The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped on Wednesday after a decline in materials stocks, crude oil prices, and healthcare stocks.
With earnings season coming to a close, investors continue to speculate on the timing of the next interest rate hike as Fed Chair Janet Yellen prepares to give a speech on monetary policy in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday.
While everyone is speculating on Yellen's comments, the real story is about a looming market crash. A U.S. stock market crash is imminent, despite the Fed's best attempts to convince you otherwise.
Let's look at the final numbers on Wednesday for the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq:
Dow Jones: 18,481.48; -65.82; -0.35%
S&P 500: 2,175.44; -11.46; -0.52%
Nasdaq: 5,217.69; -42.38; -0.81%
Here's a look at today's most important market events and stocks, plus a preview of tomorrow's economic calendar.
DJIA Today: Dow Slides as Oil Prices Slump on Rising Inventory Levels
The Dow slipped 65 points after a decline in biotech and healthcare stocks. Meanwhile, oil prices fell after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that domestic crude stockpiles increased by nearly 2.5 million barrels last week. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price today was off nearly 3%, while the Brent crude oil price dropped 2.1%.
Oil prices have been falling on rising supply concerns and waning expectations about the size of any production freeze by OPEC. The global oil cartel is set to meet in September to discuss a possible cut to global output. However, Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors has warned investors that it is unlikely that OPEC will reach a deal during a meeting in September.
In fact, Moors explains that the problems in the global oil market are only getting started for OPEC, just as the Second Arab Spring is underway.
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But the big story today was the share drop in healthcare stocks. The 1% slump in the sector was fueled by a 5.6% decline in Mylan NV (Nasdaq: MYL). The company is facing political opposition to its recent price increase for the EpiPen allergy treatment.
Now, let's look at the stocks you need to know about today...
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Top Stock Market News Today, Aug. 24, 2016
- It has been a good few weeks for retailers, but there's always an exception. Today, shares of Express Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPR) cratered more than 24% after the company reported a terrible sales report. The specialty retailer said its comparable sales fell by 8% in the second quarter. The firm also said it it expects the possibility of a double-digit decline in sales growth.
- Another day, another deal. It has only been a few days since Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) purchased Medivation Inc. (Nasdaq: MDVN) for $14 billion. Now the company has purchased the commercialization and development rights to the late-stage antibiotics business of AstraZeneca (NYSE ADR: AZN) for roughly $1.5 billion.
- A day after the company reported a strong earnings report, Best Buy Corp. (NYSE: BBY) received a stock upgrade from investment bank JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM). The firm increased its price target from $30 to $35 per share. That's still below the $39.42 the stock was trading at in the final 20 minutes of today's session.
- On the earnings front, Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) fell more than 3.7% after the company issued a weaker than expected forecast for the first quarter. The company had reported an 8% jump in quarterly revenue, but its profit forecast spooked shareholders.
Tomorrow's U.S. Economic Calendar (all times EDT)
- MBA Mortgage Applications at 7 a.m.
- FHFA House Price Index at 9 a.m.
- Existing Home Sales at 10 a.m.
- EIA Petroleum Status Report at 10:30 a.m.
- 2-Year FRN Note Auction at 11:30 a.m.
- 5-Year Note Auction at 1 p.m.
Up Next: Today was the one-year anniversary of a Flash Crash. Last year, on this day, the Dow plunged more than 1,000 points. It was another reminder of how vulnerable the markets are at any time to a sharp downturn. Investors need to prepare themselves for anything, including a warning recently issued here at Money Morning. As we explained, a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that a financial crisis is looming in the United States. Here's what you need to know.
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About the Author
Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, consultant, and political risk analyst with decades of trading experience and degrees in economics, cybersecurity, and business from Johns Hopkins, Purdue, Indiana University, and Northwestern.