Buzz Stocks: Apple Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc, and DSW Inc.

Today's stocks to watch include Apple Inc. (AAPL), Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (VRX), and DSW Inc. (DSW)

Mar 15, 2016 at 9:31 AM

A continued slide in crude futures has U.S. stocks trading lower again this morning, as the Fed assembles to begin its two-day meeting. Among equities in focus are tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX), and retail stock DSW Inc. (NYSE:DSW).

AAPL is poised to pop 1.8% at the open, after Morgan Stanley said iPhone demand for this month is on pace to top expectations. Apple Inc. is also due to give its latest response to the Department of Justice today, after the DOJ appealed a court ruling protecting the company last week. The stock has maintained its ground above the century level since the beginning of March, and closed at $102.52 on Monday. Bears are slowly but surely backing off, too. Short interest on AAPL fell by more than 25% during the two most recent reporting periods, and now accounts for less than 1% of the stock's available float.

VRX is down 20% in electronic trading after reporting lower-than-expected preliminary fourth-quarter earnings and slashing its outlook for the current quarter. After settling at $69.04 Monday, Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc is on pace to hit a new three-year low today, and a recent crop of option bulls could be feeling the heat -- including Monday's buyers of the VRX March 70 call.

DSW is up 9.1% after reporting fourth-quarter earnings of 14 cents per share, doubling analysts' expectations. As a result, DSW Inc. is on track to challenge its looming 200-day moving average, but this could be a tough trendline to topple. DSW hasn't managed a daily close above its 200-day since last July, and the stock closed Monday at $27.49 -- right near former support in the $27-$28 neighborhood.

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