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Here’s what’s happening in the stock market today:
US stock futures are pointing to a slightly lower open today amid falling bond yields and ongoing volatility in tech and AI-related stocks following the holiday break. 📉🔄 Premarket activity shows sharp moves in select names, with investor sentiment tempered by rate cut optimism clashing with market jitters.
Major Indices Performance 📊
S&P 500 futures are down 0.2% to 0.4%, reflecting caution after recent gains.
Dow Jones futures have slipped about 0.2%, or roughly 83 points.
Nasdaq futures lead losses at 0.6% to 0.8%, driven by declines in big chip stocks like Nvidia and Micron.
Market Movers 🚀
TG-17 Inc. (OBAI) surges 191% in heavy premarket volume on undisclosed catalysts.
ZIM Integrated Shipping (ZIM) jumps 35%, Masimo (MASI) +35%, and LEIFRAS (LFS) +40% among top gainers.
Tech decliners include Nvidia (NVDA) -1.1%, Tesla (TSLA) -1.3%, and Micron (MU) -2.3%.
Key Events Driving the Market 🗞️
Markets reopen post-holiday with focus on falling 10-year Treasury yields at two-and-a-half-month lows, boosting rate cut bets.
AI concerns weigh on tech sentiment, while global investors remain "uber-bullish" but flag corporate overinvestment risks.
Upcoming Fed minutes and GDP data add to volatility as oil prices ease ahead of key releases.
Investor Sentiment 👀
Traders exhibit cautious optimism, balancing inflation cooling signals with tech sector pressures and geopolitical noise. 🐂⚠️ Premarket volume highlights speculative plays amid broader steadiness in global shares.
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TRADE OF THE DAY:
UPS
Name: United Parcel Service, Inc.
Symbol: UPS
Current Price: ~$116.21
Trade
Sell to Open: 1 UPS Mar 6, 2026 109/104 Put Vertical
Total Credit Received: $40.00
Credit per Contract: $40.00 (for one contract covering 100 shares)
Direction: Bullish (expects UPS to stay above break-even level)
Probability of Profit (PoP): 84.73%
Potential ROI:
Max Risk (Loss): $460.00
ROI: ($40 ÷ $460) × 100 ≈ 8.7%
Trade Explained in Simple English:
You’re selling the 109 strike put and buying the 104 strike put on UPS, creating a bullish put vertical spread that expires on March 6, 2026. You receive a $40 credit upfront. This trade will profit if UPS stays above about $108.60 at expiration, with a capped maximum loss of $460 if the stock falls below $104. It’s a limited‑risk strategy that benefits from the stock rising or staying relatively steady.
Wall Street Highlights:
News Beyond the Numbers
Morgan Stanley shares declined amid broader concerns over AI disruption impacts on sectors like media and real estate. Read more.
Iridium Communications signed a deal with Karrier One to expand global IoT connectivity using its satellite network. Read more.
Wall Street analysts issued key calls including upgrades for Albemarle and downgrades for ConocoPhillips and Dollar General. Read more.
Amphenol announced a $10.5 billion acquisition of CommScope's Connectivity and Cable Solutions business to strengthen its datacom position. Read more.
Intel, Micron, AMD, Alphabet, and Palantir shares fell premarket on persistent worries about AI's long-term disruptive effects. Read more.
Disclaimer: The content provided by OptionPicks is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. We are not registered as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or financial advisor with the SEC, FINRA, or any other regulatory authority. Options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and no representation is being made that any subscriber will or is likely to achieve profits or incur losses similar to those mentioned. You should consult with a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.
