Today's watchlist: Russia-Ukraine conflict and Fed decision continue to impact markets

BY THE NUMBERS

The 10-year Treasury yield reached its highest point since July 2019 on Monday, hitting 2.08%.

The blue-chip Dow has experienced its fifth consecutive negative week in nearly three years, dropping 2% last week. The 30-stock index is currently 11% below its all-time high on January 5. Similarly, the S&P 500 and tech-focused Nasdaq have both finished in the red in four out of the past five weeks. The S&P 500 is currently 12.75% off its January 4 peak, and the Nasdaq is down nearly 21% from its November record high.

While there are no government economic reports scheduled for Monday, the New York Federal Reserve Bank will release its survey of consumer expectations at 11 a.m. ET.

No earnings reports are scheduled this morning, but Vail Resorts (MTN) and Coupa Software (COUP) will release their quarterly earnings after the market closes today.

IN THE NEWS TODAY

Peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials continued on Monday, with one Ukrainian presidential advisor stating that the discussions were ongoing but "hard." Earlier in the day, the advisor had indicated that Kyiv's objectives were to secure a cease-fire, withdraw Russian troops from the country, and obtain other security guarantees. Meanwhile, an airstrike by Russian forces escalated the offensive in western Ukraine, and a pregnant woman who was photographed leaving a shelled maternity hospital in Ukraine has died, according to NBC News.

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, is scheduled to meet with China's top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, in Rome on Monday. The planned face-to-face meeting comes after multiple media outlets reported that Russia has asked China for military equipment and other aid to sustain its war in Ukraine. Beijing, a close ally of Russia, denied the report on Monday. Meanwhile, Russia has warned that it may be forced to pay foreign currency debt in rubles due to sanctions. If Putin uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, it could be a 'game changer' for NATO, according to CNBC.

The rise in Covid cases in mainland China has led some major cities to impose new restrictions on business activity and move schools to online instruction. In Shenzhen, a manufacturing hub, businesses that do not provide essential public services have been instructed to pause production or have employees work remotely for a week. This directive affects Foxconn, a key supplier with operations in Shenzhen. (CNBC)

Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stake in Occidental Petroleum by spending over $1.5 billion on 27.1 million shares, bringing its total shares to 118.3 million and worth nearly $6.9 billion as of Friday's close. (CNBC)

STOCKS TO WATCH

Uber will implement fuel surcharges for the next two months to compensate for rising gasoline prices. The additional costs will be passed on to drivers for their ride-hailing and food delivery services.

According to a regulatory filing, Softbank's Vision Fund sold $1 billion of its stake in South Korean software company CPNG, leaving the fund with 461.2 million Coupa shares after selling 50 million shares.

According to a report in Automotive News, Ford is forecasting a 12% drop in U.S. sales this year due to parts shortages, which have already resulted in the loss of 100,000 units of production so far this year.

NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC, is close to a deal with Major League Baseball for exclusive rights to stream games in a new Sunday time slot, according to sources who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. The package includes 18 games.

Glass Lewis has recommended voting for all of the chemical company's director nominees at the annual meeting on March 25, while Starboard has nominated its own slate of directors.

Berkshire Hathaway is urging rejection of four shareholder proposals, including the replacement of Warren Buffett as chairman and that Berkshire report on its plans to handle climate risk.

Turquoise Hill's shares are experiencing pressure after the mining company announced it would purchase the remaining 49% of the company for approximately $2.7 billion, which represents a more than 32% premium above the stock's Friday closing price.

Elon Musk, CEO of both TSLA and SpaceX, stated that both companies are facing significant inflationary pressures due to the increase in material and labor costs.

Barclays upgraded its rating for FTV from "equal weight" to "overweight," stating that the valuation of its call on the industrial equipment and machinery maker was the reason for the change.