US index futures are down premarket on Friday, continuing to
reflect the impacts of US inflation figures, UK activity and
uncertainty surrounding global interest rate trends.
By 7:00 AM, Dow Jones Futures (DOWI:DJI) were down 3 points, or
0.01%. S&P 500 futures were down 0.10% and Nasdaq-100
futures were down 0.23%. The 10-year Treasury yield was at
4.096%.
On Friday’s American economic agenda, investors will follow the
producer price index at 8:30 am. On a monthly basis, the
analysts’ expectation is for an increase of 0.20% in June, while in
the annual comparison the indicator should present an increase of
0.70%. At 10 am, the University of Michigan confidence index
will be released, which is forecast at 71 in August, down from
July, when it reached 71.6. At 1 pm, Baker Hughes will release
the number of oil rigs for the week.
In the United Kingdom, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by
0.2% in the second quarter compared to the previous year,
surprising expectations that indicated stability. Industrial
production also increased by 1.8% in June, beating the 0.10%
forecast. This data could strengthen the prospect that the
Bank of England will need to adopt a more rigorous stance to
control inflation, which could have a negative impact on
markets.
In Asia, on a public holiday in Japan, markets closed lower,
reflecting data on controlled inflation in the United States in
July. In China, social funding figures reached 528.2 billion
yuan in July, nearly half of expectations. In addition,
Chinese banks extended 345.9 billion yuan in new loans in July,
missing the forecast of 848 billion yuan.
In commodities markets, West Texas Intermediate crude for
September was up 0.36% to trade at $83.12 a barrel. Brent
crude for October was up 0.42% to close at $86.76 a
barrel. Iron ore futures traded in Dalian, China, rose 2.27%
to $101.17 a tonne, recovering part of back-to-back declines.
By Thursday’s close, the Dow Jones was up 0.15%. The
S&P 500 was broadly flat at 0.03%, while the Nasdaq Composite
was up 0.12%. While stocks started the day positive, they
closed almost flat. The July inflation index (CPI) was in line
with market expectations, registering an increase of 0.2% both in
the general index and in the core.
Although the composition of the index did not bring significant
surprises, there was an acceleration in the services core, also
known as “super-core”. This acceleration, however, does not
seem to be sustainable, given that the trend of this component
continues to decline.
Overall, the CPI numbers confirm the inflation scenario
projected by the Fed, characterized by a gradual deceleration of
the cores towards the target. This makes the Fed more likely
to stop interest rate hikes, although it continues to emphasize a
“high rates longer” policy, indicating that lowering rates may take
time. As a result, this data provoked a mixed reaction in the
market.
Ahead of Friday’s corporate results, investors are awaiting
reports from Air Canada (TSX:AC), AirSculpt (NASDAQ:AIRS), Silver
Spike (NASDAQ:SPKBW), ReWalk (NASDAQ:RWLK), among others.
Wall Street Corporate Highlights for Today
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) – A US
cybersecurity advisory panel will review the risks of cloud
computing, investigating Microsoft’s role in the breach of
government email systems by Chinese hackers. The Cybersecurity
Review Board will examine cloud infrastructure and identity
management, covering relevant providers. Microsoft faces
scrutiny over the hack that enabled spying, prompting calls for
action. The House Oversight Committee is also investigating
China’s role in the breaches.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon.com is
eliminating several of its own clothing brands, reducing its
previous range of 30 brands to three. This action is intended
to save costs and respond to antitrust concerns. The FTC is
investigating Amazon for alleged anti-competitive practices, with a
meeting scheduled to avoid prosecution. Amazon denies
wrongdoing.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), General
Motors (NYSE:GM) – Self-driving car companies have
been granted expanded permits to operate in San Francisco despite
local concerns. General Motors’ Cruise and Alphabet’s Waymo
were authorized to offer paid trips in autonomous vehicles around
the city at any time, with unlimited vehicles. GM forecasts
$80 billion in annual sales by 2030 from autonomous
software. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) are also
looking to expand in the sector.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) – Alphabet faces
the challenge of directing its growing cash pile. Generating
about $29 billion in cash in Q2, the company has about $118 billion
in cash and securities. Unlike Apple
(NASDAQ:AAPL), Alphabet does not have a clear return on capital
strategy. Share buybacks are an option, but strategic
investments such as Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) with
OpenAI are also considered. The focus on share buybacks aims
to avoid the perception of a lack of growth opportunities.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Tesla CEO Elon
Musk’s leadership style has raised concerns among
investors. Recently, however, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X
(formerly Twitter), stated that she has the autonomy to run Company
X, showing that Musk is willing to delegate to strong
managers. Although tangentially, that could allay fears and
indicate that Musk is more focused on Tesla after having strayed
into other endeavors.
Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM) –
Zoom Video has lifted its policy of not having internal meetings on
Wednesdays, citing difficulties in collaboration. CEO Eric
Yuan announced the move, also requiring employees within 50 miles
of an office to show up twice a week.
Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) – Due to global
supply constraints, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has not been able to
fully meet customers’ demand for AI training, as stated by CEO
Daniel Zhang. Shortages of critical components such as AI
chips are hurting Chinese technology efforts, further hampered by
new US rules on investment in AI and quantum computing sectors in
China.
KKR & Co (NYSE:KKR) – The Italian
government may divest up to 20% of Telecom Italia following
preliminary agreement with US fund KKR to acquire NetCo, comprised
of TIM’s fixed network and submarine cable. The Italian
Treasury will have 20% of the binding offer, with a strategic role,
while the Italian fund F2I can raise the combined stake to
30%. TIM seeks to sell to cut debts. KKR has until
September to submit a mandatory
offer. Vivendi (EU:VIV)
is a drag because of its 24% stake. KKR offered
around €23 billion on a debt basis.
Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) – Moody’s downgraded
Chinese developer Country Garden’s corporate family rating to Caa1
from B1 due to liquidity issues and refinancing risk following bond
defaults. The outlook is negative due to uncertainty about the
company’s ability to honor its obligations. Moody’s also
lowered its contracted sales forecast for 2023, highlighting market
concerns about the company’s liquidity and finances, which is
facing pressure from China’s volatile real estate sector.
UBS (NYSE:UBS) – UBS will no longer need
the Swiss government guarantee, which had been provided to bail out
rival Credit Suisse. The Swiss government had guaranteed CHF9
billion to UBS as part of the Credit Suisse bailout. UBS will
also not need public liquidity support. The news boosted UBS
shares by as much as 5% in premarket trading on Friday.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs
welcomed changes in monetary policy by the Reserve Bank of Kenya,
praising exchange rate flexibility and inflation
targeting. The bank foresees a strengthening of Kenya’s
external balances and foreign reserve, as well as the possibility
of attracting foreign investment in local debt. The reforms,
including an interest rate corridor, are associated with new
Central Bank leadership.
Citigroup (NYSE:C) – Citigroup is lowering
its bullish outlook on Egyptian bonds due to concerns over slow
progress on the sale of state assets. Bank strategists have
reduced their view on Egypt’s debt, citing lack of progress in the
privatization plan and heightened idiosyncratic risks. Egypt’s
dollar debt has been underperforming in emerging markets. The
agreement with the IMF is essential for its economic recovery.
Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) – Recently,
investors have been pouring money into money market funds and
bonds, pulling money out of the US stock market, according to
strategists at Bank of America Corp. In the week to Aug. 9,
cash funds received $20.5 billion, while $6.9 billion was withdrawn
from bonds. US stocks had their first outflow in three weeks,
totaling $1.6 billion.
Grupo Aval (NYSE:AVAL) – Colombia’s Grupo
Aval and its banking unit will pay more than $80 million to settle
charges of violating US anti-corruption laws. The
Corficolombiana unit will face a $40.6 million criminal fine and
$40 million in repayment and pretrial interest as part of the
resolution of the SEC investigation.
Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) – Virgin
Galactic completed its second commercial space tourism mission,
launching the VSS Unity spacecraft from New Mexico with three
female guests and a company instructor. Jon Goodwin, a former
Olympic kayaker, Keisha Schahaff, an entrepreneur from the
Caribbean, and Anastatia Mayers, an 18-year-old student, were taken
into space. The altitude reached was 88 km, surpassing the 80
km defined by the USA as the beginning of space. Virgin
Galactic plans to fly monthly, after the previous mission was
carried out with members of the Italian Air Force and the National
Research Council of Italy.
Wisk Aero , Archer
Aviation (NYSE:ACHR), Boeing (NYSE:BA)
– Archer Aviation has reached an agreement with Boeing and its Wisk
unit to resolve disputes and collaborate on autonomous
technology. Archer will make Wisk its exclusive provider of
autonomous technology for its aircraft. Boeing will invest in
Archer to integrate Wisk’s autonomous technology. Archer
shares were up 23.2% in premarket trading on Friday.
Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) – Lyft plans to run ads
on its ridesharing app to boost its revenue. Following the
example of its rival Uber (NYSE:UBER),
the company partnered with Rokt to sell ads for companies such as
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Universal
Pictures. Drivers will also be able to choose to have a Lyft
Media tablet in their car.
Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) – The US
Department of Energy is investing up to $1.2 billion in direct air
capture (DAC) technology to reduce global warming. Occidental
Petroleum and its subsidiary 1PointFive in Texas are leading one of
the projects, aimed at removing up to 30 million metric tons of CO2
per year, while Climeworks and Heirloom manage the Louisiana
hub. These pioneering projects will contribute to local jobs
and clean energy, with additional funding expected. However,
billions of tons of CO2 still need to be removed annually to reach
the Paris Agreement targets.
Kroger (NYSE:KR), Albertsons (NYSE:ACI)
– The FTC is investigating Kroger’s acquisition deal over
Albertsons to determine whether suppliers will be harmed, impacting
small supermarket chains. Kroger and the FTC plan divestments
to address antitrust concerns. The FTC surveyed experts and
industry associations to understand the settlement’s dynamics and
potential impacts.
Cano Health (NYSE:CANO) – Shares fell
44.1% in premarket trading due to “substantial doubts” about its
one-year operational viability. The company plans to reduce
its workforce by 17% and is exploring the possibility of a
sale.
DigitalOcean (NYSE:DOCN) – Shares were up
2.2% to hit $35.77 after a rating upgrade from “Underweight” to
“Equal Weight” with an increase in price target to $36 from $30.
The company recently revised its annual outlook and is correcting
accounting errors in past earnings.
Earnings
Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) – Alibaba reported its
strongest quarterly revenue growth in nearly two years, focusing on
low-cost products to attract consumers amid a difficult economic
environment. First-quarter revenue was $32.3 billion, up 14%
year-over-year. Net profit grew 51%. The revenue increase
comes as the Chinese economy grapples with
uncertainty. Alibaba seeks to compete with rivals with
low-cost products, planning to invest more in this
strategy. The company is also preparing for the departure of
CEO Daniel Zhang.
Pagaya Technologies (NASDAQ:PGY) – Shares
are up 16.0% premarket after Pagaya reported a second-quarter loss
of $31.3 million, adjusted for earnings of $886,000, beating
forecasts. Total revenue increased by 7.8%. Pagaya
projected adjusted EBITDA of $10 million to $20 million on total
revenue of $190 million to $200 million for the third quarter.
Arlo Technologies (NYSE:ARLO) – Arlo
Technologies shares fell 2.6% after the maker of security cameras,
video doorbells and other home security devices reported a narrower
quarterly loss and revenue that, while , exceeded Wall Street
expectations. Arlo Technologies reported Q2 EPS of $0.060,
$0.02 better than the analyst estimate of $0.040. Revenue for
the quarter came in at $115.1 million, versus the consensus
estimate of $110.18 million.
IONQ (NYSE:IONQ) – Quantum computing
hardware and software company IONQ posted a 5.6% premarket increase
after revising its annual booking outlook to a range between $49
million and $56 million . IONQ reported a second-quarter loss
per share of $0.22, worse than analysts’ estimate of a loss of
$0.13. Revenue for the quarter came in at $5.5 million, versus
the consensus estimate of $4.35 million.
Maxeon Solar (NASDAQ:MAXN) –
Singapore-based solar technology company Maxeon Solar was down
25.6% in premarket after it revised downwards its full-year outlook
due to softened residential demand and forecast challenging market
conditions. to persist into the fourth trimester. The new
annual forecast is for revenue between $1.25 billion and $1.35
billion, and adjusted earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation
and amortization between $80 million and $100 million.
Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) – Flowers Foods
reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share,
beating analyst forecasts, with revenue up 8.8% to $1.23
billion.
Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) – Ralph Lauren CEO
Patrice Louvet expressed optimism about the future, despite not
raising annual guidance after reporting fiscal first quarter
earnings. Revenue of $1.5 billion beat estimates. Louvet
highlights the resilience of the brand’s core consumer and notes
the shift to a “casual upscale” style, emphasizing the brand’s
visibility with celebrities.
Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY)
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