Below are the most important news, trends and analyzes that investors need to start their trading day:
1. Stock futures start a new month after the sale in late February
The Wall Street sign is seen outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on February 16, 2021.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Futures of U.S. stocks began the new month advancing sharply on Monday, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq industrial averages rising more than 1% each, trying to catch up once in late February. Although bond yields, which rose rapidly, put pressure on stocks last week, the ten-year Treasury yield fell on Monday from a one-year high and traded around 1.43%. The Dow lost 1.8% and the S&P 500 fell nearly 2.5% during the week. The Nasdaq assumed the weight of technology sales, with a weekly loss of 4.9%. The strong start to February, however, was enough to push the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq up around 3.2%, 2.6% and almost 1%, respectively, for the month.
Activist investor Jeff Ubben will join Exxon Mobil’s board of directors, sources told CNBC’s David Faber. Mike Angelakis, president and CEO of Atairos and former chief financial officer of Comcast, is also joining the board, sources said. The moves come as Exxon has faced pressure from shareholders to reshuffle its board of directors due to the company’s languid share price. Exxon jumped 4% during pre-market trading.
2. The US receives the third vaccine to fight Covid
A health worker fills a syringe in a vial with a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine while South Africa continues its inoculation campaign at Klerksdorp Hospital on February 18, 2021.
Phill Magakoe | AFP | Getty Images
The CDC has signed the Johnson & Johnson single-shot Covid-19 vaccine for people 18 and older as the federal government prepares to ship millions of doses this week. The FDA on Saturday gave emergency use authorization to the J&J vaccine, which proved 72% effective in the U.S. Although the other two vaccines in the United States (Pfizer and Moderna two-shot regimens) were eliminated, each showed 90% efficacy, Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the White House, said Sunday all three are “really pretty good.” He told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Americans should get any vaccine they can get.
3. A $ 1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill goes to Senate
Service industry workers are speaking out in favor of the introduction of the Wage Rise Act, which includes a minimum wage of $ 15 for tipped workers, on January 26, 2021 in Washington.
Countess Jemal | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
An $ 1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by President Joe Biden was passed early Saturday in the House. It included $ 1,400 direct to individuals, an increase in federal unemployment of $ 400 a week through the end of August and billions of dollars to distribute coronavirus vaccines and to help schools and local governments. The measure goes to the Senate, where a provision to raise the federal minimum wage will likely be withdrawn. But, as NBC News points out, the rest of the package seemed to be in good shape as Democrats intend to use a process that does not require Republican support.
4. “Never bet on the United States,” Buffett says in an annual letter
Warren Buffett during an interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick on February 24, 2020. It turned out to be one more year during which the billionaire investor avoided game-changing acquisitions in an expensive market even after a sudden cash in the market and since his company had massive cash balance.
Gerald Miller | CNBC
Warren Buffett, “Oracle of Omaha,” 90, remains a staunch believer in the United States, saying in Saturday’s release of his highly watched annual letter from Berkshire Hathaway shareholder that “never bet against United States”. In the markets, Buffett said ultra-low interest rates around the world diminished the attractiveness of bonds. Buffett also said the annual Berkshire meeting on May 1 will be held in Los Angeles, the first time outside of Omaha, Nebraska. Vice President Charlie Munger, who lives in Los Angeles, was absent from the 2020 meeting due to pandemic travel restrictions. Munger, 97, is expected to join Buffett this year.
5. Buffett bets on Berkshire, Apple remains the top holder
As Covid’s falls burst into the markets during 2020, Buffett said in his letter that Berkshire repurchased shares worth about $ 9 billion in the fourth quarter, which resulted in total rewards of last year they rose to $ 24.7 billion. Apple remains the largest joint stock investment in the conglomerate, which played a major role in offsetting the damage caused by the railway pandemic and Berkshire insurance in 2020. The letter did not contain any updates to the succession or details on what it could do. make Buffett with the more than $ 138 billion Berkshire. cash available at the end of 2020.
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