10 things before the opening bell

Welcome to 10 Things Before the Opening Bell.

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1. Yes, there's still a labor shortage. New data revealed US job openings crept higher to 10.9 million in December, well above the median economist forecast of 10.3 million. The numbers place openings a shade below record highs from July.

There were about 0.6 unemployed people for every job opening, the lowest reading since 2006. Meanwhile, the US added a 2021-low of 199,000 payrolls in December, which also missed economist estimates and reflected the winter hiring slowdown.

Employers are also struggling to retain staff they do have. About 4.3 million workers quit their jobs in December — the ninth month of workers quitting at near-record rates.

While the new data highlights a strained labor market, it also shows how much worker power has grown over the past year. More workers are quitting or switching jobs, and bosses are firing fewer employees in an attempt to stave off the year-long job-quitting trend.

Take a look for yourself:

2. US tech stock futures are rattling higher. This time, it's Google parent Alphabet's blockbuster fourth-quarter earnings and more modest expectations for the rate outlook that are buoying the sector. Here's what's going on.

3. A top Wall Street strategist is warning that stocks are bound to keep plunging. Stifel's Barry Bannister doesn't think the sell-off is over just yet — he said none of the five criteria he needs to see to call a bottom are being met.

4. Earnings on deck: Aflac, All State, and Allegiant Travel, all reporting.

5. Economist Mohamed El-Erian is warning of more volatility ahead. January's wild swings in the stock market will likely continue, El-Erian said. He pointed out two overlooked factors that are driving the choppy trading.

6. MicroStrategy just bought 660 more bitcoins. Fairlead Strategies has warned a sell signal is flashing, but that hasn't stopped Michael Saylor's software company from boosting its holdings to 125,051 bitcoins — or about $3.78 billion.

7. Tom Brady said he's going to focus on his NFT platform and other ventures following his retirement from the NFL. The football legend has co-founded numerous businesses, including Autograph — which just raised $170 million in funding.

8. Metaverse mortgages are being issued to buy virtual land. TerraZero Technologies just facilitated one of the first ones ever for a digital property purchase in Decentraland. Its CEO expects mortgages and financing to expedite the broad adoption of the metaverse.

9. Wall Street analysts shared which semiconductor chip manufacturers make good stock picks. According to TipRanks, equity strategists like these 28 semiconductor stocks — including four metaverse selections that could offer double-digit upside.

10. Top strategists from Wall Street's biggest banks shared their thoughts on bitcoin. Analysts from Goldman Sachs said the cryptocurrency could hit $100,000 if it continues taking gold's market share, and some at JPMorgan think it could hit $146,000. Here's what other top firms expect from bitcoin.

Compiled by Phil Rosen. Feedback? Email prosen@insider.com or tweet @philrosenn.

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