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Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA) released first quarter of fiscal 2024 financial results before the opening bell in Wall Street on Thursday. The American healthcare, pharmacy, and retail company reported revenue of $36.707 billion for the quarter, which topped analyst estimate of $34.949 billion. Revenue was up by 10% from the same period a year prior.

Earnings per share reported at $0.66 (down by 43.1% year-over-year) vs. $0.616 per share expected. Walgreens cut its dividend by 48% from the previous quarter to $0.25 per share. Company overview Founded: 31/12/2014 Headquarters: Deerfield, Illinois, United States Number of employees: 331,000 (2023) Industry: Retail, pharmaceuticals Key people: Stefano Pessina (Executive Chairman), Tim Wentworth (CEO) CEO commentary Tim Wentworth commented on the latest results: "WBA delivered fiscal first quarter results in line with overall expectations, reflecting disciplined execution in a challenging consumer backdrop.

We are evaluating all strategic options to drive sustainable long-term shareholder value, focusing on swift actions to right-size costs and increase cash flow, with a balanced approach to capital allocation priorities. Today we are announcing a 48 percent reduction in our quarterly dividend payment, while maintaining a competitive yield. We are proud to be a trusted and independent partner of choice, delivering healthcare to millions of people.

And, we will leverage our local, convenient presence to engage with patients and help payors, providers, and pharma companies also achieve better health outcomes at an affordable cost." Stock reaction The stock was down by over 6% on Thursday after the latest results, trading at $23.84 a share – the lowest level since 12/12/2023. Stock performance 1 month: +19.60% 3 months: +14.72% Year-to-date: -2.07% 1 year: -31.80% Walgreens Boots Alliance stock price targets Barclays: $21 HSBC: $27 JP Morgan: $30 Royal Bank of Canada: $26 Evercore ISI: $21 Truist Financial: $25 Mizuho: $25 Deutsche Bank: $27 Credit Suisse: $30 Morgan Stanley: $27 UBS Group: $35 Loop Capital Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.is the 882nd largest company in the world with a market cap of $22.04 billion. You can trade Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX and ASX with GO Markets as a Share CFD.

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The new trading year kicked off with a dip in equities with Big Tech leading losses in Tuesday’s session, AAPL being the big loser after a downgrade from Barclays citing concern in iPhone demand. Yields and the USD ripped higher, the US Dollar Index having its biggest daily gain since March 2023. Crude oil capped off an interesting session with a pump and dump rollercoaster ride.

Charts To Watch: Apple - AAPL Apple stock fell 3.6% during Tuesdays New York session, it’s worst day since August. The dump came after Barclays downgraded the iPhone maker and lowered its price target on concerns of slowing iPhone sales, particularly in China. This saw the stock price gap down, erasing all of December’s gains and hitting a low of 183.89 before finding some bids and rebounding modestly.

US Dollar Index – DXY DXY surged on the first trading day of 2024, having its biggest up day since March 2023, there was little in the way of newsflow behind the move but more a result of a jump in yields and some oversold technicals that were amplified by a low volume session. DXY retaking the 200-day SMA and 102 handle, hitting a high of 102.22, the next test to the upside being the resistance around 102.57. Crude Oil – USOUSD The most interesting move today was in Crude Oil, initially surging in the APAC session amid growing Middle East tensions, only to dump at the start of the US session with no obvious catalyst.

Some souring of risk sentiment and a stronger USD seemingly the only drivers. USOUSD finishing the session just above 70 USD a barrel, with the major support at 67 the next level to watch to the downside.

Global markets chopped about in Tuesday’s session with no key data released with traders seemingly waiting on the sidelines for US CPI and a slew of bank earnings later in the week. Gold – XAUUSD XAUUSD rallied in Tuesdays APAC session testing the 2040 USD an ounce resistance level before a sharp drop as Europe opened saw drop to a low of 2026. This will be a key level to watch for the gold bulls with 2040 now establishing itself as a cap to further price increase.

AUDUSD The Aussie dollar took a hit on mixed risk sentiment, reversing modest gains made in the APAC session on a surprise beat in building approvals and above-forecast retail sales. AUDUSD losing the 0.67 handle and holding around 2024 lows. Ahead today AUDUSD traders will a CPI reading to navigate, with Year on year inflation expected to drop to 4.4% from last months reading of 4.9%.

Crude Oil – USOUSD Crude oil pared some of Mondays’ steep losses with Mid-East tensions continuing stoking supply concerns. USOUSD continuing to trade in its 2024 range of 70 support to the downside and 74 resistance to the upside. Geopolitical events currently being the main driver of crudes price action.

Ahead today with have Aussie CPI in the APAC session and BOE Governor Bailey speaking in the UK session.

USD was ultimately flat in a choppy session on Thursday after hotter-than-expected US CPI data. The US Dollar Index (DXY) hitting briefly breeching the resistance at 102.63 to hit a high of 102.76. This proved to be another false breakout of this level with DXY gradually retracing for the rest of the session to unchanged levels.

JPY outperformed, after an initial spike higher in USDJPY above 146 after the CPI reading, the retracement was more profound in this pair with it ultimately trading just above the psychological 145 level. A report did hit the newswires that said the BoJ is considering lowering its price outlook for FY2024 to the middle 2% range, though with dovish BoJ expectations being priced in it didn’t deter the Yen bulls. Risk sensitive currencies GBP and AUD had a mixed reaction.

GBPUSD making gains ahead of the UK GDP reading today. AUDUSD posting losses despite better than expected trade data that seemed to be interpreted as more evidence of a slowing Aussie economy. Gold again tested the 2040 USD an ounce resistance before a spike in the USD post CPI saw a steep decline to a low of 2013.

Early in the APAC session the Gold bulls look keen to test this level again with XAUUSD rebounding to around 2035. This will be a key level to watch for Gold traders.

USD ultimately ended lower on Monday with the US Dollar Index (DXY) first testing the resistance at 102.57 to the upside before reversing course to test the support at 102 to the downside. A risk on equity markets and some dovish developments. Data saw the NY Fed Survey show lower than expected inflation expectations.

There was also a dovish call from Bank of America regarding the Feds holdings of US Treasuries along with what was seen as dovish comments from Fed members Bostic and Logan all weighing on the Greenback. JPY bounced back against the USD after its weak start to 2024. USDJPY falling from highs of 144.92 to lows of 143.67 before finding some support.

Possible positioning before todays Tokyo CPI figure and a fall in US yields seemingly the drivers. CHF also saw decent gains against the USD and EUR after a hotter than expected December Swiss CPI print where the year-on-year inflation rate rose to 1.7% against an expected 1.5% Crude Oil prices were a big mover with USOUSD dropping almost 3% as a result of sharp price cuts by top exporter Saudi Arabia stoked demand fears. There was also a reported rise in OPEC output offsetting any supply worries generated by the ongoing tension in the Middle East.

USOUSD finding support at the 70 USD a barrel support level for now, the next level lower to watch will be the major support at 67 USD a barrel.