options expire at the close tomorrow. Today's setback aside, BABA has been impressive on the charts in recent months. 

Looking at the top gainers on the Nasdaq, travel site Expedia Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE) is continuing its strong performance of late. With today's 2.3% gain to trade at $118.62, the stock has now added more than 11% in the third quarter. Year-to-date, however, EXPE remains 5% below breakeven. 

Fitbit Inc (NYSE:FIT) is underperforming on the Big Board today, sliding 8.5% to $15.28, following a downgrade at Pacific Crest -- which cited a "disappointing start" for one of the company's newest products. While FIT is still 25% higher over the past three months, the shares are on the verge of closing below their formerly supportive 40-day moving average for the first time since late July. 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has gained 0.3 point, or 2.6%, at 12.71.

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.74, with puts outpacing calls by a healthy margin. The SPY was last seen 0.7 point, or 0.3%, lower at $215.99. 

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) shed close to 250 points at its intraday bottom, as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) dropped and a record low for Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) rippled through the banking sector. A late-session rally in crude oil did little to boost stocks, even as oil prices hit monthly highs on continued hopes that an output agreement among Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members will hold. Meanwhile, the latest round of economic data kept Fed concerns in focus. Specifically, a better-than-expected weekly jobless claims report and upwardly revised second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) reading raised expectations for an interest rate hike this December.

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

• 3 biotech stocks that could be in for a frightful October.
• Why put players took aim at these 2 energy ETFs.
• Behind the 7-figure options bet on plummeting Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX).
• Plus... An unexplained train crash, 5 stocks to watch next quarter, and Tesla's latest Autopilot drama.
  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,143.45) lost 195.8 points , or 1.1%, by the day's end, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) leading 28 of the 30 blue-chip stocks lower, dropping 2.7%. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) led the gainers for a second straight day, tacking on 1%, with Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) the other advancing equity, up 0.1%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,151.13) gave back 20.2 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,269.15) shed 49.4 points, or 0.9%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 14.02) climbed 1.6 points, or 13.2%, for the day.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. There is still no known explanation for the crash in Hoboken, New Jersey, that killed one and injured more than 100 others this morning, when a train collided with the station at high speeds. The train was reportedly one that had not yet been equipped with positive train control (PTC) -- a system that can automatically slow or stop trains to prevent accidents -- with the government having set a 2018 deadline to install the feature on all trains. (Bloomberg)
2. Former Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) executive Jon Ruggles was ordered by the U.S. Commodity Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC) to pay a fine of $5.25 million in a settlement charging him with fraudulent trading. According to the case, Ruggles used a private account in his wife's name to trade the same oil and gasoline derivatives that he traded for Delta. (MarketWatch)
3. 5 travel stocks for your fourth-quarter watchlist.
4. Fitbit Inc (NYSE:FIT) fell hard on what one analyst called "a fundamental issue driving high churn."
5. The latest Autopilot buzz that had Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) sinking .

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

Following Wednesday's OPEC-fueled surge, oil prices continued to rally. The November contract for crude finished up 78 cents, or 1.7%, at $47.83 per barrel -- a one-month high.

While stocks treaded lower, gold futures climbed, with December-dated gold adding $2.30, or 0.2%, to $1,326.00 an ounce. Big losses for bank stocks and skepticism over a potential OPEC agreement kept the dollar fluctuating, and gold capitalized on its status as a "safe haven" investment.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is rallying at midday, as a dramatic comeback from banking giant Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) sparks confidence across Wall Street. Just a day after suffering a sell-off that sank stocks around the globe, shares of DB are on pace for their best close in over a week, following upbeat comments from the company's CEO and reports the firm is nearing a $5.4 billion settlement with the U.S. Traders are also digesting an August uptick in the Fed-watched core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, as well as a rise in consumer sentiment in September. As such, the DJIA and its index peers are eyeing a third straight weekly win, and are set to wrap up the quarter comfortably higher.

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

• If history is any indicator, you may want to avoid these 2 commodity stocks in the fourth quarter.
• The M&A rumors that have this semiconductor stock up 26% in the past two days.
• Plus ... Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.

Among the stocks with unusual option volume is semiconductor stock NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), as M&A-related tailwinds lift chipmakers. NVDA is up 2.3% today at $68.96. and earlier tagged another record high of $69.06. In the meantime, calls are trading at twice the expected midday rate. The most popular option overall is the weekly 9/30 68-strike call, as bulls take action before the options expire at today's close. The October 70 call is also popular, with traders likely betting on higher highs ahead for NVDA shares.

Retail stock Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is outperforming today on the Nasdaq, up 4.3% at $153.87, thanks to the company's strong quarterly report. Still, COST's 12-month high of $169.73 represents a 10.3% premium to current levels, and sentiment among option traders has remained pessimistic. 

One stock struggling on the Nasdaq is casino name Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) -- which has actually been one of the year's top performers -- after the company's president resigned. For instance, even with today's 3.1% slide to $97.50, WYNN boasts a year-to-date return of nearly 41%, knocking out a series of higher highs in the process. Plus, today's pullback stopped short right near the stock's rising 160-day moving average, a trendline that sent WYNN rallying to its annual highs earlier this month. 

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has given back 1.1 point, or 7.6%, at 12.95. 

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.60, as puts outpace calls yet again. The SPY was last seen 1.9 point, or 0.9%, higher at $216.51. 

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Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointed modestly higher ahead of the bell, a day after stocks were spooked amid concerns about beaten-down Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) -- which has already drawn comparisons to Lehman Brothers. Elsewhere, August personal spending came in flat, compared to expectations for a slight gain, while personal income rose 0.2%. The core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index -- a Fed-watched inflation measure -- also rose 0.2% month-over-month, and 1.7% on a year-over-year basis.

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

• What to expect when your option's expiring.
• 5 travel stocks to watch in the fourth quarter.
• The latest Autopilot drama pressuring Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA).
• Plus... Asian stocks fall on oil and banks, more on Deutsche Bank, and Costco delivers an earnings beat.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are about 37 points above fair value.

5 Things You Need to Know Today
 

1. Asian stocks fell under pressure from the energy and banking sectors.
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 853,347 call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 629,331 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.74, while the 21-day moving average rose to 0.65.
3. DB is up 1.2% in electronic trading, paring some of its losses from yesterday, which saw the finance stock hit record lows. DB's troubles have pressured markets lower worldwide, although CEO John Cryan is trying to reassure staff about the departure of several hedge funds.
4. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is sitting up 2.1% in pre-market trading -- likely to the dismay of recent option buyers -- after delivering a per-share earnings beat last night, although revenue fell just shy of expectations. This morning, Goldman Sachs raised its price target on COST to $183 from $182.
5. Biotech Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CATB) is set to open 4% higher, after James Flynn disclosed a stake. CATB yesterday announced it would be working with Sarepta Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:SRPT) in a joint research venture on SRPT's much-anticipated Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug, sending CATB skyrocketing.

Earnings and Economic Data

Rounding out the week are the Chicago purchasing managers index (PMI) and consumer sentiment. McCormick (MKC) is the only company set to report earnings. To see what is coming up on next week's schedule, click here. 

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) jumped higher at the open and never looked back, after dropping nearly 200 points on Thursday. Bank stocks were among the biggest gainers -- following the lead of Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB), which won back all of this week's losses on reports of a lower-than-expected settlement with U.S. regulators. Energy stocks also continued to climb, with enthusiasm over a potential production-cut agreement between Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC members still boosting crude oil. And while the Dow wrapped up September with a monthly loss, it -- as well as the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) -- logged the best quarterly gain of the year.

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

• The latest takeover rumors setting Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) on fire.
• The fundamental folly that sent Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) to a new low.
• Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) sailed to new heights -- and one analyst is expecting even more upside.
• Plus... One cloud stock's explosive first day, saying goodbye to a Big Apple icon, and 3 key levels to watch on this casino giant.
  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,308.15) added 164.7 points, or 0.9%, with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) leading 29 of the 30 Dow components higher on a 2% gain. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) was the lone loser, dropping 0.3%. For the week, the DJIA climbed 0.3%, but on the monthly basis the index gave up 0.5%. Still, the Dow ended the third quarter up 2.1%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,168.27) gained 17.1 points, or 0.8%, bringing its weekly win to 0.2%. The SPX slipped 0.1% for the month, but added 3.3% for the quarter. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,312.00) climbed 42.9 points, or 0.8%, on the day, and 0.1% this week. Longer-term, the tech-heavy index vastly outperformed its peers, tacking on 1.9% in September and 9.7% in the third quarter.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 13.29) dropped 0.7 point, or 5.2%, paring its weekly lead to 8.1%. For the month, the VIX slipped 1%, and for the quarter the market's "fear gauge" gave back 15%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. Cloud specialist Nutanix Inc (NASDAQ:NTNX) had an incredible first day of public trading, surging 131% above its $16 IPO price to close at $37. These first-day gains even blew past fellow tech stock Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO), which added 90.9% in its inaugural trading debut in late June, and has since more than doubled from its first-day close. (CNBC)
2. New York's iconic Carnegie Deli will close its doors at the end of this year, after nearly 80 years in business. The deli's owner informed its roughly 60 employees this morning that the store will be closing, though two locations outside of the state will remain open, and some products will still be available through wholesale distribution. (USA Today)
3. 3 key levels to watch on this outperforming casino stock.
4. Fresh record highs sparked bullish betting on NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA).
5. Why this slipping biotech stock could still be on track for an impressive second half.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

Oil prices spent the day largely in positive territory, amid continued optimism toward an agreement among global crude producers to curb output. At the close, the November contract for crude oil was up 41 cents, or 0.9%, at $48.24 per barrel. Crude climbed 8.5% for the week, and 7.9% for the month of September. For the quarter, though, black gold lost 0.2% -- its first quarterly loss of the year.

Gold prices slipped, as traders rushed toward riskier assets, with December-dated gold giving up $8.90, or 0.7%, to close at $1,317,10 per ounce. Gold dropped 1.8% on a weekly basis, but gained 0.4% month-over-month. For the third quarter, the malleable metal gave back 0.3% to log its first quarterly drop in 2016.

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Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are trading above fair value, as U.S. stocks look to break a two-day losing streak. In focus this morning is the ADP private-sector employment report for September, which revealed the slowest monthly job growth since April, with 154,000 jobs added. With hawkish Fed commentary still lingering, the report provides some insight on the economy for traders ahead of Friday's highly anticipated nonfarm payrolls report. Meanwhile, oil prices are gaining ahead of today's domestic crude inventories report, with November-dated crude futures last seen 1.8% higher at $49.56 per barrel. 

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

• 23 stocks flashing a contrarian signal right now, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White. 
• As call buyers swarmed this cloud stock, volume was surging in and out of Etsy Inc's (NASDAQ:ETSY) options pits.
• How J.P. Morgan Securities took the axe to these 3 biotech stocks. 
• Plus... Central bank rumors sink European stocks, Twitter takeover talk heats up, and the networking stock that's taking Wall Street by storm. 

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are almost 58 points above fair value. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today
  

1. Speculation surrounding the European Central Bank (ECB) is pressuring stocks in Europe. 
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 805,202 call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 410,635 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.51 -- the lowest in roughly one month -- while the 21-day moving average dropped to 0.64.
3. It's been a fantastic year for semiconductor stock Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), with the shares boasting a year-to-date gain of 25.7% as of Tuesday's close of $17.80. However, the stock is looking at a 1.3% drop when the market opens today, as some traders sweat the company's current-quarter guidance. Options traders, unfortunately, had been betting on MU moving higher post-earnings. 
4. Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is up almost 4% ahead of the bell, after The Wall Street Journal reported the social media company could begin to take buyout bids this week. As prior rumors suggested, Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), salesforce.com, inc. (NYSE:CRM), and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) could bid on the company, though analysts have been tempering M&A expectations about a buyout price. TWTR closed Tuesday at $23.52.
5. Despite a recent setback, networking stock Acacia Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACIA) has had a ridiculous run on the charts since going public in May. At $102, the shares have gained roughly 252% since opening for trade at $29. Now, the shares are set to add another 9.3%, after the company announced preliminary third-quarter earnings and a public offering of 4.5 million shares. 

Earnings and Economic Data

International trade data, factory orders, and the ISM's non-manufacturing index are also due for release today. Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker is due to speak after the closing bell. Acuity Brands (AYI), AngioDynamics (ANGO), Constellation Brands (STZ), Monsanto (MON), and Yum! Brands (YUM) will report earnings. To see what else is coming up on this week's schedule, click here. 

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is up triple digits, as stocks react to rising oil prices. Crude futures for November were last spotted 2.2% higher at $49.78 per barrel -- nearing a three-month high and the round $50 mark -- after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a fifth consecutive weekly drop in U.S. stockpiles. Also contributing to gains is the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) stronger-than-expected non-manufacturing index for September, which offset weaker-than-anticipated jobs data. Additionally, bank stocks are rallying, as interest-rate chatter swirls. After taking a hawkish stance earlier this week, Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker will head back to the podium this afternoon.

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

• M&A buzz has Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) flying high again -- but one potential suitor is having a brutal day.
• Why 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) could be a golden opportunity for option bulls.
• Plus ... Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.

Among the stocks with unusual options volume at midday is chipmaker Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU). Earnings and upbeat analyst attention have the shares up 1.5% at $18.08. MU calls, meanwhile, are flying across the tape at eight times the usual intraday pace. In fact, with more than 152,000 calls traded already, call volume is on track to tap a new annual high before the day is out. Dominating today's action are the October and December 20 calls, where it appears one trader rolled her long front-month options out.

Oil-and-gas stock Resolute Energy Corp (NYSE:REN) is one of top performers on the New York Stock Exchange so far today. The shares have added 15.5% to $29.66 -- and earlier hit a fresh two-year high of $30.70 -- after a property acquisition sparked a round of bullish brokerage notes. REN has been charging up charts, adding roughly 900% over the past three months.

Among the worst performers on the Big Board, meanwhile, is tech stock Gigamon Inc (NYSE:GIMO). The shares have shed 5.4% to $52.16 following two analyst downgrades, but still sit on a hefty 96% year-to-date lead after tapping an all-time high of $56.38 just last week.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has given back 0.7 point, or 5.3%, at 12.91. 

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.60, with puts comfortable outnumbering calls. SPY was last seen up 1.1 points, or 0.5%, at $215.74.

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Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointing to a lower open for U.S. stocks, as traders brace for Friday's nonfarm payrolls report. An unexpected drop in weekly jobless claims has Wall Street on notice ahead of tomorrow's September jobs report, as traders weigh the possibility of a fourth-quarter rate hike from the Fed. Meanwhile, oil prices are continuing their run higher, with November-dated crude futures up 0.8% at $50.21 per barrel, topping the half-century mark for the first time since June. 

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

• The energy stock that's rallied over 950% in 3 months. 
• As one brokerage firm weighed in on a Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)-Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) marriage, another analyst quadrupled their price target on this biotech.
• The M&A buzz that ignited Lululemon Athletica inc.'s (NASDAQ:LULU) and Weight Watchers International, Inc.'s (NYSE:WTW) options pits.  
• Plus... Twitter's M&A woes, Goldman hits Tesla, and a rare NVIDIA tumble. 

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are 21 points below fair value. 

5 Things You Need to Know Today
  

1. Fed chatter is again weighing on stocks in Europe. 
2. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 770,896 call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 449,241 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.58, while the 21-day moving average edged down to 0.63.
3. Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is down almost 18% ahead of the open, falling on reports that  Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS) will not place a bid to buy the social media firm, as was rumored. As such, many are turning to salesforce.com, inc. (NYSE:CRM) as the most likely suitor for the company. Meanwhile, other reports state TWTR wants to conclude sales negotiations by its third-quarter earnings release on Oct. 27. 
4. Electric automaker Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is also lower in electronic trading, down 2.7%, after a bearish note from Goldman Sachs. Specifically, the brokerage firm downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "buy," and lowered its price target $55 to $185, citing worries surrounding the company's deployment of capital -- especially on the M&A front -- and potential delays with the launch of its Model 3 vehicle. This comes just days after TSLA rallied on promising delivery numbers. 
5. Another pre-market loser is chipmaker NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA). The shares are down 2.4% this morning, after the company's CFO sold roughly $2.6 million worth of stock, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. This potential dip would still just be a drop in the bucket compared to NVDA's draw-dropping run this year, however. 

Earnings and Economic Data

Weekly jobless claims were the lone economic report on today's docket. Earnings are due from Ruby Tuesday (RT). To see what else is coming up on this week's schedule, click here. 

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down more than triple-digits earlier, but has since pared the majority of these losses -- while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) has muscled back into positive territory. While a surprise drop in weekly jobless claims initially put traders on edge ahead of the Labor Department's nonfarm payrolls report -- due out tomorrow morning -- a surge in oil prices has helped pull stocks off their intraday lows. In fact, crude oil trekked to another three-month high, breaking the $50-per-barrel level for the first time since June. Specifically, crude futures for November were last seen up 0.9% at $50.29 per barrel, as Hurricane Matthew bears down on the Florida coast.

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

• Why this biotech stock has shed half its value -- and what has 3 sector peers making big moves.
• The M&A letdown blasting Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR).
• Plus ... Checking in on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), and other noteworthy stats at midday.

Visual computing specialist NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is among the stocks with unusual options volume at midday. NVDA is off 1.1% at $67.50 after a top exec sold a significant stake -- and an analyst suggested the stock was overvalued. Put options are trading at nearly twice their typical intraday rate, outnumbering calls. Most active is the weekly 10/7 67.50-strike put, where is seems safe to assume new positions are being purchased, as traders bet on NVDA continuing its slide through tomorrow's close, when the weekly option expires.

Among the top performers on the Nasdaq is retailer Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ:ZUMZ). The company upped its current-quarter outlook following solid same-store sales for September -- earning ZUMZ a round of bullish analyst attention, and boosting the shares 15.5% to $21.11.

Gunmaker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (NASDAQ:SWHC) is among the Nasdaq's worst performers, shedding 5.7% to $24.67, after a bearish brokerage note pointed to sliding consumer demand. The stock is still up 12.2% year-to-date, but is on pace to close below its 200-day moving average for the first time since mid-June.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has added less than 0.1 point, or roughly 0.5%, to 13.06. 

Today's put/call volume ratio on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is 1.64, with puts outpacing calls. SPY was last seen up 0.1 point, or 0.06%, at $215.75.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) added triple digits, ending in the black for the first time this quarter. A jump in the monthly Institute for Supply Management (ISM) non-manufacturing index pushed stocks higher, as did a better-than-expected factory orders report, both of which helped offset disappointing private-sector jobs data ahead of Friday's closely watched payrolls report. The solid data also fueled rate-hike chatter, helping financial stocks lead the pack higher. Energy stocks also flexed some muscle, encouraged by a three-month high in crude oil prices. 

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

• Did this gold ETF just flash a "buy" signal?
• The former Edward Snowden employer crushed by another NSA security scandal.
• Why analysts are betting on this biotech to more than double.
• Plus... The Supreme Court takes on insider trading, swirling Weight Watchers rumors, and one athletic apparel maker that may go private.
  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA - 18,281.03) gained 112.6 points, or 0.6%. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) led the 21 Dow winners, finishing up 2.5%, while Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) brought up the rear among the eight Dow losers, down 0.5%. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) finished flat.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,159.73) ended the day up 9.2 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite (COMP - 5,316.02) followed suit, gaining 26.4 points, or 0.5%.

The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX - 12.99) fell 0.6 point, or 4.7%.

5 Items on Our Radar Today

1. The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing its first insider trading case in two decades today. The case will examine whether prosecutors in such cases need to prove tangible benefits were received in exchange for the insider trading information, or if simply supplying the information regardless of personal benefit is enough for conviction. (Fortune)
2. The ISM services index hit an 11-month high of 57.1 in September, marking its largest monthly gain since 1997. Just last month, the index hit a six-year low of 51.4. (Bloomberg)
3. The $400 million McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) franchise chatter.
4. Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) call buyers reacted to rumors the apparel maker could go private.
5. The speculation that caused Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE:WTW) to balloon.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Commodities:

November-dated crude gained $1.14, or 2.3%, to end the day at $49.83 per barrel. A fifth straight weekly drop in domestic crude inventories boosted black gold, which touched its highest mark since June.

Gold shrugged off a weakening dollar to finish lower for the fourth day in a row, as a rally in stocks dimmed the metal's "safe haven" allure. December-dated gold ended the session at $1,268.60 per ounce, a decrease of $1.10, or 0.1%.

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