5 Crucial Market Updates to Watch Before the Stock Market Opens
2024-12-19
Author: Jia
If you're an investor, buckle up! Here are five key points you need to know ahead of today's stock market opening as U.S. futures indicate a potential rebound from yesterday's turmoil.
1. U.S. Stock Futures Rising After Recent Selloff
After a steep decline triggered by the Federal Reserve's interest-rate forecast, U.S. stock futures are showing positive signs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% in futures trading, aiming to end a dismal streak of 10 consecutive days of losses, including a staggering 1,100-point drop from the previous day. Meanwhile, S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures rose about 0.7%. Investors are also looking forward to critical economic reports related to weekly jobless claims, revisions on the U.S. GDP for the third quarter, and November's existing home sales data.
2. Micron Technology Faces a Major Setback
Micron Technology (MU) is experiencing a dramatic 12% drop in premarket trading following a dire outlook. The memory chip manufacturer, a significant partner of Nvidia (NVDA), announced a projected revenue of $7.9 billion for the upcoming fiscal quarter, significantly lower than the $8.93 billion analysts expected. Although Micron anticipates a growth revival in the latter half of fiscal 2025, it warns that consumer-oriented markets will likely remain sluggish in the immediate future. This news has left investors jittery as the tech sector attempts to stabilize.
3. Bitcoin Bounces Back Above $100,000
In a noteworthy recovery, bitcoin (BTCUSD) trades above the $102,000 mark after dipping below it post-Fed announcement. The cryptocurrency scene is buzzing again! MicroStrategy (MSTR), a prominent bitcoin investor, has seen its stock rise about 5% after a significant prior drop. Coinbase Global (COIN), a leading cryptocurrency exchange, also gained 4% in premarket trading, bouncing back from yesterday's declines. Large bitcoin mining companies like Riot Platforms (RIOT) and Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) are showing gains of roughly 4% as enthusiasm returns to the crypto market.
4. Nike’s First Earnings Report Under New Leadership Imminent
Nike (NKE) stocks are slightly up by 0.6% in premarket as the company gears up to unveil its second-quarter earnings report under new CEO Elliott Hill, who took the helm in October. Analysts have estimated the sportswear giant will hit $12.12 billion in revenue, reflecting a 9% decrease from last year, with net income projections sinking to $968 million from $1.6 billion. With intense competition from smaller brands and a challenging market landscape, investors are keen to see how Nike strategizes moving forward.
5. FedEx Poised for Income Growth Announcement
FedEx (FDX) is anticipated to reveal substantial income growth in its upcoming earnings report, making it the spotlight of many investors today. As e-commerce continues to reshape logistics, the company’s performance will be scrutinized closely.