U.S. equity markets are falling as tensions ratchet higher between Russia and Ukraine, with U.S. officials saying they expect a Russian attack on its neighbor shortly. Major indexes are heading for weekly declines and the Nasdaq is adding to its nearly 14% drop so far this year.
Em resumo:
- U.S. equity markets are falling as investors watch developments in the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
- Major indexes are heading for weekly declines and the Nasdaq is adding to its nearly 14% drop so far this year.
- Roku shares are plunging while FAAMG stocks, Tesla, and Intel all slide.
Shares of all the FAAMG tech companies are lower. Tesla Inc. (TSLA) shares are declining 3%. Shares of semiconductor companies are dropping after Intel Corp. (INTC) warned of lower profit margins this year. Roku Inc. (ROKU) shares are plunging on its earnings report (more below).
Shares of big industrial firms including Boeing Co. (BA), Honeywell International Inc. (HON), and Dow Inc. (DOW) are down.
b>Ford EV Spinoff?
Ford Motor Co. (F) shares are rising on a report the company is considering spinning off its electric vehicle business. Shares of Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) are adding to yesterday’s gains following its strong earnings news.
Money continues to move out of stocks and cryptocurrencies and into the relative safety of bonds, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note down to 1.92%. The price of Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies is sinking 4% or more.
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Chart of the Day: Remote Work Here to Stay?
A majority of Americans working from home say they’re doing so because they want to, even if their office is open.
A Pew Research Center survey found 59% of employees whose jobs can be done remotely are working from home all or most of the time. Of those, 61% are choosing not to go into their workplace, while 38% indicated their office was closed or unavailable to them. That’s a reversal from an October 2020 Pew poll, which showed 64% were at home because their office was shut, with 36% saying it was their choice.
The survey noted that 76% of those working from home explained the main reason was that they preferred to do so. That’s up from 60% two years ago. In addition, just 42% cited fear of being exposed to COVID-19 as their main reason, down from 57% in 2020.
b>Staying Home Post-Pandemic
Pew pointed out that 57% of those working from home rarely or never did so before the pandemic. 60% who can do their jobs remotely said they’d prefer to work from home all or part of the time even after the outbreak is over.
Stock of the Day: Roku (ROKU)
Roku shares are dropping hard. The maker of digital media players said supply-chain disruptions negatively affected fourth quarter sales. The company also reduced its full year guidance.
Roku fourth quarter revenue rose 33% to $865 million, below analysts’ forecasts. Its earnings per share of $0.17 was better than expected. Active accounts increased 17.1% to 60.1 million, also above estimates.
Founder and CEO Anthony Wood explained that as in the third quarter, fourth quarter TV unit sales dipped below pre-pandemic levels. He also noted that some of the company’s original equipment manufacturing (OEM) partners were hit especially hard by inventory challenges, reducing their unit sales and market share. All that led to slower growth in the second half of the year.
b>Supply-Chain Issues to Continue
Wood noted Roku expects supply constraints to continue in 2022, affecting the consumer electronics sector and the TV industry in particular. The company anticipates overall TV unit sales to remain below pre-pandemic levels, and predicts full year revenue will grow 35%, missing estimates.
Wood indicated that Roku will continue to prioritize adding new accounts, and not pass added costs onto customers.
Shares of Roku are down 25% today. They’ve lost three-quarters of their value in the past year.
