Plus, the Senate will vote on a “skinny” coronavirus relief bill this week, companies in the race to produce COVID-19 vaccines pledged to avoid shortcuts on science in the approval process, and Microsoft announced a smaller version of its new Xbox gaming console.
Stocks were lower to start Tuesday with the Dow falling 438 points, or more than 1.5%. The S&P 500 slid 1.6%, while the Nasdaq traded 1.7% lower.
The Senate will vote on Republicans’ “skinny” coronavirus relief bill as early as this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this morning. McConnell said the chamber will take up the “targeted proposal, focused on some of the very most urgent healthcare, education, and economic issues,” without specifying what’s in the roughly $500 billion bill. The bill is not expected to get the 60 votes needed to pass or receive support in the Democratic-held House, but it is hoped that the proposal will be a starting point to getting Democrats back to the negotiating table. “I know as late as 9 o’clock last night I was on the phone with a couple of senators as well as Senate leadership to make sure that we put forth a bill coming out of the Senate that at least provides a foundation for getting an agreement,” said White House chief of staff Mar Meadows in an interview with Fox Business today. “The stumbling block is aid to state and local governments.”
Drugmakers racing to produce COVID-19 vaccines pledged to avoid shortcuts on science as they face pressure to rush a shot to market from President Donald Trump. In a letter signed by AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer, and Sanofi, the companies agreed to submit the vaccines for clearance by the FDA only when they’re shown to be safe and effective in large clinical studies. “In the interest of public health, we pledge to always make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals our top priority,” executives of the companies wrote. “Continue to adhere to high scientific and ethical standards regarding the conduct of clinical trials and the rigor of manufacturing processes. Only submit for approval or emergency use authorization after demonstrating safety and efficacy through a Phase 3 clinical study that is designed and conducted to meet requirements of expert regulatory authorities such as [the] FDA. [And] work to ensure a sufficient supply and range of vaccine options, including those suitable for global access. We believe this pledge will help ensure public confidence in the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated and may ultimately be approved.”
President Trump vowed to curb the U.S. economic relationship with China, threatening to punish any American companies that create jobs overseas and to forbid those that do business in China from winning federal contracts. “We’ll manufacture our critical manufacturing supplies in the United States, we’ll create ‘made in America’ tax credits and bring our jobs back to the United States and we’ll impose tariffs on companies that desert America to create jobs in China and other countries,” Trump said at a press conference at the White House on Monday. “If they can’t do it here, then let them pay a big tax to build it someplace else and sent it into our country. We’ll prohibit federal contracts from companies that outsource to China and we’ll hold China accountable for allowing the virus to spread around the world.” Despite Trump’s comments, bilateral trade is one area of U.S.-China relations that hasn’t worsened lately, after both nations recently reaffirmed their commitments to the phase one trade deal signed earlier this year that stopped tit-for-tat tariff increases, even as tensions are rising between the two nations on the tech front.
Nikola shares are up 37% this morning after General Motors announced it is taking an 11% stake in the electric truck maker and will produce its marquee hydrogen fuel cell electric pickup truck—the Badger—by the end of 2022. GM will get a $2 billion stake in Nikola and the right to nominate one board member in exchange for in-kind services as part of the deal. “When we look at the opportunity to continue to leverage our technology—the Ultium battery platform system as well as the Hydrotec fuel cell technology—this is a wonderful validation of our technology, and then bringing our engineering and manufacturing expertise to the table,” said GM CEO Mary Barra of the deal. As Nikola shares have climbed this morning, Tesla shares have fallen nearly 15% after the electric-vehicle maker missed out on being included in the S&P 500 index, taking investors by surprise. Baird analyst Ben Kallo called the decision not to include Tesla in the index “a relatively surprising development.”
Microsoft confirmed today that it is set to launch a smaller, cheaper version of its upcoming next-generation Xbox gaming console. The new device, called the Xbox Series S, will be the “smallest Xbox ever” and cost $299. While Microsoft did not disclose when the Series S will be released, it is gearing up for the release of its Xbox Series X device later this year. And Apple said it will host a digital event on September 15 where it is expected to reveal its newest iPhones. The new models are widely expected to support next-generation 5G networks, though it’s still unclear which models will also support the fastest, but limited range, mmWave 5G.
Stocks We’re Watching
Shore Bancshares Inc (NASDAQ: SHBI): Shore Bancshares shares are up nearly 5% over the last week after the company announced that it has reinstated its buyback program, which had been placed on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that management is authorized to repurchase up to $10 million, or approximately 5%, of the total outstanding shares of the company’s common stock. Shore Bancshares CEO Lloyd L. “Scott” Beatty, Jr., said in a statement, “We are pleased to resume our stock repurchase program as we continue to maintain strong capital levels, minimal credit losses and solid operating results. The recently completed $25.0 million subordinated notes offering only enhances the Company’s already strong capital position which provides for flexibility to repurchase shares while providing an insurance policy against potential future credit losses. The repurchase of the Company’s common stock will serve as an effective way to increase our franchise and long-term shareholder value.”