-- The Institute for Supply Management's Chicago PMI reading fell to 49.2 in April from 52.8 in March, contrary to the expected increase to 54.9 reading in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.
Other regional manufacturing data already released for April have indicated expansion except for Dallas Federal Reserve's reading, which suggested contraction.
The national ISM manufacturing index will be released on Friday.
Energy stocks rose Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index gaining 1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) climbing 0.8%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index advanced 0.5%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 1.3%.West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 2.4% to $104.37 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent dropped 3.5% to $113.93 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 3.9% to $2.75 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Apollo Global Management (APO), Blackstone (BX) and KKR (KKR) are among the final bidders for a major stake in Shell's (SHEL) LNG Canada project in a deal that could top $10 billion and reach as much as $15 billion, Reuters reported. Shell shares rose 1.3%.
Broad Market IndicatorsBroad-market exchange-traded fund IWM and IVV rose. Actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) edged up 0.4%.US equity indexes were higher after midday Thursday as investors weighed mega-cap corporate earnings and a warning from Iran's new supreme leader that Tehran won't give up its nuclear stockpile.EnergyIShares US Energy ETF (IYE) and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) each added about 0.8%.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) was down 0.4%; iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) rose 0.6%, and iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) gained 0.5%.The State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor (XSD) climbed 3.7%, and iShares Semiconductor (SOXX) was up 1.9%.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) added 0.1%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) climbed 0.3%, and its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), lost 0.4%.CommoditiesCrude oil fell over 2%, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) lost 3%. Natural gas was up 4%, and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) rose 4.2%.Gold on Comex added 1.4%, and the State Street SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) advanced 1.6%. Silver rose 2.3%, and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was up 2.6%.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) rose 1.4%. The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) added 1.5%, and iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods (IYK) was 0.9% higher.The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) rose 0.4%. VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) added 0.5%, and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) was up 1.9%.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) rose 2.3%, iShares US Healthcare (IYH) added 2.3%, and Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT) was 2.2% higher. IShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 2%.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI) added 2.4%. Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) and iShares US Industrials (IYJ) were also higher.CryptocurrencyIn midday activity, bitcoin (BTC-USD) added 0.8%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) rose 1%, ProShares Ether ETF (EETH) gained 1.2%, and ProShares Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.
Brinker International's (EAT) top end of full-year 2026 guidance seems achievable with a strong Chili's chicken sandwich launch and continued traction across sales initiatives, UBS Securities said in a note Thursday.The brokerage expects mid-single-digit same-store-sales growth and positive traffic at Chili's as reachable in fiscal Q4, with momentum likely continuing in fiscal 2027, driven by contribution from everyday value, marketing, menu enhancements, operational improvements, and remodel benefits over time, according to the note.Additional future catalysts for Brinker include accelerating unit growth, an eventual Maggiano's turnaround, strong balance sheet, and share repurchases, the brokerage said.UBS maintained a buy rating on Brinker with a price target of $190.Price: $151.10, Change: $+3.30, Percent Change: +2.23%