Stock Market Futures Down on Underwhelming AAPL Presentation and Interest Rate Fears

Stock market today, Sept. 10, 2014: Stock market futures were down this morning after markets took a nosedive in the final hour of trading yesterday (Tuesday). The slide followed a broad sell-off of tech giant Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) and investors' heightened cautions over a possible interest rate increase by the U.S. Federal Reserve sooner rather than later.

Investors remain concerned that any action by the central bank deemed "too soon," given the fragile economy and stubborn jobless rate, could drag the world into recession. All 10 sectors in the S&P 500 were in the red yesterday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was weighed by companies like The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (NYSE ADR: PBR), which slipped 2% and 2.8%, respectively.

Here's what you should know to make your Wednesday profitable:

• Trouble Brewing: Apple Inc.'s publicity event dominated the news cycle on Tuesday, as the firm revealed a number of new tech gadgets. After introducing a larger, 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, CEO Tim Cook unveiled the "Apple Watch," the first product developed and introduced under the executive's leadership. AAPL stock initially surged more than 4% during the day, but the stock quickly turned back in the afternoon, falling below the $100 resistance level and ending the day down 0.38%. Despite the day's decline, Apple stock is currently a bargain. Be sure to read yesterday's insight from our tech expert Michael Robinson right here on why now might be the perfect time to own the stock.

• No One Is Safe: Apple's latest foray of fashion meeting practicality leaves no tech firm or designer safe these days. Shares of both GPS device manufacturer Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) and watch designer Fossil Group Inc. (Nasdaq: FOSL) saw shares slump by 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively, on Tuesday after Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the iWatch. Given both companies' recent attempts to break into the smartwatch sector, shares slipped on investors' competitive concerns. Japanese watch and consumer electronics company Casio Computer Co. Ltd. (OTCMKTS ADR: CSIOY) also saw shares fall by 3.33% on the day.

• Solving the Breach: Following the confirmation by The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) that the company had been hacked, two U.S. Senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to open an investigation into the cybersecurity data breach. Meanwhile, five U.S. states have opened their own internal investigations into the breach, which likely affected customers dating back to April. The breach is the largest hacking of customer data from a public company since last year's attack on retailer Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT).

• Merger Mania: With the energy sector experiencing a sharp drag in the wake of a near 12-month low in crude oil prices, some analysts are hoping a big deal might shake up prospects for the sector. Last night, Reuters reported that Venezuela's state-run oil giant PDVSA is currently accepting offers for Citgo Petroleum Group, a division of the company's subsidiary PDV America. The report indicates that the Venezuelan government is seeking a deal by the end of the month, and cost expectations now range up to $10 billion. The sale and pseudo-privatization deal would effectively contradict Venezuela's socialist policies; however, a sale isn't surprising given the nation's recent fiscal conditions. The company is looking to divest s a number of refineries and liquid terminals that would be highly attractive for American companies given the boom in shale production and exports of U.S. energy sources.

• Deal of the Day: U.S. tech giant Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is looking to make a splash in the video game industry as the owner of XBOX. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is in the final stages of a deal to acquire Mojang AB, the developer of the video game "Minecraft." The report indicates that a deal worth up to $2 billion could be complete by Friday. Microsoft stock was up marginally on the news.

• Sell, Sell, Sell: Shares of Pinnacle Foods Inc. (NYSE: PF) slipped by more than 4.5% yesterday on news that investors affiliated with The Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) are planning to sell off 15 million common shares in an underwritten secondary offering. The offering is expected to close by Friday, September 12, and provides the deal's book runners and underwriters an option to purchase 2.5 million shares from the sellers.

• Earnings Reports: Stay tuned for earnings reports from Five Below Inc. (Nasdaq: FIVE), The Men's Wearhouse Inc. (NYSE: MW), Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. (NYSE: RH), and AEP Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: AEPI).
• Today's Economic Calendar: Today's schedule features the EIA Petroleum Status Report, an update on monthly wholesale trade figures, and monthly MBA Purchase Applications.

Full U.S. Economic Calendar September 10, 2014

• MBA Purchase Applications at 7 a.m.
• Wholesale Trade at 10 a.m.
• EIA Petroleum Status Report at 10:30 a.m.
• 10-Yr Note Auction at 1 p.m.

Now: Hate to break it to you, but as a retail investor the shares you buy in big name companies aren't going to move stock prices. In order for a stock to soar, it needs the endorsement of the institutional investors. Here are some clues that the deep-pocketed investors are going to add to their position, and when you can get in ahead of that big money boost...