Stock Market Daily

TOP NEWS Hopes dim for swift end to Iran war after Trump speech, sending oil prices above $100/barrel. Trump administration reportedly readies new tariffs on drugmakers not guaranteeing low prices. Hedge funds faced worst monthly drawdown in over four years due to Iran war volatility, per Goldman Sachs. Intel plans to invest another $15 million in chip startup SambaNova, chaired by Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Crisis contractor for OpenAI/Anthropic developing a tool to combat extremism, directing users with violent tendencies on ChatGPT to deradicalisation support. BEFORE THE BELL Wall Street futures fell as Trump's aggressive stance on Iran dampened hopes for conflict resolution. Oil prices climbed over 7% on fears of prolonged supply disruptions. Gold fell sharply as a stronger dollar offset its safe-haven appeal. Global equities, including Europe, Japan, China, and Hong Kong stocks, fell due to conflict pessimism. Investors await jobless claims data and Friday's nonfa...

TOP NEWS Trump says US may exit Iran war soon, signaling potential for talks and winding down conflict. Nike's turnaround faces new risks from Middle East unrest and struggles in China. Oracle begins layoffs affecting thousands of employees. Tesla's Q1 deliveries likely to dip sequentially due to softer EV demand and increased competition. Investor Artisan Partners backs Unilever's plan to sell its food unit to McCormick, focusing on core brands. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock futures advanced on hopes of a swift end to the Iran war. Global equities rose: Europe's STOXX 600 jumped over 2%, Japan's Nikkei gained nearly 4%, China and Hong Kong stocks positive. Oil and dollar reversed earlier gains on optimism of an end to the war. Gold prices rose to their highest in nearly two weeks. Investors await U.S. retail sales data and ADP employment data. STOCKS TO WATCH American Airlines Group Inc: Australia's regulator granted interim authorization for Qa...

TOP NEWS Unilever and McCormick in advanced talks to merge food businesses, potentially creating a $60 billion company. Big Tech's $635 billion AI spending faces energy shock test due to Middle East crisis and rising energy costs, per S&P Global. Private lenders delaying loan defaults with payment concessions, signaling stress in the private credit sector. US to seek WTO alternatives after e-commerce duty moratorium not renewed, limiting WTO's global trade role. Fed's Williams states current monetary policy is well-positioned for challenges and likely higher near-term inflation. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures: Higher, on potential de-escalation in Middle East. Investors await U.S. consumer confidence, job opening data, and Nike results. Gold: Rose, but gains limited by stronger dollar as safe haven amid Middle East war, boosting inflation fears and hawkish policy bets. Oil: Prices up in volatile trading. Global markets: European shares gained ...

TOP NEWS US judge temporarily blocks Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic. Oaktree private credit fund faced a surge in redemptions. Pernod Ricard tie-up with Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman would test family influence. China's top chipmaker (SMIC) supplied chipmaking tech to Iran military, US officials say. Netflix raises subscription prices across all plans in the U.S. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures : Muted as investors assessed Middle East de-escalation. Dollar : Headed toward strongest monthly gain in nearly a year. 10-year U.S. Treasury : Yields rose to highest level since July. Oil : Prices edged up but on track for weekly decline. Gold : Prices rose but headed for fourth straight weekly decline due to inflation concerns. European shares : Fell in a broad selloff due to Middle East war and inflation risks. Nikkei : Ended lower. Chinese stocks : Closed higher after strong industrial profit data. STOCKS TO WATCH Brown-Forman Corp & Pe...

TOP NEWS OECD: Iran conflict erases global growth upgrade, threatens higher inflation due to potential halt in Strait of Hormuz energy shipments. US tech liability shield: Juries found Meta and Google liable in first two trials over harm to children, potentially challenging tech liability shield (Section 230). Equitable, Corebridge: To merge in $22 billion all-stock deal to boost competitiveness, grow business, and strengthen position in retirement and wealth markets. Jefferies: Profit rose on dealmaking but missed estimates due to losses on First Brands and Market Financial Solutions loans. Super Micro: Shareholders sued the company for alleged securities fraud, concealing dependence on China sales violating U.S. export laws, leading to criminal charges. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures: Down, investors cautious on Middle East, weighing de-escalation prospects. Economic Front: Investors awaiting weekly jobless claims and comments from Fed Governors. Oil: Ro...

TOP NEWS SpaceX aims to file for IPO as soon as this week. Meta ordered to pay $375 million in New Mexico trial over child exploitation and user safety claims. US ramps up fuel exports to Cuba's private sector. US judge says Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic looks like punishment for its AI safety views. OpenAI drops AI video tool Sora, startling Disney and ending a potential $1 billion deal. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures climbed on reports of a potential U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Gold extended gains, supported by a softer dollar and a 4% drop in oil prices. European shares rose more than 1%. Asian markets also rose, with Chinese, Hong Kong, and Japan's Nikkei stocks advancing. STOCKS TO WATCH Arm Holdings PLC : U.S.-listed shares jumped nearly 12% after projecting $15 billion in annual revenue from its new AI data-center chip in about five years. GameStop Corp : Reported a 14% drop in fourth-quarter revenue, struggling with digital shift; signed ...

TOP NEWS Amazon says AWS' Bahrain region "disrupted" following drone activity, second time this month. Jefferies shares surge 10% on report of Japan's SMFG preparing for potential buyout. Broadcom flags supply constraints, says TSMC capacity a bottleneck due to soaring AI chip demand. Google fends off news publishers' antitrust lawsuit over online search. Estee Lauder in talks to merge with Jean Paul Gaultier-owner Puig in fragrance push. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures edged lower as Middle East tensions weighed despite Trump delaying strikes on Iran. Investors awaiting S&P Global's business activity gauge and Fed Governor Michael Barr's comments. Dollar firmed on mixed geopolitical signals and skepticism over Middle East resolution. Oil prices rose on supply fears. Gold was little changed. European stocks were muted, digesting conflicting Middle East signals and energy shock concerns. Asian markets mixed; Japanese shares...

TOP NEWS OpenAI sweetens private equity deal, outbidding Anthropic, to form joint ventures for capital and enterprise AI adoption. Broadcasters urge EU to designate Google, Amazon, Apple, and Samsung's smart TVs and virtual assistants as "gatekeepers" under tough tech rules due to market power. Elon Musk states SpaceX and Tesla will build two advanced chip factories in Austin for cars, humanoid robots, and space AI data centers. Pentagon to adopt Palantir’s Maven AI system as a core U.S. military program of record, ensuring long-term use for weapons targeting. An Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia, killing both pilots, injuring dozens, and closing the airport. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures fell due to intensified Middle East conflict, higher oil prices, and repriced expectations for U.S. interest rate cuts. Gold slid over 5% to a four-month low, impacted by inflation concerns and rising global interest rates...

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TOP NEWS NHTSA deepens probe into Tesla's driver-assistance system : U.S. auto safety regulator deepened probe into Tesla's driver-assistance system. Evaluating effectiveness in identifying degraded road conditions after nine crashes, including one fatal. EXCLUSIVE-DOJ antitrust head says Paramount–Warner Bros deal review is not political : DOJ antitrust head states Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery will not get fast-track approval due to political factors. EXCLUSIVE-Airbus seeks Pratt & Whitney damages over engine delays, sources say : Airbus is pursuing potential damages from Pratt & Whitney due to late engine shipments, impacting aircraft production. Hegseth wants Pentagon to dump Anthropic's Claude, but military users say it's not so easy : Pentagon staffers reluctant to give up Anthropic’s AI tools, viewing them as superior, despite orders to remove them. Apple's China smartphone sales jump 23% to start 2026, b...

TOP NEWS Fed likely to hold rates steady; Iran conflict impacts policy debate. Meta repeatedly failed to stop illegal financial ads in Britain. Josh D'Amaro steps up as Disney's new CEO amid profound change. Nvidia gets Beijing's approval for H200 chip sales, adapting Groq chip for China. Amazon CEO expects AI to double AWS sales projections to $600 billion by 2036. BEFORE THE BELL Global markets await Federal Reserve policy decision, focusing on economic projections and rate forecasts. Risk policymakers may no longer signal rate cuts this year. U.S. stock index futures edged higher, supported by oil price pullback. European shares rose for a third straight session. Dollar held steady, gold prices eased. Japan’s Nikkei surged on chip and AI-related stocks. South Korean shares jumped 5% after reform pledges. Producer prices data expected to show 0.3% rise in February. STOCKS TO WATCH Advanced Micro Devices : Samsung and AMD expand partnership for AI memo...

TOP NEWS US 'transitory' inflation turns five: Worst U.S. inflation outbreak in a generation continues, driving policy debates and frustrating Federal Reserve. Nvidia bets on AI inference: Revenue opportunity for AI chips could reach $1 trillion by 2027, as Nvidia targets real-time AI systems. Amazon launches 1-hour shipping: Rolling out speedy delivery in US cities to compete with Walmart, offering 1-hour and 3-hour options. Uber, Nvidia plan robotaxi rollout: Deploying robotaxis with Nvidia's autonomous driving software in 28 cities globally by 2028, starting 2027. Google in talks with China's Envicool: Exploring purchases of liquid cooling systems for data centers from Chinese firms amid tight supply. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock futures: Slid as oil neared $100/barrel, heightening inflation concerns before Federal Reserve meeting. Oil: Hovered near $100 per barrel amid Middle East tensions. European shares: Slightly up, limited by Middle East confl...

TOP NEWS U.S. Federal Reserve to update outlook, debating Iran conflict's impact on growth, inflation, or both. European publishers and tech firms urge EU to fine Google over search favoritism. Meta planning sweeping layoffs, potentially 20%+, to offset AI infrastructure costs. U.S. and China near managed trade, agriculture deals in Paris ahead of Xi-Trump summit. Warner Bros' Oscar win overshadowed by looming $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures edged higher, Meta shares led gains, but crude prices tempered risk appetite. Dollar retreated from 10-month highs amid central bank meetings and U.S.-Israel war on Iran. Gold prices slipped on concerns rising oil could fuel inflation, prompting hawkish central banks. Europe’s STOXX 600 edged lower due to Middle East war economic fallout. Nikkei closed lower for third straight session on geopolitical tensions, rising energy prices, and weaker yen. STOCKS TO WATCH Alphabet I...

TOP NEWS US eases sanctions on Russian oil (30-day waiver) to address energy prices inflated by Iran war. Adobe shares drop after CEO Shantanu Narayen steps down, raising AI-disruption concerns. Nvidia to focus on competition-beating AI advances at its megaconference, revealing new products and partnerships. Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh's room to loosen monetary policy may be disappearing due to a war-clouded outlook and persistent oil price shock. Starbucks may be neglecting labor dispute risks, according to shareholder proxy firms. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures subdued amid Middle East conflict, stoking price pressures and complicating Fed policy. Investors tracking private-credit market and awaiting PCE inflation and U.S. GDP data. Oil prices extended climb, on track for strong weekly gains, as Middle East war disruptions outweighed supply easing measures. Dollar on course for second weekly gain; energy-sensitive currencies (euro, yen) slid. ...

TOP NEWS Six vessels attacked in Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, one crew member killed. US opens unfair-trade probes into industrial capacity and forced labor. Software companies, including Oracle, refute claims that AI will cause their demise. Anthropic seeks appeals court stay after Pentagon designated it a supply-chain risk. Lilly warns of health risks from impurities in compounded weight-loss drugs. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures fell as oil prices surged, intensifying inflation concerns. Oil prices jumped over 5% due to increased Iranian attacks in the Middle East. Dollar strengthened; gold prices stable as rate-cut bets dampened. Inflation jitters and risk-off mood impacted global markets, including Europe and Asia. STOCKS TO WATCH Blackstone Inc: Anthropic in talks with Blackstone for an AI-focused joint venture. Blue Owl Capital Inc: Allegations of obscuring portfolio weaknesses in private credit funds. Bumble Inc: Q4 revenue beat estimates, shares soar...

TOP NEWS IEA to recommend huge release of strategic oil stocks (over 100 million barrels) due to Iran war. JPMorgan marks down value of private credit loan portfolios, citing deteriorating credit quality. Oracle rallies on strong revenue forecast, easing concerns over AI investments. Morgan Stanley hires contract staff in Hong Kong for surging stock listings. Eli Lilly to invest $3 billion in China for supply chain and weight loss pill production. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures : Subdued in choppy trading, awaiting inflation report amidst Middle East tensions. Oil prices : Rebounded, questioning IEA's reserve release impact on Middle East supply shocks. Dollar : Recovered after early wobble. Gold prices : Steadied as tempered rate cut expectations offset safe-haven demand. European shares : Fell due to Middle East war economic fallout and mixed corporate updates. Asian markets : Higher; Japanese shares rose, Chinese equities firmer (defense and new energy s...

TOP NEWS Elon Musk's SpaceX weighs Nasdaq listing, potentially biggest IPO ever. Markets bet on quick end to Iran war despite threats. Bill Ackman's Pershing Square files for US IPO. AT&T to invest $250 billion over five years in US infrastructure. Exxon Mobil seeks to reincorporate in Texas from New Jersey. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures tick up on hopes for Middle East de-escalation. Oil prices plummet over 6%, retreating from high; dollar takes breather. Gold prices rise as inflation concerns ease. European and Asian shares bounce back on improved risk appetite. STOCKS TO WATCH Agilent Technologies Inc: Acquires Biocare Medical for $950M, expecting revenue growth and profitability lift. Apple Inc: German publishers and advertisers call for fine over app tracking rule changes. Archer Aviation Inc & Joby Aviation Inc: Archer countersues Joby, alleging fraud and hidden China ties; Joby previously sued Archer for trade secret theft. AT...

TOP NEWS Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling hardliner control and likely prolonging the Middle East conflict; oil prices soared. A summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping is unlikely to reset business and investment ties. Live Nation Entertainment is reportedly close to settling a federal antitrust lawsuit without selling Ticketmaster. Hims & Hers' shares jumped after reports of a partnership with Novo Nordisk for weight-loss drugs, potentially ending a legal dispute. U.S. President Donald Trump met defense executives to boost production amidst U.S. strikes on Iran. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures tumbled due to escalating Middle East conflict, increasing investor caution and strengthening the dollar. Crude oil climbed to a mid-2022 high, driven by supply curbs and fears of shipping disruptions from the widening conflict. Gold eased as a stronger dollar outweighed safe-haven demand; rising energy costs add...

TOP NEWS Slower US job growth expected in February; unemployment rate forecast steady at 4.3% Pentagon designates Anthropic a supply chain risk U.S. mulls new rules for AI chip exports, including requiring U.S. investments by foreign firms White House to press defense firms to boost production as U.S. strikes on Iran draw down stockpiles xAI loses bid to halt California AI data disclosure law BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock index futures slipped due to escalating Middle East conflict, inflation fears, ahead of jobs report Europe’s STOXX 600 down, weakest weekly performance in nearly a year Japanese shares marked steepest weekly drop in almost a year; South Korean shares with biggest drop in six years Crude oil prices poised for sharpest weekly increase since Feb 2022 due to Middle East conflict blocking Strait of Hormuz Dollar little changed but headed for steepest gain in over a year; gold edged up on safe-haven demand STOCKS TO WATCH Amazon.com Inc: Resolved an hours-lo...

TOP NEWS Global oil and gas shipping costs surge as Iran vows to close Strait of Hormuz due to intensifying U.S.-Iran conflict. Importers seeking over $130 billion in tariff refunds are filing ~2,000 lawsuits at the U.S. Court of International Trade. State, Treasury, and Health and Human Services departments switched to OpenAI, phasing out Anthropic's AI products. Paramount's $110 billion Warner Bros deal is likely to secure FCC backing, according to the FT. Ticketmaster and Live Nation's antitrust trial began in New York over alleged market domination. BEFORE THE BELL U.S. stock futures fell sharply due to widening Middle East conflict. Crude oil benchmarks rose more than $4, marking a third day of gains on supply disruption concerns. The dollar extended gains from safe-haven flows; a stronger dollar weighed on gold prices. Europe shares slumped over 3% as global equities rout deepened. Asian markets were down, with Japanese stocks tumbling and Chinese equiti...