Stock Markets

Daily coverage of equity markets, sectors, and major indices.

In-depth reporting on U.S. and global stock markets, including index performance, sector rotation, earnings reactions, volatility trends, and notable single-stock moves. Designed to help traders and investors understand what is driving price action across equities.

Articles

3,837 total articles

Citi Reorients Global Allocations, Shifts U.S. Weight Toward Small Caps

Citi Reorients Global Allocations, Shifts U.S. Weight Toward Small Caps

Citi's February 2026 House Views note says liquidity remains supportive of risk assets, but rising concerns about artificial intelligence have prompted the bank to adopt hedges. The firm stays overweight equities overall, reallocates half of its U.S. exposure into small caps, trims China and adjusts sector weights away from megacap growth toward in…

HSBC Lowers Walmart Rating Citing Cautious Full-Year Guidance

HSBC Lowers Walmart Rating Citing Cautious Full-Year Guidance

HSBC downgraded Walmart to 'hold' from 'buy' after the retailer issued cautious full-year guidance. While quarterly results met expectations, management described the forecast as conservative amid a list of potential macro and operational risks, and near-term momentum is expected to be limited, according to HSBC analysts.

LyondellBasell trims Q1 dividend as chemicals slump persists

LyondellBasell trims Q1 dividend as chemicals slump persists

LyondellBasell said it will cut its first-quarter dividend to 69 cents per share, citing one of the longest downturns in the chemicals industry. The company said it returned about $2 billion to shareholders in 2025 from existing cash and operations and reiterated a commitment to return 70% of free cash flow through the cycle while prioritizing safe…

LyondellBasell Cuts Quarterly Dividend Nearly in Half as Cash Flow Tightens

LyondellBasell Cuts Quarterly Dividend Nearly in Half as Cash Flow Tightens

LyondellBasell Industries said it will reduce its quarterly dividend from $1.37 to $0.69 per share, a 49.6 percent cut that trims the annual payout to $2.76. The dividend will be paid on March 9 to holders of record on March 2, with an ex-dividend date of Feb. 27. Management and analysts cited strained cash flows, the broader chemicals downturn and…

U.S. Futures Tick Up as Investors Eye Inflation Data; Nvidia, Alibaba, Dropbox Slide in Premarket

U.S. Futures Tick Up as Investors Eye Inflation Data; Nvidia, Alibaba, Dropbox Slide in Premarket

U.S. stock futures rose modestly in premarket trading as investors took a cautious stance ahead of important inflation and growth reports, while individual equities moved on company-specific news. Chipmaker Nvidia dipped slightly, several Chinese ADRs declined after a Pentagon list reference, and a range of other stocks reacted to earnings, guidanc…

BofA Lifts Year-End Targets for TOPIX and Nikkei 225 After Strong Q3 Results

BofA Lifts Year-End Targets for TOPIX and Nikkei 225 After Strong Q3 Results

Bank of America has increased its year-end targets for Japan’s key equity indices, citing stronger-than-expected third-quarter corporate results and a macro-political backdrop that supports further gains. The bank now forecasts TOPIX at 4,100 and the Nikkei 225 at 61,000 by year-end, while signaling expectations for additional guidance upgrades and…

UBS Sees Early Signs of Recovery in UK Equities but Urges Selectivity

UBS Sees Early Signs of Recovery in UK Equities but Urges Selectivity

UBS strategists identify tentative recovery signals in the UK equity market driven by improvements in banks and consumer goods. Despite recent outperformance from large caps and a rebound in the FTSE 250, UBS warns the market is an "optional" destination for global capital and recommends stock selection focused on buybacks, dividends and underowned…

Besi Climbs After Morgan Stanley Flags Pullback as Buying Opportunity

Besi Climbs After Morgan Stanley Flags Pullback as Buying Opportunity

Shares of BE Semiconductor Industries regained ground on Friday, rising more than 4% after Morgan Stanley reiterated its bullish view following a guidance-related selloff. The Dutch equipment maker reported results and guidance broadly in line with expectations, but a lack of upside prompted an earlier 7.5% one-day drop. Morgan Stanley kept its inv…

Piper Sandler Urges Caution After Recent Market Rally

Piper Sandler Urges Caution After Recent Market Rally

Piper Sandler is advising investors to exercise restraint following a constructive but fragile market rebound. The firm highlights that key indexes remain below their 50-day moving averages, momentum measures are cooling, and recent gains have shown limited follow-through. Energy stands out as a relative leader, supported by crude oil's setup near …

Nvidia Earnings and Software Reports Loom as Next Tests for an AI-Sensitive Market

Nvidia Earnings and Software Reports Loom as Next Tests for an AI-Sensitive Market

The market is bracing for Nvidia’s fiscal fourth-quarter report and a slate of software earnings that could shape sentiment for AI-exposed stocks. Nvidia’s results and CEO commentary are in focus after heavy gains in recent years, while software firms face pressure amid concerns that artificial intelligence will disrupt their business models. Broad…

U.S. Equity Funds Post Largest Weekly Inflow Since Mid-January

U.S. Equity Funds Post Largest Weekly Inflow Since Mid-January

Investors poured a net $11.77 billion into U.S. equity funds in the week to February 18, marking the biggest weekly inflow since January 14, as a cooler consumer price inflation report lifted hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts and eased pressure on technology stocks. Bond funds and money market instruments also drew substantial capital, extending …