Markets will close early for the Fourth of July holiday
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX), and S&P 500 Index (SPX) futures are trading just below breakeven this morning. Investors are unpacking private payrolls data, which pointed to a cooler labor market, as companies added only 153,000 jobs in June as opposed to the 160,000 estimates. While the New York Stock Exchange will close early at 1 p.m. EST today for Fourth of July, the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) June meeting minutes are still due out later in the afternoon.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White on what to expect from stocks in the second half of 2024.
- Stock market gains during high inflation is a good sign.
- Plus, MGM a 'buy'; Constellation's post-earnings pop; and Tesla's delivery numbers.
5 Things You Need to Know Today
- The Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE) saw more than 1.4 million call contracts and 1 million put contracts exchanged on Tuesday. The single-session equity put/call rose to 0.70, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.67.
- BTIG initiated coverage of MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) stock with a "buy" rating and $52 price target. The analysts noted the casino name's "attractive fundamental story." MGM is up 0.8% in premarket trading, but is 5.3% lower so far this year.
- Beverage giant Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter thanks to strong demand for its beers. The equity is up 3.9% in premarket trading, and sports a 7.1% year-to-date lead.
- Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock is up 2% before the open, after the electric vehicle (EV) company announced delivery numbers for the fiscal second quarter than surpassed estimates. TSLA still carries a 17.4% year-over-year deficit, though.
- Plenty of economic data due out this holiday-shortened week.
European Stocks Higher Amid Election Buzz
Stocks in Asia were mostly higher Wednesday, with investors digesting several bouts of economic data. Japan’s composite purchasing manager’s index (PMI) data fell to 49.7 June, while the Caixin services PMI posted an expansion in the services sector for the 18th straight month, coming in at 51.2. In response, Japan's Nikkei added 1.3%. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.2% thanks to a lift in property stocks, while South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.5% and China’s Shanghai Composite dipped 0.5%.
In Europe stocks are also moving higher, with all eyes on the upcoming U.K. and French elections this weekend, where the former's Labour Party is expected to take back power in a landslide, and right-wing challengers loom for the latter. At last glance, France’s CAC 40 is up 1.6%, Germany’s DAX has added 1%, and London’s FTSE 100 is 0.6% higher.