Both companies are facing headwinds in China
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are sharply lower, with the index set to give back all the gainsfrom Friday's temporary government shutdown relief. Investors still remain wary of political gridlock, after President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Sunday that another government shutdown is "certainly an option." Also pressuring marketsthis morning is an earnings miss and lackluster outlook from blue chip Caterpillar (CAT), and cut guidance from Nvidia (NVDA) is weighing on chip stocks. Both companies cited deteriorating business conditions in China.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
Citron: There's a new tailwind for Twitter. Report: This drug company is "exploiting" the healthcare system. Plus, Electronic Arts stock faces tough resistance; more trouble for PCG; and more negative attention for one healthcare stock.
It was a mostly lower finish in Asia today, as caution set in ahead of this week's key events, including a U.S. Fed meeting and the latest trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing. China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.2%, after data showed industrial profit fell for a second consecutive month in December. Japan's Nikkei also closed lower, shedding 0.6% as SoftBank slipped 1.2%, while South Korea's Kospi closed fractionally lower as chip stocks SK Hynix and LG Electronics sank 3.8% and 2.6%, respectively. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, meanwhile, eked out a 0.03% gain.
European markets are lower at midday, as energy stocks fall in step with Brent crude prices, with the latter last seen down 1.6%. Traders are also looking ahead to European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi's testimony in front of the European Parliament. At last check, the French CAC 40 is down 0.6%, the German DAX is off 0.4%, and London's FTSE 100 is flirting with a 0.5% loss ahead of tomorrow's parliamentary vote on Prime Minister Theresa May's "Plan B" for Brexit.