Stock Futures Strengthen As GE Leads Dow; Airlines, Chips Under Pressure | Stock News & Stock Market Analysis

Stock futures pulled up from early, mixed action on Wednesday, with Dow Jones stocks leading the recovery.

XFutures for the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.4% above fair value, with General Electric (GE) jumping to an early lead after its fourth-quarter report. Nasdaq 100 futures shed early losses and climbed a fraction above the breakeven line, despite heavy losses from Texas Instruments (TXN) and American Airlines Group (AAL).

Futures for the S&P 500 and the Russell 2000 rose 0.2% apiece

The dollar slumped to its lowest level since Dec. 2014, measured by the ICE Dollar Index, after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the World Economic Forum in Davos a weak dollar was good for the U.S. economy in the short term. The currency move helped to pressure stocks in Tokyo, where the Nikkei 225 dropped 0.7% on Wednesday. Europe’s market shifted lower, despite data showing the eurozone economy had opened 2018 at its fastest pace since 2006 and with consumer confidence at a 17-year high.

Real estate and homebuilding stocks will be on the radar Wednesday morning, with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Housing Price Index due out at 9 a.m. ET and December existing home sales data from the National Association of Realtors expected at 10 a.m. ET.

Microsoft Rated A Buy, United Leads Airlines Lower, Qualcomm Fined By EU

General Electric climbed 1.6%, despite Q3 earnings and revenue below analyst projections, as revenue from its oil, gas and energy segments outperformed expectations.

Microsoft (MSFT) popped 0.4% after Nomura initiated coverage on the stock with a buy rating and a 102 price target, 12% above Wednesday closing price. Microsoft shares are just out of buy range above an 86.209 buy point in a flat base.

United Technologies (UTX) took the hardest early hit among Dow Jones names, down 1.2%, despite adjusted fourth-quarter revenue and earnings above consensus views. But competition for its Otis elevator unit in China and an estimated $1.5 billion cash charge related to new tax laws hurt the unadjusted performance.

United Technologies shares closed Wednesday near new highs, up 10% from a mid-December breakout.

Apple (AAPL) gained 0.2% and all four of the FANG stock tech leaders traded in positive territory.

Payment processor Total Systems Services (TSS) gained 2.5% after reporting its fourth-quarter results late Tuesday.

United Contintental Holdings (UAL) dived more than 7%, after fourth-quarter earnings reported after Tuesday’s close topped analyst targets and revenue growth met views. But management forecast a 4% to 6% increase in capacity, stirring fears of similar moves among competitors. American and Delta Air Lines (DAL) each dropped more than 4% in premarket action.

United has formed a seven-month cup-with-handle base with a 79.10 buy point.

Chipmakers were under some firm early pressure, led by Texas Instruments, which backed off 7% in early action. The Dallas-based chip leader’s fourth-quarter results, reported late Tuesday, just met analysts expectations across the board.  The report also said recently reformed tax laws would drop the company’s corporate tax rate to 18% from 31%.

Texas Instruments is extended, after a seven-week run up following a rebound from 10-week support in December.

LED chipmaker Cree (CREE) dropped 1.5% after mixed fiscal Q2 results.

Qualcomm (QCOM) shed 1.3%. European regulators imposed a $1.2 billion fine on the company after finding its had made illegal payments to Apple in order to secure exclusive use of its chips in a range of products, including smartphones. The EU said Qualcomm made the payments between 2011 and 2016, effectively shutting out competing bids and limiting competition.

Qualcomm shares ended Tuesday just below a 69 buy point in a three-month cup-with-handle base.

Coming Up: January PMI, Weekly Oil Inventories

Researcher Markit releases its composite purchasing managers index reading for January at 9:45 a.m. ET.  The Energy Information Administration reports its weekly crude oil inventories estimates at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Other Important Early Stock Market News:

The Big Picture: Netflix Helps Raise Nasdaq To 3rd Straight Record Close

These Are The 20 Stocks Millennial Investors Are Holding, Says Robinhood

These 7 Key Earnings Reports Are On Tap: Investing Action Plan

United Airlines Drags Delta, Others Lower Amid Planned Expansion Through 2020

Looking For The Next Nvidia? Start With This Simple Routine