Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:
1. Markets expect M&A announcement
Shares in Allergan (AGN) are rising by about 3% premarket on expectations that U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (PFE) is set to announce a takeover deal. If the deal goes through with the reported price tag north of $150 billion, it would be the second-largest takeover of all time, according to data from Dealogic.
2. Stronger U.S. dollar slams energy
The U.S. dollar is showing significant strength against all other major currencies after a member of the Federal Reserve said this weekend that there are good reasons to raise interest rates in December.
This has pushed down prices of oil and natural gas, since both commodities are priced in dollars. Oil prices are dropping by 3% to trade around $40.60 per barrel. Shares in major oil and gas companies are also under pressure.
"A stronger dollar and lower commodity prices hit ... commodity exporting countries' currencies, and both the Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar have weakened," explained a market analysis note from SEB bank.
3. Stocks watch
There's a bit of a negative mood in the stock markets this morning. U.S. stock futures are dipping down.
European markets are mostly declining in early trading, while Asian markets ended with mixed results.
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium and the home to the European Union and NATO headquarters, remains on high alert for terrorism after authorities warned Friday night of a possible imminent threat to the city.
However, there's a bit of good economic news out of Europe. New November data from Markit shows business activity and employment has been growing at its fastest rate in over four years.
4. Coming later today
The National Association of Realtors will release its October existing home sales report at 10 a.m. ET. The report gives investors an update on the start of the U.S. real estate market.
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