On March 8, American stock exchanges finished trading mostly in the red zone. The S&P 500 index fell 0.54% to 3821 points, the Dow Jones added 0.97%, the NASDAQ lost 2.41%. The outsiders were the IT sector (-2.46%) and the communications sector (-1.47%). The “value” stocks continued to outperform the market: the finance, industrial, and raw materials sectors stood out. Treasury yield rises to 1.60%.
Company News
GameStop Corp. (GME: + 41.2%) announced the formation of a strategic commission as part of a business model change taking into account new technologies.
McAfee (MCFE: + 12.7%) will sell corporate business to Symphony Technology Group to focus on consumer cybersecurity.
Diversified corporation General Electric (GE: + 4.2%) announced that the company is close to a deal to sell a non-core aircraft leasing asset to the Irish group AerCap. The transaction value is more than $ 30 million.
Today, global stock markets are showing mixed dynamics. During this day, the focus of attention of investors will be directed to the vote of the House of Representatives on the stimulus package approved earlier by the Senate in the amount of $ 1.9 trillion. Markets are confident that the stimulus package will also be approved by the lower house of the US Congress. Earlier, President Joe Biden said that Americans will be able to receive payments under the program as early as this month.
Despite the fact that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and FOMC member Lael Brainard noted that further rate hikes could lead to a slowdown on the way to achieving the Fed’s goals, so far this risk remains moderate. Although the approval of the stimulus package has caused a lot of attacks in connection with the current dynamics of bond rates, however, representatives of the regulator do not express much concern about this trend. Janet Yellen noted that the economy will return to full employment in 2022. Speaking about the stimulus package, the US Treasury Secretary said she did not expect the economy to overheat amid injections of additional capital into the stock market.
The Freedom Finance Sentiment Index remained at 78 out of 100. The indicator reflects the hope of market participants for a recovery in the global economy in 2021. Concerns about a new wave of the pandemic are balanced by the growing pace of vaccinations.
Today Top Movers
Vaccinex Inc. (VCNX) stock soared 3.83% to $2.98 in the pre-market trading.
INVO Bioscience Inc (INVO) is up 91.32% to $5.95 in the early morning trading session. The company recently revealed an amendment under its exclusive U.S. commercialization agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
GT Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: GTBP) shares are trading up 98.9% at $9.03 at the time of writing after declaring preclinical results for its ROR1 TriKE™ as a treatment for prostate cancer. The company’s 52-week ranged between $1.53 to $13.09.
Socket Mobile Inc. (SCKT) grew over 0.13% at $7.64 in pre-market trading today.
Top Upgrades & Downgrades
Goldman Sachs turned bullish on Nomura Holdings Inc. (NMR), upgrading the stock to “Buy”.
Extended Stay America Inc. (STAY) has won the favor of Baird’s equity research team. The firm upgraded the shares from Neutral to Outperform and moved their price target to $15.
Whiting Petroleum Corporation (WLL) received an upgrade from analysts at Wells Fargo, who also set their one-year price target on the stock to $40. They changed their rating on WLL to Overweight from Equal-Weight in a recently issued research note.
Earlier Tuesday Wells Fargo reduced its rating on Range Resources Corporation (RRC) stock to Equal-Weight from Overweight and assigned the price target to $14.
Deutsche Bank analysts reduced their investment ratings, saying in research reports covered by the media that it’s rating for Stitch Fix Inc. (SFIX) has been changed to Hold from Buy and the new price target is set at $54.
Analysts at Wells Fargo downgraded SM Energy Company (SM)’s stock to Equal Weight from Overweight Tuesday.
Latest Insider Activity
Halliburton Company (HAL) Senior Vice Pres – Tax Jones Myrtle L announced the sale of shares taking place on Mar 05 at $23.50 for some 5,462 shares. The total came to more than $0.13 million.
The Gap Inc. (GPS) Brand President & CEO Green Nancy sold on Mar 05 a total of 62,693 shares at $27.00 on average. The insider’s sale generated proceeds of almost $89991.0.
The Wendy’s Company (WEN) Chief Legal Ofcr & Secretary Wunsch E.J. declared the purchase of shares taking place on Mar 05 at $18.98 for some 7,500 shares. The transaction amount was around $0.14 million.
Dominion Energy Inc. (D) Director Kington Mark J bought on Mar 04 a total 81,089 shares at $69.29 on average. The purchase cost the insider an estimated $138,578.
Important Earnings
Top US earnings releases scheduled for today include InspireMD Inc. (AMEX: NSPR). It will announce its Mar 2021 financial results. The company is expected to report earnings of -$0.08 per share from revenues of $1M in the three-month period.
Analysts expect DICK’S Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE:DKS) to report a net income (adjusted) of $2.28 per share, when the company releases its quarterly results shortly. Revenue for the fiscal quarter ended Jan 2021 is predicted to come in at $3.07B.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE), due to announce earnings after the market closes today, is expected to report revenues of $71.3M recently concluded three-month period.
