Stocks are getting rocked in pre-market trading
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are pointing to a massive pullback in stocks this morning, as the blue-chip index eyes a nearly 800-point sell-off at the open. The tech sector is set to get hit the hardest due to fresh coronavirus headwinds, with the number of cases growing substantially around the globe. This is setting up equities for one of the worst days in months, while gold prices are soaring amid the risk-off atmosphere.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Short sellers have their eye on Fitbit.
- Bulls bet on this hot cloud stock.
- Plus, beverage stock upgraded; coronavirus stocks rise; and a gold name eyeing fresh highs.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw 1.49 million call contracts traded on Friday, compared to 1.08 million put contracts. The single-session equity put/call ratio moved to 0.73, and the 21-day moving average was 0.55.
- Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (NYSE:KDP) was upgraded to "equal-weight" from "underweight" at Morgan Stanley, which raised its price target to $29 from $28. This is actually just below KDP's Friday close though, when the shares notched their highest close since early December.
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While most stocks are set to fall this morning, companies that have a hand in containing the virus could see their share price rise today. For instance, mask maker Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:APT) is set to rise more than 12%, and vaccine producer Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) is pacing for a positive open, too.
- Another group that will see strength today is gold miners. One name in particular that's seeing upside is Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM), pacing for a 4.7% pop at the open. This comes after NEM shares hit their highest point since 2012 on Friday.
- The week opens with the Chicago Fed national activity index, while HP (HPQ), Intuit (INTU), Keysight (KEYS), and Shake Shack enter the earnings confessional.
International Markets Pummeled
Asian markets plummeted on Monday as coronavirus anxieties worsened. Specifically, South Korea lifted its alert on the virus to its “highest level,” after cases grew rapidly over the weekend. In response, the Kospi fell 3.9%. Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite dropped 0.3%, dampened by a struggling airline sector, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.8%. The Nikkei in Japan was closed for holiday.
The spread of the coronavirus in northern Italy has led to cancelled events and quarantine, devastating European markets at midday. The French CAC 40 and the Frankfurt DAX have both given up 3.7%, while the London FTSE 100 is down 3.3%.