Here’s Why eBay, Twitter, Delta, Southwest, and More Are Trending

The major futures indexes are modestly in the green in the pre-market today after export orders for U.K. factories rose to the highest level in over three years. Given the interconnected financial system, what’s good for the U.K. is often good for the U.S. as well.

In this column, let’s examine uncover the reasons why eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY), Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL), and Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) are trending, and let’s find out how elite money funds were positioned in the five.

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eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) is trending due to the company announcing that it is rolling out a new homepage redesign to better personalize recommendations for users. The new features include horizontal image carousels stacked on top of each other, with rows for products users have seen before, and rows for recommendations, and rows for ‘items on watch’. eBay said,

Using structured data — a transformative step to drive discoverability of our vast inventory, insights into supply and demand, pricing trends, among other things — and artificial intelligence, we’re creating a shopping experience that is tailored to each eBay user’s interests, passions and shopping history. With more than one billion items from new, to nearly new to vintage, we’re making shopping on eBay all about you, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.

Bulls hope that the new homepage will help the company realize more revenue. Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management owned more than 11.5 million shares of eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) at the end of Q4.

eBay isn’t the only company trying to change its offerings. According to Business Insider, Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is attempting to make it easier for professional broadcasters such as advertisers and media organizations to stream live video on its platform with a new set of integrated features. While normal users can stream live video already with Twitter’s Periscope, professional broadcasters needed to work with Twitter in the past in order to use professional equipment to stream. With the set of new features, professional broadcasters can avoid Periscope, and stream directly. Bulls hope more live streaming will help Twitter better monetize its audience. Of the 742 elite funds we track, 41 funds owned $547.87 million of Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) and accounted for 4.70% of the float on December 31, versus 47 funds and $1.08 billion respectively on September 30.

On the next page, we find out why traders are watching Delta Air Lines Inc, United Continental Holdings Inc, and Southwest Airlines Co.

Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV), United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL), and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) are trending after rules that stipulated passengers on direct flights to the U.S. from eight nations, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia,Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, and Qatar, had to put large electronic devices such as laptops into checked baggage took into effect on Tuesday. The requirement could increase passenger baggage revenue for the industry if the rule is broadened to other nations. In addition, traders are also watching the three equities due to the airline’s somewhat inverse relationship with crude. If crude prices sink, airlines will benefit due to lower fuel costs in the long run. If crude prices go up, the airlines will eventually have to pay more in fuel costs. 88, 54, and 50 top funds we track were long Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL), and Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:LUV) at the end of the fourth quarter.

Disclosure:None