Stock Point Higher Heading into Holiday Weekend

First Look

Stocks are pointed higher ahead of Friday's opening bell. Better-than-expected industrial production figures from China helped boost international markets overnight. Markets in the U.S. will be closed on Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday. The Nasdaq is up 0.36%, the Dow Jones is up 0.24%, the S&P 500 is up 0.21%.

Today's Sentiment

Quote of the Day

The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.
Warren Buffett

Stocks on the Move

Gap Inc (GPS), Citizens Financial Group Inc (CFG) and State Street Corp (STT) are moving higher this morning, while Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD), J B Hunt Transport Services Inc (JBHT) and Fastenal Company (FAST) are headed lower. Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM), Equifax Inc. (EFX) and Pinterest Inc (PINS) were upgraded by analysts this morning, while Marriott International Inc (MAR), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) and Twitter Inc (TWTR) were downgraded.

International Markets

Stocks in Asia are up. The Hang Seng is up 0.6%, the Nikkei 225 is up 0.45%, the Australia ASX All Ordinaries is up 0.3% the Shanghai SE Composite Index is up 0.05% and the Mumbai Sensex is up 0.03%. In Europe stocks are up. The FTSE 100 is up 1.03%, the CAC 40 is up 0.9%, the Euro Stoxx 50 is up 0.74% and the DAX is up 0.56%.

Futures & Currencies

Energy futures are mixed today. The price for West Texas Intermediate crude oil is up 0.17 at 58.69 per barrel. Brent crude is up 0.19 at 64.81 per barrel. Natural Gas is down -0.04 at 2.04. Precious metals are up this morning. Gold is up 6.98 at 1559.49 per ounce. Platinum is up 20.63 at 1025.47 while silver is up 0.15 at 18.09. The dollar is mixed compared to the major currencies today. The greenback is up against the euro, down against the Yen and up against the Pound.

Put/Call Ratio

Yesterday, 1,387,840 call contracts traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) compared to 652,812 put contracts. The single-session put/call was 0.47.

Today's Economic Calendar

Earnings Expected Today