Reuters Insider - U.S. Morning Call: Central bank bonanza; Trade; Apple; Qualcomm

Welcron Hantec Co

13/09/2018 14:40

Click the following link to watch video: https://share.insider.thomsonreuters.com/link?entryId=1_z3txrnk3&referenceId=1_z3txrnk3&pageId=ReutersNews
Source: Reuters Insider

Description: U.S. stock futures indicate a modestly higher open ahead of
monetary policy decisions from the European Central Bank, the Bank of England
and Turkey's central bank. The U.S. has invited China to a fresh round of
trade talks. Macquarie raised Apple's price target, citing its Apple Watch
positioning in healthcare. Qualcomm shares could be active on the U.S.
chipmaker's share buyback announcement.
Short Link: https://reut.rs/2OewOmR

Video Transcript:

Good morning, I am Angeline Ong. And this is your US morning call. It is
central bank bonanza today with the European Central Bank, the Bank of
England, and Turkey Central Bank all out with monetary policy meetings today.
Now the Dow Jones, the S&P, and the NASDAQ futures are trading pretty much
flat, slightly higher now ahead of all that. Meanwhile, the United States has
offered to talk to China over trade again, causing Asian stocks and most
currencies in that region to rise. Earlier we spoke to Hantec Markets' Richard
Perry and asked him why he though the offer is being made now just days after
threats of more tariffs.  br/  br/ I think it is again, quite a political
aspect to this story. China has just recently threatened to take the US to the
WTO over its dumping rules and I think it's an interesting angle that we've
got now because I think also, we've got the midterms coming up. They're just
less than two months away now so I think that the fact that China is playing
this game, we're trying to regain a bit of the initiative against the US but
also you got the political angle in the states from the midterms. I think that
that is playing into this thing and Donald Trump needs a good victory, I think
in this trade dispute with China in the run-up to the midterms and I think
that that is playing into why the US has made that invite. br/  br/ To
corporate news now and we are of course watching Apple after the unveiling of
its new devices. Apple launched its largest ever iPhone with a big price tag
too, I might add. One of these babies, the XS, which has a 5.8-inch will have
a starting price of $999. The XS, now the biggest smartphone on the block
starts selling at $1,999. Apple also unveiled the latest version of the Apple
Watch which is FDA-approved. Among other things, Apple says the watch can
detect heart problems. Apple's positioning in healthcare has prompted
Macquarie to hike its price target to $235 from a $214. Now, from the US
grocery industry, we're also waiting on second-quarter earnings from Kroger.
Its share price has risen more than 15% so far this year. Qualcomm shares
could be active at the open as well. The US chipmaker said it would buy back
about $16 billion of its common stock as part of the previously announced $30
billion stock repurchase plan. Qualcomm is seeking to appease investors for
the collapse of its $44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors in July due
to Chinese opposition. And shares in Pivotal Software could hit south at the
open. The company reported a smaller-than-expected loss in its second-quarter.
Full-year sales forecast were also largely above estimates. However, it's
important to note that Pivotal's shares have gained 92% since its IPO. And on
the economic front, we have US consumer inflation numbers out today for
August. The underlying trade is expected to remain strong, pointing to solid
inflation pressures that could possibly keep the Fed on track to gradually
tighten monetary policy. And that's today's morning call. I'm Angeline Ong and
this is Reuters