Alibaba’s stock set to fall below IPO price for first time

Alibaba Group Holding’s stock tumbled 6.5% in premarket trade Monday, putting it on track to open well below its $68 IPO price for the first time. The Chinese e-commerce giant’s stock had climbed as much as 75% to close at $119.15 on Nov. 10, but trended steady lower since then, losing 43% to close at a record low of $68.18 on Friday. The stock was trading at $63.78 ahead of the open.

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From:: Stock Market News

Stock futures drop sharply as China stocks tumble 8%

U.S. stock futures tumbled sharply early Monday after the worst week for stocks in four years. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 450 points, or 2.7%, to 16,020, while futures for the S&P 500 dropped 50.40 points, or 2.7%, to 1,921. Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index slid 170.5 points, or 4%, to 4,030.25. Intense selling across Asia added to pressure on stock futures, with the Shanghai Composite index [s; cn:shcomp] down 8%, as that market wiped out all of 2015’s gains. Investors were rattled by a lack of action by the Chinese central bank, though Beijing is planning to flood its banking system with cash, The Wall Street Journal reported. Investors are debating whether last week’s plunge in stock prices, slumping oil prices and concerns about the slowing Chinese economy will deter the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates in September. The new week includes reports on durable goods and consumer confidence, among other items. Stanley Fischer, the Fed’s No. 2, is to speak Saturday at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual Jackson Hole symposium on “U.S. inflation developments.” Meanwhile, October WTI crude fell through $40, down $1, or 2.4%, to $39.45 a barrel.

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Asia markets rattled to join in global equity rout

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Asia markets opened under heavy pressure on Monday, following the steep retreat in the U.S. to end last week. The Shanghai Composite [cn:shcomp] fell more than 5% to lead declines, after the index shed 11.5% last week. This even after word of China’s move to allow pension funds managed by local governments to pour money in the stock market for the first time. The Nikkei [jp:nik] shed 2.1% while the Hang Seng [hk:hsi] gave up 3.6%. Overall, the Asia Dow index [xx:adow] lost 2.9%

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China says local govt pension funds can buy stocks

China on Sunday published finalized rules that allow pension funds managed by local governments to invest in pension funds, according to Reuters. Under the new rules, these pension funds, with assets estimated at more than 2 trillion yuan, or about $322 billion, can invest up to 30% of their net assets in stocks, equity funds and balanced funds. They previously had been limited to bank deposits and Treasurys. A draft version of the rules had been published June 30. The Shanghai Composite index [cn:shcomp] plunged 11.5% last week and has lost 32% of its value from the record close hit June 12. However, it remains up 8.4% for 2015.

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U.S. stock futures drop in early trade; Dow off 139 points

U.S. stock futures dropped in early trade late Sunday following the worst week for stocks in four years. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 139 points, or 0.8%, to 16328, while futures for the S&P 500 [ESU5] lost 17 points, or 0.8%, to 1955. Volume is light. Investors are debating whether last week’s plunge in stock prices, slumping oil prices and concerns about the slowing Chinese economy will deter the Federal Reserve from raising interest rates in September. The new week includes reports on durable goods and consumer confidence, among other items. Stanley Fischer, the Fed’s No. 2, is to speak Saturday at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual Jackson Hole symposium on “U.S. inflation developments.” In a note to clients last week, Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James, noted that “selling squalls” rarely bottom on a Friday.

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Ohio State is unanimous No. 1 in AP preseason football poll

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the unanimous choice for the top spot in the Associated Press’ preseason football poll, the first time there has been a unanimous choice since the preseason poll began in 1950. The picks by the 61-member media panel were released Sunday. Ohio State is the defending national champion, and it is the eighth time Ohio State has been ranked No. 1 in the AP’s preseason poll. Rounding out the top five are TCU, Alabama, Baylor and Michigan State. TCU and Baylor shared the Big 12 championship last year.

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S&P 500 sheds $1.1 trillion in market cap over week

The S&P 500 dropped 64.84 points, or 3.2% on Friday and lost 5.8% of its value over the past week, settling at 1,970.89. The brutal selloff wiped $1.1 trillion off its market value over the week, according to FactSet.

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