-- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an investigation into an explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan that killed at least 26 people and injured 61 others.
The blast took place at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display in Liuyang city, according to the Hunan provincial government.
CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:BorgWarner (BWA) posted Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.24 vs. $1.11 (+12%), well ahead of the $1.17 consensus. The beat was attributable to stronger-than-expected sales and margins, as revenue rose 0.5% to $3.53B ($30M above consensus) and gross margin expanded 100 bps to 19.2% (40 bps ahead of consensus). The results demonstrated strong operational execution despite a 4.2% organic revenue decline. BWA maintained prior 2026 net sales and adjusted EPS guidance of $14.0B-$14.3B and $5.00-$5.20, respectively, the midpoints of which are below the $14.18B and $5.16 consensus. BWA returned $185M to shareholders in Q1, and with expected 2026 FCF of $0.9B-$1.1B, we expect cash returns to shareholders to continue. BWA shares are currently trading 2% higher in pre-market trading following the release. BWA is executing well through the cycle, delivering margin expansion, and double-digit EPS growth despite volume headwinds. In our view, BWA's Q1 results validate management's ability to control costs in a challenging environment.
The main US stock measures were pointing higher in Wednesday's premarket activity, while oil prices declined after a media report said the US and Iran are nearing a potential agreement to end their conflict.The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7% each before the opening bell, while the Nasdaq advanced 1.2%. The indexes finished the previous trading session in the green, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closing with new highs.Washington is nearing an agreement with Tehran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end their conflict in the Middle East and establish a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations, Axios reported Wednesday, citing two US officials and two other sources familiar with the matter.In a social media post on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the US is temporarily pausing "Project Freedom," its effort to guide neutral ships locked up in the Strait of Hormuz out of the crucial waterway. Trump noted that the US blockade on Iranian ports will remain in effect.US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly said Tuesday that the ceasefire agreement with Iran remained intact despite recently renewed tensions in the Gulf region.West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped 9.3% to $92.88 a barrel in premarket action, while Brent fell 8.3% to $100.77.Treasury yields slipped before the open, with the two-year rate retreating 7.3 basis points to 3.87% and the 10-year rate off 6.8 basis points to 4.35%.Walt Disney (DIS), Uber Technologies (UBER), CVS Health (CVS), Marriott International (MAR), Johnson Controls International (JCI), Restaurant Brands International (QSR), Kraft Heinz (KHC) and Performance Food Group (PFGC) are some of the major companies scheduled to report their latest financial results before the bell, among others.Arm Holdings (ARM), Applovin (APP), DoorDash (DASH) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) post earnings after the markets close.Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) jumped 18% pre-bell after the chipmaker reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results. Novo Nordisk's (NVO) US-listed stock climbed 7.5% as the Danish pharmaceutical giant issued an improved full-year sales outlook. Arista Networks (ANET) declined 8.1% after it issued a downbeat second-quarter revenue outlook.Wednesday's economic calendar has the weekly mortgage applications bulletin at 7 am ET, followed by the ADP Employment report for April at 8:15 am. The weekly EIA domestic petroleum inventories report is out at 10:30 am.Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President Alberto Musalem is slated to speak at 9:30 am, while Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaks at 1 pm.Gold increased 3.1% to $4,710 per troy ounce, while bitcoin moved up 0.8% to $82,210.
The "rumour mill" that the end of the war with Iran may be near has markets buying it on Wednesday with few questions asked, when perhaps many remain, said Scotiabank.The rumour mill that the end of the war with Iran may be near has markets buying it with few questions asked when perhaps many remain.Oil is off by almost US$10/barrel, noted the bank. Sovereign bond yields are down across the board and by double-digit basis points in parts of European curves.Stocks are pushing higher, again led by Europe, where the gains are in the 2% to 3% range, pointed out Scotiabank. The US dollar (USD) is broadly weaker, but not for currencies linked oil such as the Canadian dollar (CAD or loonie) and Norway's krone (NOK), which are underperforming.Central bank moves are being slightly repriced, added Scotiabank.