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.
25,409 total articles
Iran and the United States are engaged in talks centered on ensuring that Iran's nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment, are and remain peaceful, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. Tehran has not offered to suspend its nuclear program, and Washington has not sought a full stop to enrichment, Araghchi added. Both sides are repor…
J.P. Morgan continues to rate Heidelberg Materials and Holcim as top European cement names, contending that each firm's scale, investments in carbon reduction and demonstrated pricing discipline should preserve profitability even under a more pessimistic EU carbon-price scenario. The bank’s work indicates modest cumulative price increases across th…
Two leading sell-side firms lowered their ratings or price targets on Reliance Inc., citing deteriorating gross margins, aluminum volatility and a valuation that may not leave room for upside. J.P. Morgan set a December 2026 target of $330 while BMO trimmed its target to $320. Both analysts acknowledged Reliance's market-share gains, counter-cyclic…
Organon & Co. shares climbed 6% on Friday morning after the company's audit committee, with outside counsel support, completed an independent review and concluded there was no improper conduct related to prior biosimilar purchases from a supplier. The committee reported the review did not identify any issues requiring adjustments to previously issu…
Barclays has begun coverage of U.S. large-cap biopharmaceuticals with a Neutral stance, identifying Eli Lilly, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AbbVie as its top picks. The bank cites improved policy clarity after most-favored-nation agreements, demographic and healthcare spending trends, and AI-driven productivity gains as reasons the sector could …
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.
J.P. Morgan has shifted to a more cautious view on European utilities, warning that possible changes to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) present a nearer-term threat to sector cash flows than power market restructuring. The bank also highlights tepid power demand growth and incremental LNG supply as additional pressures through 2026. Its prefe…
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 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. 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…
Several firms planning U.S. initial public offerings in 2026 have reduced deal sizes, postponed launches or withdrawn listings as market swings and intensified valuation scrutiny weigh on the pipeline. Notable cases include Clear Street, Agibank and Liftoff Mobile. Analysts see higher IPO volume this year but warn that recent selloffs, particularly…
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…
Britain's foreign secretary will hold talks in Washington with the U.S. Secretary of State amid a renewed flare-up over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and the continued operation of the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia. The dispute follows a sovereignty transfer agreed by London last year and a string of contradictory comments from the U.S…
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…
Futures tied to Canada’s primary stock gauge rose on Friday after the S&P/TSX composite recorded a fresh record close. Strength in gold and energy underpinned gains in materials and energy sectors, while traders awaited key U.S. data on inflation and GDP and monitored strains in private credit markets.
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 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 …
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…
Deutsche Bank has moved Telecom Italia and its savings shares from 'buy' to 'hold' after the stock climbed roughly 40% since early October. The bank raised its target prices slightly but said the recent rally has already absorbed much of the upside tied to spectrum expiries and an anticipated free cash flow recovery.
UBS upgraded St. James's Place Plc to a 'buy' rating from 'neutral' while trimming its 12-month price target to 1,465p from 1,565p, citing earnings growth prospects and valuation support but incorporating potential disruption from AI-driven products into lower gross flow assumptions. The bank models a range of AI sensitivity scenarios that produce …
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 …
Indian equities ended the Friday session in positive territory, with the Nifty 50 rising 0.46% and the BSE Sensex climbing 0.38%. Strength in Power, Capital Goods and Metals helped lift key names such as Hindalco, NTPC and Larsen & Toubro, while IT heavyweights recorded declines. Volatility as measured by the India VIX ticked higher and commodities…
Jefferies upgraded ThyssenKrupp AG from hold to buy and increased its price target to €13 from €12.50, pointing to recent restructuring progress and updated earnings projections. The broker raised its 2026 and 2027 adjusted EBIT forecasts, adjusted EBITDA expectations and flagged the value of the company’s tk Elevator stake as part of a sum-of-the-…
Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett argues that global equities are unlikely to climb much higher from current lofty valuations unless two outside events occur: a normalization in the Middle East that secures oil supplies and collapses prices, and a U.S.-China trade détente led by a Trump-Xi deal in April that lowers tariffs and lifts polit…
UBS retains an Attractive view on U.S. equities and projects the S&P 500 will reach 7,700 by December 2026, with an interim target of 7,300 for June 2026. The bank highlights solid earnings growth, expected Fed easing, and the rollout of AI as supporting factors while flagging risks from heavy AI-related data-center spending and more external f…
