US OPEN: Wall Street mixed ahead of Powel, Yellen

• Investors focus on Powell and Yellen's first joint hearing
• US health agency expressed concern regarding AstraZeneca vaccine
• ViacomCBS (VIAC.US) stock plunged 7% as it plans to raise $ 3 Billion from stock sales

US indices launched today’s session in mixed moods as investors await Fed Chair Powell and Treasury Secretary Yellen's first joint hearing on the CARES Act before Congress. The discussion will focus on the oversight of the Treasury’s and Federal Reserve’s pandemic response. In prepared remarks, Fed Chair stressed that the recovery is gaining steam, before adding there’s still a long way to go. “The recovery has progressed more quickly than generally expected and looks to be strengthening. This is due in significant part to the unprecedented fiscal and monetary policy actions ... which provided essential support to households, businesses, and communities,” Meanwhile, Treasury yields continue to retreat from 14-month highs as the bond market stabilises ahead of key auctions during the week.

US100 bounced off the local support at 13046 pts which coincides with 50 SMA ( green line). If buyers will manage to uphold momentum then resistance at 13270 pts may be at risk. On the other hand, if sellers will manage to regain control and break below the aforementioned support, then downward move may be extended to the 12755 pts level. Source: xStation5

ViacomCBS (VIAC.US) stock fell 7% after the media company announced it will sell $3 billion in total of its stock. ViacomCBS will sell $2 billion in class B common shares and $1 billion in mandatory convertible preferred shares. Company plans to use these funds to invest in its streaming services.

ViacomCBS (VIAC.US) stock launched today’s session lower an dis trading below local support at $94.70 and 50 SMA ( green line). If the current sentiment prevails downward move could be extended to the $86.21 level. On the other hand, if buyers will manage to regain control then another upward impulse towards all-time high at $102.16 may be launched. Source: xStation5

AstraZeneca (AZN.US) stock dropped 2.9% in premarket after an independent monitoring board told U.S. health officials that the drugmaker's may have given incomplete efficacy data from its Covid-19 vaccine trial saying it may have used "outdated information." This could delay or even halt its potential U.S. rollout.

Microsoft (MSFT.US) – Microsoft is interested in buying video game chat community Discord for more than $10 billion, according to Bloomberg which cited people familiar with the matter. However one of these persons said Discord is more likely to go public than to sell itself.

Boeing (BA.US) signed a deal for a $5.28 billion two-year revolving credit agreement, higher than the $4 billion that the jet maker was originally said to be seeking.