ECONOMIC SILUET: 5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday

Rabu, 24 Mei 2023

5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday

WED, MAY 24, 2023

MORNING SQUAWK

1. Gloom grows

This week isn't looking so hot for stocks. After a mixed session Monday, the three major U.S. stock indices all fell Tuesday, with the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each declining by more than 1%. And each day without a debt ceiling deal in Washington (see below for more) ratchets up the tension as investors dwell more on what could be the United States' first sovereign default. Retailers' earnings haven't been so strong, either, as companies warn of a slowdown in consumer spending. Kohl's and mall retailers Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle are next up to report Wednesday. In the afternoon, the Federal Reserve is slated to release the minutes from its meeting earlier this month. Follow live market updates.

2. What's the deal?

The United States could run out of money to pay its debts as soon as June 1 – eight days from now – and there still isn't a deal in Washington. Some Republicans questioned whether the deadline is actually so soon, suggesting there's more wiggle room for talks. Negotiations have been heating up, however, as the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's team tightened their focus for compromise on a handful of issues. Wednesday's talks could be pivotal, especially with lawmakers itching to get out of town for Memorial Day weekend.

3. Netflix cracks down

It took a little longer than expected, but Netflix's password-sharing crackdown has come to the U.S. after rolling out in other countries. On Tuesday, the streaming giant said it started emailing subscribers to lay down the law on passwords. "Your Netflix account is for you and the people you live with — your household," the emails read. Each account user outside of a household will cost an extra $7.99 a month. These users can also transfer their Netflix profile if they want to start their own account. Netflix, like other streamers, is in a profitability push as subscriber growth slows. Company executives have said the new password-sharing policy will probably result in fewer viewers at first, with many eventually coming back to start their own accounts.

4. It's over

Virgin Orbit, the once-promising rocket company founded by Richard Branson, is now fully dead after selling off the bulk of its assets to aerospace companies Rocket Lab, Stratolaunch and Launcher. The company's six remaining rockets, which are in various states of development, have yet to be sold, nor has the company's intellectual property. Virgin Orbit once reached a multibillion-dollar valuation as its novel concept – launching space rockets from refitted airliners mid-flight – turned heads, but the company had problems executing quickly and raising money, eventually leading to its bankruptcy and liquidation.

5. The Ron and Elon Show

This is the day we stop calling Ron DeSantis a potential presidential candidate. The Florida governor is expected to announce his run 6 p.m. ET Wednesday on Twitter Spaces, in a discussion with the social platform's owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as well as Musk supporter and investor David Sacks. The political world has been eager to see DeSantis jump into the Republican primary after months of hype. While he's widely seen as the strongest challenger to former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination in 2024, he's nonetheless a distant second in the polls. DeSantis, though, will be banking on a strong network of donors to help him convince Republican voters that he should be the one to take on President Joe Biden next year.

— CNBC's Mike Calia wrote this newsletter. Hakyung Kim, Christina Wilkie, Lillian Rizzo, Michael Sheetz and Brian Schwartz contributed.

— Follow Squawk Pod for the best conversations and analysis from Squawk Box in a curated, daily podcast.