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In the pre-market on Wednesday, U.S. index futures are showing positive performance, boosted by favorable results presented by Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX). This optimism also anticipates the financial announcements expected from IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA).

At 05:38 AM, the futures of the Dow Jones (DOWI:DJI) rose 49 points, or 0.13%. S&P 500 futures rose 0.41% and Nasdaq-100 futures rose 0.69%. The yield rate of the 10-year Treasury bonds was at 4.111%.

In the commodities market, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for March rose 0.42% to $74.68 per barrel. Brent crude oil for March rose 0.21%, near $79.72 per barrel. Iron ore with a concentration grade of 62%, traded on the Dalian exchange, rose 1.77% to $138.17 per metric ton.

On Wednesday’s economic agenda, investors await, at 09:45 AM, the U.S. industry and services indicators for January. At 10:00 AM, the oil inventories of the week until 01/19.

In the Asian market, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index recorded a significant rise of 3.56% this Wednesday, led by technology sector stocks. Notably, Alibaba’s shares rose up to 6.57% after Jack Ma acquired $50 million in shares. The Chinese Shanghai SE and the Australian ASX 200 gained 1.80% and 0.06%, respectively. In contrast, Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.80% and South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.36%.

European stock markets are on the rise, focused on the initial indicators of the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of the Eurozone, France, and Germany. These data are crucial for a more accurate understanding of the regional economic scenario before the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting on Thursday. There are expectations that the ECB will keep interest rates unchanged at tomorrow’s meeting. However, market operators are already considering possible cuts of approximately 130 basis points over the year, with almost a 97% chance of a first decrease as early as June.

The U.S. stock market closed Tuesday with mixed results. The Dow Jones fell 0.25%, influenced by losses from 3M (NYSE:MMM) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), despite better-than-expected outcomes. In contrast, the S&P 500 hit a new record, rising 0.29%, while the Nasdaq advanced 0.43%. The mixed corporate results and anticipation of significant economic reports contributed to the volatile trading. Sector-wise, airline and gold mining company stocks stood out positively, while the real estate sector suffered notable losses.

For the quarterly results front this Wednesday, scheduled to present financial reports are AT&T (NYSE:T), ASML (NASDAQ:ASML), Abbott (NYSE:ABT), Progressive (NYSE:PGR), Amphenol (NYSE:APH), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), SAP (NYSE:SAP), Textron (NYSE:TXT), among others, before the market opens. After the close, the results of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), IBM (NYSE:IBM), ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW), Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS), Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX), Seagate (NASDAQ:STX), Crown Castle (NYSE:CCI), and more are awaited.

Wall Street corporate highlights for today

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) – Apple is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit of about $1 billion brought by over 1,500 app developers in the UK over App Store fees. The developers claim unfair commissions, while Apple argues that 85% of developers pay no commission and that the case is “unsustainable.” The dispute focuses on applying UK law to the case. Apple already faces other lawsuits related to App Store commissions and defective iPhone batteries.

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) – Netflix exceeded subscriber estimates in the fourth quarter, with 13.1 million new subscribers, bringing the total to 260 million. The company reported a lower earnings per share due to currency losses, but revenue exceeded expectations. Investors were optimistic, and the shares rose 9.3% in Wednesday’s pre-market. Netflix plans to invest in content, advertising, gaming, and live programming to continue growing. Additionally, it announced a deal worth over $5 billion with WWE to bring exclusive content to the platform in January 2025.

eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) – eBay will cut about 1,000 jobs, equivalent to about 9% of its workforce, due to increasing expenses relative to business growth. Additionally, the company plans to reduce the number of contracts with its alternative workforce in the coming months.

Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) – Jack Ma and Joe Tsai acquired millions of shares of Alibaba in the fourth quarter, boosting the company’s shares. Ma bought $50 million in shares in Hong Kong, while Tsai acquired about $151 million in U.S.-traded shares through his family investment. The move comes amid Alibaba’s ongoing reshaping. Additionally, Southeast Asian online retailer Daraz Group, part of Alibaba, appointed James Dong, CEO of Lazada Group SA, as its new interim CEO, replacing founder Bjarke Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen is the latest executive to leave Alibaba, which faces competition challenges and post-Covid impacts. Dong will work on integrating Daraz with other companies of Alibaba’s international online shopping unit.

SAP (NYSE:SAP) – German software company SAP SE announced a $2.2 billion restructuring program through 2024, affecting 8,000 positions, focusing on artificial intelligence, and committed to supporting AI startups with over $1 billion. Additionally, the company expects double-digit growth in cloud revenue and operating profit in 2024, maintaining a strong outlook.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) – ASML Holding, a leader in chip manufacturing equipment, announced fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, with record quarterly orders. However, they maintained a cautious outlook for 2024 due to export restrictions to China, despite strong demand for AI chips. Net profit increased 9% to 2.0 billion euros on sales of 7.2 billion euros in the fourth quarter. Orders exceeded 9 billion euros in the quarter.

BlackBerry (NYSE:BB) – BlackBerry’s shares fell 11% in Wednesday’s pre-market following the announcement that the company plans to conduct a private offering of $160 million in convertible notes due in 2029, as part of its financing strategy.

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) – Oppo and Nokia settled a patent dispute with a cross-licensing agreement, allowing Oppo to freely sell its devices in European markets, including Germany. The agreement covers essential patents for 5G and other cellular communication technologies, benefiting Nokia’s IP licensing revenue. Oppo sold over 100 million smartphones in 2023, becoming the fourth largest global manufacturer.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) – Tesla plans to launch a mass electric vehicle called “Redwood” around 2025. The model aims to compete with more affordable gasoline cars and challenge rivals like BYD. Large-scale production may not start before 2026 due to production challenges. Tesla is committed to making electric vehicles more affordable, exploring different manufacturing locations, such as Texas, Berlin, and potentially India.

Fisker (NYSE:FSR) – Fisker plans to sell all of the nearly 5,000 vehicles manufactured last year by the end of the first quarter, with over 100 dealers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe interested in partnerships. The company seeks to generate cash and reduced its debt by $185.5 million.

Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the lack of incentives for electric vehicles in Italy resulted in months of reduced automotive production, urging the Italian government to implement support measures to protect its factories and boost electric vehicle sales. Stellantis aims to become a global leader in commercial vehicles by 2030.

Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) – Plug Power announced a $1.6 billion government loan from the Department of Energy to support the construction of hydrogen production facilities. This is good news following an 80% drop in shares and stock sale agreements that concerned investors. The company focuses on managing financial challenges and announced the inauguration of a hydrogen plant in Georgia.

Boeing (NYSE:BA) – Boeing will conduct a quality stop at its Renton plant in the Seattle area, halting production and deliveries for one day. Employees will participate in quality workshops to assess and recommend improvements following recent incidents with the 737 MAX 9. Other facilities will also have stoppages in the coming weeks. Boeing also issued guidelines to suppliers to ensure the correct fastening of screws following incidents with the 737 MAX 9. Additionally, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will meet with U.S. senators to discuss issues related to the 737 MAX 9 and MAX 10 orders.

Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) – During inspections following an incident on January 5, Alaska Airlines identified “some loose bolts on many” of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes, revealed CEO Ben Minicucci.

United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) – United Airlines is reevaluating its commitment to the Boeing 737 Max 10 due to the suspension of dozens of Max 9s by the government, raising concerns about Boeing’s ability to meet delivery deadlines. United maintains its orders but removes the Max 10 from its internal plans and seeks alternatives.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) – Southwest Airlines flight attendants voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike, with over 98% of members supporting the measure. They seek higher wages and better working conditions, contrasting with a new labor agreement offering a significant salary increase for pilots.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) – Lockheed Martin lowered its profit forecast for 2024, with estimates ranging from $25.65 to $26.35 per share, below Wall Street’s expectation of $26.62. In the fourth quarter, net profit was $1.87 billion, while the company’s total sales reached $18.87 billion.

BP (NYSE:BP) – BP anticipates that the deep-water natural gas field, Calypso, in Trinidad and Tobago, shared with Woodside Energy, will receive investment approval earlier than expected, possibly by the end of next year. Initially, the FID (Final Investment Decision) was expected in 2026. Woodside continues to progress with the project, while the government of Trinidad pressures to increase gas production due to shortages. BP and Shell (NYSE:SHEL) also have potential to find hydrocarbons in areas explored by Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM).

General Electric (NYSE:GE) – General Electric exceeded expectations with a quarterly profit of $1.03 per share, compared to estimates of $0.91 per share. Its total revenue increased 15% to $19.42 billion. However, the company forecasts next quarter’s profits below expectations, with an adjusted profit range of 60 to 65 cents per share, compared to analyst estimates of 72 cents per share. GE also announced the separation of its renewable energy unit, GE Vernova, and provided separate estimates for its energy and aerospace units in 2024.

Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR) – In the fourth quarter, Baker Hughes exceeded Wall Street’s expectations with an adjusted net income of 51 cents per share. International growth, especially in demand for oilfield services and LNG equipment, drove its positive results, offsetting a slowdown in the U.S. International revenue grew by 15%, while revenue from the industrial and energy technology segment increased by 24%. Future LNG projects also contributed to the company’s success.

3M (NYSE:MMM) – 3M forecasted earnings per share of $9.35 to $9.75 for the fiscal year 2024, below analysts’ estimates of $9.81. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the company reported an adjusted earnings of $2.42 per share, surpassing the $2.31 estimate. Adjusted revenue in the same period was $7.69 billion, slightly below the $7.70 billion estimate. The company is facing challenges due to a weak macroeconomic environment and lawsuits related to chemicals.

Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) – Texas Instruments projected revenues for the first quarter between $3.45 billion and $3.75 billion, below the average analyst estimate of $4.06 billion. The earnings per share forecast for the current quarter also fell short of estimates. TI earned $1.49 per share on sales of $4.08 billion in the December quarter. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected TI’s earnings to be $1.47 per share on sales of $4.12 billion. Year-over-year, TI’s profits fell 30%, while sales dropped 13%.

Unilever (NYSE:UL) – Unilever struggled to maintain market share in supermarkets in the U.S. and Europe in the fourth quarter due to price increases and growth of private labels. The company lost market share in various categories, including ice cream and mayonnaise, but is reducing product variety to focus on innovating its 14 “key billion-euro brands.” Analysts and investors expressed concerns about the market share drop and the need to recover it in the long term.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) – Procter & Gamble (P&G) revised its annual profit forecast downward after a $1.3 billion charge related to the Gillette business. Net sales reached $21.44 billion for the quarter, with a 3.2% increase. The company’s core profit was $1.84 per share, exceeding estimates of $1.70.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) – Walgreens Boots Alliance is considering the sale of the specialty pharmacy company Shields Health Solutions, potentially valued at over $4 billion. Advisors are assessing interest from private equity and healthcare companies, but no final decision has been made. Walgreens previously acquired stakes in Shields in 2022 and 2021.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) – Johnson & Johnson reached a provisional agreement to resolve investigations in 42 U.S. states and Washington, DC, about the safety of its talc products, agreeing to pay about $700 million. The settlement does not cover ongoing lawsuits from private plaintiffs. In the fourth quarter, Johnson & Johnson announced a quarterly profit of $2.29 per share, beating expectations by a cent. Quarterly revenue reached $21.40 billion, slightly above the $21.01 billion estimate. The company reaffirmed its adjusted operational profit forecast for 2024 between $10.55 and $10.75 per share.

Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) – Intuitive Surgical exceeded predictions with a 21% increase in procedures in the 4th quarter, leading to a 17% growth in sales to $1.93 billion. Adjusted earnings were $1.60 per share, 30% more than the previous year. The shares rose over 8% in Wednesday’s pre-market trading.

Wayfair (NYSE:W) – Wayfair, an online furniture retailer, favored on-site work over remote in its latest round of layoffs, affecting 13% of the global workforce. Executives claimed remote workers were more likely to be laid off. The company also encouraged more effort from employees before the layoffs due to a period of crisis and overhiring during the pandemic.

UBS (NYSE:UBS) – UBS launched its biggest branding campaign since 2016, investing tens of millions of dollars to revamp its image following the acquisition of Credit Suisse. The Swiss bank will use the slogan “Banking is our craft” to attract new clients to its wealth management, asset management, and investment banking franchises. The campaign will include online and print ads, sponsorships, events, social media, and billboards. Additionally, UBS announced changes to its executive board, with Aleksandar Ivanovic leading the $1.6 trillion asset management business and Beatriz Martin Jimenez taking the role of Global Leader of Sustainability and Impact. These changes aim to support the integration with Credit Suisse, acquired last year. The changes will take effect on March 1st.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) – Bank of America announced cuts of about 20 bankers in Asia due to declining markets in China and Hong Kong, mainly affecting those involved in China-related businesses. The reduction reflects geopolitical uncertainties and economic slowdown in the region.

Santander (NYSE:SAN) – Santander Mexico plans to launch its digital banking service, Openbank, in the coming months. The institution aims to compete with the growth of digital banks in a market where competition is rapidly increasing.

Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) – Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq, seeks to transform it into a tech giant, focusing on combating financial crime. Recent acquisitions have raised concerns, but the opportunity to solve a trillion-dollar problem is significant. Analysts have a positive view and believe Nasdaq can achieve significant valuation if it convinces the market of its transformation into a fintech.