Jobs Data, U.S.-China Trade Silence Weigh on Stocks
The U.S. trade deficit hit a 10-year high
Stocks are lower in afternoon trading, as investors continue to digest a lackluster ADP employment report and a 10-year high in the U.S. trade deficit. In addition, Wall Street continues to await news on U.S.-China trade talks, with President Donald Trump reportedly pushing for a resolution. At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are in the red, all three on pace for a third straight daily loss.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
The pot stock popping on Portugal progress.EpiPen maker rebounds on Morgan Stanley upgrade. Plus, 2 retailers making notable post-earnings moves; and the pharma stock that's doubled today.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN) is sporting unusual options volume today, with 10,000 calls and 6,800 puts traded so far -- eight times the expected intraday amount. Most active are the weekly 3/8 30.50- and 32-strike calls, which are set to expire upon Friday's close. At last check, URBN has added 1.8%, to trade at $30.92, reversing early losses. The activity comes after the retailer reported a slight earnings beat, but warned of a possible drop in same-store sales this quarter.
In one of the top spots on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is J.Jill Inc (NYSE:JILL), last seen 13.6% higher at $6.68, after the retailer reported a fourth-quarter profit beat. JILL is pacing toward its highest close since August, and is attempting to break throughlong-term resistance at the $6.50 level.
Comfortably at the top of the Nasdaq today is Bio-Path Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:BPTH), soaring an unbelievable 121% at $10.21, at last check, after the pharmaceutical name said it has seen "meaningful treatment improvement" for its phase 2 study of its acute myeloid leukemia (AML) drug. BPTH shares have skyrocketed more than 500% since their low of $1.61 on Jan. 22.