Investors remain concerned about the situation in the bond markets. Last week, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell was able to calm the markets somewhat, but yesterday his speech went down the wrong way with investors. During his speech, he indicated that the bond market situation has his attention, but he saw no reason to intervene yet.
Powell also said it is very likely that inflation will rise further as the economy recovers, but he thinks this will only be a temporary effect. Without sustained inflation coupled with a return to full employment, the central bank is unlikely to hike interest rates. His thoughts combined with the lack of measures led to rising interest rates again.
At the same time, this was again enough reason for investors to hit the sell buttons. Technology was again the bitten dog, the Nasdaq closed 2.11% lower at 12,723 points. The S&P 500 did less badly with a loss of 1.34% to 3,768 points. The same shares as Wednesday were sold off again. For example, we saw Baidu again lose more than 6.2% and Tesla also fell by 4.86%.
The Nasdaq has fallen below 13,000 points with all the violence through the support surface. The technology fair is now in the red for the current year. In Thursday’s Morning Call I already indicated that the breakthrough of the neckline of the head & shoulder pattern has a price target of approximately 12,000 points.
Today Top Movers
Waitr Holdings Inc. (WTRH) stock soared 20.74% to $3.61 in the pre-market trading. The firm recently declared partnership with Flow Payments to create a compliant marketplace, delivery and payment solution for dispensaries selling cannabis.
Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: SIFY) shares are trading up 38.15% at $3.73 at the time of writing. According to people with knowledge of the matter, Blackstone Group Inc. is in talks to acquire a minority stake in Sify Technologies Ltd.(SIFY), an Indian technology company. Company’s 52-week ranged between $0.56 to $5.89.
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (XTLB) grew over 159.52% at $7.5 in pre-market trading today.
CLPS Incorporation (CLPS), a Information Technology Services company, rose about 44.93% at $6.0 in pre-market trading Friday. The company reported today in its unaudited financial results for the six months ended December 31, 2020, that revenues increased by $15.7 million, or 37.0%, to $58.3 million from $42.6 million in the prior year period.
Top Upgrades & Downgrades
DZ Bank turned bullish on Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), upgrading the stock to “Hold” and assigning a $58 price target.
Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) has won the favor of JPMorgan’s equity research team. The firm upgraded the shares from Neutral to Overweight and moved their price target to $55, suggesting 23.42% additional upside for the stock.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) received an upgrade from analysts at Goldman Sachs, who also set their one-year price target on the stock to $45. They keep their rating on FITB as Buy from Buy in a recently issued research note.
Earlier Friday Raymond James reduced its rating on Senseonics Holdings Inc (SENS) stock to Underperform from Market Perform.
JPMorgan analysts reduced their investment ratings, saying in research reports covered by the media that it’s rating for Nikola Corporation has been changed to Neutral from Overweight.
Analysts at ICICI Securities downgraded Wipro Limited (WIT)’s stock to Sell from Reduce Friday.
Latest Insider Activity
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) EVP, CFO & Treasurer KUMAR DEVINDER announced the sale of shares taking place on Mar 02 at $86.09 for some 63,044 shares. The total came to more than $5.43 million.
PayPal Holdings Inc. (PYPL) EVP, Chief Bus. Aff. & Legal O Pentland Adele Louise sold on Mar 03 a total of 60,677 shares at $261.21 on average. The insider’s sale generated proceeds of almost $19.66 million.
Viatris Inc. (VTRS) Director CORNWELL W DON declared the purchase of shares taking place on Mar 03 at $13.84 for some 3,000 shares. The transaction amount was around $41515.0.
Vistra Corp. (VST) Director BARBAS PAUL M bought on Mar 03 a total 67,159 shares at $16.42 on average. The purchase cost the insider an estimated $197,040.
Important Earnings
Top US earnings releases scheduled for today include Big Lots Inc. (NYSE:BIG). It will announce its Jan 2021 financial results. The company is expected to report earnings of $2.5 per share from revenues of $1.74B in the three-month period.
Analysts expect Hibbett Sports Inc. (NASDAQ:HIBB) to report a net income (adjusted) of $1.37 per share, when the company releases its quarterly results shortly. Revenue for the fiscal quarter ended Jan 2021 is predicted to come in at $378.42M.