Mid-Day Market Update: Crude Oil Down Over 2%; The9 Shares Spike Higher

Midway through trading Monday, the Dow traded down 1.72% to 30,080.25 while the NASDAQ fell 1.43% to 12,703.53. The S&P also fell, dropping 1.59% to 3,696.53.

The U.S. has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, reporting a total of 20,639,850 cases with around 351,590 deaths. India confirmed a total of at least 10,340,460 confirmed cases and 149,640 deaths, while Brazil reported over 7,733,740 COVID-19 cases with 196,010 deaths. In total, there were at least 85,192,180 cases of COVID-19 worldwide with over 1,844,680 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Leading and Lagging Sectors

Energy shares slipped by just 0.3% on Monday. Meanwhile, top gainers in the sector included TETRA Technologies, Inc. TTI, up 14%, and U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. SLCA, up 21%.

In trading on Monday, real estate shares dipped 2.7%.

Top Headline

The IHS Markit manufacturing PMI increased to 57.1 in December versus a preliminary reading of 56.5 and compared to 56.7 in November.

Equities Trading UP

Bionano Genomics, Inc. BNGO shares shot up 92% to $5.91 as the company published study on Autism risk genes after detailed analysis of The Genome of Professor Temple Grandin, who has brought awareness to autism spectrum disorder through her activism.

Shares of The9 Limited NCTY got a boost, shooting 103% to $7.18 after the company signed a legally binding cooperation and investment term sheet with several cryptocurrencies mining investors led by Jianping Kong to start the cryptocurrencies business.

Ocugen, Inc. OCGN shares were also up, gaining 74% to $3.185 after the company’s partner Bharat Biotech received EUA for Covid-19 Covaxin in India. Ocugen has US rights to Covaxin.

Equities Trading DOWN

Calithera Biosciences, Inc. CALA shares tumbled 43% to $2.7911 after the company announced that its CANTATA study of Telaglenastat in Renal Cell Carcinoma did not achieve its primary endpoint. The company also announced a reduction in workforce by roughly 35%.

Shares of C3.ai, Inc. AI were down 12% to $122.74. JP Morgan initiated coverage on the stock with an Underweight rating and announced an $84 price target, while Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on the stock with an Underweight rating and announced a $100 price target.

Genworth Financial, Inc.. GNW was down, falling 25% to $2.84 after the company said 'given uncertainty around the completion and timing of the remaining steps required to close the transaction, Genworth and Oceanwide have not extended the current December 31, 2020 "end date" under the merger agreement.'

Commodities

In commodity news, oil traded down 2.3% to $47.43, while gold traded up 2.6% to $1,944.90.

Silver traded up 3.7% Monday to $27.385 while copper rose 1.1% to $3.5575.

Euro zone

European shares were higher today. The eurozone’s STOXX 600 surged 0.73%, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.42% and the German DAX 30 gained 0.13%. Meanwhile, the French CAC 40 surged 0.73%, London’s FTSE 100 climbed 1.84% and Italy’s FTSE MIB added 0.43%.

UK manufacturing PMI climbed to 57.5 in December versus a preliminary estimate of 57.3, while German manufacturing PMI declined to 58.3 in December compared to a preliminary reading of 58.6. Eurozone manufacturing PMI was revised lower to 55.2 for December versus an initial redaing of 55.5.

Economics

The IHS Markit manufacturing PMI increased to 57.1 in December versus a preliminary reading of 56.5.

US construction spending rose 0.9% for November, versus analysts’ expectations for a 1% increase.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester will speak at 6:00 p.m. ET.