Coronavirus concerns remain the top focus for investors
It's shaping up to be a slow start to the trading day for U.S. stocks, with Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures trading below fair value this morning. Coronavirus fears continue to linger, hitting global markets overnight, and pressuring futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX), as well. With earnings season slowing and a somewhat quiet week ahead for economic data, coronavirus concerns could remain front and center for investors in the near term.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- One company's earnings report affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
- Uber stock was the big winner on Friday.
- Plus, restaurant stock pops on chicken sandwich sales; Alzheimer's drug fails trial; and another update on a coronavirus vaccine.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.52 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 847,311 put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio moved up to 0.56, and the 21-day moving average was 0.54.
- Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR) shares are trading 4.7% higher before the open thanks to the company's strong quarterly results. The earnings beat was driven by increased demand around Popeyes chicken sandwiches. However, this comes after QSR had been falling fast on the charts, down 14.1% in the past six months.
- The shares of Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) are down 3.9% in pre-market trading following news that an experimental drug from the company and fellow drugmaker Roche failed in a study for patients with genes that make them vulnerable to Alzheimer's. LLY stock had just hit a record high of $147.87 last week.
- Elsewhere on the healthcare front, Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) is in focus again for the company's coronavirus vaccine. The company said it's on pace to begin human trials for the vaccine within three months, sending MRNA stock up 3.9% before the bell.
- The week will start somewhat quietly, though a few notable names will enter the earnings confessional. Included on the list is Allergan (AGN), Chegg (CHGG), and Restaurant Brands (QSR).
Sellers Dominate in Overseas Trading
Global stock markets are moving lower. In Asia, China's Shanghai Composite managed a positive session to buck the broader trend, managing a 0.5% win. Elsewhere in the region, the Hang Seng slipped 0.6%, the Nikkei fell 0.6%, and South Korea's Kospi closed down 0.5%. It's a similar setup for equities in Europe, too. At last check, London's FTSE 100 is trading down 0.3%, as is Germany's DAX, while France's CAC 40 is off by 0.4%.