Stocks end lower as COVID-19 cases continue to rise and no stimulus deal Stocks were sharply lower amid disappointment over the lack of a stimulus deal in Washington and escalating worries over the surge in virus cases in the U.S. and Europe. The presidential election is a little over one week away, which may be causing some trepidation as well. While time is running short for an aid deal to be reached before the election, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Deputy Chief of Staff said she remains "optimistic." Meanwhile, if Biden wins, he is said to be ready to push for a $2T COVID-19 stimulus package immediately upon taking office. ECONOMIC EVENTS: In the U.S., the Chicago Fed national activity index slipped 0.84 ticks to 0.27 in September. New home sales slid 3.5% to a 959,000 pace in September, missing expectations. The Dallas Fed manufacturing index climbed 6.2 points to 19.8 in October, which was better than forecast. Data from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering shows there are now 43.2M confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, including 8.64M in the U.S., and 1.16M deaths due to the disease, including about 225,000 in the U.S. Meanwhile, Fox Business' Charles Gasparino reported that aides to U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden say that if elected president, Biden will push for a $2T COVID-19 stimulus package immediately upon taking office along with tax increases and infrastructure. TOP NEWS: In M&A news, Dunkin' Brands ($DNKN), the parent company of Dunkin' and Baskin-Robbins, confirmed that it has held preliminary discussions to be acquired by Inspire Brands, which is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In and others. The confirmation came after the New York Times' Lauren Hirsch reported that a deal being discussed would take Dunkin' Brands private at a price of $106.50 a share, or a value of around $9B. Following the news, shares of Dunkin' rose 16.1%. Shares of SAP ($SAP) trading in New York were 23.2% lower after the company missed Q3 revenue and operating profit and reduced both its fiscal 2020 outlook and mid-term targets. JPMorgan analyst Stacy Pollard downgraded SAP to Neutral from Overweight while Exane BNP Paribas analyst Stefan Slowinski downgraded SAP to Neutral from Outperform following the company's guidance cut. Meanwhile, American Express ($AXP) and Uber ($UBER) announced an expanded partnership, under which U.S. Consumer Platinum, Gold and Green Card Members have access to a complimentary Eats Pass Membership for up to 12 months. MAJOR MOVERS: Among the noteworthy gainers was Mirati Therapeutics ($MRTX), which rose 9.1% after the company reported preliminary results from its mutant KRAS selective inhibitor programs. Also higher was JOYY ($YY), which gained 4.6% following media reports that Baidu ($BIDU) intends to acquire the company's domestic business in China. Among the noteworthy losers was Cenovus Energy ($CVE), which declined 8.4% after it and Husky Energy agreed to combine to create a new integrated Canadian oil and natural gas company. Also lower was Hasbro (HAS), which fell 9.3% after reporting quarterly results. INDEXES: The Dow fell 650.19, or 2.29%, to 27,685.38, the Nasdaq lost 189.34, or 1.64%, to 11,358.94, and the S&P 500 declined 64.42, or 1.86%, to 3,400.97. Nasdaq Composite +26.6% YTDS&P 500 +5.3% YTDDow Jones Industrial Average -3.0% YTDRussell 2000 -3.8% YTDMarket SnapshotDow27685.32-650.19(-2.29%)Nasdaq11358.87-189.34(-1.64%)SP 5003400.97-64.42(-1.86%)10-yr Note +26/320.803NYSEAdv 396 Dec 2636 Vol 826.9 mlnNasdaqAdv 628 Dec 2784 Vol 3.2 blnIndustry WatchStrong: UtilitiesWeak: Energy, Materials, Financials, Industrials, Information TechnologyMoving the Market-- Steep losses amid pestering growth concerns-- Stimulus talks remained deadlocked, U.S. set new record for daily coronavirus cases, Germany's SAP (SAP) issued revenue warning-- New home sales unexpectedly decreased in September-- S&P 500 fell below its 50-day moving average (3408) Source: (Briefing.com)(theFly.com) Disclosure: I may trade in the ticker symbols mentioned, both long or short. My articles represent my personal opinion and analysis and should not be taken as investment advice. Readers should do their own research before making decisions to buy or sell securities. Trading and investing include risks, including loss of principal. If you liked this article, please click the LIKE (thumbs up) button. Feel free to leave any comments, question, or opinions. (Sign-up if you haven't already done so). Follow us/bookmark us and check back occasionally for additional articles or comments on our page... Wild Tiger Trading - start/main page. . Want to trade some of these stocks?Are you interested in trading stocks to supplement your income or make a living? Maybe become a professional trader? Many traders have the skills and nerves to trade, but not the upfront capital. Well now that problem is solved!Try2BeFunded has expanded its trading program! If you're a novice or experienced trader, you can earn access to a trading account with up to $100,000! To learn more about how to qualify, click HERE and give it a shot! You have nothing to lose it is free to try. Give Try2BeFunded a try! .