Stock futures are trading firmly below fair value this morning, signaling a reversal after two straight days of gains. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are down over triple digits, with anxiety ramping up ahead of the release of inflation data later this week. Traders are also digesting President Trump's newly unveiled budget proposal, which would more than double the U.S. deficit over the next 10 years.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
The VIX risk that just turned into an opportunity, according to Schaeffer's Senior V.P. of Research Todd Salamone.Options traders placed big bets on these two bank ETFs. Amazon.com claimed another victim.Plus, Blue Apron's earnings beat; Under Armour's revenue win; and Walgreens plots another takeover.
It was a mostly higher finish in Asia today, as traders took a bullish cue from Wall Street. Hong Kong's Hang Seng outpaced its regional peers, adding 1.3% as property stocks and financial shares surged. With just one more trading day ahead of the week-long Lunar New Year break, China's Shanghai Composite rose 1%. South Korea's Kospi also finished in the green, up 0.4%. Japan's Nikkei, however, closed down 0.7% following the long holiday weekend, as the yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar.
European markets are mixed at midday, though price action is relatively muted given recent volatility. Earnings are in focus, with a negative reaction for Belgium-based media firm Telenet weighing on the telecommunications sector, and shares of TUI climbing after the German travel company reported a slimmer-than-expected quarterly loss. At last check, the German DAX was down 0.09%, and the French CAC 40 was off 0.03%. London's FTSE 100, on the other hand, is up 0.2%, as mining stocks pop and data showed inflation rose at a higher-than-expected rate in January.