The S&P 500 futures are up 12 points and are trading 0.2% above fair value, the Nasdaq 100 futures are up 19 points and are trading 0.1% above fair value, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are up 77 points and are trading 0.2% above fair value.
Stock futures indicate a higher open following seven straight winning weeks for the major indices.
Treasury yields are moving lower, acting as support for equities. The 2-yr note yield is down four basis points to 4.42% and the 10-yr note yield is down two basis points to 3.91%.
Chicago President Goolsbee (not a 2024 voter) said it's too early to declare victory against inflation, according to Bloomberg. Several ECB officials do not see a pivot in policy before March, making a rate cut before June difficult, according to Reuters.
Economic data today is limited to the December NAHB Housing Market Index (prior 34) at 10:00 a.m. ET.
In corporate news:
U.S. Steel (X 50.57, +11.24, +28.6%): Nippon Steel Corporation (NPSCY) to acquire U. S. Steel for $55.00/share
Illumina (ILMN 134.50, +7.40, +5.8%): announced that the company will divest GRAIL
IBM
V.F. Corp (VFC 18.63, -1.59, -8.0%): detected unauthorized occurrences on a portion of its information technology
Citigroup (C 50.04, +0.21, +0.4%): reports November card metrics
PGT Inc. (PGTI 39.25, +3.16, +8.8%): Masonite (DOOR) announced a definitive agreement under which Masonite will acquire PGTI for a combination of cash and Masonite shares with a total transaction value of $3.0 bln; PGT Innovations shareholders will receive $41.00 per each PGT Innovations share they own, comprised of $33.50 in cash and $7.50 in common shares of Masonite
Reviewing overnight developments:
Equity indices in the Asia-Pacific region were mostly lower, trading cautiously in front of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy decision on Tuesday. Japan's Nikkei: -0.6%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng: -0.9%, China's Shanghai, Composite: -0.4%, India's Sensex: -0.2%, South Korea's Kospi: +0.1%, Australia's All Ordinaries: -0.2%.
In economic data:
New Zealand's Q4 Westpac Consumer Sentiment 88.9 (last 80.2)
In news:
The BOJ is expected to leave its key policy rate unchanged, but participants are keenly interested to hear if the BOJ signals intention to shift away from negative interest rate policy in near future.
People in Japan, meanwhile, have not lost sight of the government's fundraising scandal.
A Kyodo News survey indicates support rating for Prime Minister Kishida's Cabinet has slumped to new low of just 22.3%.
China is reportedly increasing the number of state firms and government agencies restricting staff from bringing iPhones to work China, according to Bloomberg.
In other news, China is extending the end of FX trading from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. next day, starting today, and the PBOC set the yuan reference rate at its strongest fix (7.0933) since June 5.
Major European indices are mostly in a modest downward drift to begin the week on a relatively slow news day, although the UK's FTSE 100 is outperforming with the help of its energy components. STOXX Europe 600: -0.1%, Germany's DAX: -0.3%, UK's FTSE 100: +0.7%, France's CAC 40: -0.2%, Italy's FTSE MIB: -0.2%, Spain's IBEX 35: flat.
In economic data:
Germany's December Ifo Business Climate Index 86.4 (expected 87.8; last 87.2)
In news:
A Reuters report that several sources indicate ECB officials don't see a pivot in policy before March, making a rate cut before June difficult.
Separately, Germany's business climate survey for December printed a weaker-than-expected result and dip from November.
There is some chatter that revised Q3 GDP data for the UK will be revised into contraction territory when it is reported on Friday.
U.S. equity futures:
S&P 500 Futures +5 @ 4,725
DJIA Futures: +38 @ 37,343
Nasdaq 100 Futures: -3 @ 16,620
Overseas:
Europe: DAX -0.3%, FTSE +0.7%, CAC -0.2%
Asia: Nikkei -0.6%, Hang Seng-0.9%, Shanghai Composite -0.4%
Commodities:
Crude Oil +0.66 @ 72.44
Nat Gas +0.084 @ 2.575
Gold +1.30 @ 2037.00
Silver +0.061 @ 24.215
Copper -0.0152 @ 3.8753
Earnings/Guidance:
No earnings/guidance news of note.
News:
Chicago President Austan Goolsbee (not a 2024 voter) says it's too early to declare victory against inflation, according to Bloomberg
US officials will push Israel to scale back war this week, according to the New York Times
Senators are citing progress but no imminent deal on border security and Ukraine funding, according to Politico
Negative equity on auto loans is at the highest level in more than 3 years, according to Bloomberg
40% of student loan borrowers missed first payment since resumption, according to The Hill
Canada to mandate zero emission auto sales by 2035, according to CBC
UK announces carbon border adjustment mechanism
Akero Therapeutics (
Anheuser-Busch InBev (
Apple (
Applied Materials (
Arcutis Biotherapeutics (
Arm Holdings (
BP (
Braskem SA (
Bristol Myers Squibb (
Cadiz (
Camtek (
Can-Fite BioPharma (
Catalyst Pharma (
Chemours (
Cipher Mining (
Citigroup (
Citigroup's (
Coinbase (
Denison Mines (
Duke Energy (
Elbit Systems (
EMCOR Group (
eXp World Holdings (
Ferguson plc (
FREYR Battery (FREY) announced that the DOE has invited the Company to submit the Part II loan application under the DOE Title 17 program for FREYR's Giga America project
Gildan Activewear (
Gildan Activewear (
GlaxoSmithKline (
Gyre Therapeutics (
Innate Pharma (
Invivyd (
KBR (
Kenon Holdings' (
Lantheus (
Lexeo Therapeutics (
LG Display (
Lockheed Martin (
Merck (
Mitek Systems (
Moderna (
New Oriental Education & Technology (
NIO (
Nissan (
OrganiGram (
Organon (
Performance Food Group (
Petrobras (
Pfizer (
Tencent (
TIM S.A. (
Seacoast Banking (
SEI Investments (
Shoe Carnival (
Sigma Lithium (
Southwest Air (
Structure Therapeutics (
V.F. Corp (
Viasat (
Viatris (
Viridian Therapeutics (
Vodafone PLC (
Wolverine (
M&A:
Adobe (
Bluegreen Vacations Holding (
Carrier Global (
Chuck E. Cheese mulling sale, according to the New York Post
Ebix (
FirstService (
IBM (
Illumina (
KKR (
Mitsubishi Financial (
PC-TEL (
PGT Inc. (
POINT Biopharma (
reAlpha Tech Corp. (
Unilever PLC (
U.S. Steel (
Visa (
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions (
Syndicate:
Arcosa (
Cabot (
Open Text (
ORIC Pharmaceuticals (
Shell plc (
TriSalus Life Sciences (
IPOs:
No IPOs expected to price.
Gapping Up/Down
Analyst Research (see Upgrades/Downgrades calendar for full list):
Upgrades
Allakos (ALLK) upgraded to Outperform from Mkt Perform at William Blair
Bank of Montreal (BMO) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA Securities
BNY Mellon (BK) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan; tgt $54.50
Broadstone Net Lease (BNL) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan; tgt $19
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman; tgt $25
CIBC upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA Securities
Cousins Prop (CUZ) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan; tgt raised to $27
Elme Communities (ELME) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan; tgt raised to $18
Entain Plc (GMVHY) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies
EPR Properties (EPR) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan; tgt $51
Equifax (EFX) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies; tgt raised to $315
Salesforce (CRM) upgraded to Outperform from Peer Perform at Wolfe Research; tgt $315
Downgrades:
AbbVie (ABBV) downgraded to Hold from Buy at HSBC Securities
Affirm (AFRM) downgraded to Underweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; tgt raised to $20
Anywhere Real Estate (HOUS) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan; tgt $7
Archer-Daniels (ADM) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital Markets; tgt lowered to $80
Arm Holdings plc (ARM) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank; tgt raised to $70
Bread Financial (BFH) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan; tgt lowered to $36
Century Communities (CCS) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Wedbush; tgt $81
CompoSecure (CMPO) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan; tgt lowered to $6
COPT Defense Properties (COPT) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan; tgt $26
Exelon (EXC) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley; tgt lowered to $38
Formula One Group C (FWONK) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley; tgt lowered to $70
Masonite International (DOOR) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Wedbush; tgt $92
M/I Homes (MHO) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Wedbush; tgt $116
M&T Bank (MTB) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank; tgt $145
Meritage (MTH) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Wedbush; tgt $170
Nokia (NOK) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman
Others:
AppLovin (APP) initiated with a Buy at HSBC Securities; tgt $53.20
CoStar Group (CSGP) resumed with a Buy at Goldman; tgt $98
Danaher (DHR) initiated with a Hold at HSBC Securities
FinVolution Group (FINV) initiated with a Buy at Nomura
Econ Data:
10:00 ET: NAHB Housing Market Index for Dec (Briefing.com Consensus 38; Prior 34)
Earnings:
Monday (Dec 18)
Afternoon: HEI
Tuesday (Dec 19)
Morning: ACN FDS FCEL
Afternoon: FDX SCS WOR
Wednesday (Dec 20)
Morning: GIS TTC WGO
Afternoon: BB MLKN MU
Thursday (Dec 21)
Morning: APOG CCL KMX CTAS PAYX
Afternoon: AIR AVO NKE
Asia & Europe detail:
Asia: Nikkei -0.6%, Hang Seng-0.9%, Shanghai Composite -0.4%
Equity indices in the Asia-Pacific region were mostly lower, trading cautiously in front of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy decision on Tuesday. The BOJ is expected to leave its key policy rate unchanged, but participants are keenly interested to hear if the BOJ signals intention to shift away from negative interest rate policy in near future. People in Japan, meanwhile, have not lost sight of the government's fundraising scandal. A Kyodo News survey indicates support rating for Prime Minister Kishida's Cabinet has slumped to new low of just 22.3%. China is reportedly increasing the number of state firms and government agencies restricting staff from bringing iPhones to work China, according to Bloomberg. In other news, China is extending the end of FX trading from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. next day, starting today, and the PBOC set the yuan reference rate at its strongest fix (7.0933) since June 5.
In economic data:
New Zealand's Q4 Westpac Consumer Sentiment 88.9 (last 80.2)
---Equity Markets---
Japan's Nikkei: -0.6%
Hong Kong's Hang Seng: -0.9%
China's Shanghai Composite: -0.4%
India's Sensex: -0.2%
South Korea's Kospi: +0.1%
Australia's All Ordinaries: -0.2%
---FX---
USD/JPY: +0.4% to 142.64
USD/CNH: +0.1% to 7.1384
USD/INR: flat at 83.055
Europe: DAX -0.3%, FTSE +0.7%, CAC -0.2%
Major European indices are mostly in a modest downward drift to begin the week on a relatively slow news day, although the UK's FTSE 100 is outperforming with the help of its energy components. One news item drawing some interest, though, is a Reuters report that suggests several sources indicate ECB officials don't see a pivot in policy before March, making a rate cut before June difficult. Separately, Germany's business climate survey for December printed a weaker-than-expected result and dip from November. There is some chatter that revised Q3 GDP data for the UK will be revised into contraction territory when it is reported on Friday.
In economic data:
Germany's December Ifo Business Climate Index 86.4 (expected 87.8; last 87.2)
---Equity Markets---
STOXX Europe 600: -0.1%
Germany's DAX: -0.3%
UK's FTSE 100: +0.7%
France's CAC 40: -0.2%
Italy's FTSE MIB: -0.2%
Spain's IBEX 35: flat
---FX---
EUR/USD: +0.2% to 1.0910
GBP/USD: -0.1% to 1.2656
USD/CHF: -0.3% to 0.8671
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