Dow Futures Jump Ahead of Fed Speeches

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are signaling a positive start amid a number of upbeat headlines. In Hong Kong, leader Carrie Lam said the government will withdraw a controversial extradition bill that ignited months of violent protests, while U.K. lawmakers attempt to block a no-deal Brexit following a bruising defeat for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and data showed a big boost in China's services sector in August. Back on the homefront, Wall Street is waiting for an onslaught of Fed speeches, and eyeing the latest trade data, which showed the U.S. trade deficit narrowed in July, but is still higher year-over-year.

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

• Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White explains the short-term impact of big S&P moves.
• The signal that says volatility could sink this month.
• The rare bear note that pressured Planet Fitness stock.
• Plus, a shipping stock set to soar; Coupa Software jumps on beat-and-raise; and the diagnostics testing stock eyeing a 70% pop.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 694,019 call contracts traded on Tuesday -- the fewest since Jan. 2 -- compared to 508,049 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio climbed to 0.73, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.72.
2. The shares of TOP Ships Inc. (NASDAQ:TOPS) are trading up 30% ahead of the bell, after the Greece-based ship operator reported a narrower-than-expected loss in its first half. Revenue, meanwhile, jumped 51% over the six-month period. TOPS stock is down 59.5% year-to-date through last night's close at $6.66.
3. Coupa Software Inc (NASDAQ:COUP) recorded an unexpected second-quarter adjusted profit of 7 cents per share on $95.1 million in revenue. The payment management software maker also raised its full-year guidance, and at least six price-target hikes have come through. After closing last night at $134.40, COUP stock is up 11.2% in electronic trading -- on track to open at a new record high near $150 per share.
4. OpGen Inc (NASDAQ:OPGN) said it will merge with fellow diagnostics testing maker Curetis. The deal has been approved by both companies' boards of directors, but is subject to shareholder approval. OPGN stock is set to jump almost 72% out of the gate -- eyeing its first trek into double-digit territory since May -- after settling last night at $6.52
5. The Fed's Beige Book is due out, while speeches from New York Fed President John Williams, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans will trickle in throughout the day. American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), Michaels Stores (MIK), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Pivotal Software (PVTL), and Slack (WORK) will report earnings.

Hong Kong Stocks Break Higher

Markets in Asia ended higher, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng in the lead on a whopping 3.9% gain, after reports that the territory's leader Carrie Lam would withdraw a controversial extradition bill that has been inciting protests since June. Lam did add that the government "may not be able to address all the grievances of people in society." Elsewhere, China's Shanghai Composite tacked on 0.9% after a positive reading on service-sector growth, while South Korea's Kospi added 1.2% and Japan's Nikkei gained 0.1%.

European markets are up at midday, as the House of Commons made progress in their efforts to prevent a no-deal Brexit, with many members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party expelled after supporting opposition efforts to take control of parliament. London's FTSE 100 is up 0.4%, while the German DAX is 1.1% higher on strength in autos. The French CAC 40 is up 1.2%.