Consumer stocks were mixed late Tuesday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) decreasing 0.1% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) adding 0.1%.
Redbook US same-store sales soared 9.4% from a year earlier in the week ended June 13, after surging 9.1% in the previous week. Seasonal categories such as air conditioners, fans, pool and beach equipment, swimwear, and other hot-weather apparel led the growth, according to Redbook.
In corporate news, Yum Brands (YUM) shares rose 1.5% after it said it has agreed to sell Pizza Hut in two deals valued at about $2.7 billion. Private equity firm LongRange Capital will acquire Pizza Hut outside China for about $1.5 billion, while Yum China (YUMC) will purchase the Chinese business for $1.2 billion, Yum Brands said Tuesday. Yum China shares were down 0.9%.
Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Monday asked the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to examine Tesla's (TSLA) self-published crash statistics for its "Full Self-Driving" system, Reuters reported Tuesday. In their letter to the NHTSA, the senators cited an earlier Reuters investigation that found that Tesla was exaggerating its safety claims, the report said. Tesla shares were down 1.1%.
Netflix (NFLX) is one of several media companies interested in acquiring Lionsgate Studios (LION), Semafor reported. Netflix shares fell 3.7%, and Lionsgate jumped 14%.
Rivian Automotive (RIVN) laid off hundreds of employees, or under 2% of its workforce, Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a company spokesperson. The layoffs affected workers in the electric-vehicle maker's service and customer organization, the report said. Rivian shares fell 4.5%.