Naz News, Gappers and FLE's

[MWM]

Good to know! Don't be a stranger 

[MiamiGent]

I am active on X these days, too. I converted my stock site there to a travelogue.
This is just one post. If you click on "monastery foods" on the top of it, its a back door way to roam all around my site, even if not an X (twitter) subscriber

Long day delivery in northern VA last week, at a hilltop farm store.
On these 300+ glass (jars) orders, the rig needs to be stripped to get at everything. Then returned.
Good sleeps follow :) pic.twitter.com/HzJvRlUFUa

— monastery foods (@AbbeyFare) December 2, 2024

Best to all. I miss the old days, too
MG

[Golden Cross]

$AGBA Group announced the shareholder approval of all Triller Corp. merger proposals at the Extraordinary General Meeting. With only final Nasdaq approval pending, the merger is on track for completion any day now.

$AGBA Group announces shareholder approval of all Triller Corp. merger proposals at the Extraordinary General Meeting. With only final Nasdaq approval pending, the merger is on track for completion.

More details: https://t.co/JsogmfFJR4 pic.twitter.com/XoOyzg1ypB

— Triller Investor Relations (@triller_IR) September 19, 2024

[MWM]

I miss the old days! Hope all is well. I have a pretty active Twitter account. If you are still trading you should PM me on Twitter

[dc_350]

So are calling gapper??? lol

Good to hear from you MWM!

[MWM]

$ASTS is a stock I'm very excited about. I have absolutely loaded up here in the $20's. I think it is a true disruptor to the cellular industry. Great chance to buy on a pullback today. For any old friends that might still be around.

[Golden Cross]

$SOPA Sequire Spotlight Presents Society Pass: Redefining Convenience and Lifestyle Services

10/28 Jon Najarian with CPA, CMO, Rokas Sidlauskas about the company acquiring a variety of assets!
Below Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7IdxEObGZ8

[BGCapital]

Thoughts on MULN?

$MULN just received IRS approval for Federal EV TAX CREDIT💸 on commercial vehicles🚐 NOW effective. #Mullen receives “Qualified Manufacturer”👀 designation for commercial EV federal tax credit of up to $7,500 per vehicle= REVENUE

If you are a shareholder in $TSLA $RIVN $LCID… https://t.co/OsJkIC5mcD pic.twitter.com/t1jQKQh6z6

— Stock Picks NYC (@StockPicksNYC) September 19, 2023

[MiamiGent]

Hard to believe eight years have passed since ico left.

[MiamiGent]

Nice Lizzy! Now I suggest putting some of your winnings in cash in a Tupperware container and snap the lid shut tight.
Sock it away for when this economy hits the fan in first half, '24.
Good to see you on the board!
MG

PS I'm a temporary bagholder in RXRX

[fastlizzy]

TUP doubled in AH

mega short squeeze after restructuring deal. Tupperware must survive!

[fastlizzy]

Here’s one for you, TUP


Meme stock short squeeze.

[MiamiGent]

You are invited to tune into "Weekend Music" on ihub's $Stock*Shop*Charts*News*Option$ board.
Here are last week's songs, expertly selected by musicologist, SkeBallLarry:

https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171297660

[fastlizzy]

Oh no, I’m so sad about earlylight.

I hope it wasn’t Covid. He was very nice, and helpful.

Hope you’re doing well. I’m tiptoeing back into the market. There are some good buys out there for long term holds.

[griff100]

Hi Lizzy......I know what you mean! I haven't traded anything in a while....I really don't have time to watch. I'm hoping the market goes even lower the next few months, I'd like to do some true long term buying.
Earlylight unfortunately has passed away a while back. Not sure from what as we couldn't get any details....I miss him, he was a good guy!

[fastlizzy]

That was nice.

[fastlizzy]

Hey griff, it’s been a while. Hope all is well.

I think golfing may be better than playing this market. Next time you do well, walk away. I’m sitting on my hands lately.

I’ll look in on what you’re playing once in a while.

What happened to early light?

[MiamiGent]

All former readers and participants here on the Naz board are welcome to look in and participate on this big board:
https://investorshub.advfn.com/Stock*Shop*Charts*News*Option-7793
We power down on weekends but try to give it hell weekdays.
Come help us make it successful!

[MiamiGent]

Will put on my radar. Thanks for the alert, ham.

[griff100]

Hi Lizzy......also watching UPST, I rode it from under 200 to 400, got out there (made 100k) and tried it again too soon losing a lot of what I made, lol. I'm waiting for earnings (Mon Aug 8) and I think it will not be good...I'm hoping to start getting back in at around 15-18....we'll see what happens.
ZS is another i'm watching......currently all in cash and being patient.

[hamvestor]

Maybe it's time to pay more attention to the gold and silver miners. Way oversold, better management, rock-bottom investor sentiment, good COT numbers -- similar to when previous bull runs have begun. We'll see...

[MiamiGent]

Deleted

(ya gotta leave at least one character or it won't delete- just reprints the original message, in its entirety

[MiamiGent]

Breitbart Business Digest

June 10, 2022

Please do not shoot the messenger.

Yesterday we warned that there was a good chance analysts were underestimating how much inflation and high gas prices were dragging down consumer sentiment, creating the potential for a downside surprise to today's consumer sentiment number. Combine that with a worse-than-expected inflation print, and you will set the stage for renewed fears of stagflation.

This is exactly what happened. Consumer sentiment crashed to its worst level ever, falling below the previous low-water mark hit way back in the spring of 1980. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in much hotter than expected, with prices rising at the fastest annual rate since 1981. Stocks sold off, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by 880 points, the Nasdaq Composite tanking 3.5 percent, and all 11 sectors of the S&P 500 declining. Walmart, whose shares are down more than 15 percent year-to-date, was the only Dow component to rise for the day, squeezing out a half a point gain.

This no doubt has the Democrats in a state of panic. The last time consumer sentiment was close to this low, voters threw Jimmy Carter out of office. In the 1980 election, Carter won just 40.1 percent of the popular vote, the worst performance for an incumbent president since Herbert Hoover lost to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Republicans took control of the Senate for the first time since 1955. The Democrats managed to hold on to the House but only thanks to so many of their members running as conservative "Boll weevil" candidates.

The setup in 1980 was pretty similar. The Federal Reserve, led by chairman Paul Volcker, was attempting to bring inflation under control by tightening financial conditions. This pushed the U.S. economy into a six-month recession in 1980 and a longer one in the summer of 1981 that stretched nearly to the end of 1982.

The CPI report out today effectively extinguished an that idea we’ve been warning against for months — namely, that inflation had peaked in March. Headline CPI jumped one percent month-over-month in May, well above the consensus expectation of a 0.7 percent increase. Food prices were up 1.2 percent from April. Energy prices were up 3.9 percent on record gasoline prices. The CPI year-over-year figure of 8.6 was the highest in over four decades.

President Biden said on Friday that there were signs that inflation was moderating once you look past food and energy. Economists refer to inflation excluding food and energy as "core inflation," which is odd since it excludes two of the core expenses of most American households (MG Note: Exactly! I said the same previously). In any case, there was actually very little sign of moderation. On a month-over-month basis, core inflation rose 0.6 percent—exactly as it had in the prior month. This was higher than the 0.5 percent penciled in. Core inflation was down year-over-year but only because of "base effects." That is, we're now comparing prices against the high inflation prices of last year.

There were really no signs of inflation fading or peaking in the report. While prices of appliances declined for the second consecutive month—which is what you would expect given the crash in consumer sentiment—core services prices surged 0.6 percent. Rent jumped 0.6 percent month-over-month and is up 5.5 percent from a year ago. Rent tends to both be a lagging inflation indicator and a particularly sticky one, so there's probably more rent increases coming. Recreational services prices jumped 0.5 percent. Medical services were up 0.4 percent. Airfares soared 12.6 percent.

In short, the May inflation does not look like the result of "Putin's price hike" or even supply-chain disruptions. Inflation is being driven by consumer demand pumped up by a legacy of stimulus--monetary and fiscal--and fueled by a red hot labor market. This means that the Fed will likely have to push harder to bring down prices. So prepare yourself for a lot of talk about whether the Fed will need to hike 75 basis points in September. The idea of a pause after two 50-point hikes is dead.

– Alex Marlow & John Carney
Breitbart News Network

[MiamiGent]

Only energy green today

U.S. Sectors & Industries Performance
AS OF 12:33 PM ET 06/03/2022

Sector Last % Change

Communication Services
5 Industries
-2.32%

Consumer Discretionary
11 Industries
-2.70%

Consumer Staples
6 Industries
-0.92%

Energy
2 Industries
+1.11%

Financials
7 Industries
-1.34%

Health Care
6 Industries
-0.98%

Industrials
14 Industries
-0.71%

Information Technology
6 Industries
-2.44%

Materials
5 Industries
-1.01%

Real Estate
2 Industries
-0.60%

Utilities
5 Industries
-0.15%

[MiamiGent]

UPST Wow! What a drubbing. Good you're watching in case it's not done.

Great alert lizzy !

https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=UPST

[fastlizzy]

I think UPST is overdone! Watching.

[MiamiGent]

U.S. Sectors & Industries Performance
AS OF 09:59 AM ET 05/10/2022

Sector Last % Change

Communication Services
5 Industries
+1.70%

Consumer Discretionary
11 Industries
+1.30%

Consumer Staples
6 Industries
+0.32%

Energy
2 Industries
+2.53%

Financials
7 Industries
+1.21%

Health Care
6 Industries
+1.12%

Industrials
14 Industries
+0.48%

Information Technology
6 Industries
+2.21%

Materials
5 Industries
+1.46%

Real Estate
2 Industries
+0.84%

Utilities
5 Industries
+1.22%

[MiamiGent]

Weekly Preview: Earnings to Watch This Week (BYND, DIS, NIO, PTON)
CONTRIBUTOR to Nasdaq
Richard Saintvilus

PUBLISHED
MAY 8, 2022 8:05AM EDT

An important week in the first quarter earnings season just concluded, and unlike previous reporting periods, there appears to be some consensus that the market can (and will) get worse before things get better. After scoring some gains earlier in the week, all three major benchmarks were punished the last two days. On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was hammered by 1,063.09 points, or 3.1%, marking the index’s worst drop since Oct. 28, 2020 (on a percentage basis).

The decline continued Friday with the Dow falling 98.60 points, or 0.3%, to close at 32,899.37. Dip-buyers are still nowhere to be found. The S&P 500 declined 23.53 points, or 0.6%, to finish at 4,123.34. The S&P 500 has now fallen for a fifth straight week — its longest weekly losing streak in more than a decade. Following its 52-week low reached on Thursday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 173.03 points, or 1.4%, to end Friday’s session at 12,144.66.

Amid heightened stagflation fears, investors continue to adopt a risk-off approach despite solid April jobs data. Following the Dow’s 1,000+ point decline on Thursday, which came immediately after Wednesday's strong gain, it’s become increasingly hard to muster any market confidence, particularly given the confluence of near-term headwinds that can stunt growth in the quarters ahead. Investors are seemingly confused by the erratic swings. For the week, the Dow and S&P 500 each declined 0.2% while the Nasdaq fell 1.5%, reaching its fifth straight week of declines.

On the positive front, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added 428,000 new jobs in April, topping economists’ forecasts of 400,000 new jobs. The jobs number kept the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6% — which is still above a 54-year low. Even the steady job gains, combined with with less wage pressure, couldn’t keep investors from inflation-related worries. Confidence in the market and in the Fed is nowhere to be found right now.

Investors are understandably nervous about what is broadly expected to be an aggressive round of rate increases by the Federal Reserve. Heading into the new week, there are arguments to be made that stocks have reached some oversold levels. Is that optimism well placed? I suspect that this question will be answered by the end of this earnings season.

On the earnings front, here are the stocks I’ll be watching this week.

Peloton (PTON) - Reports after the close, Tuesday, May 10

Wall Street expects Peloton to lose 94 cents per share on revenue of $969.82 million. This compares to the year-ago quarter when earnings were breakeven on revenue of $1.26 billion.

What to watch: Peloton has been under heavy selling pressure over the past year, plunging some 35% and 70% over the respective thirty days and six months. Not only is the stock down 52% year to date, but if you’ve held the shares since they reached their all-time high of $171, you’ve suffered as much as 90%. The market has lost confidence that Peloton’s at-home connected subscription platform can be monetized to produce sustainable results. The company is navigating multiple headwinds, including supply chain constraints and balance sheet pressures. The company is reportedly looking to sell a major stake to private equity players and technology peers, according to the Wall Street Journal. In desperate need a capital injection, the stake being offered to minority investors could be around 15% to 20%, per sources. It remains to be seen if anything materializes from this. But investors to develop any sort of confidence in the stock, it’s all about execution. On Tuesday the market will want to hear how the company is navigating these headwinds to deliver revenue and profit growth in the quarters ahead.

Disney (DIS) - Reports after the close, Wednesday, May 11

Wall Street expects Disney to earn $1.19 per share on revenue of $20.04 billion. This compares to the year-ago quarter when it earned 79 cents per share on revenue of $15.61 billion.

What to watch: Has the magical rise in Disney finally come to an end? The enormous gains from the streaming success has since been overtaken by political controversy in Florida and various headlines and ongoing criticism of Disney management related to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, all of which has caused increased volatility in Disney shares. Down 30% year to date, the stock has fallen almost 20% in thirty days, while giving up close to 40% in six months. Notably, this is despite Disney benefiting from the return of big theatrical releases, as well as strong demand at its theme parks. The question is, does the recent selloff present a buying opportunity or should investors expect more pain in the quarters ahead? The company has exceeded Wall Street’s growth expectations over the past several quarters. On Wednesday investors will nonetheless want more details about Disney’s long-term growth strategy to assess its true valuation.

Beyond Meat (BYND) - Reports after the close, Wednesday, May 11

Wall Street expects Beyond Meat to lose 98 cents per share on revenue of $111.50 million. This compares to the year-ago quarter when the loss came to 42 cents per share on revenue of $108.16 million.

What to watch: What will it take for Beyond Meat stock to past the taste test? The plant-based meat giant, which has seen its stock plunge more than 40% year to date, including a decline of 61% and 20% in the respective six months and thirty days. Without question the company has lost tons of sizzle, especially when considering that the stock now trades lower than its first day of trading as an IPO. The stock’s decline has been due to a combination of factors. Aside from valuation concerns and increased fears of emerging competitive threats, the company is also dealing with wage inflation and supply chain shortages which has impacted its once-torrid growth pace. The company posted just 14% growth in 2021, down from 37% growth in 2020 and drastically below the 239% growth generated in 2019. What’s more, its gross margin has also come down considerably, declining to to 25.2%, down 490 basis points, while operating expenses grew by over 2,000 basis points. Is now time to nibble on a few shares? Thinking that the bottom is in after the recent selling pressure, some analysts believes the current share price does not reflect Beyond Meat’s growth potential. On Wednesday the company will need to outline what that potential looks like.

Nio Limited (NIO) - Reports after the close, Thursday, May 12

Wall Street expects Nio to report a per-share loss of 13 cents on revenue of $1.49 billion. This compares to the year-ago quarter when it reported a per-share loss of 49 cents on revenue of $1.23 billion.

What to watch: Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio have been in reverse over the past year, losing some 60% of its value. With the stock now down 51% year to date, including a 31% decline over the past thirty days, investors want to know if now’s the right time to take a position. Covid-related supply chain issues have pressured the entire industry, but the issue is not impacting every EV stock the same. In the case of NIO, it is one of only a handful of electric vehicle makers that has positive free cash flow. What’s more, not only is NIO delivering vehicles to customers each year, the company’s deliveries are growing. Estimates suggests that electric vehicle sales are projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 24.5% through 2028. These trends are poised to benefit NIO. But with the stock down significantly from its 52-week high, the company on Friday can make a strong case for its value by delivering a top- and bottom line beat, along with strong delivery guidance for the next quarter and full year.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

[MiamiGent]

U.S. Sectors & Industries Performance
AS OF 10:29 AM ET 05/05/22

Sector Last % Change

Communication Services
5 Industries
-3.46%

Consumer Discretionary
11 Industries
-4.22%

Consumer Staples
6 Industries
-1.02%

Energy
2 Industries
+0.11%

Financials
7 Industries
-2.34%

Health Care
6 Industries
-1.32%

Industrials
14 Industries
-1.68%

Information Technology
6 Industries
-3.51%

Materials
5 Industries
-1.30%

Real Estate
2 Industries
-1.18%

Utilities
5 Industries
-0.44

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

Stock futures were little changed in premarket trading Tuesday, as Wall Street follows a roller-coaster session a day earlier that ended with the major U.S. equity indexes in the green. The Dow and S&P 500 are up in three of the past four trading days, with the Nasdaq higher in two of the past three days after touching its lowest level since November 2020. (CNBC)

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note dipped below 3% on Tuesday, after topping that level Monday for the first time since late 2018.

* 10-year yield punches through key 3%, but there's a level that could be even scarier for stocks (CNBC PRO)

The Labor Department will release its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey data at 10:00 a.m. ET. The report is expected to show 11.2 million job openings as of March 31. That would only be slightly lower than the 11.3 million openings at the end of February.

At the same time, the government will be out with March factory orders, expected to rise 1.0% after falling 0.5% in February.

Earnings reports out this morning include the latest numbers from DuPont (DD), Hilton Worldwide (HLT), Biogen (BIIB), Pfizer (PFE), Paramount Global (PARA), Restaurant Brands International (QSR) and Molson Coors (TAP).

* Pfizer reports combined sales of $15 billion for Covid vaccine and antiviral treatment in first quarter (CNBC)

* Burger King parent earnings beat estimates as revenue climbs 15% (CNBC)

After-the-bell earnings reports will come today from Airbnb (ABNB), Lyft (LYFT), Starbucks (SBUX), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), AIG (AIG) and Yum China (YUMC), among others.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

The number of Securities and Exchange Commission staffers dedicated to cryptocurrency markets will nearly double, Wall Street's top regulator announced Tuesday. The SEC's new hires will include fraud analysts, staff attorneys and trial lawyers, which Chair Gary Gensler said will make the regulator "better equipped to police wrongdoing in the crypto markets" and keep handling duties related to cybersecurity. (CNBC)

China's capital city, Beijing, has tightened coronavirus restrictions in recent days as the world's second-largest economy continues to implement its so-called zero Covid policy. Indoor dining was banned in Beijing, and theme parks in the city also were temporarily closed. (CNBC)

The U.K. is set to announce on Tuesday further military aid for Ukraine, including night vision devices and electronic warfare equipment. The aid package is estimated to total around $375 million. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to address Parliament, and he's expected to invoke the words of Winston Churchill in giving his support to Ukraine. (CNBC)

* Russia unleashes rockets in Mariupol, European Union readies oil sanctions (Reuters)

* Russia races to avert historic default as bondholders wait for dollar payments (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

MGM Resorts (MGM) is higher in premarket trading after the resort operator reported better-than-expected quarterly profit and sales. The earnings beat came despite a negative impact on tourism during the quarter from the outbreak of the Covid omicron variant.

Expedia (EXPE) lost an adjusted 47 cents per share for its latest quarter, but that was less than the 62 cent loss that analysts had anticipated for the travel services company. Revenue exceeded estimates, as travel demand remained strong despite concerns about COVID, Ukraine and other factors.

Stellantis (STLA) will buy the Share Now car-sharing business from BMW and Mercedes-Benz for an undisclosed amount. BMW and Mercedes plan to focus on the software aspect of their joint venture.

Logitech (LOGI) fell in the premarket after reporting a 20% drop in sales from a year earlier, as the maker of computer mice, keyboards and other peripherals faced tough comparisons to a pandemic-fueled surge last year.

Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) shares gained in premarket action after the company successfully caught a rocket booster out of midair and dropped it into the ocean, as it tested ways to recover used rockets.

Nutrien (NTR) reported surging quarterly profit and raised its full-year forecast, with the world's largest fertilizer maker seeing its results boosted by surging prices for crop nutrients.

BP (BP) reported better-than-expected adjusted profit and sales for its latest quarter, although it did take a $25.5 billion charge for exiting from its Russian operations.


CONTRIBUTORS

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

Kevin Stankiewicz
@kevin_stank

[MiamiGent]

U.S. stock indexes end April with massive losses
BY UPI TOP U.S. NEWS EQUITY 7:32 PM ET 04/29/2022

The three major stock indexes in the United States ended the month with significant losses as the Nasdaq Composite finished its worst month since October 2008.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped around 12% in April after falling 4.2% on Friday alone. Amazon's stock price plummeted more than 14% during a massive sell-off after the company's quarterly earnings report showed nearly $4 billion in losses.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 fell about 3.6% on Friday for a monthly loss of more than 8%, its third monthly loss in a row and its biggest drop since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 2.8% for a monthly loss of about 4%.

"The markets are trying to wrap around a lot of different cross-currents," BMO Wealth Management's Yung-Yu Ma told CNBC.

"With the Fed raising rates and all the uncertainties that the global economy is facing, it's hard to get excited about paying the multiples that currently prevail in a lot of places in the market."

The Nasdaq, having fallen 23% below its high, now sits in bear market territory, which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission defines as when an index falls by 20% or more over at least a two-month period amid pessimistic market sentiment.

Bank of America ( BAC ) analysts on Friday cut 100 points off their year-end target for the S&P 500 target, CNN Business reported.

Investors can expect the April jobs report and more corporate earnings statements next week, along with the highly anticipated policy meeting of the Federal Reserve.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve released minutes from its March 15-16 board meeting which show that policymakers would have wanted to set a larger interest rate last month as it took steps to combat inflation but opted for a more modest increase.

Officials also "generally agreed" that the central bank should shrink its balance sheet by $95 billion per month and are expected to approve the reduction in May.

[MiamiGent]

Sectors & Industries Performance
AS OF 09:51 AM ET 04/29/2022

Sector Last % Change

Communication Services
5 Industries
-0.16%

Consumer Discretionary
11 Industries
-3.02%

Consumer Staples
6 Industries
-0.78%

Energy
2 Industries
-0.65%

Financials
7 Industries
-0.67%

Health Care
6 Industries
-1.21%

Industrials
14 Industries
-0.08%

Information Technology
6 Industries
-0.43%

Materials
5 Industries
+0.43%

Real Estate
2 Industries
-1.70%

Utilities
5 Industries
-1.19%

[MiamiGent]

U.S. Sectors & Industries Performance
AS OF 05:09 PM ET 04/28/2022

Sector Last % Change

Communication Services
5 Industries
+3.89%

Consumer Discretionary
11 Industries
+2.32%

Consumer Staples
6 Industries
+1.43%

Energy
2 Industries
+3.14%

Financials
7 Industries
+1.30%

Health Care
6 Industries
+1.35%

Industrials
14 Industries
+1.14%

Information Technology
6 Industries
+4.04%

Materials
5 Industries
+1.56%

Real Estate
2 Industries
+1.85%

Utilities
5 Industries
+1.11%

[MiamiGent]

CNBC Evening Brief

Technology shares saved the day Monday as an afternoon rally turned around the three major stock averages to close higher.

The rebound in tech stocks came after the Nasdaq Composite fell into bear market territory — down more than 20% from intraday highs — last week.

"Sure enough, the Nasdaq has turned around. It seems like every time we try to push the Nasdaq into bear market territory … it's just too buoyant," said Jeff Kilburg, chief investment officer and portfolio manager of Sanctuary Wealth.

The bounce in tech names also came as interest rates fell, with traders eyeing rising Covid cases in China and the potential impact on global economic growth. Interest rates have climbed this year, which has affected the valuations of growth stocks.

Twitter shares finished about 5.7% higher Monday after the social media company announced it accepted billionaire Elon Musk’s buyout deal, which is valued at about $44 billion.

Tech companies will remain in focus in the coming days as Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Meta Platforms and Microsoft all report quarterly earnings this week.

Hannah Miao | CNBC Associate Markets Reporter
@HannahMiao_

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures rose Thursday, with the Nasdaq set to join the rally, ahead of an afternoon panel discussion including Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. First-quarter earnings reports drove premarket moves, with Tesla soaring 7% after better-than-expected results and American (AAL) and United (UAL) surging 11.5% and 8.5%, respectively, after the airlines forecast profits ahead. (CNBC)

The Dow advanced 0.7% on Wednesday for a second straight day of gains. The S&P 500 dipped but basically ended flat. The Nasdaq lost 1.2% as Netflix (NFLX) cratered 35% on subscriber concerns. The streaming giant fell another 1.5% in Thursday's premarket. (CNBC)

The 10-year Treasury yield rose Thursday but remained below Tuesday's more than three-year high of 2.94%. Investors are hoping for more clarity from Powell on the Fed's plans for additional interest rate hikes this year after a number of regional central bank presidents, even a couple of doves, have recently called for an accelerated tightening cycle to fight inflation. (CNBC).

IN THE NEWS TODAY

American Airlines on Thursday forecast second-quarter profit as strong travel demand helps it cover its soaring fuel costs. That's driving the stock higher in the premarket. American said it had a loss of $2.32 per share in the first quarter, which was smaller than expected. Revenue also beat estimates. (CNBC)

After the closing bell Wednesday, United Airlines said it lost an adjusted $4.24 per share in the first quarter, slightly more than expected. Revenue also missed. But driving the stock higher, United joined Delta (DAL) in saying it expects to turn a profit in 2022 for the first time since before the Covid pandemic. (CNBC)

Tesla's jump in premarket trading came after the electric auto maker late Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings and revenue that beat estimates. Revenue growth was driven in part by an increase in the number of cars Tesla delivered and a rise in average sales prices. CEO Elon Musk, who was on the call, made no mention of his bid to buy Twitter. (CNBC)

* Musk sees worse-than-reported inflation continuing through 2022 (CNBC)

* Musk s tunnel-making venture Boring Company hits $5.7 billion valuation (CNBC)
Digital freight broker Convoy, founded by two former Amazon (AMZN) executives, announced Thursday a new round of funding, valuing the Seattle-based start-up at $3.8 billion, even as rates for on-demand trucking fall from all time highs. (CNBC)

* Amazon ramps up FedEx, UPS rivalry by expanding Prime to third parties (CNBC)

Pershing Square dumped its entire stake in Netflix on Wednesday following the streamer's disappointing quarterly report, founder and CEO Bill Ackman said in a letter to shareholders. "One of our learnings from past mistakes is to act promptly when we discover new information about an investment that is inconsistent with our original thesis, Ackman wrote. (CNBC Pro) (MG Note: If Ackman had the guts to speak honestly, he'd say, "Man, did I F up- royally!". Never mind "inconsistent with our original thesis")

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to ditch plans to storm the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol, where several thousand Ukrainian troops as well as civilians are encamped. He's opted instead to continue to seal off the facility via blockade. (CNBC) (MG Note: My prayers were answered)

The Florida House on Thursday is expected to take up a state Senate-passed bill to repeal a law that allows Disney (DIS) to operate a private government over its properties there. The move, pushed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, escalates a feud with the entertainment giant over its opposition to the state's so-called Don't Say Gay law. (AP)

An arbitrator ordered Donald Trump's presidential campaign to pay $1.3 million in legal fees to Omarosa Manigault Newman, the former "Apprentice" star whom the campaign unsuccessfully sued over a book about her tenure as a White House advisor, her lawyer said Wednesday. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Blackstone (BX) jumped 4% in the premarket after reporting better-than-expected profit and revenue for the first quarter, helped by strong results from its real estate and credit operations.

AT&T (T) beat estimates on quarterly earnings and revenue. Those numbers exclude the results of the now spun-off WarnerMedia unit, with AT&T benefiting from an increase in wireless revenue. AT&T added 1.4% in the premarket.

Xerox (XRX) tumbled 7.3% in the premarket after reporting an adjusted quarterly profit of 12 cents per share, 1 cent below consensus. The office equipment maker was hurt by inflation pressures and supply chain issues.

Chemical maker Dow Inc. (DOW) added 2.1% in the premarket after beating estimates on both the top and bottom lines, helped by strong demand and higher prices.

Sleep Number (SNBR) tanked 10.6% in premarket trading following a top and bottom-line miss for its latest quarter. Supply chain issues impacted results.

Carvana (CVNA) lost $2.89 per share for its latest quarter, wider than the $1.44-per-share loss analysts were anticipating. While revenue beat estimates, the online auto seller saw its first-ever quarterly sales decline. Carvana fell 5% in the premarket.

CSX (CSX) beat estimates by 2 cents with quarterly earnings of 39 cents per share, and the railroad operator's revenue also topped forecasts. CSX handled fewer shipments, but that was more than offset by an increase in shipping rates. CSX rose 2% in premarket trading.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures rose Wednesday despite Netflix (NFLX) plunging 27% in the premarket, the morning after reporting a quarterly subscriber loss for the first time in more than a decade. The carnage in Netflix hit other video streaming stocks, with Disney, Roku, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount all set for sharply lower opens. (CNBC)

Dow stock IBM (IBM) rose 2.5% in the premarket after reporting late Tuesday that quarterly earnings and revenue beat estimates. In regular trading Tuesday, the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all broke two-session losing streaks even as the 10-year Treasury yield hit a more than three-year high of 2.94%. The benchmark yield retreated from that level Wednesday. (CNBC)

Mortgage demand continued to crumble as home loan rates climbed to their highest levels since 2010. Total application volume fell 5% week over week, and it fell nearly 50% from year-ago levels. Refinance demand fell another 8% from the prior week, and it was 68% lower year over year. Purchase applications fell 3% for the week, and they were 14% lower than a year ago. (CNBC).

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Netflix on Tuesday reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers during the first quarter, after previously saying it expected to add 2.5 million. While Q1 earnings beat, revenue of $7.87 billion missed. Looking ahead, the company forecast a global paid subscriber loss of 2 million for the second quarter. (CNBC)

Netflix estimated more than 100 million households worldwide are using a shared password to access its content. It said a crackdown on the practice is coming. After years of resisting advertisements on its streaming service, Netflix is now open to offering lower-priced tiers with ads. (CNBC)

Leading Wednesday's earnings releases, Procter & Gamble (PG) reported fiscal third-quarter profit and revenue that topped expectations as price hikes helped offset spiking commodity inflation and higher freight costs. For fiscal 2022, P&G raised its revenue growth forecast. The consumer products company reiterated its core EPS forecast but expects the lower end of its predicted range. (CNBC)

Tesla (TSLA) is scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the closing bell Wednesday. Investors will be watching to see if the electric auto maker maintains its ambitious 2022 delivery targets as its Shanghai factory deals with a Covid lockdown in China's biggest city. (Reuters)

Analysts are also wondering whether CEO Elon Musk will discuss his $43 billion proposal to buy Twitter (TWTR) and if he'll use some of his Tesla shares to help fund the deal. Musk late Tuesday tweeted another cryptic message, again making an apparent reference to a possible tender offer for Twitter. (Reuters)

Russian forces pressured a pocket of Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol amid renewed hopes Wednesday for an evacuation of thousands of civilians. The shattered port city is a key battleground in Moscow's new onslaught to take control of Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland. (AP)

* Shanghai allows 4 million out of homes as Covid rules ease (AP)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Baker Hughes (BKR) fell 5 cents short of estimates with adjusted quarterly earnings of 15 cents per share, and revenue also missed forecasts. The oilfield services company said its results reflected a volatile operating environment. The stock fell 2% in the premarket.

Lululemon (LULU) added 2.2% in the premarket after the apparel maker announced a five-year plan to double revenue. The plan focuses on quadrupling international sales and doubling revenue from its men's and digital operations.

ASML's (ASML) latest quarter beat analyst forecasts on the top and bottom lines, with the Amsterdam-based semiconductor equipment maker reporting strong demand from chip makers trying to ramp up production. ASML shares jumped 5.4% in the premarket.

Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA) slid 4.8% in premarket trading after the FDA sent a rejection letter in response to a new drug application for a schizophrenia treatment. Teva said it is studying possible next steps and will work with the FDA to address the agency's concerns.

Omnicom (OMC) reported better-than-expected profit and revenue for its latest quarter, despite what the ad agency operator called "uniquely challenging global events." Omnicom took a $113.4 million charge relating to its investment in Russian businesses. Shares added 3.7% in premarket action.

WATERCOOLER

BMW is adding an all-electric model to its flagship 7-Series sedan lineup as the German luxury automaker pivots to EVs to better compete against industry leader Tesla. The new BMW i7 was unveiled Wednesday, and it's expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships during the fourth quarter. (CNBC)


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures rose slightly Tuesday as Dow stock Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) fell modestly after mixed quarterly results. Also adding pressure on equities, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield topped 2.9%, a level not seen since late 2018.

The Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq started the week with slight losses after a holiday-shortened week of declines, especially in tech stocks. Netflix is set to report earnings after the closing bell Tuesday. Subscriber growth is expected to slow at the video streaming giant. (CNBC)

Johnson & Johnson's first-quarter earnings beat and revenue miss before the opening bell led about a dozen S&P 500 companies reporting financial results Tuesday. J&J lowered its full-year sales and profit outlook, and announced a halt in Covid vaccine sales guidance due to a global supply glut and demand uncertainty. J&J's board approved a 6.6% quarterly dividend increase to $1.13 per share. (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Apollo Global Management (APO) may be willing provide financing for a Twitter (TWTR) buyout, according to sources who spoke to CNBC. However, the private equity giant isn't interested in joining other firms in a buyout bid. Last week, Elon Musk offered to buy Twitter for $43 billion. Financing parties are considering their willingness to lend to Musk or another potential buyer, sources added. (CNBC)

* Delta CEO says the airline tested SpaceX's Starlink internet for planes (WSJ)
The TSA will not enforce the Covid mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida on Monday vacated the Biden administration's national face-covering mandate for planes and other forms of public transportation. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled the CDC had overstepped its authority. (CNBC)

Russia's long-anticipated offensive in east Ukraine appears to be underway after pulling back troops from the northern front. Kremlin forces unleashed attacks on a number of areas within the Donbas region. If successful, the eastern offensive would give Russian President Vladimir Putin a vital piece of Ukraine and a badly needed victory after plans to overrun the capital city of Kyiv failed. (CNBC)

The U.S. Secret Service has seized more than $102 million in illicit digital currencies since 2015. The head of the agency's investigations office told CNBC that cracking a crypto case is often like a "house of mirrors." Investigators are finding thieves will transfer stolen bitcoin and other digital currencies into stablecoins.

Nelson Peltz hosted a $5,000-a-plate fundraiser for Sen. Joe Manchin at the billionaire's sprawling Florida estate last month, where several top executives said they privately hoped the conservative Democrat would switch parties and run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, CNBC has learned.

* Don't blame stimulus checks for inflation, UBI Andrew Yang says (CNBC)

Amazon (AMZN) will conduct a racial-equity audit of its hourly workers after shareholders urged the company to provide more transparency into how its policies affect diversity, equity and workplace inclusion. Amazon will make the results of the audit public but didn't provide a completion date. (CNBC)

* CEOs made a median $20 million last year; 254x the average worker (CNBC Make It)

Investors turned increasingly cautious on Chinese stocks, especially those listed overseas, in the first quarter of the year that was rocked by geopolitical tensions and worries about growth. That's according to data from research firm EPFR Global. (CNBC)

* China's property sector could be turning around (CNBC)

Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday took the wraps off its new EQS SUV, its first fully electric SUV built domestically for the U.S. market. The vehicle is the sibling of the EQS sedan, released last year, but with seating for up to seven people and a taller, bubblier stance. (CNBC)

* Audi s new concept car is a self-driving lounge on wheels for city travelers (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Travelers (TRV) was volatile in premarket trading, moving between gains and losses after the insurance company beat estimates on the top and bottom lines for its latest quarter. Travelers also announced a 5.7% dividend increase.

Halliburton (HAL) fell 2.5% in premarket trading despite beating estimates for its latest quarter. It earned 35 cents per share, a penny a share above estimates as demand for oilfield services equipment remained high. Halliburton shares did close at a 3 -year high Monday.

Netgear (NTGR) tumbled 10.5% in premarket trading after the networking equipment maker reported weaker-than-expected preliminary results for the quarter that ended April 3. Netgear also cut its current-quarter revenue forecast, pointing to a weaker U.S. market for WiFi equipment.

Zendesk (ZEN) jumped 6% in premarket trading following a Bloomberg report that the customer service software developer is exploring a possible sale. Zendesk is said to have hired adviser Qatalyst Partners to assist in the process.

WeWork (WE) rallied more than 5% in the premarket after the stock was rated overweight in new coverage at Piper Sandler. The firm points to confidence in WeWork's path to profitability and how well the flexible office model fits a post-Covid world.

Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) slid 7.5% in premarket action after the drugmaker said its experimental drug to treat post-operative pain did not meet its primary goal in a Phase 2 study.

Plug Power (PLUG) jumped 6.5% in premarket action after the hydrogen fuel cell company announced an agreement to supply liquid green hydrogen to Walmart (WMT).

American Campus Communities (ACC) agreed to be bought by Blackstone (BX) in a deal worth $12.8 billion, including debt. The student housing real estate investment trust shares jumped nearly 13% in the premarket.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[fastlizzy]

I’m here. Keep an eye on VERU…

Noticed it in pm on Monday and jumped in small…great potential.

[MiamiGent]

lol! Good to know there is somebody out there in listener land, dc!

[dc_350]

LOL! Like the gf analogy!

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

Stock futures jumped Tuesday morning as Wall Street digested a key inflation report. A day earlier, all three major U.S. equity indexes finished firmly in the red. The Dow dropped 1.19%, the S&P 500 fell 1.69% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 2.18%. (CNBC)

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield traded at its highest point since December 2018 on Tuesday morning, reaching 2.82% before retreating somewhat to 2.798%. (CNBC)

The Labor Department released March consumer price index figures at 8:30 a.m. ET, showing a year-over-year gain of 8.5%. That is the largest increase since December 1981 and slightly above the Dow Jones estimate of 8.4%. The CPI, excluding food and energy, increased 6.5%, meeting expectations.(CNBC)
(MG Note: Why cite a figure that excludes food and energy? Those are very essential parts of our life. That's like saying my gf is a "10" when you don't count her Pinocchio nose and one eye)

* White House says it expects inflation to be 'extraordinarily elevated' in new report (CNBC)

Albertsons (ACI) and CarMax (KMX) released quarterly earnings before Tuesday's opening bell. There are no reports of note scheduled for after the close.
Fed Governor Lael Brainard, whose hawkish comments last week spooked markets, is scheduled to appear virtually at 12:10 ET on Tuesday at The Wall Street Journal Jobs Summit.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

The U.S. is monitoring unconfirmed reports of a potential Russian chemical weapons attack in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday night. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also said the U.K. is working to verify details of the possible attack, which originally was a Telegram message posted by an ultra-nationalist part of the Ukrainian National Guard called the Azov Regiment. (CNBC)

* Mayor: 10,000 dead in Ukraine's Mariupol and toll could rise (Associated Press)
* Putin warns the West: Russia cannot be isolated or held back (Reuters)

Shanghai's Covid lockdowns eased for some residents Tuesday, more than two weeks after the strict public health protocols were put in place as coronavirus infections rose. Concerns about the humanitarian and economic impact of the strict lockdowns has intensified in recent days. (Associated Press)

* U.S. State Department orders all nonemergency government staff in Shanghai to leave as Covid surges (CNBC)

Global shipments of PCs fell considerably in the first quarter of 2022, according to tech research firm Gartner. The finding suggests the pandemic-fueled boom in PC sales may have concluded. Gartner estimates 77.5 million units were shipped, a drop of 7.3% on an annual basis. (CNBC)

Analysts say Elon Musk's decision to no longer join Twitter's board of directors leaves open the possibility of a hostile takeover and further volatility in the social media company's stock, according to analysts. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

PG&E (PCG) shares jumped 2.3% in the premarket after it reached legal settlements over two fires in Northern California. The California utility will pay $55 million and will not face any criminal prosecution over those fires.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) shares slid 3.5% in premarket trading after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to "underweight" from "equal weight" as part of an overall downgrade of the telecom and networking equipment industry. Morgan Stanley sees softening orders in the second half of 2022.

CarMax (KMX) shares fell 2.2% in the premarket after a bottom-line miss for its latest quarter. CarMax earned 98 cents per share, falling short of the $1.25 per share consensus estimate, though revenue topped Street forecasts. The earnings miss came as sales volumes slowed and average selling prices continued to rise.

Crowdstrike (CRWD) jumped 3.6% in premarket action following a Goldman Sachs upgrade to "buy" from "neutral." Goldman thinks the cloud computing company has shown strong execution while demand continues to ramp higher.

Albertsons (ACI) earned 75 cents per share for its latest quarter, 11 cents a share above estimates. Revenues also came in above analysts' projections. The supermarket operator said it was able to effectively deal with increased supply chain and product costs.

Deutsche Bank (DB) An undisclosed shareholder sold 5% stakes in both Deutsche Bank and rival German lender Commerzbank, generating a total of about $1.9 billion. Deutsche Bank lost 1.3% in premarket trading.

Chegg (CHGG) slid 3.7% in the premarket after KeyBanc Capital Markets downgraded the stock to "sector weight" from "overweight." KeyBanc is predicting a downtick in U.S. growth trends for the provider of educational products and services.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares lost 2.6% in premarket trading after Citi downgraded Cisco to "sell" from "neutral." Citi said that networking equipment competitors Juniper Networks (JNPR) and Arista Networks (ANET) are poised to gain market share from Cisco.


CONTRIBUTORS

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

Kevin Stankiewicz
@kevin_stank

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures dropped Wednesday as investors await more insight into what appears to be a Federal Reserve shifting to an even more aggressive monetary policy tightening path. Minutes from the Fed's March meeting, which featured the first interest rate hike in more than three years, are out at 2 p.m. ET. (CNBC)

The market sees at least 0.25% rate increases at all six of the remaining Fed meetings of the year, with bigger 0.5% rises possible in May and June. Fed Governor Lael Brainard, who normally favors loose policy and low rates, said Tuesday the central bank needs to act quickly and aggressively to drive down inflation. Those comments sent Wall Street lower and bond yields to near three-year highs again. (CNBC)

The 10-year Treasury yield on Wednesday topped 2.63%, climbing above the 2-year yield and out of an inversion. However, the 5-year yield remained inverted and higher then the 30-year yield. The spike higher in bond yields drove mortgage rates up. (CNBC)

In fact, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages topped 5% on Tuesday. The rising rate environment sent total home loan application volume down another 6% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. That's down 41% from the same week a year ago. (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Oil prices remained elevated Wednesday on supply concerns as the U.S. and its European allies consider more sanctions against Moscow as allegations emerge about wartime atrocities by Russian troops in Ukraine. The head of the European Council said Russia oil and gas sanctions needed sooner or later.(Reuters & CNBC)

Higher crude prices have, in turn, pushed gasoline prices higher. The CEOs of oil companies, including Chevron (CVX) and Exxon (XOM), are set to testify Wednesday before a House panel about what they're doing to control energy costs. At another House hearing, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to talk about the global impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the global economy. (Reuters & NY Times)

Joining many U.S. and international companies exiting Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Intel (INTC) suspended business operations in Russia, following last month's suspension of semiconductor shipments to customers in Russia and Belarus. Intel fell 1% in premarket trading. (Reuters)

JetBlue Airways (JBLU) made an unsolicited $3.6 billion all-cash offer for Spirit Airlines (SAVE), raising questions about Spirit's deal to combine with rival discount carrier Frontier Airlines (ULCC). Spirit said its board was evaluating JetBlue's proposal, which is 33% higher than Frontier's stock-and-cash offer. (CNBC)

Uber (UBER) announced Wednesday it's adding trains, buses, planes and car rentals to its U.K. app this year. The move is part of a pilot that could be expanded to other countries at a later date if it goes well. While it won't provide these travel services, Uber will allow users to book them through its app following software integrations with platforms that sell tickets. (CNBC)

Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has been buying Twitter (TWTR) shares on almost a daily basis since the end of January, spending $2.64 billion for his current stake in the company, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday. Musk was announced as a new board member earlier in the day. Twitter also confirmed it's testing an edit button. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Tilray (TLRY) rose 2.1% in the premarket after reporting an unexpected profit for its latest quarter, even as revenue fell below analyst estimates. The cannabis producer also announced a deal with supermarket chain Whole Foods, which will sell the hemp powders produced by Tilray's Manitoba Harvest subsidiary.

Rivian (RIVN) gained 1.7% in the premarket after the company said it was on pace to achieve its previously stated production target of 25,000 electric vehicles this year.

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) added 1.7% in premarket action after Stifel Financial began coverage with a "buy" rating. Stifel said Occidental remains attractively priced even after it nearly doubled so far this year, noting a largely underappreciated low carbon business.
Gogo (GOGO) surged 10.4% in premarket trading after the aviation industry broadband provider announced its stock would join the S&P SmallCap 600 index prior to Friday's open.

Array Technologies (ARRY) rallied 14.5% in the premarket after the renewal energy equipment maker reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and issued an upbeat revenue outlook. It also named Kevin Hostetler as its new CEO, effective April 18, replacing the retiring Jim Fusaro


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere
Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures started the second quarter higher Friday ahead of the government's March employment report. Wall Street on Thursday ended its worst quarter since the first three months of 2020, which included the Covid pandemic lows in late March of that year. (CNBC)

* Cramer sees market bottom soon, says stocks poised for a 'tremendous rally' (CNBC)

The Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq all dropped about 1.5% on Thursday. For Q1, the Dow and S&P 500 closed down 4.57% and 4.95%, respectively. The Nasdaq lost 9.1%. The start of a rate-hiking cycle from the Fed, high inflation and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have all contributed to the struggles for equities so far this year. (CNBC)

Treasury spreads could be influenced by the jobs reports Friday, one day after the 2-year yield briefly rose above the 10-year yield for the first time since 2019, an inversion that often happens before economic recessions. The short-duration yields going above the longer-dated ones signal the market concerns that the Fed might raise interest rates too quickly. (CNBC)

A strong jobs report Friday could give the Fed more confidence to keep its aggressive rate-boosting plan in place this year aimed at fighting inflation without slowing the economy too much. Economists expect 490,000 jobs were added in March. The nation's unemployment rate is expected to drop slightly to 3.7% in March. (CNBC)

Shares of GameStop (GME) jumped 15% in Friday's premarket, the morning after the video game retailer announced plans for a stock split. GameStop said it will seek approval at its next shareholder meeting for an increase in the number of Class A common stock from 300 million to 1 billion shares to partly conduct a split in the form of a stock dividend.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Russian troops left the heavily contaminated Chornobyl nuclear site early Friday after returning control to the Ukrainians. In what would be the first attack of its kind, if confirmed, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region accused Ukraine of flying helicopter gunships across the border Friday morning and striking an oil depot. (AP)

* Putin talks tough on gas-for-rubles deadline. But flows continue to Europe (CNBC)

* China says U.S. instigated war in Ukraine, Soviet break-up should've been end to NATO (AP)

* Oil seesaws as IEA considers emergency oil reserves release along side U.S. (Reuters)

Facebook parent Meta (FB) has lost some of its top artificial intelligence scientists this year as the company continues its pivot toward the metaverse. At least four prominent members of Meta AI have departed in recent months, according to people familiar with the matter and LinkedIn analysis. (CNBC)

* Chinese EV players Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto see car deliveries surge in March (CNBC)

* Federal authorities probe trading around Activision, ensnaring Barry Diller and David Geffen (WSJ)

Union supporters at Amazon's (AMZN) warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, on Thursday appeared headed toward defeat for a second time. However, with hundreds of contested ballots at play, the election results are still too close to call. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

J.P. Morgan Securities removed Apple (AAPL) from its "Analyst Focus List," saying a moderation in consumer spending may limit benefits from the iPhone SE launch and the potential for upside in services revenue. However, the firm retained an overweight rating on the stock.

BlackBerry (BB) earned an unexpected profit for its latest quarter, but the communications software company's revenue fell below analyst forecasts. The revenue miss came as growth in its cybersecurity unit flattened. Shares slid 4.4% in premarket trading.

Wynn Resorts (WYNN) added 1.6% in the premarket after Citi upgraded it to buy from neutral. Citi cites increasing clarity over regulations and licenses in Macau as well as an attractive valuation.

Hycroft Mining (HYMC), the small-cap mining company best known for an investment from movie theater chain AMC Entertainment (AMC), added 3% in the premarket after reporting a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss. AMC shares rallied 4.6%.

Poshmark (POSH) slid 2.2% in premarket trading after Stifel cut its rating to hold from buy. Stifel said the online clothing marketplace faces numerous growth challenges despite healthy profit potential and a highly engaged user base.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open Tuesday and a fourth straight session of gains for both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 and a back-to-back advance for the Nasdaq. Growing hope for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire appeared to help investor sentiment. (CNBC)

All three benchmarks turned losses intraday Monday into gains by the close. The Dow and S&P 500 were roughly 5% below their early January record closes. The Nasdaq, while clawing its way higher recently, was still in a correction, down more than 10% from its November 2021 record close. (CNBC)

The 5-year Treasury yield was still higher than the 30-year yield Tuesday morning, one day after doing so for the first time since 2006. This type of inversion has in the past happened before recessions. However, the main spread that traders watch the 2-year Treasury yield and the benchmark 10-year yield remained intact. (CNBC)

* Home prices heated up to start the year, with huge surges in Arizona and Florida, says S&P Case-Shiller report (CNBC)

Oil prices dropped 5% Tuesday on hope out of Russia-Ukraine talks. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, fell more than 8% on Monday as concerns over new Covid lockdowns in China and the potential for curtailed demand sent prices tumbling. (CNBC)

Ahead of this week's OPEC+ meeting, Saudi Arabia's energy minister told CNBC on Tuesday that international producers will keep politics out of their decision-making in favor of the "common good" of stabilizing energy prices. (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegates resumed in Istanbul on Tuesday. As negotiations began, three humanitarian corridors have been opened in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told CNBC on Tuesday that America will hold accountable anyone seeking to help Russia bypass sanctions. (CNBC)

* Biden says his moral outrage at Putin does not signal a U.S. policy shift (CNBC)

The SEC has charged three software engineers at cloud software vendor Twilio (TWLO) and several of their friends and family members with involvement in an insider trading scheme. The group generated over $1 million in profits, the SEC said. (CNBC)

FedEx (FDX) said late Monday that Fred Smith will step down on June 1 as CEO of the package delivery giant he founded. He'll be succeeded by FedEx President and Chief Operating Officer Raj Subramaniam. Smith will become executive chairman. FedEx, which the 77-year-old founded, started operations in 1973. (AP)

Dairy Queen is expanding its burger offerings as the fast-food chain looks beyond Blizzards and other desserts. The new Stackburger line is Dairy Queen's biggest menu expansion in two decades. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.a) has owned Dairy Queen for 25 years. (CNBC)

* Domino s Pizza China operator files for Hong Kong listing (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Nielsen Holdings (NLSN) surged roughly 21% in the premarket after it agreed to be acquired by a private-equity consortium for $28 per share. The deal is worth $16 billion, including assumed debt.

UnitedHealth (UNH) will buy LHC Group (LHCG) for $5.4 billion in cash. The home health-care specialist will become part of UnitedHealth's Optum services unit. LHC shares jumped 7.5% in the premarket.

Uber (UBER) is close to an agreement with a San Francisco taxi company to include taxis in its ride-hailing platform in that city, The New York Times reports. Uber recently struck a similar agreement in New York City. The stock added about 2% in premarket trading.

Jefferies Financial (JEF) rallied 3.7% in the premarket after reporting better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue. Jefferies earned $1.23 per share, well above the 89 cents a share consensus estimate, even as profit fell from a year earlier amid what the company called a "challenging" trading environment.

GameStop (GME) was riding a 10-session, 143% winning streak heading into Tuesday's open. Another meme stock on a roll is movie theater operator AMC Entertainment (AMC), which surged 45% on Monday, its best day since last June. Both were lower in the premarket.

Stellantis (STLA) is laying off an undisclosed number of workers at its Illinois Jeep plant in an effort to operate it in a "more sustainable manner." The facility saw several layoffs last year as well as it tried to deal with the impact of the global semiconductor shortage. Stellantis jumped 4.5% in premarket trading.

Southwest Gas (SWX) will sell $400 million in shares at $74 per share to help repay debt used in its $2 billion acquisition of Questar Pipelines in back December. That deal had been opposed by investor Carl Icahn, whose offer to buy Southwest was rejected Monday. Southwest fell 3.4% in the premarket.

Dave & Buster's (PLAY) slumped nearly 6% in the premarket after a top- and bottom-line miss in its latest quarter. Dave & Buster's said its results were strong in light of ongoing Covid headwinds.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC U.S. stock futures were slightly lower Thursday morning, one day after a whipsaw session on Wall Street as traders digested the Federal Reserve's moves. Dow futures implied an opening decline Thursday of around 115 points. Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also were in the red. (CNBC)

* Treasury yields ebb as investors digest Fed rate hike (CNBC)
After Wednesday's strong rally, the major U.S. stock indexes are on pace for their best weekly performance of the year. The Dow is riding a three-day win streak for the first time since early February. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have posted back-to-back positive days for the first time this month.

Oil prices jumped Thursday, bucking a recent downward trend, in light of renewed supply concerns related to the Russia-Ukraine war. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose around 4.5% to trade above $99 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude advanced roughly 4.85% to nearly $103 per barrel. (Reuters)

Initial jobless claims fell to 214,000 for the week ended March 12, lower than the Dow Jones estimate of 220,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It's an indication the U.S. labor market is growing even tighter than it has been. (CNBC)

February housing starts also were better than expected, rising 6.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.77 million units, according to the Census Bureau. Consensus forecasts had called for a 3.8% rise to an annual rate of 1.7 million units. The March Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index jumped to 27.4, well above estimates of 15.
At 9:15 a.m. ET, February industrial production figures are expected to show a 0.5% rise for the month following a 1.4% increase in January.

Accenture (ACN), Dollar General (DG), Signet Jewelers (SIG), Designer Brands (DBI) and Warby Parker (WRBY) are out with quarterly reports this morning, while FedEx (FDX) and GameStop (GME) will report after Thursday's closing bell.

* Warby Parker shares sink as eyewear retailer reports continued losses, offers weak outlook (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point Wednesday, its first hike since December 2018, as the U.S. central bank looks to tamp down historically high inflation. The Fed's policymaking arm indicated it sees additional rate increases at its six remaining meetings in 2022. That suggests a consensus funds rate by year-end of 1.9%. (CNBC)

* Fed has aggressive rate-hiking plan, but it could burn the economy as it fights inflation (CNBC)

U.S. President Joe Biden labeled his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a "war criminal" for Moscow's assault on Ukraine. It was the first time Biden has publicly referred to the Russian president by that term, and the Kremlin took issue. It said Biden's rhetoric was "unacceptable and unforgivable," according to Russian news agency Tass. (CNBC)

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its fourth week. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the two sides were not close to reaching an agreement to end the fighting. There had been some more positive commentary surrounding peace talks in recent days. "Work continues when there is progress, we will inform," Peskov said, according to an NBC News translation.

* U.S. has a clear warning for China: Don't come to Russia's aid. Will Beijing heed it? (NBC News)

The Russian Ministry of Finance on Thursday claimed it had made a roughly $117 million interest payment on two dollar-denominated eurobonds, as Moscow seeks to avoid its first foreign currency debt default in more than a century. (CNBC)

Target (TGT) is taking another step toward improving its emissions output, installing carport canopies equipped with solar panels in a parking lot at one of its stores in Vista, California. The energy they produce then powers the store. The Minnesota-based retail chain says that location has become its first net-zero energy store and could serve as a model for other locations across the U.S. In recent years, some corporations have been trying to be more sustainable. (CNBC)

* Google-backed start-up launches free carbon emissions tracker (CNBC)
Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng (XPEV) has led an investment into a $200 million fund that will back "frontier technology" start-ups and EVs. Other high-profile VC funds also are taking part, including Sequoia China and GGV Capital. The announcement comes at a time of regulatory turbulence for Chinese technology companies. (CNBC)

* Russia's invasion of Ukraine will lower car production by millions of units over two years, S&P says (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Lennar (LEN) reported quarterly earnings of $1.69 per share for its fiscal first quarter, missing the $2.60 consensus estimate. Revenue did beat analyst forecasts on strong demand and higher prices, but the bottom line was hit by higher costs for materials and labor.

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) earned an adjusted $5.42 per share for its latest quarter, beating the $4.82 expected by Wall Street analysts, even as the housewares retailer's revenue fell slightly short of estimates. The company said it was able to successfully navigate supply chain challenges and material and labor shortages.

PagerDuty (PD) lost an adjusted 4 cents per share for its latest quarter, 2 cents smaller than analysts were anticipating, with the digital operations platform provider's revenue also exceeding Street forecasts. PagerDuty also issued an upbeat revenue forecast.

Nordstrom (JWN) will resume paying quarterly dividends, two years after they were halted by the department store operator. The resumed dividend will be 19 cents per share, payable on April 13 to shareholders of record as of March 28.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRKb) added to its stake in Occidental Petroleum (OXY), with an SEC filing indicating the purchase of 18.1 million more shares. That brings Berkshire's holdings in the energy producer to 136.4 million shares, or about 14.6%.

Box (BOX) is forecasting annual revenue growth of as much as 17% by 2025. The content management software provider had provided upbeat revenue guidance for the current year earlier this month.
Guess (GES) reported adjusted quarterly earnings of $1.14 per share, one cent below estimates, while the apparel maker's revenue also fell short of Street forecasts. However, profit margins were much better than anticipated, and the stock gained in premarket trading.


CONTRIBUTORS

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

Kevin Stankiewicz
@kevin_stank

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures rose Wednesday as energy names, including Dow component Chevron, followed surging oil prices higher as the intensifying Russia-Ukraine conflict raised concerns about crude supply. Bond yields, a day after slumping, moved higher Wednesday to around 1.77% on the 10-year Treasury. (CNBC)

U.S. oil skyrocketed Wednesday despite member states of the International Energy Agency announcing plans the day before to release 60 million barrels of oil reserves, half of that total from the U.S., in an effort to curb price increases.

* Exxon to exit Russia, leaving $4 billion in assets, Sakhalin LNG project in doubt (Reuters)
* Russia's Sberbank collapses 95% on London stock exchange as it exits Europe (CNBC)

West Texas Intermediate crude, the American benchmark, topped $112 per barrel, its highest since May 2011. The price moves come as OPEC and its oil-producing allies, which includes Russia, met Wednesday and decided not to add to April's output. (CNBC)

Wrestling with the war's potential impact on the economy against even more inflation from higher oil, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to deliver his semiannual assessment of the economy before a House panel Wednesday and a Senate panel Thursday.

* In prepared testimony, Powell said he still sees rate hikes ahead though he noted the "implications for the U.S. economy are highly uncertain" from the Ukraine war.

U.S. companies added 475,000 jobs in February, better than estimates of 400,000, ADP reported Wednesday. January's count was dramatically revised from a loss of 301,000 to a gain of 509,000. During the Covid pandemic, ADP's numbers have not been the best indictor of the government's monthly employment report, set for release Friday. (CNBC)

* Weak mortgage demand could get a big boost as Ukraine crisis causes rate declines (CNBC)

* Mortgage rates plunge just as home prices set another record (CNBC)
Dow stock Salesforce (CRM) jumped roughly 4% and Nordstrom (JWN) surged nearly 30% in premarket trading, the morning after each company issued rosy earnings, revenue and forward guidance. Tuesday's major sell-off saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq drop more than 1.5% each. (CNBC)

* Marc Benioff touts strong sales guidance, says $30 billions are now ahead of us (CNBC)

* Benioff backs start-up using satellites to count trees, pays people not to cut (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

* The president touted electric vehicle efforts by General Motors and Ford but not Tesla. In an email to CNBC, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote, "Nobody is watching the State of the Union." He later tweeted Tesla is investing more than double GM and Ford combined in EVs.

Ford (F) said Wednesday it will reorganize operations to separate its electric and internal combustion engine businesses into distinct units within the automaker. It's a similar strategy to how Ford is operating its Ford Pro commercial vehicle business under CEO Jim Farley's "Ford+" turnaround plan. Shares of Ford rose 4% on the news in premarket trading. (CNBC)

* Citigroup releases financial targets at first Investor Day under CEO Jane Fraser (CNBC)

* Walmart rolls out a tech tool to help shoppers try on clothes without actually trying them on (CNBC)

Netflix (NFLX) has offered to buy mobile game maker Next Games in a $72 million deal as the streaming video giant pushes further into gaming. Next Games is the Finnish studio behind a mobile game based on Netflix's hit show "Stranger Things." (CNBC)

Your ticket to see Warner Bros. "The Batman" could cost more if you book with AMC (AMC). Adam Aron, CEO of the movie theater chain, said the company was testing out variable pricing in the U.S., which means that new releases could cost more than other films playing in the same theaters at the same time. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

SoFi (SOFI) surged 15.5% premarket after SoFi's quarterly report. SoFi posted a loss of 15 cents per share on revenue of $279.9 million versus the Refinitiv consensus estimate of a 17-cents loss per share on revenue of $279.3 million.

Ross Stores (ROST) added 6.3% in premarket trading after an earnings beat. The retailer reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.04 per share on revenue of $5.02 billion. Analysts expected a profit of 87 cents per share on revenue of $4.96 billion.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) added 5.5% premarket after the company reported a slight earnings beat for the most recent quarter, but a quarterly revenue miss. Earnings of 53 cents per share for the quarter beat analysts' estimates by 7 cents. Revenue of $6.96 billion was below the consensus estimate of $7.03 billion.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) fell 8.1% premarket after the retailer missed top and bottom-line estimates. The company posted adjusted earnings of $1.14 per share on revenue of $1.16 billion. Analysts expected a profit of $1.27 per share on revenue of $1.18 billion, according to StreetAccount.

First Solar (FSLR) sunk 12.4% premarket after the company missed revenue expectations for the fourth quarter. The solar-panel manufacturer also issued weak full-year guidance.

Dollar Tree (DLTR) was 1% higher premarket after a better-than-expected fourth-quarter report. The company posted earnings of $2.01 per share versus the StreetAccount consensus estimate of $1.78 per share. Revenue slightly missed analyst estimates.

DraftKings (DKNG) rose 2.3% before the bell after Morgan Stanley named the sports betting stock a top pick. "We expect the US online sports betting/iGaming market to be very large, with a few market share winners, including DKNG," Morgan Stanley said.

CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures dropped Thursday as NATO accused Russia of adding forces at the Ukraine border not reducing them. Wall Street was also watching earnings from two Dow stocks and a trio of economic reports. In a volatile session Wednesday, the Dow and the Nasdaq dipped and the S&P 500 inched higher. (CNBC)

The three stock benchmarks cut some losses when the minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting didn't signal any plan to hike interest rates faster than already expected. At 8:30 a.m. ET, initial jobless claims, housing starts and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index are out. Ahead of the data, the 10-year Treasury yield was right around 2% early Thursday. (CNBC)

Walmart (WMT) topped quarterly estimates on earnings and revenue Thursday. The company said it's on track to hit its long-term growth targets, which called for adjusted earnings per share growth in the mid-single digits. Dow stock Walmart rose roughly 2% in the premarket after the release. Walmart said it raised its dividend and plans to $10 billion buybacks. (CNBC)

Cisco Systems (CSCO), also a Dow component, rose roughly 3% in Thursday's premarket, the morning after the networking equipment and software maker reported quarterly earnings and revenue that beat estimates. The company also issued upbeat full-year guidance. (CNBC)

Nvidia (NVDA) fell around 2.5% in the premarket after issuing late Wednesday a strong outlook that failed to impress an investor base accustomed to rosy guidance from the graphics processor giant. However, the company did report better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue. (CNBC)

DoorDash (DASH) surged about 22% in Thursday's premarket, the morning after it issued upbeat forward guidance along with a 69% jump in full-year revenue. For the quarter, revenue was also a slight beat. DoorDash's per-share quarterly loss, however, was wider than expected. (CNBC)

* Cathie Wood scoops up more than $20 million of Roblox during massive sell-off (CNBC Pro)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

NATO allies accused Russia of misleading the world and disseminating "disinformation" by saying it was returning some troops to bases, charging Moscow has instead added as many as 7,000 more troops near its tense border with Ukraine. (AP)

Ukraine has denied claims by Russian state-controlled media that it launched shells in eastern Ukraine, and accused Moscow-backed rebels of attacking a village in the region. The two countries currently have a cease-fire agreement in place. (CNBC)

* Biden to promote Great Lakes clean up efforts on Ohio trip (Reuters)

U.S. auto safety regulators launched another investigation of Tesla (TSLA), this time tied to complaints that its cars can stop on roads for no apparent reason. Documents posted Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say the vehicles can unexpectedly brake at highway speeds. (AP)

Amazon (AMZN) has reached a global agreement with Visa (V) to settle a dispute over the credit card giant's fees. The deal means Amazon customers in the U.K. can continue using Visa credit cards. Amazon will also drop a 0.5% surcharge on Visa transactions in Singapore and Australia. (CNBC)

* Activist investor Daniel Loeb sees roughly $1 trillion of untapped value in Amazon (WSJ)

* Hasbro activist wants toy company to spin off Wizards of the Coast unit (WSJ)

STOCKS TO WATCH

AutoNation (AN) earned an adjusted $5.76 per share for the fourth quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.96. Revenue was also above estimates, driven by a 55% surge in used vehicle sales. AutoNation shares jumped 3% in premarket trading.

Palantir (PLTR) slid 8% in premarket trading after quarterly earnings fell short of forecasts. Palantir's adjusted profit of 2 cents per share was half of what analysts predicted, although revenue exceeded forecasts.

Tripadvisor (TRIP) tumbled in the premarket after reporting an unexpected quarterly loss and revenue that fell short of analyst forecasts. The travel review site operator said it expects significant improvement in the travel market this year after what it called "unexpected periods of virus resurgence" in 2021.

Fastly (FSLY) plummeted roughly 32% in the premarket after the internet content delivery company gave lower-than-expected 2022 guidance. Fastly reported a narrower-than-expected fourth-quarter loss and revenue that came in above consensus estimates.

Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) jumped 4% in the premarket even though earnings came in below forecasts. A revenue beat was negated by increased input costs, but Cheesecake Factory is planning a price hike in new menus now being printed and said it may lift prices further later this year.

CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

U.S. stock futures turned lower Thursday after government data showed a stronger-than-expected increase in consumer inflation. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped to 1.98%, around late 2019 highs. Earnings season continues Thursday, the morning after Disney reported strong results, sending the Dow stock up 7% in premarket trading. (CNBC)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 on Wednesday both posted solid advances for the third straight session. The Nasdaq logged back-to-back gains, with the tech-heavy index 9.7% below its Nov. 19 record close but 10.6% below its Nov. 22 all-time intraday high.

The January consumer price index rose 7.5% year over year, more than estimates and the biggest jump since February 1982. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose in January 6% year over year, slightly higher than estimates and the biggest increase since August 1982. The CPI is key for markets since inflation is seen as a direct trigger for Fed interest rate hikes, which are expected to begin in March. (CNBC)

Initial jobless claims, also out before the bell, dropped to 223,000 for the week ended Feb. 5, fewer than expected.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Coca-Cola (KO) on Thursday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped expectations, and the Dow stock rose nearly 1% in the premarket. Profit in the fourth quarter was 45 cents per share on $9.46 billion in revenue. However, Coca-Cola issued a weaker-than-expected outlook, predicting higher inflation would continue as a drag on its earnings throughout 2022. (CNBC)

PepisCo (PEP) shares were basically flat in the premarket after the soda and snacks company Thursday beat expectations with fourth-quarter earnings and revenue but, similar to Coca-Cola, warned of inflationary pressures ahead from rising transportation and packaging costs. Profit in the quarter was $1.53 on sales of $25.25 billion. Pepsi expects in the coming year to pay $6.2 billion in dividends and execute buybacks totaling $1.5 billion. (CNBC)

Shares of Twitter (TWTR) rose 4% in premarket trading after the social media company announced a new $4 billion share buyback program. In its first earnings report under new CEO Parag Agrawal after co-founder Jack Dorsey stepped down from that role in November, the company missed estimates on profit of 33 cents per share, revenue of $1.57 billion and monetizable daily active users of 217 million. (CNBC)

Uber (UBER) shares gained 5.5% in Thursday's premarket, the morning after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue. The company reported fourth-quarter net income of $892 million, including a $1.4 billion net benefit, pretax, related to its equity investments.
Uber's EPS of 44 cents includes that investment gain. Excluding it, Uber posted a narrower-than-expected loss of 26 cents per share. (CNBC)

Disney late Wednesday said it earned an adjusted $1.06 per share in its fiscal first quarter, helped by growth in its Disney+ subscriber base and record profit from its theme parks. Revenue of $21.82 billion also beat estimates. Disney+ subscribers surpassed projections, coming in at 129.8 million. Revenue of $7.2 billion at Disney's parks division doubled from pandemic-depressed year-ago levels and came in above estimates. (CNBC)

Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange, is making a $200 million strategic investment in Forbes, the 104-year old magazine and digital publisher, CNBC has learned. The funds will help Forbes execute on its plan to merge with a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in the first quarter, according to people with knowledge of the deal. (CNBC)

Peloton (PTON) held a virtual all-hands meeting Wednesday that was meant to introduce its new CEO, Barry McCarthy. Instead, a conversation between McCarthy and former CEO John Foley was abruptly cut short, according to three people familiar with the details of the meeting. (CNBC)

* Activist Macellum seeks to take control of Kohl's board, nominates 10 directors (CNBC)

Salesforce (CRM) told employees Wednesday the company plans to release an NFT Cloud, according to people with knowledge of the matter. NFTs, or nonfungible tokens, are unique digital assets stored using blockchain. Salesforce sees an opportunity to bring them into enterprise software. (CNBC)

The Biden administration this week rolled out a plan to allocate $5 billion to states to fund electric vehicle chargers over five years, as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package that includes $7.5 billion to build a sprawling network of EV charging stations across the country. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Twilio (TWLO) rocketed nearly 20% higher in premarket action after the communications software company reported a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss and revenue that was well above estimates. Twilio also issued an upbeat current-quarter revenue outlook.

Mattel (MAT) came in 23 cents above estimates with adjusted quarterly earnings of 53 cents per share, and the toy maker's revenue also beat analysts forecasts. Mattel's results were driven in part by growth in its Barbie brand, and it also issued an upbeat 2022 outlook. The shares soared 12.6% in the premarket.

Tapestry (TPR), owner of Coach and Kate Spade brands, reported adjusted quarterly earnings of $1.33 per share, beating estimates. Revenue also beat. Tapestry raised its full-year guidance on rising demand for its luxury goods. The stock rose 3.8% in the premarket.

Canada Goose (GOOS) tumbled 10% in premarket trading after its earnings fell below analyst forecasts, although revenue topped predictions. The maker of winter wear cut its full-year forecast, as Covid-related restrictions impact demand for its parkas and footwear.

Sonos (SONO) allied 6.4% in premarket trading after topping analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines for the latest quarter. The maker of smart audio equipment said demand remains strong although it is still being impacted by supply chain issues.

Datadog (DDOG) surged 14.5% in the premarket after the cybersecurity platform company reported better-than-expected profit and revenue for its latest quarter.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC (from this morning)

Nasdaq futures sank more than 2% on Thursday, dragged down by an over 20% premarket decline in shares of Meta Platforms (FB), the morning after the Facebook parent reported weak earnings and lower guidance. (CNBC)

The Dow on Wednesday rose 0.6%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained nearly 1% and 0.5, respectively. All three stock benchmarks logged four straight sessions of gains. However, the Nasdaq remained in correction territory. Amazon and Ford are scheduled to report earnings after the bell Thursday. (CNBC)

Meta's quarterly miss on its bottom line was only the third time that has happened in the Facebook parent's nearly decade history as a public company. Meta blamed its cautious outlook on factors including a decline in user engagement and rising inflation taking a toll on advertiser spending. (CNBC)

* Facebook says Apple iOS privacy change will result in $10 billion revenue hit this year (CNBC)

* Cramer's Investing Club: We re keeping our small position in Facebook (CNBC)

Other social media stocks, including Snap (SNAP) and Twitter (TWTR), also fell sharply in Thursday's premarket. Spotify (SPOT), which has been embroiled in a controversy over podcaster Joe Rogan, dropped nearly 9% in the premarket after the audio streamer late Wednesday announced a slowdown in premium subscriber growth as part of mixed fourth-quarter financial results. (CNBC)

* PayPal stock closes down 24% in worst-ever trading day (CNBC)

* Cramer's Investing Club: PayPal's future prospects make the banged-up stock a buy (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Shares of Dow component Honeywell (HON) dropped 3.5% in the premarket after the company on Thursday reported mixed fourth-quarter results, beating estimates on earnings and missing on revenue. Honeywell issued forecasts for full-year earnings and revenue that were light of what analysts had been expecting. (CNBC)

Dow stock Merck rose 1% in the premarket after the drugmaker on Thursday reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter. Merck said its full-year guidance includes expected sales of $5 billion to $6 billion from Covid pill molnupiravir, developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. (CNBC)

One day after ADP reported that U.S. companies unexpectedly cut 301,000 jobs in January due to the omicron variant surge, the Labor Department reported 238,000 initial jobless claims for the week ended Jan. 29. That's lower than the previous week and not as many as had been forecast. (CNBC)

Friday brings the government's January employment report, with estimates for nonfarm payrolls growth of 150,000 jobs. However, Wall Street is starting to wonder whether those additions might be lower or even decline. (CNBC)

The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on President Joe Biden's nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin to be the next Federal Reserve vice chair for supervision. Raskin has become a lightning rod for criticism from business groups and fiscal conservatives. (Reuters)

One of the most popular bridges linking the ethereum and solana blockchains lost more than $320 million Wednesday afternoon in an apparent hack. It's decentralized finance's second-biggest exploit ever, just after the $600 million Poly Network crypto heist. (CNBC)

A major winter storm with millions of Americans in its path spread rain, freezing rain and heavy snow further across the country on Thursday, disrupting travel as roads in many states were left icy by the wintry mix and airlines canceled thousands of flights due to the weather. (AP & FlightAware) (MG NOTE: Lovely in the Palmetto State!}

STOCKS TO WATCH

Eli Lilly (LLY) beat estimates by 3 cents with adjusted quarterly earnings of $2.49 per share, while revenue beat forecasts as well. Results were boosted by a jump in sales of Lilly's Trulicity diabetes drug and Covid therapies. However, the stock slid 1.1% in the premarket.

Biogen (BIIB) Fell 2.8% in premarket action after the drugmaker issued a lower than expected 2022 adjusted earnings forecast. Biogen expects sales of Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm to be minimal following the government's move to limit Medicare coverage of the drug. Biogen reported better-than-expected profit and revenue for the fourth quarter.
Cardinal Health (CAH) fell 2.1% in the premarket after it cut its full-year forecast due to inflation pressures and supply chain constraints. The pharmaceutical distributor beat estimates by 4 cents for its latest quarter, earning an adjusted $1.27 per share.

T-Mobile US (TMUS) earned 34 cents per share for its latest quarter, more than doubling the 15-cent consensus estimate, though the mobile service provider's revenue fell short of analyst forecasts. T-Mobile also issued an upbeat forecast, and the stock soared 7.7% in the premarket.

Align Technology (ALGN) fell 2.6% in premarket trading after the maker of Invisalign dental braces said 2022 revenue would rise by 20% to 30% compared with the prior year's growth of 60%. Align also beat top and bottom-line estimates for its latest quarter as volume sales for its aligners rose.

McKesson (MCK) rallied 4.5% in the premarket after the pharmaceutical distributor reported better-than-expected top and bottom-line results. McKesson earned an adjusted $6.15 per share compared with a consensus estimate of $5.42, helped by the strength of its Covid-19 vaccine distribution business.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack

[MiamiGent]

CNBC

Dow futures on Wednesday jumped as Wall Street waits to hear from the Federal Reserve in the afternoon about its tightening plans after its two-day January meeting. Dow stock Microsoft's over 4% premarket jump on strong earnings helped boost overall sentiment as a recent stretch of volatility continued. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures rose roughly 1.5% and more than 2%, respectively. (CNBC)

The Dow on Tuesday closed modestly lower following another volatile session, which saw intraday swings from an over 800-point decline to a more than 220-point advance. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq on Tuesday closed down more than 1% and over 2%. The Nasdaq sank deeper in a correction. (CNBC)

The 30-year Treasury yield, which has moderated recently, dipped to around 1.78% early Wednesday. Concerns about rising inflation and how the Fed is going to further combat it will be front and center in investors' minds as the central bank releases its policy statement at 2 p.m. ET. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell holds his post-meeting news conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. (CNBC)

* Mortgage refinance demand plunges 13% as rates climb toward 2--year highs (CNBC)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Boeing (BA) took a $3.5 billion pretax charge on its 787 Dreamliners after production issues prevented the company from delivering the planes to airlines for most of the last 15 months. Before the bell, Boeing also said it generated positive cash flow in the fourth quarter. The Dow stock added more than 2% in the premarket. Boeing reported a much wider-than-expected Q4 loss and missed on revenue. (CNBC)

AT&T (T) on Wednesday morning beat estimates for fourth-quarter adjusted earnings and revenue, boosted by strong growth from Warner Media and its streaming platform HBO Max. The stock over rose 2% in the premarket. AT&T hopes to close its deal to combine Warner Media and Discovery into a stand-alone company by mid-2022. (Reuters)

Tesla (TSLA) and Dow stock Intel (INTC) lead the quarterly reports scheduled for release after the bell. Late Tuesday, it was Microsoft's turn. The tech giant announced fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue that beat estimates. Microsoft also gave an upbeat forecast for the current quarter. Microsoft hopes to close its deal to buy Activision Blizzard (ATVI) in fiscal 2023. (CNBC)

* Cramer's Investing Club: Microsoft's strong earnings report further confirms why we own the stock (CNBC)

A prominent European Union court has overturned a $1.2 billion antitrust fine that was levied against U.S. chipmaker Intel 13 years ago. The 2009 fine was handed out by the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, on the basis that Intel had unfairly tried to squeeze out its rivals. (CNBC)

Mattel (MAT) shares jumped Wednesday after the toy maker said it won the license for toys based on Walt Disney's (DIS) princess lineup, including the popular "Frozen" franchise. The deal marks a big win for Mattel after it lost the license to rival Hasbro (HAS) in 2016. (CNBC)

The National Football League is nearing $2 billion in partnership fees, the most in professional sports. Sports gambling firms, casinos, and lotteries saw the most significant spike in NFL sponsorship agreements. Verizon also has one of the more prominent NFL deals, playing the league more than $300 million annually. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Corning (GLW) rallied 7.7% in premarket trading after reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue. The materials science company also issued an upbeat forecast, as it sees growth in areas like optical components, life sciences and automotive.

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) fell 4.4% in the premarket after issuing weaker-than-expected revenue and earnings guidance. Kimberly-Clark did, however, report better-than-expected profit and revenue for the fourth quarter.

DraftKings (DKNG) jumped 6.7% in the premarket after Morgan Stanley upgraded it to "overweight" from "in-line." The firm said the U.S. sports betting and gaming market is likely to be very large with only a few winners, and that DraftKings will be one of them.

Texas Instruments (TXN) earned $2.27 per share for its latest quarter, compared with a consensus estimate of $1.94, and revenue above estimates. The chipmaker also issued an outlook that exceeded analyst forecasts amid continued strong demand for semiconductors. Shares jumped 4.3% in premarket trading.

F5 (FFIV) slumped 13% in premarket trading after the cloud security company's current quarter guidance fell below analyst forecasts. It also cut its full-year outlook, due in part to the impact of supply chain issues.

Navient (NAVI) tumbled 11.7% in the premarket after the student loan servicing company reported a quarterly loss amid higher expenses and falling revenue.

JinkoSolar (JKS) surged 15% in premarket trading after the solar company's shares more than doubled during their first day of trading in Shanghai and reached a premium of about 800% over the U.S.-listed shares.


CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew J. Belvedere
@Matt_Belvedere

Peter Schacknow
@peterschack