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Equities Higher Intraday Amid Strong Earnings Reports; Oil Rises

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US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday following a batch of upbeat corporate results, while oil prices rose after Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Nasdaq Composite was up 1.3% at 24,577.8 after midday Wednesday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,121.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6% to 49,444. Among sectors, tech paced the gainers with a 2.1% advance, while real estate saw the steepest decline.

Boeing's (BA) first-quarter loss unexpectedly narrowed as commercial aircraft deliveries rose, while the plane maker reported a smaller cash burn year over year. The stock was up 5.4% intraday, the best performer on the Dow.

Boston Scientific (BSX) shares were advancing by 8.9%, the third-biggest gain on the S&P 500. The medical device supplier's first-quarter results exceeded Wall Street's estimates, but it lowered its full-year guidance.

Philip Morris International (PM) reported first-quarter results above market estimates, while lowering its full-year earnings outlook. The cigarette and vape maker's shares rose 6.9%.

A number of major tech stocks were advancing intraday, with Micron (MU) up 7.7%, among the best performers on the S&P 500. Apple (AAPL) rose 2.6%, the second-biggest gain on the Dow. Microsoft (MSFT) and Salesforce (CRM) were also higher.

Tesla (TSLA), International Business Machines (IBM), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are scheduled to report results after the closing bell Wednesday. IBM shares were down 1.9% intraday, the steepest decline on the Dow.

West Texas Intermediate crude rose 3.7% to $92.94 per barrel, while Brent jumped 3.3% to $101.76.

Iran said it seized two container ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil chokepoint. US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with Tehran late Tuesday, though he said the naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue.

The status of a second round of peace talks between the US and Iran remained unclear.

"Oil prices continue to whipsaw as traders respond to a confusing and often contradictory flow of headlines, underscoring the deep mistrust between Tehran and Washington," Saxo Bank Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen said in a report on Wednesday.

US Treasury yields were mixed intraday, with the 10-year rate little changed at 4.31% and the two-year rate up 2.5 basis points at 3.80%.

Gold was up 0.7% at $4,753 per troy ounce, while silver gained 1.8% to $77.90 per ounce.

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US Markets

Correction: Wall Street Logs Back-to-Back Losses Amid US-Iran Talks Uncertainty

(Corrects the day to Tuesday in first para)Equities on Wall Street fell for a second straight session on Tuesday amid doubts over a fresh round of negotiations between the US and Tehran.The three main US stock indexes lost 0.6% each, with the S&P 500 closing at 7,064. The Nasdaq Composite ended at 24,260, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled at 49,149.4. Barring energy, all sectors were in the red, led by real estate.Shortly after market close, US President Donald Trump announced the extension of a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran, though he said the naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue. The truce was announced on April 7.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir asked for an extension, Trump said in a Truth Social post.The blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz had fueled uncertainty around a second round of discussions between Washington and Iran, likely to be held in Pakistan, CNN reported Tuesday. US Vice President JD Vance's plans to depart for Islamabad had reportedly been put on hold amid Iran's reluctance to participate in peace talks.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last up 1.7% at $88.90 per barrel, while Brent climbed 3.5% to $98.82.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year rate up 4.5 basis points at 4.30% and the two-year rate rising 6.5 basis points to 3.79%.Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh said the Federal Reserve, under his leadership, would be independent from the White House, CNBC reported. He made the remarks at his Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing. Warsh is Trump's Fed chair nominee.In economic news, US retail sales last month logged the largest rise since March 2025 amid a surge in spending at gasoline stations as the Middle East conflict boosted energy prices, official data showed."We expected that the headline (figure) would be gaudy due to the increase in gas prices and a pickup in unit auto sales, but the strength in other categories was surprising," Jefferies said in a note. "There is no evidence here that higher gasoline prices have motivated the consumer to tighten the belt elsewhere just yet."US pending home sales increased more than expected in March despite higher mortgage rates, data from the National Association of Realtors showed.In company news, Apple (AAPL) shares fell 2.5%, among the worst performers on the Dow. The iPhone maker said late Monday that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, with hardware engineering veteran John Ternus set to succeed him as CEO.Tractor Supply (TSCO) shares tumbled nearly 12%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500. The retailer logged first-quarter results that missed Wall Street's projections amid a below-average performance of its companion animal product business.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results. The company's shares jumped 7%, the biggest gainer on the Dow and among the best performers on the S&P 500.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal second-quarter results came in better than expected, though the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. The company's shares advanced 5.8%, among the biggest gains on the S&P 500.Gold was down 2.1% at $4,726.10 per troy ounce, while silver dropped 4.4% to $76.53 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$TSCO$UNH
US Markets

Wall Street Logs Back-to-Back Losses Amid US-Iran Talks Uncertainty

Equities on Wall Street fell for a second straight session on Wednesday amid doubts over a fresh round of negotiations between the US and Tehran.The three main US stock indexes lost 0.6% each, with the S&P 500 closing at 7,064. The Nasdaq Composite ended at 24,260, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled at 49,149.4. Barring energy, all sectors were in the red, led by real estate.Shortly after market close, US President Donald Trump announced the extension a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran, though he said the naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue. The truce was announced April 7.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir asked for an extension, Trump said in a Truth Social post.The blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz had fueled uncertainty around a second round of discussions between Washington and Iran, likely to be held in Pakistan, CNN reported Tuesday. US Vice President JD Vance's plans to depart for Islamabad had reportedly been put on hold amid Iran's reluctance to participate in peace talks.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last up 1.7% at $88.90 per barrel, while Brent climbed 3.5% to $98.82.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year rate up 4.5 basis points at 4.30% and the two-year rate rising 6.5 basis point to 3.79%.Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh said the Federal Reserve, under his leadership, would be independent from the White House, CNBC reported. He made the remarks at his Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing. Warsh is Trump's Fed chair nominee.In economic news, US retail sales last month logged the largest rise since March 2025 amid a surge in spending at gasoline stations as the Middle East conflict boosted energy prices, official data showed."We expected that the headline (figure) would be gaudy due to the increase in gas prices and a pickup in unit auto sales, but the strength in other categories was surprising," Jefferies said in a note. "There is no evidence here that higher gasoline prices have motivated the consumer to tighten the belt elsewhere just yet."US pending home sales increased more than expected in March despite higher mortgage rates, data from the National Association of Realtors showed.In company news, Apple (AAPL) shares fell 2.5%, among the worst performers on the Dow. The iPhone maker said late Monday that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, with hardware engineering veteran John Ternus set to succeed him as CEO.Tractor Supply (TSCO) shares tumbled nearly 12%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500. The retailer logged first-quarter results that missed Wall Street's projections amid a below-average performance of its companion animal product business.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results. The company's shares jumped 7%, the biggest gainer on the Dow and among the best performers on the S&P 500.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal second-quarter results came in better than expected, though the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. The company's shares advanced 5.8%, among the biggest gains on the S&P 500.Gold was down 2.1% at $4,726.10 per troy ounce, while silver dropped 4.4% to $76.53 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$TSCO$UNH
US Markets

Starbucks Likely to Deliver North American Comparable Sales Beat, UBS Says

Starbucks' (SBUX) North American comparable sales may exceed Wall Street's expectations for its fiscal second quarter, with the coffee giant likely to reap benefits from its strategic initiatives, UBS Securities said Tuesday in a note.Starbucks is scheduled to release its quarterly results on April 28.UBS raised its growth estimate for Starbucks' North American same-store sales to 6% from 4% amid gains in ticket and transaction. The market consensus is for an increase of 4%, according to the brokerage.Sales likely improved due to factors including menu innovation and enhanced marketing, UBS analyst Dennis Geiger wrote.The company launched its "Back to Starbucks" strategy in September 2024 to reignite traffic growth and unlock long-term margin expansion. The company's first quarter marked the first positive comparable sales in eight quarters, Tigress Financial Partners said last week.In January 2026, Starbucks guided full-year global and US same-store sales to grow at least 3%. Analysts polled by FactSet project fiscal 2026 global comparable sales to rise 3.8%.Investors are looking at the guidance possibly being raised, according to Geiger.Early this month, Starbucks formed a joint venture in China with Boyu Capital, an alternative investment firm."(Starbucks') turnaround plans and new sales initiatives should continue supporting a sales recovery," Geiger said.The stock was down 1.7% ahead of market close on Tuesday, but has rallied nearly 16% since the start of the year."We believe shares already reflect a solid (multiyear) sales and earnings recovery," Geiger said.Price: $97.86, Change: $-1.09, Percent Change: -1.10%

$SBUX