Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointed lower this morning, as the blue-chip index attempts to eke out a weekly win. Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) futures, however, are pointing higher this morning, as the index basks in the glow of its record close yesterday. Along with Tesla's (TSLA) semi truck buzz and a handful of well-received retailer earnings, Washington, D.C., will remain in focus.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller reportedly subpoenaed more than a dozen Trump campaign officials recently, regarding Russia's role in the 2016 election. And after the House passed the GOP tax reform bill yesterday, the Senate hopes to pass its own bill as soon as next week. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin today said he expects President Trump to sign a tax reform bill before Christmas.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
2 blue-chip stocks to buy before Black Friday.The FAANG stock seeing frenzied call activity.Analyst: This drug company "overpaid for another asset."Plus, buyers circling Twenty-First Century Fox; the retailer set for its best day in nearly two decades; and red-hot Square gets upgraded.
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard will make his way to the podium today. Housing starts and building permits are also due. Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), Buckle (BKE), and Hibbett Sports (HIBB) will round out the week's earnings reports.
It was a mixed finish in Asia today, following Thursday's breakout session on Wall Street. Hong Kong's Hang Seng outpaced its peers, adding 0.6% after a record-setting day for Tencent. Japan's Nikkei also closed higher, adding 0.2% -- but snapped its nine-week winning streak. On the flip side, China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.5%, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.03% as a strengthening won put pressure on exporters.
European markets are modestly higher at midday, as traders mull over a speech from European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi -- who said the central bank needs to be "patient" in normalizing monetary policy -- and digest reports U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller subpoenaed multiple members of President Donald Trump's campaign team. At last check, the German DAX was up 0.1%, the French CAC 40 has tacked on 0.03%, and London's FTSE 100 is 0.02% higher.