All articles tagged with #markets
U.S. stock futures were little changed overnight as investors weighed a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire and awaited the March CPI inflation report; Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 futures edged up while Dow futures hovered near flat, with oil prices modestly higher and BlackRock earnings in focus for the next session.
Snowflake (SNOW) fell Thursday as AI-disruption fears and a softer U.S. growth backdrop pressured the software space; the piece notes competition from new AI agents eroding pricing power for legacy SaaS and macro data showing GDP growth at 0.5% in Q4 2025. SNOW traded around $134.49, well below its 20- and 100-day moving averages, with the RSI near oversold, indicating ongoing bearish momentum.
Investors kept a wary eye on a fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire as stock futures stayed muted, while oil rose on Hormuz bottlenecks and traders awaited the March CPI data. Gold eased amid a firmer dollar and inflation concerns, with economists expecting the headline CPI to rise on higher energy prices and core inflation to advance more moderately, likely shaping the Fed’s near-term stance.
U.S. stocks opened higher after March inflation data largely met expectations, with the Dow up slightly and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbing as investors weighed Iran-war tensions and the ceasefire’s stability.
Market-watch notes Fundstrat’s Tom Lee says three signs point to a stock bottom being in: a sharp VIX drop below 20, continued rally on less-bad news, and an improving sentiment despite geopolitical risk. He cites historical cases where VIX >30 preceded a >15% oil drop and a sub-20 VIX, which produced median six‑month gains around 9%, suggesting the S&P 500 could reach about 7,400 in coming months as the uptrend persists.
Asia-Pacific equities mostly rose as investors weighed a fragile two-week US-Iran ceasefire that kept oil prices volatile, with WTI and Brent climbing roughly 1.7–1.8% on tensions around the Strait of Hormuz; Japan announced an oil-reserve release, while U.S. stocks finished higher on the session.
Software stocks are under renewed pressure as the IGV ETF tests a key technical support level; a BTIG strategist warns that repeated tests increase the odds of a breakdown, with high‑profile names like Okta, Snowflake, Zscaler, Palantir and ServiceNow down sharply, suggesting the sector could fall further even as broader tech dynamics remain mixed (semiconductors showing strength while software underperforms).
Micron Technology and peers jumped on news of a U.S.-Iran cease-fire as UBS analysts forecast memory prices to stay elevated into late 2027. DDR memory rose about 95% and NAND up ~80% in Q1, with further Q2 gains of roughly 37% and 40% expected, supported by potential long-term supply agreements that could stabilize prices amid steady demand for AI infrastructure.
Applied Digital fell about 8% after a Q3 beat, as investors weighed low-margin segment results and awaited major customer wins; analysts remain positive on execution and near-term lease potential with hyperscalers, with Needham maintaining a Buy rating and a $41 target, while potential Ready-for-Service dates and CRWV credit upgrades could improve the cost of capital.
Oil prices rose again while stocks gave back some big gains as investors weighed doubts about a potential Iran ceasefire; across Asia-Pacific, markets mostly fell (Nikkei -0.7%, Kospi -1.6%, Hang Seng -0.5%, Shanghai -0.7%), Australia’s ASX 200 rose ~0.2%, and currencies moved with the dollar strengthening vs the yen (around 158.98) while the euro hovered near $1.168.
Asia-Pacific stocks fell as investors weighed a fragile Iran-U.S. ceasefire deal, with major indices in Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong and India lower, while Brent and WTI crude rose on geopolitical tensions. In the U.S., stocks surged after Trump announced a two-week halt to attacks, lifting the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq as traders await a workable negotiation framework.
Traders have increasingly embraced the 'TACO' trade (Trump Always Chickens Out) as geopolitical selling wanes and markets grow more confident, raising questions about what happens if markets stop constraining Trump.
Micron shares advance in premarket trading after KeyBanc boosts optimism on longer-term memory deals and pricing for DRAM/NAND, with analysts predicting higher memory prices and strong demand despite near-term competition from SK Hynix. Investors are awaiting Micron’s June 24, 2026 earnings report; the stock holds a Buy consensus with an average target near $516, and MU remains a heavyweight in major ETFs, contributing to the upside backdrop.
SpaceX, possibly merging with xAI and led by Elon Musk, could command a $1.75–$2 trillion IPO that may reshape the S&P 500 and draw investment away from the Magnificent Seven. While SpaceX’s moat spans reusable rockets, Starlink, and AI data-center capabilities, the piece cautions against buying on day one and suggests waiting for post-launch dynamics or gaining exposure through broader indices. A June 2026 launch window is floated, with investors weighing whether to chase the hype or wait for a clearer path to value.
U.S. stocks climbed as investors priced in signals of de-escalation in the Middle East, lifting the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Tech names rallied thanks to Nvidia-backed bets and a large Coreweave loan for AI infra, while energy led gains and February job openings fell, leaving markets on track for a weaker monthly finish despite broader gains.