In the pre-market on Wednesday, U.S. index futures showed a
slight increase, with investors awaiting the latest monetary policy
decision from the Federal Reserve.
At 05:30 AM, the Dow Jones (DOWI:DJI) futures
rose 42 points, or 0.11%. S&P 500 futures rose
0.11% and Nasdaq-100 futures rose 0.14%. The
10-year Treasury yield was at 4.191%.
In the commodities market, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for
January fell 0.06%, to US$ 68.57 per barrel. Brent crude for
February fell 0.12%, close to US$ 73.15 per barrel. Iron ore with a
concentration of 62%, traded on the Dalian exchange, fell 1.35%, to
US$ 133.26 per ton.
On Wednesday’s economic agenda, investors await at 08:30 AM the
Producer Price Index (PPI) for November. At 10:30 AM, the oil
inventories of the week until 12/08 will be released. At 14:00 PM,
the U.S. Central Bank will announce its decision, followed by a
press conference with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at 14:30. The Fed
is expected to maintain interest rates in the range of 5.25% to
5.5%, but investors will also analyze Powell’s comments for clues
about when rate cuts can be expected.
European markets are slightly up. Tomorrow, the European Central
Bank (ECB), the Bank of England (BoE), and the Swiss National Bank
will announce their interest rate decisions, following the Federal
Reserve’s (Fed) announcement. Additionally, recent statistics
released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that the UK
economy contracted by 0.3% in October. This drop was driven by
declines observed in key sectors such as services, production, and
construction.
In Asian stock markets, there was a mixed variation, with the
Shanghai SE (China) index registering a drop of 1.15%. The Nikkei
(Japan) recorded a slight increase of 0.25%. The Hang Seng Index
(Hong Kong) fell 0.89%. The Kospi (South Korea) decreased by 0.97%.
The ASX 200 (Australia) showed an increase of 0.31%. The Chinese
government recently announced its economic targets for 2024, which
include stimulating domestic demand, prioritizing the development
of key sectors, and addressing the real estate sector crisis. These
initiatives, announced by Beijing, are in line with market
expectations, as analyzed by BofA Global Research. However, no
major fiscal stimulus or significant interest rate reduction is
expected.
On Tuesday’s close, U.S. stocks continued their recent trend of
gains, with the main indices closing at their highest levels in
over a year. The Dow Jones rose 0.48% to
36,577.94, the S&P 500 increased 0.46% to
4,643.70, and the Nasdaq gained 0.70% to
14,533.40. This positive momentum came after a report from the
Labor Department that showed a slight increase in U.S. consumer
prices in November, fueling optimism about future interest rates.
Although the Fed is expected to keep rates unchanged, the markets
are attentive to indications of rate cuts next year.
On the corporate earnings front for Wednesday, investors will be
paying attention to reports from ABM (NYSE:ABM).
IPG Phototronics (NASDAQ:PLAB),
Cognyte (NASDAQ:CGNT), and
VersaBank (NASDAQ:VBNK), before the market opens.
After the close, reports from Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE),
Amtech Systems (NASDAQ:ASYS), Nordson
Corp (NASDAQ:NDSN), among others, will be observed.
Wall Street Corporate Highlights for Today
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple has provided rivals
access to its tap-and-go mobile payment systems in an attempt to
resolve EU antitrust charges. The European Commission will assess
the offer after seeking feedback from competitors and customers
next month. Apple also faces charges of hindering the promotion of
App Store alternatives.
Foxconn (USOTC:FXCOF) – Foxconn received
approval to invest over $1 billion in its Indian factory, which
will produce Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) products. Foxconn plans to spend
about $2.7 billion at the site as part of its efforts to expand
production outside China. Apple and its partners are speeding up
the creation of a supply chain in India, as Chinese companies face
regulatory challenges and political tensions.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) – Meta, the owner
of Facebook and Instagram, faces copyright infringement allegations
for using thousands of pirated books to train its AI model Llama.
Internal documents reveal discussions about legality. The lawsuit
has been consolidated with others filed by authors, including Sarah
Silverman and Michael Chabon.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Meta
Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Qualcomm
(NASDAQ:QCOM) – Google (Alphabet), Meta, Qualcomm, and seven other
technology companies formed the Coalition for Open Digital
Ecosystems (CODE) to promote more open systems, innovation, and
cooperation in Europe, in response to new EU rules, including the
Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) – AMD’s
stock rose for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, nearing its
highest close in almost a year. The prices closed at $137.61, close
to the January 2022 closing. Shares are up 0.34% in Wednesday’s
pre-market.
TE Connectivity (NYSE:TEL) – The electrical
component company announced that its board approved a $1.5 billion
increase in its stock buyback program.
Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) – Alibaba’s cloud unit lost
its commercial director, Cai Yinghua, amid internal restructuring
and uncertainty following the decision to back off from the $11
billion business separation. The company appointed new executives
in an attempt to revitalize the cloud division.
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Disney
(NYSE:DIS) – According to Reuters, Netflix will lead U.S. ad
revenue in 2024, with a 50.3% increase to about $1 billion, due to
price hikes and password-sharing restrictions. Disney+ will
register a 16.1% increase to about $912 million, seeking to regain
ground.
AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) – AMC
Entertainment completed a stock offering, raising about $350
million. The move aims to reduce the company’s debt, which exceeded
$5 billion in 2022. This brings AMC’s total raised since September
1 to $675 million and $865 million in the 2023 calendar year.
Nokia (NYSE:NOK) – Nokia downgraded its
operating margin target to at least 13% by 2026, due to losing a
deal with AT&T (NYSE:T). The company still sees a path to the
previous target but considered it prudent to revise due to market
conditions. Additionally, Nokia and Deutsche Telekom made a deal to
use ORAN technology in Germany, marking Nokia’s return to DT’s
commercial networks since being absent since 2017. The project is
underway and will be extended next year.
DoubleVerify (NYSE:DV) – The digital media
analytics company received an Overweight rating and a target price
of $40 from Morgan Stanley in its initial assessment.
Visa (NYSE:V), Mastercard
(NYSE:MA) – The UK payment regulator proposed a temporary cap on
cross-border interchange fees charged by Mastercard and Visa in
transactions between the UK and the European single market. This
aims to protect businesses from excessive payments, following a
market review that identified undue fee increases.
Blackstone (NYSE:BX) – The casino and gaming
regulator of Victoria, Australia, is investigating Blackstone-owned
Crown Resorts regarding allegations that CEO Ciaran Carruthers
allowed drunk customers and even a minor into the casino. The
investigation is ongoing.
Bain Capital (NYSE:BCSF) – Bain Capital sold a
$448 million stake in Indian bank Axis Bank in a block trade. Bain
affiliates offered 33.4 million shares, representing 1.1% of Axis
Bank, at 1,119.70 rupees per share, a 1% discount to the closing
price. In addition, Bain Capital agreed to acquire a controlling
stake in Swedish infrastructure projects and services company Eleda
from Altor, with Altor retaining a minority stake. Founders and
management will reinvest significantly in the company. Eleda
generates over $1.44 billion in annual revenues. Financial terms
were not disclosed.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) – Goldman Sachs’ global
head of commodities, Ed Emerson, will retire in March after more
than 24 years at the firm. Xiao Qin and Nitin Jindal will jointly
lead the commodities business.
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) – A judge in São Paulo
approved bankruptcy protection for SouthRock Capital, which manages
Starbucks cafes and TGI Fridays restaurants in Brazil. SouthRock
will continue restructuring its operations, including Starbucks and
TGI Fridays stores, but does not affect Subway and Eataly.
Farfetch (NYSE:FTCH) – The post-pandemic
slowdown affects European luxury companies, including LVMH
(USOTC:LVMUY) and Kering (EU:KER), but Farfetch, a pioneer in
e-commerce, suffers more. The company faces stock drops, credit
downgrades, and competition from brands seeking distribution
control. Rumors suggest sale or going private.
Cal-Maine (NASDAQ:CALM) – Cal-Maine Foods
detected the avian flu virus at one of its facilities in Kansas,
affecting 1.6% of the flock. Production was temporarily halted, and
the company states there’s no immediate threat to public health or
the food supply. Investors will be updated in the January quarterly
results.
Kroger (NYSE:KR) – Six U.S. lawmakers expressed
opposition to Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons
(NYSE:ACI), claiming the proposed store divestitures won’t solve
antitrust issues and could harm consumers, workers, and the food
sector. The FTC is still reviewing the deal. Additionally, Kroger
announced that its associates will return to offices in February
2024, attending three to four days a week, citing greater
efficiency and collaboration. About 5,800 associates in Cincinnati
and other locations will be affected by the change.
Blend Labs (NYSE:BLND) – Shares of fintech
company Blend Labs rose 5.71% in Wednesday’s pre-market to $1.85,
after Keefe Bruyette raised its target price from $1.50 to $1.85
and maintained a Market Perform rating for the shares.
Camping World (NYSE:CWH) – Roth MKM analysts
initiated coverage of Camping World shares with a Buy rating and
set a target price of $30.
Choice Hotels (NYSE:CHH) – Choice Hotels
International launched a hostile offer for Wyndham Hotels &
Resorts (NYSE:WH), valued at about $7.2 billion. Choice is ready
for a boardroom battle as it seeks to combine two of the largest
operators of budget hotels in the U.S.
Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG) – Booking
Holdings Inc. is witnessing travel normalization in the Middle East
following the conflict between Israel and Hamas. CEO Glenn Fogel
reported an increase in hotel bookings, flights, and travel
activities, similar to what occurred in Eastern Europe after the
Russia-Ukraine crisis in 2022. Although the situation remains
volatile, this development is a positive sign for the travel
industry.
SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) – SunPower’s shares fell
7.6% on Tuesday after the company announced an amendment to its
credit agreement with lenders, due to challenges related to higher
interest rates, inflation, and regulatory changes in 2023. The
company received financing commitments from Sol Holding worth $25
million. Shares are stable in Wednesday’s pre-market.
Uber (NYSE:UBER) – Uber and Carrefour (EU:CA)
are collaborating to provide Uber drivers access to Carrefour’s
electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in France. Uber will invest
300,000 euros to enable EV charging for its VTC drivers and will
offer preferential rates at Carrefour’s charging network starting
January 1.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) – GM and Komatsu plan
to develop a hydrogen fuel cell power module for Komatsu’s 930E
electric mining truck. The goal is to test a prototype of the
hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck by mid-decade.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – The rear-wheel drive and
long-range Tesla Model 3 vehicles will lose the federal tax credit
of up to $7,500 from December 31, due to new guidelines from the
U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, seeking to reduce China’s dependence
in the electric vehicle supply chain. Tesla advised to make
deliveries by December 31 to obtain the full tax credit. Elsewhere,
Tesla received approval from Mexico’s Federal Ministry of the
Environment to build its “gigafactory” in Nuevo Leon. The land
covers about 261 hectares, with estimated costs of over $5 billion.
Elon Musk expressed concern about the economy, but the Nuevo Leon
government will invest more than $130 million in supporting
infrastructure. Additionally, Tesla shared a video on Tuesday
showcasing improvements in its humanoid robot prototype called
“Optimus”. The robot is now lighter, with the ability to handle
delicate objects and tactile detection in its fingers. The goal is
to enable the robot to perform dangerous or monotonous tasks in
place of humans.
SpaceX – Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to sell
preferred shares at $97 each in a public offering, raising the
value of the space and satellite company to about $180 billion,
making it one of the most valuable private companies in the
world.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Boeing delivered 56 planes
in November, approaching its annual targets. The deliveries
included 45 737 MAX, one P-8, two 777 freighters, two 767s, and six
787 Dreamliners. The company is close to its annual delivery goals.
In other news, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed
three directives for inspections and component replacements on
Boeing 737NG airplanes following a fatal incident involving
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) fan blades in 2018. The directives
affect 1,979 airplanes registered in the U.S. and 6,666 worldwide,
aiming to enhance safety. Additionally, Boeing is making
significant cuts to its strategic teams, halving the number of
planners working in major divisions, as it faces industrial
pressures. This move aims to redirect more resources to its
operations. The company has faced financial challenges in recent
years and is seeking internal restructuring.
L3Harris (NYSE:LHX) – U.S. defense company
L3Harris announced the suspension of its merger and acquisition
activities to strengthen its balance sheet and outperform analysts’
estimates, targeting a revenue of about $21 billion by 2024. The
company will also prioritize investments in research and
development, debt reduction, and share buyback.
Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) – Amgen announced an
increase in its dividend, rising to $2.25 per share, marking the
12th consecutive year of increase. The dividend will be paid on
March 7 to shareholders registered by February 16.
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) – Pfizer plans to complete
the acquisition of Seagen for $43 billion this week, creating a new
oncology division. Pfizer will also reorganize its commercial
businesses, and commercial director Angela Hwang will leave the
position. Pfizer will donate royalty rights from Bavencio cancer
drug sales to the American Association for Cancer Research.
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) – Moderna announced that
its commercial director, Arpa Garay, has left the position. CEO
Stephane Bancel will assume sales and marketing responsibilities as
the company deals with weak Covid-19 vaccine sales.
Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) – Illumina accused the
EU of overstepping its powers by reviewing the merger with Grail,
while the EU claimed the company was trying to rewrite merger
rules. This highlights the EU’s determination to apply Article 22
to review large company deals, even below the EU merger revenue
thresholds.
Caribou Biosciences (NASDAQ:CRBU) – Shares of
the genetic editing company rose 2.83% in Wednesday’s pre-market
following the FDA’s approval of the lymphoma trial design.
Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) – Shares of Zealand
Pharma (CHIX:ZEALC) outperform those of Novo Nordisk, with a 63%
increase in market value on the Copenhagen stock exchange this
year, driven by unique mechanism weight loss drugs. Zealand focuses
on obesity and develops treatments based on amylin analogs.
Investors see potential in a growing weight loss market.
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