STOCKS/ECONOMY
-Stock futures are modestly lower after a late rally Tuesday left the Dow up by 10 points, the S&P 500 up by 0.2 percent, and the Nasdaq gained just 0.1 percent. Investors may stay on the sidelines today until the Fed minutes are released at 2pm ET.
-The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is up to 4.56 percent.
-The average 30-year mortgage rate fell last week to 6.93 percent from 6.95 percent the week before. But new mortgage applications still fell by 6 percent and refinance applications dropped by 7 percent.
-Gold is up to the $2,957 per ounce level. Bitcoin is holding at the $96,200 level.
-Asian markets closed mostly lower today. The Hang Seng lost 0.1 percent, the Nikkei fell 0.3 percent, but the Shenzhen rallied 1.5 percent higher.
OIL/ENERGY
-U.S. crude prices are up and at the $72 a barrel level.
-Gasoline prices are at $3.16 a gallon, national average.
EARNINGS SCORECARD
-Homebuilder Toll Brothers (TOL) reported weaker than expected quarterly profits and revenues. Its shares are down 6 percent in the premarket.
-Dating app Bumble (BMBL) issued disappointing forward earnings guidance. Its shares are down 18 percent in the premarket.
-Health tech company Philips (PHG) reported weaker than expected quarterly profits and revenues. Its shares are down 12 percent in the premarket.
-Etsy (ETSY) reported weaker than expected quarterly revenues. Its shares are down 7 percent in the premarket.
-SolarEdge (SEDG) reported better than expected quarterly revenues. Its shares are up 20 percent in the premarket.
TARIFF TALK
-President Donald Trump now says he may broaden the scope of U.S. tariffs on imports to include a 25 percent tariff on all imported cars, pharmaceuticals and computer chips, with an option to increase the tariffs even more.
DEALS/NO DEALS
-Capital One Financial (COF) shareholders have voted to approve the merger of Capitol One with Discover Financial Services (DFS). Capital One shares are up 2 percent in the premarket, Discover shares are up 1 percent.
KENTUCKY FRIED EXODUS
-YUM Brands (YUM) is moving KFC's headquarters out of Kentucky and to Texas because of lower taxes. YUM shares fell 1 percent in Tuesday's trading on the news.
OUT OF GAS
-Hydrogen powered truck maker Nikola (NKLA), once a very hot stock trading above $2,800 a share less than five years ago, is now declaring bankruptcy with shares trading at 41 cents apiece.
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