Dow Jones Industrial Average Plummets Today as China's Stock Market Crashes

For Aug. 24, 2015, here are your stock market futures, earnings reports, top stock market news, and stocks to watch…

Stock Futures Today

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average today (Monday) forecast a 616-point decline, nearly 4% as traders continue to sell off over fears related to the Chinese economy. Shares of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) fell another 6.5% this morning as concerns about sales in the world's second-largest economy continued to rattle traders. Nasdaq futures were down more than 80 points, or 5%, as tech stocks slumped in pre-market hours. Traders around the world have dubbed Aug. 24 "Black Monday."

On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 3.1%, continuing the downtrend after Thursday's huge sell off. The Dow slid 530 points. The Nasdaq dipped another 3.5% as technology stocks slumped. Shares of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) continued to slide on China market woes, falling another 6.1% on the day. Apple stock is now officially in bear territory.

The tech giant joins nine other Dow components that are now in bear territory. They are: International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM), Proctor & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG), Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), and DuPont Co. (NYSE: DD).

Top News in the Stock Market Today

• The Stock Market Today: Today, a global rout continues as the Chinese Shanghai Index fell more than 8%, raising concerns about the world's second-largest economy. In the United States, investors will await a speech by Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart on public pension reform and will look to the Chicago Fed Manufacturing Index for an update on domestic production. More questions about the timing of an interest rate hike will emerge.
• Oil Outlook: Oil prices fell to a six-and-a-half year low as energy prices continue to slump on global demand concerns. Domestic WTI oil prices fell nearly 4.3% on the day to $38.71. Oil prices are at their lowest levels since March 2009. Meanwhile, Brent oil prices fell another 4% to $43.62 per barrel primarily on worries about the Chinese economy.
• Earnings Reports: A light day of earnings reports includes Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc. (NYSE: HGR) and Premier Inc. (Nasdaq: PINC).

Pre-Market Movers in the Stock Market Today: AAPL, NFLX, SFTBF, GAS, SO

• Pre-Market Movers No. 1, AAPL: Shares of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) were down more than 5% this morning, falling below $100 as concerns about iPhone sales and the Apple Watch continue to rattle investors.

Garrett Baldwin

About the Author

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Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, and consultant with degrees from Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, and Indiana University. He is a seasoned financial and political risk analyst, with a focus on stocks, hedge funds, private equity, blockchain, and housing policy. He has conducted risk assessment projects for clients in 27 countries, and consulted on policy and financial operations for some of the nation's largest financial institutions, including a $1.5 trillion credit fund, a $43 billion credit and auto loan giant, as well as two of the largest Wall Street banks by assets under management.

Garrett joined Money Map Press as an economist and researcher in 2011, specializing in alternative strategies with an emphasis on fundamental and technical analysis.

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