Stock futures are pointing toward a muted open, with Wall Street's concerns surrounding the Delta variant's impact on economic recovery weighing on sentiment; especially following Friday's dismal August jobs report. In fact, Goldman Sachs (GS) downgraded its economic outlook this weekend, slashing its annual growth and fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) outlook estimates. At last check, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are all just below breakeven. Meanwhile, gold futures are looking to log their sharpest daily fall in nearly a month, thanks to the strengthening U.S. dollar and rising Treasury yields.

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

• Schaeffer's V.P. of Research Todd Salamone addresses the seasonally weak period for stocks.
• Breaking down the delta of an option.
• Plus, JD.com's c-suite shakeup; Boeing's billion-dollar bluster; and a fresh upgrade for Spotify stock.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.8 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 904,697 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.50 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.52.
2. JD.Com Inc (NASDAQ:JD) announced a new president. Xu Lei, current CEO of JD Retail, will assume the day-to-day operations of JD.Com, after the company's founder and CEO Richard Liu decided to step back from such duties. JD was last seen moving higher, up 1.7% in electronic trading, which brings the stock closer to overcoming its 9% year-to-date deficit.
3. The shares of Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) are 0.7% lower ahead of the open, after a multi-billion dollar deal fell through. Specifically, one of Boeing's biggest customers, Ryanair, said it ceased talks to buy tens of billions of dollars worth of 737 MAX 10 jets, in response to a pricing dispute. Boeing stock has shed 12.7% over the last three months, closing the gap on its 1.9% year-to-date lead.
4. Music streaming staple Spotify Technology SA (NYSE:SPOT) stock is popping, up 4.2% before the market's open, after KeyBanc upgraded the equity to "overweight" from "equal weight," with the firm citing Spotify's impressive user base growth. However, Spotify stock still has a ways to go to fix the 20.9% deficit it's amassed in 2021.
5. Things start of slow, as no economic data is slated for release today.

Chinese Stocks Boosted by Hong Kong's Quarantine-Free Decision 

Markets in Asia were mostly higher today, with the exception of the South Korean Kospi, which ended the day with a 0.5% loss. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.7%, as retail stocks jumped after it as was announced that Hong Kong will allow quarantine-free admittance to mainland visitors starting Sept. 15. Elsewhere, China's Shanghai Composite added 1.5%, amid economic data showing the country’s exports rose a better-than-expected 25.6% year-over-year in August. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei tacked on 0.9%.

Over in Europe, markets are mostly lower, as investors await Thursday's European Central Bank (ECB) meeting. According to Germany's ZEW survey, economic sentiment dropped to 26.5 in September from the previous month's 40.4, and the German DAX is down 0.08% at midday. Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 is up just 0.02%, while London's FTSE 100 is 0.2% lower.

Stock futures are flat this morning, as Wall Street weighs the economic growth outlook with the Delta variant, amid a year of outsized gains from major benchmarks. September has historically proven to be one of the weakest months for the markets, leaving investors to brace for volatile trading. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are pointing around 56 points lower, while S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are hovering closer toward breakeven.

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

• Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White unpacks stock and cash allocation.
• Reddit darling GameStop gears up for earnings.
• Plus, the SEC targeting Coinbase; Tesla sales jump in China; and PayPal's big acquisition news.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.8 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 791,544 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.43 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.52.
2. Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ:COIN) just disclosed that it received a Wells notice from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC plans to sue the cryptocurrency exchange and service firm over its product, Coinbase Lend, an interest-earning product that Coinbase intended to launch in the coming weeks. COIN is down 3% in electronic trading, cutting into the 20.9% lead the shares accumulated over the last three months.
3. Electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is up 1.1% ahead of the open, after data revealed the company's sales surged in China last month. For August, Tesla sold 12,885 cars manufactured in China, up sharply from July's 8,621. Tesla stock boasts an 80% year-to-date rise, while pacing for a four month win streak.
4. The shares of PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL) were up 1.4% before the open, following news that the digital payments platform has plans to acquire Paidy, a Japanese buy-now-pay-later company. The deal is reportedly worth $2.7 billion. PayPal stock is up 25% going into today.
5. Today, job openings data are due out. In addition, the Federal Reserve will release its latest beige book report.

European Investors Await Tomorrow's ECB Meeting

Markets in Asia were a mixed bag today. Japan’s Nikkei tacked on 0.9%, after the country’s economy reported 1.9% annualized growth last quarter, surpassing the 1.3% estimate. On the other end of the spectrum, South Korea’s Kospi gave back 0.8%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s Shanghai Composite fell 0.1% and 0.04%, respectively.

Over in Europe, stocks are pointed lower ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting tomorrow. At last check, London’s FTSE 100 and the French CAC 40 are 0.5% lower, and the German DAX is off by 1%, the latter weighed down by Siemens Energy.

Keeping up with the trend this week, stock futures are once again muted, as the Delta variant continues to impact the smoothness of the economy's reopening. In addition, the Federal Reserve released its latest "Beige Book," and noted that U.S. businesses are facing rising inflation amid a shortage of goods and downshifting economic growth.

At last check, futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are down around 23 points, as the major benchmark looks to avoid fourth-straight daily dip, while S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures are flat. Nevertheless, upbeat jobless claims could pare losses. According to the Labor Department, first-time filing for unemployment claims dropped to 310,000 last week, well below expectations and a new pandemic low.

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

• Korn Ferry stock hits record high ahead of key event.
• A comprehensive breakdown of the art of put selling.
• Plus, GameStop's wider-than-expected loss; United Airlines slashes outlook; and Macy's bull note.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.7 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 744,039 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.42 and the 21-day moving average moved down to 0.51.
2. GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) stepped into the earnings confessional last night, reporting second-quarter losses of 76 cents per shares, which was wider than analysts anticipated. GameStop's revenue, meanwhile, beat estimates, after sales grew by more than 25%. At last check, GME is down 7.7% in electronic trading, but has a massive 955.2% year-to-date lead.
3. Airline giant United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:UAL) is down 0.7% ahead of the open, after the airliner slashed its outlook due to rising Covid-19 cases. Other sector peers followed in the company's footsteps, issuing similar warnings. Over the last three months, United Airlines stock has shed 20%.
4. The shares of Macy's Inc (NYSE:M) are up 1.3% before the open, after Cowen upgraded Macy's to "outperform" from "market perform," citing the retailer's superior inventory, pricing management, and better digital strategy. Heading into the session, Macy's stock was already up 88.7% in 2021.
5. Beyond jobs data, there isn't much on the docket today.

Asian Stocks Fall as Chinese Regulators Continue Tech Crackdown

Markets in Asia fell today, as China’s government continues to crack down on Hong Kong-listed tech stocks. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 2.3%, with Tencent and NetEase under pressure from state regulators once more. Education stocks also suffered, after China banned private tutors giving classes online or in unregistered venues. The Shanghai Composite added 0.5%, after China’s consumer price index (CPI) rose by a slimmer-than-expected margin. Rounding out the region, the South Korean Kospi shed 1.5% and Japan’s Nikkei finished down 0.6%.

Over in Europe, stocks are struggling for direction. The European Central Bank (ECB) kept its monetary policy unchanged, but vowed to curtail the rate of bond purchases. At last check, London’s FTSE 100 was down 1%, the French CAC 40 was 0.2% higher, and the German DAX was flat.

Stock futures are looking to open Friday's session confidently higher, ready to finish a dismal week on a high note. Wall Street seems to be brushing off key inflation data this morning, which revealed wholesale prices surged by 8.3% -- their highest annual rate since 2010. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are up around 171 points, while S&P 500 Index (SPX) futures are also in the black. Both indexes are looking to snap four straight days of losses. Meanwhile, futures on the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also considerably higher.

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

• Everything you need to know about Ethereum.
• Juniper Networks stock may be ready to rise again.
• Plus, Affirm's revenue win; Wells Fargo brushes off regulator's fines; and PLAY rises after earnings.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.7 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 818,857 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.47 and the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.51.
2. Affirm Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:AFRM) stepped into the earnings confessional last night, and announced fiscal fourth-quarter revenue that easily beat Wall Street's forecasts. The "buy now, pay later" company saw active merchant figures more than quintuple as well, leading Affirm to issue a positive outlook. At last check, AFRM is up 22.1% in electronic trading.
3. Bank stock Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) is up 2.1% ahead of the open, brushing off a $250 million fine by regulators, who accuse the company of not making enough progress in resolving ongoing mortgage business issues. Said issues were first identified in 2018, and relate to "unsafe or unsound practices" surrounding its loan modification program. Year-to-date, Wells Fargo stock boasts a 47% lead.
4. The shares of Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc (NYSE:PLAY) are up 9.6% before the bell, after the company trounced analysts' earnings and revenue estimates in its second-quarter report. Dave & Buster's said its seeing signs of recovery in its business that should hold strong save for any setbacks from a Covid-related downturn. Heading into the session, Dave & Buster's stock boasted a 92.2% year-over-year gain.
5. Today's economic data slate also features wholesale inventories data.

Asian, European Markets on the Mend

Markets in Asia bounced back today, with video game stocks leading the charge. Hong Kong tech stocks Tencent and NetEase recovered from Thursday’s bear gaps, helping the Hang Seng to a 1.9% win. China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.3%. Rounding out the region, Japan’s Nikkei gained 1.3%, while South Korea’s Kospi finished 0.4% higher.

Meanwhile in Europe, stocks appear to be on the rebound as well, as global sentiment begins to recover from a rough week. Euro zone finance ministers will meet later today in Slovenia for informal talks. London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.3%, even after the U.K. economy only grew by 0.1% in July. The French CAC 40 is up 0.3%, while the German DAX sports a 0.4% lead amid soft inflation data for August.