DJIA futures are below fair value as traders weigh blue-chip earnings
After
breaking a three-day hot streak,
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are just below fair value this morning. Earnings are in focus again today, with blue chips General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Visa Inc (NYSE:V) all pointed lower after reporting, overshadowing a well-received report from
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD).
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) are 8.5 points below fair value.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- Japan surged ahead of next week's central bank meeting, but Europe slumped on weak PMI.
- The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 716,250 call contracts traded on Thursday, compared to 610,703 put contracts. The resultant single-session equity put/call ratio jumped to 0.85, while the 21-day moving average stayed pput at 0.69.
- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is pointed 0.6% lower ahead of the open, after Raymond James lowered its outlook for iPhone sales, following Thursday's disappointing report from AAPL supplier QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM). In addition, AAPL stores apparently went dark in China.
- GE beat per-share earnings estimates by 2 cents, but the stock is 1% lower in pre-market trading, as the company saw organic revenue fall 1% from the previous year.
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) is preparing to name Joseph Papa -- currently chief executive of Perrigo Company plc Ordinary Shares (NYSE:PRGO) -- its replacement for CEO Michael Pearson. VRX popped 7.2% higher in electronic trading.

Earnings and Economic Data
Markit's flash purchasing managers index (PMI) is due. As for earnings, American Airlines (AAL), Honeywell (HON), Kimberly-Clark (KMB), LyondellBasell (LYB), and SunTrust Banks (STI) are scheduled to report. To see what is coming up on next week's schedule, click here.
Don't miss the market's next move! Sign up now for Schaeffer's Midday Market Check