Newscasts - US Morning Call: Futures slide on Russia-Ukraine; Walmart raises annual forecasts

Click the following link to watch video: https://share.newscasts.refinitiv.com/link?entryId=1_5mp22be5&referenceId=1_5mp22be5&pageId=Newscasts Source: 'Reuters - Business videos' Description: U.S. stock index futures fall as worries over escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine hit risk sentiment globally. Walmart raises its annual sales and profit forecast for the third consecutive time. Short Link: https://refini.tv/3Zg1xHf Video Transcript: Russia-Ukraine tensions weigh, more American retailers report. Welcome to US Morning Call. I'm David Pollard. US stock indices futures are slipping today as worries over rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine hit risk sentiment globally. On those fears, shares of US defense companies including RTX and Lockheed Martin were up by 1.8% and 1.4% respectively. Gold miners, meanwhile, saw solid safe haven gains as the price of gold climbed. Sending a shiver through markets is a warning by Vladimir Putin that Russia could consider using nuclear weapons if subject to a conventional missile assault. This after the Biden Administration reportedly gave Ukraine permission to fire US missiles deep into Russia. The tensions are pushing investors into safe havens with a 10-year Treasury yield down to its lowest in three weeks. The greenback also in demand. The Dollar Index was up around 0.25%, while Europe's main stock index, the STOXX 600, hit a three-month low. It's a change in mood from Monday, when the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 closed higher, with Tesla jumping on the prospect of favorable policies from the Trump administration. Investors are also eyeing NVIDIA ahead of its earnings on Wednesday. Traders are said to be primed for a nearly $300 billion swing in its market value on the news. In the meantime, its shares are reversing losses seen after a report said its new AI chips were overheating in servers. The market, too, could be looking a little hot, according to Skyler Weinand. We're up 25% year-to-date. We can't complain, the stock market wise. And so, you know, maybe we got a little bit of ahead of ourselves the few days after the election, and I think people are almost ready to start eating turkey here. Walmart has raised its annual sales and profit forecast for the third consecutive time. That as consumers buy more groceries and merchandise online and at its stores, in a sign it may be gaining market share ahead of the holiday season. It's increased its fiscal 2025 net sales growth forecast to between 4.8% and 5.1%, up over 1% on its previous estimates. Quarterly profit was at $0.58 a share, around $0.05 higher than the consensus. Meanwhile, Lowe's has today forecast a smaller-than-expected drop in annual comparable sales. A pick-up in hurricane-related demand and favorable weather boosted revenues, even as big-ticket spending remained under pressure. For the recent quarter, sales were down 1.1%, where a 2.8% drop had been expected. On the economic front, data from the Commerce Department today is set to show housing starts dipped to 1.33 million units in October from 1.354 million prior. Building permits are seen increased to 1.43 million units in October from 1.425 million. That is US Morning Call.