News the U.S. will delay some Chinese tariffs is boosting U.S. stocks
The U.S. stock market is surging today on reports the U.S. will delay additional tariffs on several Chinese goods ahead of the holiday shopping season. The retail sector in particular is rallying on the news, with Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO), and Best Buy Co Inc (NYSE:BBY) among some of the biggest gainers. Here's a closer look at how the shares of WMT, AEO, and BBY are trading today.
Walmart Stock Bounces from 80-Day Moving Average
Walmart stock is up 2.1% to trade at $107.44, bouncing from support at its 80-day moving average. It's been a strong year for WMT, up 15.4% so far, yet eight of 20 analysts still maintain a lukewarm "hold" rating on the retailer, and the average 12-month price target of $111.97 is a slim 4.2% premium to current levels.
This leaves the door open for a round of bull notes to fuel even more upside for the shares, especially if Walmart turns in another well-received earnings report before the market opens this Thursday, Aug. 15. WMT has closed higher the day after earnings in three of the past four quarters, including a 9.3% pop this time last year.
AEO Stock Swing Back Above 10-Day Trendline
American Eagle shares tagged a 20-month low of $15.34 earlier, but have since swung up 5.7% to trade at $16.43 -- set to close above their 10-day moving average for the first time since July 24. The stock is still down 15% year-to-date, but options traders have positioned for a rebound. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), AEO's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 4.88 ranks in the 85th annual percentile, meaning calls have been bought to open over puts at an accelerated clip.
Best Buy Options Pop During Rally
Best Buy is the best stock on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) this afternoon, up 6.6% at $71.48 -- headed toward its biggest one-day gain since Feb. 27. Today's pop has the shares bouncing from their 200-day moving average, which served as support during last week's bear gap, as well as in late June.
This latest surge has BBY shares extending their 2019 gain to 35%, and has options volume running at above-average levels. With a little over an hour left in today's trading, around 9,200 calls and 6,400 puts have changed hands on Best Buy, triple the expected intraday amount. Traders may be buying to open August 71 calls, which expire at the close this Friday, Aug. 16, while new positions are also being initiated at the weekly 8/30 75-strike call and the December 65 put.