5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens

Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) is reportedly in advanced talks to buy cybersecurity startup Wiz for around $23 billion in what would be its biggest acquisition ever; Goldman Sachs (GS) posts higher-than-forecast second-quarter earnings as fixed-income trading revenue at the Wall Street powerhouse surged; China’s Q2 gross domestic product (GDP) grows 4.7% year-over-year, below forecasts, as trade tensions, weak consumer spending, and the real estate downturn continue to be a drag; cryptocurrencies and crypto-tied stocks are rising after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was seen by investors as raising the chances the former president, who has been actively courting the crypto community, will win the presidential election in November; and Apple (AAPL) and Samsung second-quarter global smartphone shipments rise but their market shares fall amid bigger gains by Chinese rivals; U.S. stock futures are higher. Here’s what investors need to know today.

1. Alphabet Reportedly Closes in on $23B Purchase of Wiz

Alphabet (GOOGL) is in advanced talks to buy cybersecurity startup Wiz for around $23 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported, in what would be the Google parent’s largest acquisition ever. The purchase would be bigger than Google’s largest deal so far, its $12.5 billion acquisition in 2012 of Motorala Mobility. Unlike rivals like Microsoft (MSFT), which last year completed its almost $70 billion acquisition of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard, Alphabet has mainly focused on smaller deals. If the acquisition goes through, Wiz would join Mandiant in Alphabet’s cybersecurity business. Alphabet shares are little changed in premarket trading.

2. Goldman Posts Q2 Beat on Fixed-Income Boost

Goldman Sachs (GS) posted higher-than-forecast second-quarter earnings as fixed-income trading revenue at the Wall Street powerhouse surged. Second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) was $8.62 and revenue rose 17% on-year to $12.73 billion, aided by a 17% rise in fixed income revenue to $3.18 billion. The results follow earnings beats Friday by JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Citigroup (C)—the three lenders that kicked off the bank earnings season—although concerns about a cooling economy amid higher-for-longer interest rates weighed on their shares. Shares of Goldman are edging lower in premarket trading.

3. China’s Economy Grows Slower Than Forecast

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 4.7% year-over-year in the second quarter, marking a sharp slowdown in the economy as the prolonged real estate slump, tepid consumer spending, and trade tensions continue to weigh. The rise was weaker than the 5.3% growth rate recorded in the first quarter and lower than the 5.0% figure expected by economists polled by The Wall Street Journal. The slowdown will put pressure on Beijing to boost the economy as leader Xi Jinping and the Communist Party’s top officials gather for a twice-a-decade meeting to discuss economic reforms.

4. Bitcoin Above $62,000; Crypto-Tied Stocks Gain

Cryptocurrencies and crypto-tied stocks are rising after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was seen by investors as raising the chances the former president, who has been actively courting the crypto community, will win the presidential election in November. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is up around 3% and trading above $62,000, although off the token’s $73,000 record high hit in March in the wake of the regulatory approval of bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). MicroStrategy (MSTR), one of the world’s largest holders of bitcoin, is gaining about 7%, trading app Robinhood (HOOD) is rising almost 3%, and cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase (COIN) is up 4% in premarket trading. 

5. Apple, Samsung Smartphone Shipments Up But Chinese Rivals Notch Bigger Gains

Global smartphone shipments by Apple (AAPL) and South Korea’s Samsung rose in the second quarter from a year earlier, but their global market shares fell as Chinese rivals chalked up bigger gains, according to data from research firm International Data Corp. Quarterly shipments of iPhones climbed to 45.2 million units from 44.5 million a year ago but Apple’s market share fell to 15.8% from 16.6%. Samsung’s market share fell to 18.9% from 20.0%, although it remained the top seller of smartphones globally at 53.9 million units, up from 53.5 million. In contrast, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi chalked up a 27% year-over-year jump in global shipments and saw its share of the global market rise to 14.8% from 12.4%. Apple shares are up almost 2% in premarket trading.