HEALTH

5 things to know before the stock market opens on Monday

1. Stock futures are flat to start the week

U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat open on Monday as traders tried to build on the solid gains from the previous week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 75 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 futures traded marginally higher and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.1%. Wall Street kicked off the month with a solid performance last week. The Dow jumped more than 3% last week while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each rose more than 2%.

Traders work during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 18, 2020.

Johannes Eisele | AFP via Getty Images

2. Trump signs several executive orders aimed at extending coronavirus relief

President Donald Trump signed several executive orders over the weekend aimed at extending amid the coronavirus pandemic. Those orders continue the distribution of expanded unemployment benefits, defer student loan payments through 2020, extend a federal moratorium on evictions and provide a payroll tax holiday. To be sure, the unemployment benefit will be continued at a $400 per week, down from the original $600-per-week rate. Trump also said states will need to cover 25% of the unemployment benefit. Those orders come after the White House and Congressional leaders failed to reach a deal on a new coronavirus stimulus package last week.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2020.

Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty Images

3. China to sanction Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, among overs, over U.S. actions on Hong Kong

China said Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are among 11 U.S. citizens that will be sanctioned in response to sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Hong Kong and Chinese officials accused of curbing political freedoms in the city. “In response to those wrong U.S. behaviors, China has decided to impose sanctions on individuals who have behaved egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian during a news conference. This is the latest escalation in U.S.-China tensions as both countries are at odds on trade and the handling of the coronavirus.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call | Getty Images

4. Berkshire Hathaway buys back record amount of its own stock

Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway bought back a record $5.1 billion of its own stock during the second quarter as the coronavirus pandemic dented the company’s operating profits. Berkshire repurchased more than $4.6 billion of its Class B stock and about $486.6 million in Class A shares. Despite the record-setting repurchasing activity, Berkshire’s cash hoard grew to more than $140 billion. Berkshire’s Class B shares rose about 0.9% in the premarket.

Warren Buffett

Gerry Miller | CNBC

5. Kodak shares plunge as government loan is halted amid investigation

Shares of Kodak dropped nearly 40% in the premarket after the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation said it was investigating allegations of wrongdoing by the photography pioneer. “Recent allegations of wrongdoing raise serious concerns. We will not proceed any further unless these allegations are cleared,” the agency said in a tweet. The allegations come after Kodak announced it had received a $765 million federal loan to produce drug prices, sending the stock skyrocketing. The loan has since been put on pause. 

People walk near the Kodak exhibit at CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 10, 2018.

David McNew | AFP | Getty Images

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