DAILY UPDATE: Data Breach Up, Novo Nordisk Down as Stock Markets Stumble

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You might be affected by one of the biggest data breaches ever and not even know it. A recent class action lawsuit filed against Jerico Pictures Inc., a background check company that does business under the name National Public Data, claims that the company was breached by hackers earlier this year.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The SPX dipped 40.5 points (0.8%) to 5,199.5; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) fell 234.2 points (0.6%) to 38,763.45 the NASDAQ Composite ($COMP) fell 171 points (1.1%) to 16,195.8. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose to 3.96%.
  • The Cboe Volatility Index® (VIX) inched up to 27.8, still very elevated.

What’s Up

What’s down

  • Super Micro Computer dropped 20.14% thanks to an earnings miss, as well as the announcement of a 10-for-1 stock split.
  • AirBnB tumbled 13.38% after not only missing analyst estimates last quarter, but warning of slowing demand in the coming quarter.
  • Lyft drove 17.23% lower in spite of strong ridership in the second quarter. Shareholders, however, did not like management’s dour financial forecast for the third quarter.
  • CVS Health sank 3.19% after it slashed its profit guidance for the full year, though it also announced a new cost-cutting program.
  • TripAdvisor took a trip south today, falling 16.61% due to a mixed earnings report and dire warnings of lower revenue in the coming quarter.
  • Amgen stumbled 5% after the biotech company missed Wall Street forecasts in the second quarter.

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Novo Nordisk sales thinned on Ozempic earnings miss. Shares of Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk sank 8.27% today after the company missed expectations on its sales of popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo reported $1.7 billion in Wegovy sales, below the $2 billion analysts expected, while Ozempic sales came in $0.2 billion lower than analyst estimates. Overall, the company reported a net profit of $1.86 billion in the second quarter.

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Stock Markets, Magnificent 7, Nikkei and DuckDuckGo

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Stock Markets seesawed up yesterday, making back some of the ground lost to Monday’s sell-off. Analysts say the market could remain volatile until September, when the Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates—barring an emergency cut before then. One of the day’s big winners was Uber, which revved up after smashing Q2 revenue expectations thanks to unexpectedly strong consumer demand.

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One day after the S&P 500’s worst session since 2022, stocks partially rebounded, putting fears of a recession on hold. Tuesday started well, with Japan’s Nikkei—which had cratered on Monday—logging its best day since 2008, giving US investors some positive energy From there, US stocks, including Magnificent Seven stalwarts like Microsoft and Nvidia, and both major cryptocurrencies, moved up. “Get used to the volatility,” one Bank of America analyst told Bloomberg. The S&P 500 is still up over 10% this year despite this week’s turbulence.

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Finally, DuckDuckGo might soon get its time to shine. A federal judge just ruled that Google has a monopoly over the search engine business, creating the potential for curbs to its power that could change how you look up people you just met online. Google said it will appeal the ruling, but that’s just on one front. It faces another lawsuit questioning whether it abused its monopoly on online advertising technology.

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DAILY UPDATE: New Coronavirus Variant and Stock Markets Both Up

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Health tech startup Guidehealth, which assists health systems with value-based care coordination, has raised $14 million in its seed round to make further investments in technology.


Clover Health reported a net income of $7.2 million during the second quarter and raised its full-year guidance.


And … Tenet Healthcare is selling five Alabama hospitals to Orlando Health and is entering into a new revenue cycle management arrangement through Conifer Health Solution

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What’s up

What’s down

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Here’s where the major stock market benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index (SPX) rose 53.7 points (1%) to 5,240.03; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) climbed 294.39 points (0.76%) to 38,997.66; the NASDAQ Composite ($COMP) advanced 166.77 points (1%) to 16,366,85.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) increased about 10 basis points to 3.88%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) ended at 27.7, well above lows below 11 last month.

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A new coronavirus variant named KP.3.1.1 has risen to dominance in the U.S., almost doubling in prevalence in just two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Experts are warning that the new variant—which, as of August 3, accounts for more than 1 in 4 U.S. COVID-19 cases—is “more of a challenge” to our immune systems compared to previous variants.

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DAILY UPDATE: Google Monopoly, Mag 7 Still Down as VIX “Fear Index” Rises and Stock Markets Plunge!

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A federal judge ruled that Google engaged in illegal practices to preserve its search engine monopoly, delivering a major antitrust victory to the Justice Department in its effort to rein in Silicon Valley technology giants. Google, which performs about 90 percent of the world’s internet searches, exploited its market dominance to stomp out competitors, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta said in the long-awaited ruling.

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Stat: $900 billion. That’s the potential market value loss of the Magnificent Seven tech companies as investors shed tech stocks. The selloff comes as investors are looking for safer bets in the event of a recession. (Reuters)

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index tanked 160.23 points (–3.00%) to 5,186.33; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) plunged 1,033.99 points (–2.60%) to 38,703.27; the NASDAQ Composite plummeted 576.08 points (–3.43%) to 16,200.08.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) dropped to 3.78%, the lowest close since June 2023.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) ended at 37.04, a four-year high but well-off intraday peaks above 60.

Today, the VIX reached levels not seen since early 2020 during the pandemic panic. This type of volatility can suggest oversold conditions. A higher VIX, sometimes called the “fear index,” reflects uncertainty and can suggest quicker, more intense market swings.

What’s up

What’s down

  • Apple stumbled 4.82% after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathway revealed it has cut its position in the tech company by nearly 50%.
  • Nvidia fell 6.36% after a report this weekend revealed that its brand new chips will be delayed by three months or more due to design flaws.
  • Tesla sank 4.23% due to concerns about the auto maker’s global growth, despite Elon Musk’s recent positivity.
  • Intel continued to crumble, sliding 6.38% as the after-effects of its terrible second-quarter earnings report continue to be felt.
  • Bitcoin-related stocks plummeted today as cryptocurrencies were unable to avoid a major selloff. Coinbase plunged 7.32%, while MicroStrategy dropped 9.60%, and even Robinhood tumbled 8.17%.

Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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DAILY UPDATE: Wells Fargo and Record Stock Market Sell Off

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® (SPX) index dropped 100.12 points (-1.8%) to 5,346.56, and finished down 2.1% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) dropped 610.71 points (-1.5%) to 39,737.26, and finished down 2.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP) fell 417.98 points (-2.4%) to 16,776.16, and ended down 3.4% for the week.  
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell to 3.79%, the lowest close since last December 27.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) rose to 23.66, the highest close since March 2023 after topping 29, a nearly two-year high, intraday.

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What’s up

What’s down

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Wells Fargo wealth management client is suing the company for alleged breach of fiduciary duty related to its cash sweep program, which pays customers interest rates as low as 0.05% on their uninvested cash.

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DAILY UPDATE: Intel, Colon Cancer, Fewer Cardiologists and UnitedHealth Tactics as the Stock Markets Tank!

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Stat: $895. That’s the out-of-pocket cost for a blood test that screens for colon cancer, which may receive more widespread insurance coverage now that it has FDA approval. (CNBC)

Quote: “There’s no question that the health statistics of rural America are worse than the health statistics of more urban America.”—Robert Harrington, a cardiologist and dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, on the lack of cardiologists in rural parts of the US (the Washington Post)

Read: Critics say that UnitedHealth has used questionable tactics and exploitation to achieve dominance in healthcare. (Stat)

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Intel is slashing 15% of its staff as part of a $10 billion plan to reduce costs, the tech company announced in its second-quarter earnings Thursday.

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What’s up

What’s down

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DAILY UPDATE: Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS and Blood Drops as Technology Stock Rise

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Five years after Theranos went dark, a couple of startups have managed to develop the futuristic tech, according to the Wall Street Journal.

  • Becton Dickinson developed a finger-prick device to collect drops of blood.
  • Babson Diagnostics made a machine that analyzes blood obtained through Becton’s device. It runs routine tests that you’d get at the doctor with one-tenth of the amount of blood that a traditional vein collection requires.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® (SPX) index climbed 85.86 points (1.6%) to 5,522.30; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) rose 99.46 points (0.2%) to 40,842.79; the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP) added 451.98 points (2.6%) to 17,599.40.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) dropped four basis points to just under 4.11%. 
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell to 16.36.

What’s up

  • Starbucks rose 2.65% despite missing sales forecasts, with shareholders instead focusing on bullish business projections from management.
  • Boeing ascended 2.05% in a surprise turnaround after announcing subpar earnings. Investors are enthusiastic about the appointment of Robert Ortberg as the new CEO.
  • Match Group swiped right 13.21% after the company announced plans to reduce headcount in order to help offset lower subscriber numbers.
  • DuPont rallied 4.10% as the chemical company’s turnaround plans seem to be bearing fruit.
  • Arista Networks soared 11.32% thanks to high demand from AI users for the company’s data centers.
  • AutoNation revved 6.30% higher due to impressive growth in spite of a massive car dealership cyberattack earlier this year.

What’s down

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Rite Aid has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since October and has closed nearly 700 locations. CVS (CVS) and Walgreens (WBA) have managed to stay solvent, but both companies have been closing stores as well.

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DAILY UPDATE: Healthcare Costs, Lobbyists and Private Equity as Technology Drowns

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In the second quarter, 14 healthcare organizations spent more than a million dollars lobbying the federal government for healthcare policy change, led by the American Hospital Association and AARP.

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Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) introduced strengthened legislation to rein in the actions of private equity firms that invest in healthcare facilities. The Health Over Wealth Act would require PE firms to put out reports on the facilities’ pay of executives, set up escrow accounts and receive a license from the Department of Health & Human Services prior to investing in healthcare facilities.

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The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting ending tomorrow is widely expected to conclude with no interest rate move. Instead, it could serve as a platform to help prepare market participants for a possible cut at the September meeting.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® (SPX) index lost 27.1 points (–0.5%) to 5,436.44; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) climbed 203.4 points (0.5%) to 40,743.33; the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP) fell 222.78 points (–1.3%) to 17,147.42. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) dropped about two basis points to 4.14%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) jumped to 17.77, not far below last week’s highs.

What’s up

  • Paypal popped 8.59% after announcing impressive earnings and proving it’s got nothing to fear from Apple’s moves into the online payment world.
  • JetBlue Airways soared 12.31% thanks to a surprise profit last quarter rather than the loss analysts expected.
  • Affirm Holdings rose 2.31% due to an upgrade from “neutral” to “buy” from Bank of America analysts.
  • Tenable Holdings surged 9.30% after the cybersecurity company made it clear it’s willing to take acquisition offers.
  • F5 jumped 12.99% thanks to a beat-and-raise earnings report.

What’s down

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Visualize: A key measure of employer healthcare costs is poised for its biggest annual increase in more than a decade as more people use mental health care and get prescriptions for new, expensive drugs—yes, including Ozempic—according to a new PwC report.

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DAILY UPDATE: Bank Debt and Flat Stock Markets

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® (SPX) index rose 4.44 points (0.1%) to 5,463.54; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) slipped 49.41 points (–0.1%) to 40,539.93; the NASDAQ Composite®($COMP) gained 12.32 points (0.1%) to close at 17,370.20. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell roughly five basis points to just under 4.18%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) finished nearly steady but still elevated at 16.59.

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What’s up

What’s down

  • Abbott Laboratories sank 0.45% after it was ordered to pay $495 million in damages for failing to warn of the risks to premature infants drinking its formula, a far higher number than analysts expected. Shares of its peer Reckitt Benckiser fell 8.65% in sympathy.
  • Arm Holdings slipped 5.07% after an HSBC analyst downgraded the company due to its sky-high valuation.
  • Heineken fell 8.18% thanks to slower beer sales in key markets, as well as the poor performance of its investment in Chinese brewer CR Beer.
  • Loews slid 1.47% due to an announcement that CEO James Tisch will step down after 25 years at the helm.
  • 3M dropped 1.56%, falling back to Earth after the stock enjoyed its best day of trading ever last Friday.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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DAILY UPDATE: Technology Stocks

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A magnificent earnings week is on tap: Four of the Magnificent Seven—Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple—will drop their reports throughout this week.

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Technology stocks were down last week but investors are encouraged by signs that 2024’s rally—which had been underpinned by a handful of Big Tech companies—is spreading to a broader swath of the market. For instance, the industrial focused Dow Jones Industrial Average has gained for four straight weeks, and the small-cap Russell 3000 is now up 14% this year. All eyes will be on the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting and the busiest earnings week of the season.

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Donald Trump pledges to make the US “the crypto capital of the planet.” The former president pitched himself as the pro-crypto candidate in a keynote speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville. He told the audience that, if elected, he’d fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler (whom the crypto community accuses of waging a war on crypto) and install regulators friendly to digital tokens. He also said he’d create a strategic national crypto stockpile as part of a plan to make the US the “bitcoin superpower of the world.”

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Consider two numbers: $568.34 and $60.09. The first is Zoom’s highest closing stock price, from October 2020; the second is its stock price today. That’s an 89% decline, caused by more workers heading back into the office (even Zoom employees) and competition from rival products by Microsoft and Google.

Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE: 30 “Blue Chip” Stock Index Update

By Staff Reporters

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a collection of 30 “blue-chip” U.S. stocks. Blue chip = big, established, and influential companies like Microsoft, JPMorgan, Disney, and McDonald’s. The Dow recently updated its roster, swapping ExxonMobil, Pfizer, and Raytheon for Salesforce, biotech Amgen, and manufacturing heavyweight Honeywell.

The Dow is weighted by share price, so higher-priced stocks have more influence on the index’s total value. Price-weighting also means that if the price of any stock in the Dow changes by $1, it has the same impact on the index, even though a $1 increase to a stock worth $20 is more significant (relatively) than a $1 change to a stock worth, say, $40.

  • During stock splits—when a company increases its number of outstanding shares and chops prices by the same factor—a company’s influence in the Dow can fall even if their market value doesn’t change. The Dow has some mechanisms to account for stock splits, but they can still lead to a shakeup in the index (like what happened last summer).

At 124 years old, the Dow has had plenty of time to cement its reputation as a leading indicator of the stock market. But with only 30 stocks representing a smattering of U.S. corporate titans, it’s not exactly representative.

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At one point the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 585 points before it sold off later yesterday afternoon, though it wrapped the trading session with a small win. The S&P 500 fought its way into positive territory but struggled to stay there, eventually sinking into negative territory at the end of the day.

As for the NASDAQ, the tech selloff continued to punish the index for most of yesterday afternoon. Treasury yields fell a bit on positive GDP news, though the big PCE [personal consumption expenditures] announcement is the one investors have been waiting for.

Oil popped on a stronger than expected GDP reading, with traders banking on future economic growth and stronger oil demand.

Bitcoin sank a bit yesterday ahead of a major conference that could set the tone for the entire digital asset industry for years to come.

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DAILY UPDATE: Public Companies and the Stock Market Technology Sell-Off

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The S&P 500 and NASDAQ both continued to sink under the weight of a tech selloff today, with semiconductors leading the way down. But even the Dow and Russell 2000, which have been the clear winners of the recent rally, took a beating today as investors assessed what a market rotation really means for them. 10-year Treasury yields bounced from recent lows as investors try to read between the lines of a full week of Fedspeak. Gold and oil both sold off a bit more today, though both remain near recent highs.

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What’s up

What’s down

  • Domino’s Pizza sank 13.42% after it missed earnings expectations last quarter and warned it will open fewer stores for the rest of 2024.
  • Beyond Meat tanked 10.32% on a report from the Wall Street Journal that management is in talks to restructure the company’s debt.
  • Eli Lilly slid another 6.24% as its selloff continues thanks to news that rival Roche Holdings is on its way to developing a weight-loss pill.
  • Nokia dropped 7.05% after posting its worst quarterly sales since 2015. Seems like nobody is buying phones with the shape and durability of a brick any more.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index fell 43.68 points (–0.78%) to 5,544.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) lost 533.06 points (–1.29%) to 40,665.02; the NASDAQ Composite gave up 125.70 points (–0.7%) to 17,871.22.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about four basis points to 4.18%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index climbed sharply to 15.9, its highest close since late April.

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DAILY UPDATE: Delta Airlines with Stock Market Recap

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Americans are traveling in record numbers this summer, but Delta Air Lines said Thursday that it saw second-quarter profit drop 29% due to higher costs and discounting of base-level fares across the industry. The airline is also predicting a lower profit than Wall Street expects for the third quarter.

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Dramatic photos from the aftermath of the Trump shooting.

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  • Markets: Stocks swung upward finishing the week strong. The Dow closed above 40,000 for the second time ever. And, investors expect the stock market to get a jolt of volatility this week following the assassination attempt on former President Trump, and trades linked to his victory in November (such as a rising US dollar) could see an uptick. For example, Trump has fashioned himself into a pro-crypto candidate, and bitcoin spiked above $62,000 after the shooting.
  • Finance: Big banks kicked off the Q2 earnings season, with JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo reporting. Investment banking revenue was up as deals have started coming back, even as continued high interest rates took a toll on their loan and deposit businesses. Wells Fargo, which relies most on the businesses hit by inflation, saw its profit drop year over year. Investors are wary: All three banks’ stock fell.

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Alphabet is close to acquiring cybersecurity startup Wiz, according to the Wall Street Journal. The $23 billion purchase price would be the largest in the company’s history.

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DAILY UPDATE: Corporate Earnings, Oxendine Guilty as Stock Markets Rotate

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Here’s where the major stock market benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) rose 30.81 points (0.5%) to 5,615.35, up 0.9% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) rose 247.15 points (0.6%) to 40,000.90, up 1.6% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) added 115.04 points (0.6%) to 18,398.44, up 0.3% for the week. Both the SPX and $DJI set intraday record highs today.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield closed basically unchanged just below 4.19%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell slightly to 12.49.

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What’s up

  • Trump Media & Technology Group climbed 3.40% as President Biden’s recent stumbles seem to be breathing new life into the stock.
  • Tesla rose 2.99%, nearly recovering from yesterday’s drop over robotaxi delays, despite a UBS analyst downgrading the company to “sell.”
  • Deckers Outdoor recovered 1.14% when the board announced a 6-for-1 stock split just a few days after M Science analysts warned investors away from the company.
  • Array Technologies popped 8.69% thanks to an upgrade from Citi analysts from “neutral” to “buy” citing the company’s strong long-term prospects. Competitor Enphase Energy jumped 6.85% in sympathy.
  • Carvana soared 4.80% after BTIG analysts initiated coverage of the company with a “buy” rating and a price target 7% higher than where shares trade today.
  • Home builder stocks continued their climb today on higher hopes of rate cuts. D.R. Horton rose 2.68%, Builders FirstSource jumped 3.99%, and even Home Depot got in on the action and rose 1.70%.

What’s down

  • AT&T slid 0.21% after Ma Bell announced that hackers had stolen information about virtually every single one of the cell carrier’s customers. Shares of cybersecurity company Snowflake sank 1.74% on the news as well.
  • Delta Air Lines fell another 3.06% as turbulence throughout the airline industry continued to weigh the stock down.
  • Arbor Realty Trust plummeted 17.03% after the Justice Department announced a probe of the company due to improper lending practices.
  • Vita Coco dropped 9.07% thanks to a downgrade to “neutral” from Piper Sandler analysts. Are you telling me that a company that just sells coconut water isn’t actually worth $1.58 billion? Now that’s just vita loco!

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Here’s a list of some corporate earnings announcements next week:

  • Monday: Goldman Sachs, BlackRock.
  • Tuesday: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, PNC Financial Services, and Charles Schwab. We’ll also hear from UnitedHealth Group, Progressive, and J.B. Hunt.
  • Wednesday: ASML, Citizens Bank, Ally Financial, Synchrony Financial, and U.S. Bancorp will wrap up the big financial names. Plus Johnson & Johnson, Kinder Morgan, United Airlines, and Alcoa.
  • Thursday: The busiest day of the week includesNetflix, Domino’s Pizza, Abbott Laboratories, Nokia, D.R. Horton, Intuitive Surgical, and much more.
  • Friday: The week wraps up with American Express, Schlumberger, and Halliburton.

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A federal judge on Friday sentenced former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine to serve three and a half years in prison after Oxendine pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, at a hearing in Atlanta, also ordered Oxendine to pay a $25,000 fine and to share in $760,000 in restitution with Dr. Jeffrey Gallups.

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DAILY UPDATE: Fiduciary Rule with Stock Market Earnings Week

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For last the week, the NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) rose more than 2% while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) popped more than 1.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose more than 1%, closing above 40,000 for the first time ever on Friday.

In the week ahead, highly anticipated earnings results from Nvidia (NVDA) are expected to be the key catalyst for markets. Results from Target (TGT), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), and Lowe’s (LOW) will also be closely tracked by investors.

The week is also expected to be quieter on the economic front, with updates on activity in the manufacturing and services sectors as well as the final reading of consumer sentiment for May on tap. Minutes from the Fed’s May meeting are also expected on Wednesday afternoon.

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The rule, finalized last month by the Labor Department, requires investment advisers to provide “prudent, loyal, honest advice free from overcharges” and avoid recommendations that favor their interests at the expense of their clients. It also updates the definition of an investment advice fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Code. 

Under the new definition, a fiduciary includes any financial services provider who offers investment advice to a retirement investor for a fee and who claims to be acting as a fiduciary or who a reasonable investor understands to be a trusted adviser acting in their best interest. The update removes the requirement that fiduciaries provide advice on a regular basis, bringing one-time advice under the rule. The Biden administration has argued that the previous definition, which was written in 1975, is outdated and has not kept pace with changes to the retirement landscape. 

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And, confidence in the U.S. dollar has waned, as forecasts suggest that a dip in inflation might allow the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates. With a notable 5% climb earlier this year, the dollar is now bracing for its first loss of 2024, triggered by a promising inflation report.

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Finally, fourteen of the world’s 20 largest stock markets have hit all-time highs recently, including England, Japan, Brazil, India, and Canada, according to Bloomberg. In the USA, the S&P 500 (also at a record) hasn’t dropped more than 2% in a trading session in 311 days, the longest streak in five years.

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DAILY UPDATE: Uber, Lyft and MSFT as the Stock Markets Rally

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index gained 26.41 points (0.5%) to 5,214.08; the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 331.37 points (0.9%) to 39,387.76; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) advanced 43.51 points (0.3%) to 16,346.26.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) lost more than 2 basis points to 4.459%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.31 to 12.69.

Interest-rate-sensitive sectors, such as real estate and utilities, were among the strongest performers Thursday. Energy shares were also strong after WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures rose for a second straight day after sinking to a two-month low earlier this week. Semiconductor shares were under pressure after disappointing revenue guidance from chip designer Arm Holdings (ARM) sent its shares down 2.3%.

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The Dow jumped for the seventh straight day while the S&P 500 closed above 5,200 for the first time in a month as stocks climbed across the board, possibly a reaction to data showing that the cooling labor market could translate into a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in a few months. But, Roblox, tanked 22% yesterday after the company cut its annual bookings forecast. The rough patch suggests that the game’s pandemic-induced popularity has likely peaked.

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Last year, Uber boasted its first full-year profit since going public. But yesterday, the company reported a surprise loss for the first quarter of 2024, dashing investors’ hopes for steady profits and sending its stock way down.

Meanwhile, Uber’s smaller rival Lyft appears to have its foot on the gas pedal. It posted better-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday and saw a stock bump yesterday.

Microsoft plans to put the cash toward creating an AI data center. President Biden was on hand in Wisconsin to help announce the news—and not just to tout a big investment that’s expected to create jobs.

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DAILY UPDATE: PBM Pricing Structure and UnitedHealth Cyber Fury as Stock Markets Tumble

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Pharmacy Benefits Managers often need more transparency regarding their pricing structures and the rebates they negotiate with drug manufacturers. Some argue that PBMs might receive hidden fees or undisclosed profits from drug manufacturers in exchange for favorable positioning on their formularies (lists of covered medications). This can be seen as a form of kickback, which is illegal.

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Lawmakers Express Fury Toward UnitedHealth in Change Attack Hearing on the fallout surrounding the unprecedented cyberattack on Change Healthcare in late February. Individuals representing the American Hospital Association, private cybersecurity groups and providers testified before members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on April 16th to discuss the healthcare industry’s response to the attack and how the federal government should act.

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In March, the cyber criminal organization received $22 million in bitcoins, though UnitedHealth Group has not addressed whether the company paid the ransom. On April 15th, ransomware group RansomHub posted files on its dark web leak site comprising of personal and protected health information on patients whose data was taken in the hack. The files also include contracts and agreements between Change and its clients, marking the first time hackers have posted data from the attack.

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Source: Jakob Emerson, Becker’s Hospital Review

Stocks started the day strong yesterday but ended up slumping before the market closed as investors pulled back on tech stocks, including Nvidia. United Airlines took off after releasing a strong forecast for the year despite saying it took a $200 million hit because of Boeing’s troubles.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index lost 29.20 points (0.6%) to 5,022.21; the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 45.66 points (0.1%) to 37,753.31; the NASDAQ Composite dropped 181.88 points (1.2%) to 15,683.37.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) decreased more than 7 basis points to 4.585%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.20 to 18.20.

ASML’s slump helped send the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) down 3.3% to its lowest level since late February. Transportation shares were also under pressure after trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) dropped 8.1% in the wake of disappointing quarterly numbers. Energy shares slipped as WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures fell 3% to a three-week low. 

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DAILY UPDATE: Stocks Slightly Up Awaiting CPI Report

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Boeing had yet another rough day, at one point dropping 2.5% to its lowest mark in five months after reports that the FAA is investigating a whistleblower’s claims about safety issues with the 787 Dreamliner.

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And, US stocks on Tuesday ended with small moves, weighed down by the financial sector ahead of key earnings reports later this week. Market participants also exhibited caution a day before the latest consumer inflation data. Wall Street’s three major averages opened in the green but then spent most of the day languishing in negative territory.

Finally, the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (COMP:IND) eventually closed 0.32% higher at 16,306.64 points, while the benchmark S&P 500 (SP500) added 0.15% to settle at 5,209.94 points. The blue-chip Dow (DJI) fell marginally by 0.02% to conclude at 38,883.67 points.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) gained 7.52 points (0.1%) to 5,209.91; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) lost 9.13 points (0.02%) to 38,883.67; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) rose 52.68 points (0.3%) to 16,306.64.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell more than 6 basis points to 4.358%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.21 to 14.98.

Financial and industrial shares led Tuesday’s decliners. Oil services stocks were also soft as WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures dropped for a third consecutive trading session. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX) lost 0.7% and ended at its lowest point since April 1. 

In other markets, Gold (GC) futures neared $2,400 per ounce and hit a record high for the eighth consecutive trading session. Gold’s rally has been driven by factors including reports of purchases by China’s central bank as well as expectations for lower interest rates and escalating conflict in the Middle East. Bitcoin (BTC) tumbled about 3.5% and fell to less than $70,000, giving up much of Monday’s gain.

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DAILY UPDATE: U.S.A. Stock Markets Little Changed

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Like use, investors were a little checked out yesterday, focusing on the eclipse or maybe the fact that earnings season starts later this week, and stocks were relatively flat. Diamondback Energy hit an all-time high following several other energy companies that did so last week as oil prices surge.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) lost 1.95 points (0.04%) to 5,202.39; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) eased 11.24 points (0.03%) to 38,892.80; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) gained 5.44 points (0.03%) to 16,253.96.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield rose more than 4 basis points to 4.422%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.84 to 15.19.

Bank shares were among Monday’s strongest performers, sending the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) up 1.5%. Consumer discretionary companies were also strong. WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures fell sharply earlier in the session following reports Israel had removed some troops from Gaza but bounced back to end down 0.5% at around $86.47 per barrel.

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DAILY UPDATE: Iger Survives as Ulta Beauty and Stock Markets Stall

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Ulta Beauty plunged after its CEO revealed that, despite the resilience of the beauty category, sales have slowed.

And, Walt Disney’s current rulers will continue to oversee the kingdom. The company’s board, helmed by CEO Bob Iger, defeated activist investors and Nelson Peltz who had hoped to replace current board members and steer the company in a new direction.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 5.68 points (0.1%) to 5,211.49; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 43.10 points (0.1%) to 39,127.14; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) added 37.01 points (0.2%) to 16,277.46.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield fell more than 1 basis point to 4.351%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) declined 0.28 to 14.33.

Energy shares remained one of the market’s strongest performers behind strength in WTI Crude Oil (/CL) futures, which rose a fifth consecutive day and ended above $85 per barrel, the highest since October. The Philadelphia Oil Service Index (OSX) jumped1.6%, extending its year-to-date gain to almost 14%. 

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DAILY UPDATE: March Round-Up as Stocks End their Best First Quarter in Five Years

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APRIL FOOL’S DAY

April Fools’ Day customs date back to at least Renaissance Europe, but it’s likely the tradition originated long before then. Some historians have linked April Fools’ Day to the ancient Roman festival of “Hilaria,” where at the end of March, people would come together to commemorate the resurrection of the god Attis. It was a celebration of renewal in which revelers would dress up in disguises and imitate others.

It’s also possible that the medieval celebration of the Feast of Fools, where a mock bishop or pope was elected and church customs were parodied, could have inspired the day.

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Stocks had their best Q1 in five years. The S&P 500 ended Thursday—the last trading day of the quarter—up by more than 10%, marking its best start to a year since 2019.

The AI craze, record corporate profits, and optimism around cooling inflation are all contributing to the stock boom. The economy got more good news yesterday when the Stocks had their best Q1 in five years reported that several key gauges, including GDP and consumer spending, grew in Q4 of last year.

And, that’s not all: Home sales bounced back after a January slump, jobless claims fell, and advertisers raised their full-year forecast. Consumer sentiment is now at its highest level since 2021.

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DAILY UPDATE: Wingstop and the Markets

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Investors hope this week on Wall Street will be as enjoyable as the last, when stocks raced higher after Fed Chair Jerome Powell previewed a series of rate cuts. Wingstop stock has surged more than 380% in the last five years.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended last week:

  • The S&P 500 index sank 7.35 points (0.1%) to 5,234.18, up 2.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 305.47 points (0.8%) to 39,475.90, up 2% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite rose 26.98 points (0.2%) to 16,428.82, up 2.9% for the week. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield dipped five basis points to 4.22%, down nearly nine basis points for the week.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index edged up 0.14 to 13.06, falling 1.34 points for the week.

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DAILY UPDATE: Weak Sock Markets Following a Good Week

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Investors slowed their roll yesterday but the Dow still pulled off its best week of the year. Lululemon reported a disappointing forecast and slowing US sales growth. The athleisure company suffered its worst day since March 2020.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index sank 7.35 points (0.1%) to 5,234.18, up 2.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 305.47 points (0.8%) to 39,475.90, up 2% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite rose 26.98 points (0.2%) to 16,428.82, up 2.9% for the week. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield dipped five basis points to 4.22%, down nearly nine basis points for the week.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index edged up 0.14 to 13.06, falling 1.34 points for the week.

Utilities, information technology, and communication services were among the strongest sectors. Real estate and financials saw relative weakness Friday.

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DAILY UPDATE: Apple Down but Stocks Gain

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Stocks soared again on Thursday, pushing the major indexes to new records as tech companies over performed and investors hung onto the good vibes from this week’s Fed meeting. It was a scintillating debut for Reddit, which rocketed nearly 50% in its first day as a public company.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index added 16.91 points (0.3%) to 5,241.53; the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 269.24 points (0.7%) to 39,781.37; the NASDAQ Composite rose 32.43 points (0.2%) to 16,401.84. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was flat at 4.27%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) dropped 0.11 to 12.93.

Industrials, financials, and energy stocks were among the strongest sectors. Utilities and communication services finished modestly lower.

Apple (AAPL) was the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, falling 4.1% on reports the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company. Other widely held stocks were mostly higher: Microsoft (MSFT) added 1%, Meta Platforms (META) gained 0.4%, and Amazon (AMZN) was unchanged on the day.

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DAILY UPDATE: Kroger Selling Pharma Business as Nvidia and Stock Markets Rise

By Staff Reporters

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, DC.

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KROGER, the supermarket chain said it expects to close the sale of its specialty pharmacy business during the second half of 2024. Kroger said it is planning to sell its speciality pharmacy business to pharmacy benefit manager CarelonRx, a subsidiary of Elevance Health, the company just reported.

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Nvidia continues its bid for world domination with the announcement of its new B200 “Blackwell” chip. The Blackwell is 2.5 times more powerful than the “Hopper” chip which helped it become a $2 trillion company. (Bloomberg)

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index added 46.11 points (0.9%) to 5,224.62; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 401.37 points (1%) to 39,512.13; the NASDAQ Composite rose 202.62 points (1.3%) to 16,369.41. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield slid two basis points to 4.27%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index®(VIX) fell 0.77 to 13.06.
     

Health care was the biggest loser among the S&P 500 sectors. Energy was also lower after crude oil prices sank on the heels of weekly inventory data. Brent Crude Oil (/BZ) futures, the global benchmark, dropped 1.6% on the heels of five days of gains.

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DAILY UPDATE: Medicare Payment Policy and Inflation as the Stock Markets Gain

By Staff Reporters

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MEDICARE: https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Mar24_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf

The producer price index (PPI) rose 0.6% for the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statisticsdouble the Dow Jones estimate, CNBC reported. February’s larger-than-expected PPI uptick follows a more modest 0.3% increase in January and a 0.1% decline in December. On an annual basis, the PPI increased 1.6%, “the largest rise since moving up 1.8% for the 12 months ended September 2023,” according to the BLS.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

The market had a good Tuesday, with stocks climbing as investors await word from the Fed meeting today on any changes to interest rates. The bank is expected to keep rates the same for now, but could signal when (or how often) it’ll lower them later in the year. Meanwhile, Nordstrom shares surged following a report that the retailer’s founding family wants to take it private.
 

  • The S&P 500 index added 29.09 points (0.6%) to 5,178.51; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) gained 320.33 points (0.8%) to 39,110.76; the NASDAQ Composite® ($COMP) rose 63.34 points (0.40%) to 16,166.79.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) eased four basis points to just under 4.3%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) lost 0.50 to 13.83. 

The energy sector was the top performer after crude oil prices notched multi-month highs ahead of weekly inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute. After a 2% rally to start the trading week, Brent Crude Oil (/BZ) futures, the global benchmark, added another 0.6% Tuesday.

Industrials, consumer discretionary, and utilities were among the other strong sectors. Communications, real estate, and materials finished modestly lower.

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DAILY UPDATE: Stock Markets Up Before FOMC Meeting

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks started the week off strong yesterday as tech companies rose. Chipotle, Progressive, and more hit all-time highs. Tesla got a boost after announcing higher prices for its Model Y in the US and parts of Europe.

Here’s where major benchmarks ended yesterday:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 32 points (0.6%) to 5,149.42; the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DJI) gained 75.66 points (0.2%) to 38,790.43; the NASDAQ Composite jumped 130.27 points (0.8%) to 16,103.45. 
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield rose nearly four basis points to 4.34%. 
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) dipped 0.08 to 14.33.

All but two S&P 500 sectors finished in the green, with communications, information technology, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples leading the advance. Health care and real estate finished modestly lower.

Crude oil prices rose to multi-month highs on the heels of stronger-than-expected industrial production data from China and concerns over potential supply disruptions.

According to Reuters, a Ukrainian strike sparked a fire at the Slavyansk refinery in Krasnodar on Saturday and ongoing attacks have now idled around 7% of Russia’s refining capacity so far this year. Brent Crude Oil (/BZ) futures, the global benchmark, gained 2% Monday.

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DAILY UPDATE: UnitedHealth Group Still Down as Stock Markets Dips with Chip Makers

By Staff Reporters

Tomorrow is the start of daylight saving time. Enjoy the extra hour of evening light.

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UnitedHealth Group is laying out a timeline to restore its systems as a cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary continues to disrupt the health care industry for nearly a third week. The company said Thursday it’s still working “aggressively” to restore its services after the attack Feb. 21st caused it to shut down its insurance claims and payment platforms, leaving health care providers and pharmacies across the nation unable to process prescriptions or pay employees, but as of now, its electronic prescribing is back to being “fully functional.”

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Stocks tumbled yesterday, giving the Dow its worst week since October as Nvidia’s seemingly unstoppable rally…stopped. Meanwhile, bitcoin notched another record, hitting $70,000 for the first time before the volatile cryptocurrency retreated.

Government: The Senate passed vital funding bills just barely ahead of a shutdown deadline, ensuring the government can stay open—at least for now. But they still need to pass more before March 22nd.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index (SPX) fell 33.67 points (0.7%) to 5,123.69, down 0.3% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® ($DJI) lost 68.66 points (0.2%) to 38,722.69, down 0.9% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) dropped 188.26 points (1.2%) to 16,085.11, down 1.2% for the week.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell more than 1 basis point to 4.079%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) rose 0.30 to 14.74.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) sank 3.5% Friday but still gained 0.6% for the week, its third straight weekly advance. Bank and utility shares were among the market’s few areas of strength, and small-cap stocks held up relatively well. The Russell 2000® Index (RUT) fell 0.1% after earlier climbing to a two-year high but still added 0.3% for the week, its fourth weekly gain in the past five.

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DAILY UPDATE: UnitedHealth Group and Fidelity Investments Suffer Ransomware Attacks as Stock Markets Crash

By Staff Reporters

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According to Fidelity, in documents filed with the Maine attorney general’s office, miscreants “likely acquired” information about 28,268 people’s life insurance policies after infiltrating Infosys.

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Criminals have probably stolen nearly 30,000 Fidelity Investments Life Insurance customers’ personal and financial information — including bank account and routing numbers, credit card numbers and security or access codes — after breaking into Infosys’ IT systems.

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Healthcare providers across the United States are struggling to get paid following the week-long ransomware outage at a key tech unit of UnitedHealth Group, with some smaller medical providers saying they are already running low on cash.

And, the nation’s health-care system continues to reel from a cyberattack that has crippled payments for tens of thousands of organizations as Daniel Gilbert writes in The Post.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) dropped 52.30 points (1.0%) to 5,078.65; the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 404.64 points (1.0%) to 38,585.19; the NASDAQ Composite fell 267.92 points (1.7%) to 15,939.59.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 8 basis points to 4.137%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) rose 0.97 to 14.46.

With chip makers under pressure, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) fell 2.1%, reversing part of a recent surge to a record high. Consumer discretionary and real estate shares also ranked among the weakest performers Tuesday. Banks were one of the few industries to buck the broader weakness, perhaps supported by further declines in Treasury yields. The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) almost fell to a four-week low near 4.11%. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) jumped 4.3%. 

In other markets, bitcoin plunged almost 10% after climbing earlier Tuesday to a record above $69,000. The cryptocurrency had rallied as much as 36% over the last week of February. 

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DAILY UPDATE: Target of IRS Audits Up While Stock Markets are Down

By Staff Reporters

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Stat: 125,000+. That’s how many high-income people the IRS is targeting for not filing their taxes. The IRS started sending letters last week to folks with over $400,000 in income who haven’t filed between 2017 and 2022 (Journal of Accountancy)

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index fell 6.13 points (0.1%) to 5,130.95; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 97.55 points (0.3%) to 38,989.83; the NASDAQ Composite declined 67.43 points (0.4%) to 16,207.51.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 4 basis points to 4.219%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) increased 0.38 to 13.49.

Ongoing strength in chip makers propelled a 1.1% advance in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which posted a record high for the third-straight trading day. Banks were also among the strongest performers. Small-cap shares eased, with the Russell 2000® Index (RUT) ending with a marginal loss after rising earlier to a two-year high. 

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DAILY UPDATE: CDC, IRS, the Roaring Stock Markets and Elon Musk

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks were ripping last week, with the NASDAQ notching an all-time high and the S&P 500 closing above 5,100 for the first time. Tech stocks led the way, especially Nvidia, which closed with a market cap over $2 trillion. But trouble may be brewing at regional banks: New York Community Bancorp plummeted after swapping out its CEO and revealing it had found weaknesses in its risk controls.

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The IRS is going after people who earned between $400,000 and $1 million but failed to file tax returns as far back as 2017.

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Elon Musk sued OpenAI and its co-founders, CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, Friday, alleging that they breached the organization’s founding agreement by letting it become too profit-motivated.

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The CDC says you no longer need to isolate for five days if you have COVID-19 as long as you’re fever-free and your symptoms are improving.

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DAILY UPDATE: Rare Disease Day Visibility, Rite Aid Down as Markets Rise Up

By Staff Reporters

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Welcome back to the Gregorian calendar. Along with being a leap day, yesterday was Rare Disease Day—bringing visibility to the 7,000 conditions that each affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US. Combined, around 10% of US residents have one, per the National Institute of Health.

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  • Rite Aid is planning to close 77 stores in 2024 as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • That makes 431 stores that the drugstore chain has decided to close since October.
  • Rite Aid has been shrinking its store count for years, losing ground to rivals Walgreens and CVS.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index added 40.81 points (0.8%) to 5,137.08, up 0.95% for the week and its seventh weekly gain in the past eight; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) gained 90.99 points (0.2%) to 39,087.38, down 0.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite rose 183.02 points (1.1%) to 16,274.94, up 1.7% for the week.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield fell about 7 basis points to 4.182%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) dropped 0.29 to 13.11.

Chipmaker strength drove a 4.3% advance in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which ended at a record high. The NASDAQ-100®(NDX), which includes the NASDAQ’s largest non-financial companies, also ended at a record high. Small-cap shares finished the week strong. The Russell 2000® Index (RUT) rose 1.1% to settle at a 23-month high and notched a 3% gain for the week. 

Banks were among the weakest performers as concerns over regional lenders flared up, underscored by another nosedive in shares of troubled New York Community Bancorp (NYCB).

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DAILY UPDATE: Inflation and “Bumble” Down as Stock Markets Rise and UHC Hackers ID’d

By Staff Reporters

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The Bumble dating app said this week that it plans to lay off 30% of its staff (about 350 employees) after a Q4 earnings report highlighted that profits are ghosting the company and Gen Z considers dating apps a turnoff. Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones, who took over in November when founder Whitney Wolfe Herd stepped down, said the cuts would save the company around $55 million. The company plans to invest in relaunching the app next quarter with new safety and AI features to entice all those looking for love.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 26.51 points (0.5%) to 5,096.27, up 5.2% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) added 47.37 points (0.1%) to 38,996.39, up 2.2% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite gained 144.18 points (0.9%) to 16,091.92, up 6.1% for the month.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 3 basis points to 4.244%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) dropped 0.44 to 13.40.

Chipmaker shares were among the strongest performers Thursday, helping lift the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) 2.7% to a record high close. Banks and food and beverage industries were also firm. Small-cap stocks also extended a recent upswing. The Russell 2000® Index (RUT) erased much of an initial surge to a 22-month high but still finished with a 0.7% advance, gaining 5.5% for the month.

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Hackers that allegedly caused the UnitedHealth Group cyberattack reportedly posted on the dark web that they stole personal data and the records of “millions” of patients.

In a now-deleted post, the Blackcat ransomware group – also known as ALPHV or Noberus – said it stole several terabytes of data from UnitedHealth, which includes medical insurance and health data, Reuters reported, citing screenshots of the post.

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DAILY UPDATE: Down Down Third Day

By Staff Reporters

HAPPY LEAP YEAR DAY

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Stocks fell yesterday, while bitcoin almost touched an all-time high after surging 20% in five days as its halving approaches. UnitedHealth dipped on reports that antitrust regulators are investigating the massive insurer.

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) fell 8.42 points (0.2%) to 5,069.76; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 23.39 points (0.1%) to 38,949.02; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) declined 87.56 points (0.6%) to 15,947.74.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell about 5 basis points to 4.264%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) rose 0.39 to 13.82.

Regional banks and semiconductors were among the weakest performers Wednesday, and communications services and health care shares were also soft. Real estate shares bucked the weakness in many sectors to post firm gains. Food and beverage and consumer discretionary sectors also firmed. In other markets, WTI crude oil (/CL) futures rose to a three-month high at $79.62 per barrel before ending lower after the Energy Information Administration reported a rise in U.S. inventories.

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DAILY UPDATE: Corporate M&A Activity Increasing as Stock Markets End Mixed

By Staff Reporters

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Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity was down in 2023, but McKinsey says we should keep our chins up based on the strong final months of the year and economic optimism among professionals. For example, Global M&A activity last year totaled $3.1 trillion, dropping 16% from 2022, McKinsey found in a new report by senior partners Jake Henry and Mieke Van Oostende. But, the value of M&A activity in the fourth quarter increased 41% over Q3 and 37% year over year.

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Stocks were mixed yesterday, with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ inching up and the Dow Jones dropping ahead of the release of key inflation data later this week. Viking Therapeutics, whose stock more than doubled after it reported positive results for its weight-loss drug trial in a bid to break into a sector dominated by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

Here’s where the major stock market benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) rose 8.65 points (0.2%) to 5,078.18; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) fell 96.82 points (0.3%) to 38,972.41; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) gained 59.05 points (0.4%) to 16,035.30.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 1 basis point to 4.309%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) dropped 0.31 to 13.43.

Retailer strength helped lift the S&P Retail Select Industry Index (SPSIRE) 2.4% to its highest level in 22 months. Utility shares were also strong as the sector rebounded from the previous day’s slump. The small-cap Russell 2000® (RUT) jumped 1.3% to extend a nearly week-long rally and posted its second-highest close of the year.

In other markets, WTI crude oil (/CL) futures surged 1.4% and settled just under $79 per barrel, the market’s highest close since early November. Strength in oil reflects concern over conflict in the Middle East and expectations OPEC may extend production cuts beyond the first few months of 2024.

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DAILY UPDATE: S&P Index Pulls Back

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks fell as the Dow got a special delivery from Amazon, which joined the index yesterday, replacing Walgreens. That didn’t give the Dow a boost for the day, but it should help the index—whose performance is trailing the S&P 500—going forward by giving it more tech power.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index fell 19.27 points (0.4%) to 5,069.53; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) lost 62.30 points (0.2%) to 39,069.23; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) dropped 20.57 points (0.1%) to 15,976.25.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose about 2 basis points to 4.28%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.01 to 13.74.

Utility shares were among the weakest performers Monday, which may reflect pressure from Treasury yields that remain at their highest levels in over two months. High Treasury yields may compel some investors to forgo utility shares, which typically offer relatively high dividend yields. Communication services companies were also weak. Among stronger areas, the Russell 2000® (RUT) gained 0.6% for its third-straight daily advance.

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DAILY UPDATE: Nvidia, and Pharmacy Cyber Security Attack as Stock Markets Roar Back!

By Staff Reporters

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Stock Market - Homecare24

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Big tech companies are continuing to pour cash into artificial intelligence at a breakneck pace. And based Bion the earnings update Wednesday from Nvidia, much of it is going to that chip maker. “This last year, we’ve seen generative AI really becoming a whole new application space, a whole new way of doing computing,” Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s co-founder and chief executive, said Wednesday. “A whole new industry is being formed, and that’s driving our growth.”

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Pharmacies across the country are reporting delays to prescription orders due to a cyberattack against one of the nation’s largest health-care technology companies. Change Healthcare, a company handling orders and patient payments throughout the U.S., first noticed the “cyber security issue” affecting its networks Wednesday morning on the East Coast. 

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 105.23 points (2.1%) to 5,087.03; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 456.87 points (1.2%) to 39,069.11; the NASDAQ Composite rallied 460.75 points (3%) to 16,041.62.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was little changed at 4.323%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 0.84 to 14.50.

Nvidia sparked a 5% rally in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) and a 3% gain in the NASDQ-100® (NDX), both of which ended at all-time highs. Consumer discretionary shares were also among the strongest sectors Thursday. The small-cap Russell 2000® Index (RUT) rose 1% and halted a three-day slide.

According to Joe Mazzola, director of trading and education at Schwab, Nvidia had a “profound effect” at both the sector and index level, partly reflecting its market value, which is nearing $2 trillion. Nvidia is now the third largest company behind Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL).

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DAILY UPDATE: New CDC Covid-19 Guidelines as the Stock Markets Go Lower

By Staff Reporters

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The CDC may update Covid-19 isolation guidelines from five days to 24 hours if an individual is fever-free without medication—standardizing the protocol for the disease with the same rule for the flu and RSV. (the New York Times)

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

Stocks slumped into the long weekend yesterday, snapping a five-week weekly winning streak when they fell in the wake of wholesale price data that shows inflation is probably not as tamed as the Fed would like it to be. But Coinbase gave the latest indication that the crypto winter has thawed. The crypto exchange’s stock rose after it reported its first quarterly profit in two years.

  • The S&P 500 index fell 24.16 points (0.5%) to 5,005.57, down 0.4% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) lost 145.13 points (0.4%) to 38,627.99, down 0.1% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) declined 130.52 points (0.8%) to 15,775.65, down 1.3% for the week.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) rose over 4 basis points to 4.285%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) rose 0.23 to 14.24.

Communications services and transportation shares were among the market’s weakest performers Friday, while energy companies firmed behind strength in crude oil futures. The small-cap Russell 2000® Index (RUT) fell 1.4% Friday but still ended the week with a gain of 1.1%, its second straight weekly advance.

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DAILY UPDATE: Trump’s SPAC as the S&P 500 Records a New High

By Staff Reporters

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission allowed Donald Trump’s media and technology company to merge with a blank-check acquisition [SPAC] vehicle in a deal that currently values the parent of his social media app Truth Social at as much as $10 billion.

SPAC: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/06/13/spac-v-direct-listing-v-ipo/

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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 29.11 points (0.6%) to 5,029.73; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) gained 348.85 points (0.9%) to 38,773.12; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) added 47.03 points (0.3%) to 15,906.17.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell more than 2 basis points to 4.242%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) lost 0.37 to 14.01.

Bank shares were among the market’s strongest performers with an assist from Wells Fargo (WFC), whose shares jumped more than 7% following reports a bank industry regulator had ended a penalty it imposed after a fake accounts scandal.

Energy companies also posted outsized gains behind a rebound in crude oil prices. Also, small-cap shares extended a sharp upswing as the Russell 2000® Index (RUT) gained 2.5% and ended at its highest level since late December.

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DAILY UPDATE: Uber and the Stock Markets Rebound

By Staff Reporters

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Stocks rose yesterday after they plunged following Tuesday’s unexpectedly hot inflation report. And, investors hit the gas pedal on Uber when the company revealed it would buy back $7 billion worth of shares in its first-ever repurchase plan.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 47.45 points (1.0%) to 5,000.62; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) gained 151.52 points (0.4%) to 38,424.27; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) added 203.55 points (1.3%) to 15,859.15.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) fell almost 5 basis points to 4.269%.
  • The CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX) fell 1.47 to 14.38.

Small-cap shares were among the upside leaders Wednesday as the Russell 2000® Index (RUT) surged 2.4% to erase over half of its 4% nosedive on Tuesday. Banks and semiconductors were also among the strongest sectors. Energy companies were under pressure after WTI crude oil (/CL) futures dropped 1.6% in the wake of a larger-than-expected increase in U.S. inventories.

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