STOCKS/ECONOMY
-Stock futures are higher as investors are bullish on President-elect Trump's choice for Treasury Secretary. Some more key earnings reports and inflation data are due out during this shortened holiday week.
-Trump's Treasury pick is hedge fund investor Scott Bessent, a man Wall Street investors believe will be favorable to the markets.
-The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is down to 4.36 percent.
-Gold is down to the $2,684 per ounce level. Bitcoin is at the $98,000 level.
-Asian markets closed mixed today. The Nikkei rallied 1.3 percent higher, while the Hang Seng lost 0.4 percent and the Shenzhen fell 0.2 percent.
OIL/ENERGY
-U.S. crude prices are down this morning, but still at the $71 a barrel level after last week's rally.
-Gasoline prices are holding at $3.05 a gallon, national average.
CLEANING UP
-Bath & Body Works (BBWI) reported better than expected quarterly profits and revenues. Its shares are up 14 percent in the premarket, but are still down more than 20 percent so far this year.
MOVIE MAGIC
-Universal's "Wicked" posted a strong $155 million opening weekend at the box office. Paramount's "Gladiator II" scored a $55 million opening weekend. Universal parent Comcast (CMCSA) shares are up 1 percent in the premarket. Paramount Global (PARA) shares are up slightly.
DEALS/NO DEALS
-Quickrete is reportedly buying Summit Materials (SUM) in a $9.2 billion deal that would combine two of the biggest concrete and other building materials companies in North America. Summit shares are down 2 percent in the premarket.
COFFEE CLUTCH
-New Starbucks (SBUX) CEO Brian Niccol is looking to speed up service at the chain's notoriously slow airport locations. A major assessment of their performance is expected during this busy Thanksgiving travel week. Starbucks shares are up slightly in the premarket, but are still down 20 percent from their all-time high set back in the summer of 2021.
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