In other news, Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) will unofficially kick off earnings season. With volatility heating up this month, investors need to read our list of the best stocks to buy in October 2016.
On Thursday, the Dow cratered almost 200 points as concerns about the European banking sector weighed on investor sentiment and volatility accelerated in the healthcare sector.
Thursday's Stock Market Numbers:
Dow Jones 18,143.38; -195.86; -1.07%
S&P 500 2,151. 2; -20.25; -0.93%
Nasdaq 5,269.15; -49.39; -0.93%
Now let's look at the most important market events and stocks to watch today, plus your economic calendar, for Sept. 30, 2016.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average projected a 45-point decline with all eyes on Deutsche Bank. The stock price for the German investment bank is hovering at an all-time low. Investors are concerned about the company's liquidity. Hedge funds have been cutting back on trading activities with the firm or withdrawing money from their accounts. The way things are going, the firm could be facing a run on its capital. Pressure is growing on German officials to bail out the country's largest bank.
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Today, keep an eye on the September update to consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan. With investors eyeing the month of October, positive sentiment about the U.S. economy would offer a boost to overall optimism for the markets.
Oil prices were tracking near a one-month high as traders appear optimistic about OPEC's deal to cap production by November. The WTI crude oil price today slipped 0.1%. Meanwhile, Brent crude oil prices were flat early this morning.
Following this week's OPEC deal, investors will be keeping an eye on the rig count from Baker Hughes Inc. (NYSE: BHI), as the cartel's deal is expected to jumpstart domestic crude production. The company will announce whether or not U.S. crude production increased in the final week before the OPEC deal.
Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors offers his insight on where oil prices are heading after the OPEC deal, right here.
On the deal front, keep an eye on NXP Semiconductors NV (Nasdaq: NXPI). Shares of the semiconductor giant rallied more than 16.8% on Thursday on news that Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM) is considering a deal for its rival. While neither company has commented on the deal, The Wall Street Journal says that the two could strike a merger within the next two months. QCOM stock climbed 6.3% on Thursday.
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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.