Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are moving higher this morning, as investors applaud quarterly results from tech giant Apple (AAPL). The FAANG stock is pointed 5% higher in pre-market trading. In addition, Wall Street is cheering a bigger-than-expected increase in private payrolls, per the latest ADP data. With the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) also headed higher, today's trading may bring another round of fresh record highs for the major indexes.

Looking ahead, traders are anticipating the results of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting -- where no rate hike is currently expected -- as well as a subsequent press conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, set for 2:30 p.m. ET.

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

• "Sell in May" could be the wrong strategy this year, says Schaeffer’s Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White.
• Why Altaba stock looks good for options bulls.
• RBC thinks this Apple supplier can rally 23%.
• Plus, Yum! Brands' earnings win; Humana gets a boost; and TWLO gets showered in bull notes.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.03 million call contracts traded on Tuesday, compared to 668,938 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.65, while the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.60.
2. Taco Bell parent Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) stock is up 0.6% before the open, moving higher after an impressive same-store sales beat. Outperforming YUM just touched an all-time high of $104.46 yesterday.
3. Health insurance name Humana Inc (NYSE:HUM) knocked its first-quarter earnings and revenue out of the park, sending the shares up 1.8% in electronic trading. A win today would be a much-needed boost for HUM, with the equity still down more than 10% year-to-date.
4. Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO) stock is up 5.4% ahead of the bell, after the firm reported a first-quarter revenue beat and issued an upbeat outlook. No fewer than seven brokerage firms have handed over price-target hikes, including Rosenblatt Securities, which upped its target to $158 from $118. TWLO has already surged more than 53% year-to-date.
5. Data on MBA mortgage applications, Markit's PMI, weekly crude inventories, the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing index, and construction spending are due. Avis Budget (CAR), CVS Health (CVS), Fitbit (FIT), Five9 (FIVN), Garmin (GRMN), Hilton Worldwide (HLT), Qualcomm (QCOM), and Square (SQ) will report earnings.

 

London FTSE Falls Despite Sainsbury Surge

There’s not much to write about for overseas stock markets, since most exchanges usually covered here in both Asia and Europe were closed for holiday. The one place trading still is London, where the FTSE 100 is fractionally lower at the halfway point, despite a sharp rise in the shares of grocery giant Sainsbury. Most exchanges will open for trade again tomorrow, though Tokyo’s Nikkei will remain closed through the week.

Stocks are mostly higher today thanks to strong corporate earnings and jobs data. Apple's (AAPL) big earnings beat is the main story, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) to a solid lead at the halfway point. Meanwhile, ADP data revealed a sharp increase in private payrolls for April, a noteworthy update ahead of Friday's jobs report out of the Labor Department and today's Fed decision. Against this backdrop, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is following the Dow higher on broader strength out of the tech sector, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) is closer to breakeven.

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

• Heron Therapeutics is spiraling lower on an FDA rejection.  
• Technical data could signal a turning point for one specialty retailer.
• Plus, ambitious bullish betting on drilling stocks; Nu Skin's huge move; and a speculative healthcare name gets whacked.

One name seeing unusual options activity today is Transocean Ltd (NYSE:RIG), which Trade-Alert suggests is part of an ongoing trend on drilling stocks. Specifically, 58,000 RIG calls have traded today, compared to a daily average of just 15,000. Almost 50,000 of these contracts crossed at the June 10 call, with all signs pointing to buy-to-open activity. This would mean traders are betting on RIG shares rising above $10 in the weeks ahead. The stock is trading up 2.3% at $8.04, but remains short-sale restricted after Tuesday's post-earnings sell-off.

Direct selling stock Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS) is one of the best stocks on Wall Street today, trading up 26.2% at $64.20. The company posted a top- and bottom-line beat after the close yesterday, and the shares are trading at their highest level since late February, though the 200-day moving average is looming overhead.

A favorite of Wall Street speculators, healthcare name Pulse Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:PLSE) is one of the worst performing stocks on the Nasdaq today. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested more information on the company's CellFX System, sending the shares down 23.2% to $12.30, into territory not charted for PLSE stock since Jan. 30.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on a "transitory" period of low inflation deflated hopes for a potential rate cut on the horizon. Against this backdrop, the major stock market indexes turned lower, erasing earlier gains stemming from solid Apple (AAPL) earnings. By the close, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were in the red, though the SPX touched a new record high before its reversal.

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

• 3 reasons to grab calls on this insurance stock.
• This chip stock attracted bullish analyst attention after earnings.
• 2 drug stocks that made massive moves today. 
• Plus, ULTA stock could heat up; the China stock set for a major breakout; and 2 blue chips to buy now. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,430.14) lost 162.8 points, or 0.6%, in today's trading. Apple was the best of the six Dow gainers, adding 4.9%, while on the flip side, Home Depot (HD) was the worst of the 24 losers with a 2.4% dip.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,923.73) fell  22.1 points, or 0.8%, after touching a record best 2,954.13 in intraday trading. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,049.64) ended 45.8 points, or 0.6%, lower.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 14.80) was 1.7 points, or 12.8%, higher, for its highest close in over a month.

5 Items on our Radar Today

1. Hulu announced that it gained over two times the number of subscribers as Netflix (NFLX) in its first quarter. While Netflix's user base still overshadows Hulu by a long shot, the smaller streaming service added 3.8 million subscribers in 2019, compared to Netflix, which posted a 1.74 million increase in its first quarter. (CNBC)
2. A new gun bill passed in Florida today will let teachers legally arm themselves in the classroom. The bill was in response to a recent Parkland, Fla., high school shooting, and passed with a 65-to-47 vote in Florida's House of Representatives after a lengthy debate. (Reuters)
3. How red-hot ULTA stock could make serious moves this summer. 
4. The China stock signaling a huge breakout.  
5. 2 blue chips flashing  "buy" signals right now. 
   
   
   

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Drops on Inventories Glut

Oil erased yesterday's gains as U.S. crude inventories surged to 19-month highs. Political tensions in Venezuela, as well as the U.S. eliminating Iranian oil sanction waivers, helped dilute some of the losses, however. June-dated crude futures fell 31 cents, or 0.5%, to close at $63.60 a barrel.

Gold futures ended in the red today, with June-dated gold ending $1.50, or 0.1%, lower at $1,284.20 an ounce. After the Fed announcement, the contract deepened its losses in electronic trading.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are pointing toward a lower open, with the S&P 500 Index (SPX) following suit. Investors continue to digest Fed Chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting comments indicating interest rates will likely remain unchanged, which dampened expectations for a rate cut. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) is pointing toward a modestly higher open, with Tesla (TSLA) shares set to jump on the company's plans to raise $2 billion in capital.

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

• 2 red-hot blue chips flashing "buy."
• This Kylie Jenner stock could heat up this summer.
• Alibaba stock is signaling a breakout.
• Plus, Caterpillar's dividend hike; Kellogg's C-Suite exit; and Yeti stock sinks despite a beat-and-raise.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.20 million call contracts traded on Wednesday, compared to 764,643 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.63, while the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.60.
2. Ahead of its investor day, construction machinery name Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is up 0.8% in pre-market trading, after the company said it plans to hike its quarterly cash dividend by 20%. The firm also plans to buy back shares over the next four years. CAT has been in a channel of higher highs and lows since November, and is up 8.7% year-to-date.
3. Shares of Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) are down 3.3% this morning, after the cereal name issued lackluster guidance and said CFO Fareed Kahn will be leaving July 1. Kellogg’s stock made a turnaround in late March, and recently broke above the resistant $60 mark for the first time since late December.
4. Cooler maker Yeti Holdings Inc (NYSE:YETI) is down 9% in electronic trading, despite the company reporting a first-quarter earnings and sales beat, and upping its full-year profit outlook. YETI has been climbing the charts since late December, and just this past Tuesday touched a fresh record high of $36.57.
5. Traders can expect weekly jobless claims, productivity costs, factory orders, and the Fed's balance sheet. For earnings, DowDuPont (DWDP), Activision Blizzard (ATVI), Dunkin' Brands (DNKN), GoDaddy (GDDY), Planet Fitness (PLNT), Skyworks (SKWS), Tableau Software (DATA), Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA), Under Armour (UAA), and WW (WTW) will report.

 

Europe Sees Risk-Off Trading

With the Chinese Shanghai Composite and Japan’s Nikkei still closed for holiday, traders were left to monitor Hong Kong and South Korean stocks. For the former’s Hang Seng, the index gained 0.8% thanks to upbeat headlines around U.S.-China trade talks. The Kospi also rose in South Korea, adding 0.4%.

In Europe, it’s mostly been a risk-off session, with the majority indexes trading at or below breakeven. Traders are considering central bank updates in the U.S. and England, a raft of corporate earnings, and disappointing economic data. Looking at the latter first, factory orders in the eurozone were weaker than expected in April, contracting for a third consecutive month. In earnings, automaker Volkswagen is gaining on well-received numbers, while investors also cheered results from BNP Paribas. Elsewhere, the Bank of England (BoE) left interest rates unchanged and raised its economic outlook for the U.K. Still, the FTSE 100 was last seen slightly lower, the French CAC 40 is down 0.4%, and Germany’s DAX is sporting a slim 0.2% lead.

Stocks are pulling back today, as investors react to corporate earnings and yesterday's Fed decision. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are all in the red, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rises. And even as strong earnings from the likes of Under Armour (UAA) have helped keep the losses in check, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is rising to flirt with its highest close in over a month.

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

• 2 reasons soaring Zynga stock could keep going higher.
• Why an earnings beat wasn't enough for Square.
• Plus, a hot education stock; another impressive IPO; and Pyxus sinks again.

One stock's that's been red hot is Strategic Education Inc (NASDAQ:STRA), and options traders may be betting on more upside with unusual activity taking place today. Specifically, new positions are opening at the May 165 call, where a trader may be rolling up their position from the May 160 call. STRA stock was last seen trading at $158.15, after hitting an eight-year high of $161.58. The shares soared in Wednesday's trading thanks to an impressive earnings release, and currently sport a 39% year-to-date lead.

China-based So-Young International (NASDAQ:SY) is soaring in its public trading debut, up 39% at $19.15. The shares of the online platform that helps people find plastic surgery services are following the lead of other recent successful initial public offerings (IPOs) such as Pinterest (PINS). SY's IPO was priced at $13.80 per share.

One of the worst stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is Pyxus International Inc (NYSE:PYX), as the tobacco name suffers heavy losses for a second straight session, though it's not clear why. PYX shares were last seen down 10.8% at $18.39, after losing 9.7% on Wednesday.

The Dow fell for the second day in a row, dropping over 120 points, as investors continue to stew over Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Wednesday. Elsewhere, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Attorney General William Barr of misleading Congress over special counsel Robert Mueller's report, calling his action a "crime." Against this backdrop -- and in the wake of sinking oil prices -- the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also ended in the red.

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

• This battered pharma stock could double could double, according to one analyst.
• The cosmetics stock pulling back from its record highs.
• Bausch Health stock is flashing a "buy" signal before earnings.
• Plus, options traders are flocking to Nutanix stock; how Schaeffer's subscribers made big bucks on VEEV; and a post-earnings slip from Square. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,307.79) lost 122.4 points, or 0.5%, in today's trading. Eleven of the 30 Dow stocks ended in the black, with Home Depot (HD) at the helm on a 1.1% pop. Dow Inc (DOW), on the other hand, was the worst of the 19 losers, ending 6.1% lower after earnings. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,917.52) fell  6.2 points, or 0.2%. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,036.77) ended 12.9 points, or 0.2%, lower.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 14.42) was 0.38 point, or 2.6%, lower. 

5 Items on our Radar Today

1. Fast food concern Burger King has just launched its new line of burger meals called "Real Meals" during Mental Health Awareness Month, in order to shed light on the issue. The four "Real Meals" -- meant as a direct jab at burger rival McDonald's "Happy Meals" -- range from Blue Meal to Yaas Meal and include a Whopper, fries, and a drink. (CNBC)
2. The first climate change bill in over 10 years was just passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in a 231-to-190 vote. The bill would keep President Donald Trump from withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate would not take up the bill. (Reuters)
3. Why options traders are piling on Nutanix stock today. 
4. How Schaeffer's subscribers just doubled their money on this red-hot tech stock.  
5. Why Morgan Stanley dumped SQ stock, despite an earnings' beat.

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil Hits Monthly Lows as Supply Fears Fade; Gold Hits 2019 Low

Oil continued to sink today, hitting a one-month low, as easing fears over worldwide oil supplies overshadowed increasing political turmoil in Venezuela. June-dated crude futures finished $1.79, or 2.8%, lower, to close at $61.81 a barrel.

Traders' dashed hopes of a Fed rate cut helped push gold futures to a new year-to-date low. June-dated gold ended $12.20, or 1%, lower at $1,272 an ounce.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are soaring in early trading, after a better-than-expected April jobs report. Specifically, the Labor Department said 263,000 new jobs were added last month, topping expectations for an increase of 190,000, while the unemployment rate fell to a 49-year low of 3.6%. Futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also moving higher, with the indexes hoping to put a dent in their weekly losses. 

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

• Citron: This stock will fall more than 50%.
• Steer clear of this cloud stock next month.
• 3 hot new stocks on Wall Street.
• Plus, Oprah's earnings win; Marriott's C-Suite health scare; and traders digest Fiat earnings.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.10 million call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 708,637 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.64, while the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.60.
2. Oprah-backed WW International (NASDAQ:WW)  -- formerly Weight Watchers -- stock is soaring 14% in pre-market trading, after the company last night reported a narrower-than-expected first-quarter loss and raised its full-year outlook. In response, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Securities raised their price targets to $23 and $17, respectively. WW has struggled this year, but could open at it highest mark since its late-February, post-earnings bear gap.
3. Hotel chain Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) stock is down 0.7% this morning, on news that CEO Arne Sorenson has been diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer. Sorenson plans to continue working through treatment, and has surgery planned for late 2019. MAR has been an outperformer this year, just this week touching an 11-month peak of $140.37.
4. Car manufacturer Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (NYSE:FCAU) is up nearly 3% in electronic trading, after the company reported first-quarter earnings that were in line with analyst estimates. Long term, FCAU has been in a channel of lower highs since late 2018, and was down 33% year-over-year, as of yesterday's close.
5. On tap today is data on international trade, the PMI services index, and the ISM non-manufacturing survey. Speeches from New York Fed President John Williams and St. Louis Fed President James Bullard are also anticipated. It's quieter on the earnings front, with reports from ImmunoGen (IMGN) and Newell Brands (NWL).

London Stocks Higher on Outperforming Financial Sector

It was another quiet day for Asian stock markets, with the Shanghai Composite in China and Nikkei in Japan both closed. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng grabbed a 0.5% win, thanks to a sharp post-earnings rise in financial giant HSBC. South Korea’s Kospi, meanwhile, fell 0.7%, mainly due to a pullback in the shares of Samsung Electronics.

Stocks in Europe are mostly higher today, though gains may be limited because of hesitation before today’s jobs report in the U.S. Still, London’s FTSE 100 is leading the charge with an 0.8% rise, bolstered by strong gains in the financial sector. Outside of HSBC, France’s Societe Generale SA is also having an impressive post-earnings session, helping guide the CAC 40 up 0.3%. In Germany, the DAX is sporting a 0.4% advance.

Stocks are holding positive territory in midday trading following this morning's impressive jobs report. In fact, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are all comfortably higher. While the tech sector is leading the way, energy stocks are also showing strength. However, the major indexes would need to extend their leads to overcome their weekly losses, with the Dow currently set to post back-to-back weekly declines.

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

• Post-earnings pullback could be a time to buy Planet Fitness.
• Why analysts keep pummeling this health insurer.
• Plus, option bulls see huge Chegg comeback; OLED keeps rallying; and a major tech loser.

One name seeing unusual options trading today is education expert Chegg Inc (NYSE:CHGG). The shares are trading up 4.7% today at $37.57, as they try to recover from this week's earnings sell-off, which was seemingly contained by the $34-$36 area, the site of a February bull gap. Options traders are expressing extreme confidence by buying to open the January 2020 60-strike calls, betting CHGG stock can rally 60% in the months ahead.

One of the best stocks today is Universal Display Corporation (NASDAQ:OLED), with the shares last seen up 16.6% at $182.60. OLED's earnings report is bringing buyers to the table, and the equity earlier hit a 52-week high of $190. The tech concern is now up 95% in 2019.

Meanwhile, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp (NASDAQ:CTSH) is one of the worst performers on the Nasdaq, down 13% at $57.93. A number of bear notes have pounded CTSH to fresh annual lows, earlier bottoming at $57.70, as Wall Street responds to the company's wholly awful quarter.

All three stock market indexes managed big wins today, thanks to better-than-expected April jobs data. Specifically, the U.S. created 263,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate fell to a 49-year low of 3.6%. In addition, the Nasdaq got a boost from Amazon (AMZN), on news that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is amassing a stake. Against this backdrop, the S&P and Nasdaq managed to claw their way to weekly gains, though the Dow wasn't so lucky. 

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

• Lyft stock was blasted by analysts ahead of earnings. 
• History says this chip stock is a "buy."
• Plus, an "undervalued" biotech; one tech stock's worst week in years; and 2 stocks flying on earnings. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,504.74) tacked on 197 points, or 0.8%, in today's trading. A whopping 27 of the 30 Dow stocks finished higher, with Caterpillar (CAT) leading the pack after surging 2.9%. Cisco Systems (CSCO) finished flat, while Home Depot (HD) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) were the lone decliners, giving up 0.2% apiece. The Dow was down 0.1% for the week. 

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,945.64) rose 28.1 points, or 1%. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,164.00) ended 127.2 points, or 1.6%, higher. Both indexes added 0.2% for the week. 

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 12.87) was 1.5 points, or 10.8%, lower, with a 1.1% gain for the week.

5 Items on our Radar Today

1. People are not having Paramount Pictures' reimagined Sonic the Hedgehog, whose new look was just unveiled in a trailer for a new film. Fans took to Twitter and Reddit with their criticisms of the Sega-created video game character. Director Jeff Fowler said in a message on Thursday that the feedback had been received, and that plans for a redesign are in the works. (CNBC)
2. Thirty western allies met in Prague today, to agree to a list of 5G security guidelines. The set of proposals emphasized the limit of outside influences, especially Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers such as Huawei. (Reuters)
3. This pharma stock is being called an "undervalued growth story" by analysts. 
4. An earnings miss had this tech stock eyeing its worst week in years. 
5. 2 stocks that won big after earnings. 

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Weaker Dollar Lifts Gold

Oil inched higher today, as a strong jobs report bolstered demand expectations. June-dated crude futures tacked on 13 cents, or 0.2% to end at $61.94 per barrel. Black gold was down 2.2% for the week, however. 

Gold futures pared yesterday's losses, as the dollar fell on better-than-expected jobs data. Gold for June delivery rose $9.30, or 0.7%, to land at $1,281.30 per ounce. The commodity ended the week 0.6% in the red. 

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are deep in the red this morning, down 445 points after President Donald Trump reignited trade war fears in a series of tweets. Specifically, Trump threatened to raise tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25% from 10% this Friday, May 10, and said another $325 billion of Chinese goods will be slapped with a 25% tariff. China is now reportedly considering backing out of the this week's trade talks. As such, futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also notably lower, while the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) -- or Wall Street's "fear gauge" -- is set to skyrocket.

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

• Analyst says this cancer stock could surge 51%.
• Put buyers took profits on this pharma stock's slide.
• This drug stock is an "undervalued growth story."
• Plus, one drug giant's post-earnings surge; an underperforming food stock; and Pinterest stock's underwhelming analyst note.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.25 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 651,176 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio fell to 0.52, while the 21-day moving average stayed at 0.60.
2. Bausch Health Companies Inc (NYSE:BHC) is up 2.7% in early trading, after the pharmaceutical name raised its full-year guidance, despite reporting a first-quarter revenue miss. Set to open just above $24, BHC recently flashed a historic buy signal.
3. Food distributor Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) is down 0.7% this morning, as traders digest the firm’s fiscal third-quarter earnings report. Sysco stock is up nearly 19% from its late-December bottom, but has struggled to take the $71 area -- where SYY was trading before a November bear gap.
4. New-to-the-scene Pinterest Inc (NYSE:PINS) is 3.7% lower ahead of the bell, after landing a fresh analyst note out of Susquehanna. The firm initiated coverage with a "neutral" rating and $35 price target, noting Pinterest's lack of clarity in engagement trends. This price point represents a 23% premium to Friday's close. PINS has only been trading publicly since April 18, but so far has managed to add just over 16%.
5. A speech from Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker will encompass the economic schedule today. Meanwhile, Hertz Global (HTZ), Mosaic (MOS), Papa John's (PZZA), Rent-A-Center (RCII), Sysco (SYY), and Tyson Foods (TSN) will report earnings.

Trade Backlash Continues Overseas

President Trump’s tariff tweets also sent global markets spiraling. China’s Shanghai Composite fell 5.6% to trade at levels not seen since February, while the yuan also suffered heavy losses. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng closed down 2.9%, and Japan’s Nikkei gave back 0.2%. Rounding out the region, the South Korean Kospi finished with a 0.7% defeat.

With London’s FTSE 100 closed for holiday, markets in France and Germany are left to suffer the brunt of the trade-induced sell-off. At last check, the French CAC 40 was down 1.9%, and the German DAX was off 1.7%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) continues to pare its early morning losses, last seen trading near session highs, though the blue-chip index remains deep in the red at midday. Traders are still digesting President Donald Trump's tariff tweets that sparked a sell-off in global markets, as investors again worry about a U.S.-China trade war. While the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) have mirrored the Dow's price action, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is still set for its highest close since March 25 -- catching VIX futures traders off guard yet again.

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

• First Solar stock gets another bull note.
• 2 drug stocks squeezing short sellers.
• Plus, put traders bet on global weakness; tech stock spikes again; and a drug retailer near the bottom of the Nasdaq. 

One name seeing unusual options trading today is iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM). Traders may be using the emerging markets exchange-traded fund (ETF) to bet on more losses in global markets, as the shares trade down 2.4% at $43.18, set to close below the 50-day moving average for just the second time since January. Today's put/call volume ratio is 3.93, which not only shows almost four puts traded for every call, but also ranks in the 97th annual percentile. The May 42 and 43 puts are seeing heavy trading, along with the September 42 put.

One of the best stocks today is item identifying expert Digimarc (NASDAQ:DMRC), a name featured in last week's Schaeffer's Stock Market Podcast after a Walmart deal sent the shares soaring. DMRC is trading up another 12% at $53.69, topping out at a record best $54.44 earlier. The stock was trading below $15 coming into the year.

Online pet pharmacy PetMed Express Inc (NASDAQ:PETS) is one of the worst Nasdaq stocks today, down 7.8% at $20, following a top- and bottom-line miss for the fiscal fourth quarter. PETS shares earlier hit a two-year low of $19.50, bringing their year-to-date deficit to 14%.

The Dow won back most of its earlier losses, ending only 66 points below breakeven after this morning's dramatic 471-point drop. The index was mostly bolstered by reports that China would still be traveling to the U.S. next week to continue trade talks, despite President Donald Trump's inflammatory tweets over tariff hikes. Gains from Disney and McDonald's helped put some wind at the Dow's back, as well. Against this backdrop, the Nasdaq and S&P also finished slightly lower.

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

• This food stock swung higher on a Buffett boost. 
• Options traders flocked to this stock today on Amazon buzz. 
• The pharma stock skyrocketed on an FDA nod. 
• Plus, option bears slam HTZ stock before earnings; don't sweat this Dow stock's pullback; J.P. Morgan Securities likes this solar power stock. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 26,438.48) lost 66.5 points, or 0.3%, in today's trading. UnitedHealth (UNH) led the 11 gainers with a 3.7% win, while Nike (NKE) sunk to the bottom of the 19 losers, down 2.5%.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 2,932.47) was 13.2 points, or 0.5%, lower at the close, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 8,123.29) was down 40.7 points, or 0.5%.

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 15.44) was 2.6 points, or nearly 20%, higher.

5 Items on our Radar Today

1. Greenlight Capital president and founder David Einhorn isn't buying electric carmaker Tesla's promise of autonomous cars. Einhorn, who has famously shorted TSLA shares, criticized the plan in a strongly worded speech at the Sohn Investment Conference in Manhattan earlier today. (CNBC)
2. The internet was abuzz after last night's "Game of Thrones" episode when an out-of-place Starbucks coffee cup saw several seconds of screen time. This accidental product placement could mean serious profit for the coffee giant, according to Hollywood Branded CEO Stacy Jones, who estimated the publicity value to be north of $1 million. (MarketWatch)
3. Options bears are loading up on Hertz stock puts ahead of earnings.
4. Don't sweat this Dow stock's recent pullback, says signal. 
5. J.P. Morgan Securities sees more upside for this solar energy name. 

Data courtesy of Trade-Alert

Oil, Gold Harden After Trump Tariff Tweets

Its been a volatile day for oil amid Trump's trade comments. The commodity touched a one-month low earlier today before erasing its losses to end 31 cents, or 0.5% higher, at $62.25 per barrel -- likely bolstered by rising political turmoil in the Middle East. 

Early stock market uncertainty had gold futures higher, too. Gold for June delivery rose $2.50, or 0.2%, to land at $1,283.80 per ounce.