Friday Watch

Evening Headlines

Bloomberg:

• Asia Stocks to Drop on Spain Attack, Trump Turmoil. Asian stocks are poised to extend a global rout after terrorists struck a crowded street in Barcelona, exacerbating the unease that was already infecting markets amid rumors that President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser would quit. Japanese, South Korean and Australian equity index futures all dropped 0.9 percent or more after the the S&P 500 Index tumbled 1.5 percent, its second-biggest drop for 2017. A measure of market volatility spiked higher, whiled Treasuries rose with the yen as investors sought havens. Gold jumped. Nikkei 225 Stock Average futures slid more than 1 percent, while contracts on the Kospi index retreated 1.1 percent and those on Australia’s main gauge were 0.9 percent lower.

• Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day.

• Fed's Yellen to Headline Annual Jackson Hole Policy Conference. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will join European Central Bank President Mario Draghi in Jackson Hole, Wyoming next week, setting the stage for a potentially revealing debate over the common challenges facing the world’s two most powerful central banks.

Wall Street Journal:

• Dow Falls 274 Points in Biggest Decline in Three Months. Disappointing earnings, political jitters drag down U.S. stocks.

• Steve Bannon Interview Raises New Questions About His Standing at White House. Less than three weeks ago, a similar interview with Anthony Scaramucci resulted in his ouster.

• Mattis, Tillerson Say North Korea Could Still Face U.S. Military Response. Remarks come amid rising tension between national security team and White House strategist Bannon.

Barron's:

• Applied Materials(AMAT) Jumps 4% on FYQ3 Beat, Higher Q4 View.

Fox News:

• Barcelona terror attack: At least 13 dead after van plows into crowd; 2 suspects arrested. (video)

• Wasserman Schultz' ex-IT aide indicted on 4 counts. (video)

CNBC:

• After-hours buzz: ROST, GPS, AMAT & more.

• Cramer reveals the one retailer going after Amazon's(AMZN) Achilles heel. As of Thursday, one company stood out to Cramer as the competitor Amazon should worry most about: Wal-Mart(WMT). The discount retailer's second-quarter earnings report not only beat the Street's estimates on earnings per share and revenue, but also saw a 60 percent boost in online sales.

• Bitcoin bond launch brings digital currency step closer to 'world of high finance'. (video)

• Trump scraps plan for infrastructure council after 2 other panels dissolve. (video)

• Gap(GPS) soars after better-than-expected profit forecast, same-store sales.

Zero Hedge:

• Republican Senator Corker Calls For "Radical Change" In The White House.

• How Welfare States Make Us Less Civilized.

• 13 Killed After Van Plows Into Barcelona Crowd; Driver Still At Large, ISIS Claims Responsibility.

• Baltimore's Homeless Erect Modern Day 'Hooverville' Tent City On Front Lawn Of City Hall.

• Barcelona Terrorism Suspect Named As Morocco-Born Driss Oukabir.

• White House Confirms "Cohn Intends To Remain In Position". (graph)

• Carmageddon: Deep Subprime Auto Delinquencies Spike To 10-Year Highs. (graph)

• Stocks Slammed Amid 'Cohn Of Uncertainty' As Hindenburg Omen Cluster Nears Record. (graph)

Night Trading 

• Asian equity indices are -1.0% to -.5% on average.

• Asia Ex-Japan Investment Grade CDS Index 82.25 unch. 

• Asia Pacific Sovereign CDS Index 21.5 +.25 basis point.

• Bloomberg Emerging Markets Currency Index 73.59 -.06%.

• S&P 500 futures -.09%.

• NASDAQ 100 futures -.09%.

Morning Preview Links

Earnings of Note
Company/Estimate

• (DE)/1.95

• (EL)/.43

• (FL)/.90

• (HIBB)/-.20

Economic Releases 
10:00 am EST

• Preliminary Univ. of Mich. Consumer Sentiment for August is estimated to rise to 94.0 versus 93.4 in July.

Upcoming Splits

• None of note

Other Potential Market Movers

• The Chin Property Price report could also impact trading today.

BOTTOM LINE:  Asian indices are lower, weighed down by financial and technology shares in the region. I expect US stocks to open mixed and to weaken into the afternoon, finishing modestly lower.  The Portfolio is 50% net long heading into the day.