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Salesforce

Salesforce

$CRM
NYSETechnology

60 stories mentioning SalesforceUpdated 18h ago

Its proposed $3.6 billion acquisition of AI agent platform Fin strengthens its customer-service AI strategy, adding talent and 30,000 customers, analysts say.

Salesforce Likely to Meet Muted Quarterly Views Amid 'Tenuous' SaaS Backdrop, Deutsche Bank Says
US Markets

Salesforce Likely to Meet Muted Quarterly Views Amid 'Tenuous' SaaS Backdrop, Deutsche Bank Says

Salesforce's (CRM) fiscal first-quarter results are expected to meet relatively modest projections amid a "tenuous" environment for the software-as-a-service industry, Deutsche Bank said Tuesday.The customer relationship management platform is scheduled to report results May 27. The current consensus on FactSet is for non-GAAP earnings of $3.13 a share on sales of $11.05 billion for the three-month period."We expect Salesforce to report a seasonally slow but steady start to (fiscal 2027), with results likely meeting muted expectations amidst a tenuous backdrop for SaaS," Deutsche Bank analyst Brad Zelnick said in a note to clients Tuesday.The brokerage's insights suggest less upside in the company's key metrics versus recent quarters. "Accordingly, we think (the first quarter) is unlikely to result in any meaningful estimate revisions, which we believe is required to sway sentiment and catalyze the stock," Zelnick wrote.Salesforce shares were little changed in Tuesday afternoon trade. So far this year, the stock has lost 32% in value.Commentary on the company's net new annual order value growth trajectory and incremental gains on its Agentforce artificial intelligence-powered agent platform will be a main area of focus, after being "disappointed" with the exclusion of any new leading metrics in its go-forward disclosure update intra-quarter, Zelnick said.The risk/reward "leans favorably," with Salesforce's shares having underperformed the iShares expanded tech-software sector exchange traded fund by about 21% since it posted its last financial results, with fiscal 2027 set for a second-half acceleration, according to Deutsche Bank.However, Salesforce's depressed valuation reflects long-term uncertainties surrounding AI and potentially limiting the stock's outperformance in the short term, barring "substantial estimate revisions," Zelnick said."We tend to believe AI-related concerns underappreciate the opportunity for software companies to adapt to new paradigms, in addition to the timeline over which any disruption might occur," the analyst wrote.Price: $180.48, Change: $+1.00, Percent Change: +0.55%

$CRM
Research

BofA Securities Downgrades Salesforce to Underperform From Buy, Price Target is $160

Salesforce (CRM) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $259.53, according to analysts polled by FactSet.(covers equity, commodity and economic research from major banks and research firms in North America, Asia and Europe. Research providers may contact us here: https://www..com/contact-us)

$CRM
Wire

Ribbon, Salesforce Partner for AI Contact Center Offering

Ribbon Communications (RBBN) said Thursday it is providing voice communication technology to Salesforce (CRM) for its new agentic AI contact center offering, Agentforce Contact Center.The technology, including Session Border Controller Cloud Native edition and Policy and Routing Engine, routes and helps secure voice calls to agentic AI and human agents using the contact center, the company said.Ribbon and Salesforce worked together to install the software on multiple Amazon Web Services instances, it added.Shares of Ribbon were up about 6% in morning trading.Price: $2.76, Change: $+0.16, Percent Change: +5.96%

$CRM$RBBN
Nasdaq, S&P 500 Retreat From Record Highs Amid Losses in Tech Sector
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Retreat From Record Highs Amid Losses in Tech Sector

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 fell Tuesday as technology shares slid, with traders apparently spooked by a hotter-than-anticipated inflation report and higher oil prices.The Nasdaq shed 0.7% to 26,088.2, while the S&P 500 lost 0.2% to 7,401, following their back-to-back record closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% to 49,760.6, rising for a third consecutive session. Most sectors ended in the green, led by healthcare, while consumer discretionary saw the steepest decline.Shares of several big tech names tumbled with Qualcomm (QCOM) sliding nearly 12%, the worst performer on the S&P 500. Intel (INTC) followed Qualcomm on the index, down 6.8%. Salesforce (CRM) dropped 3.5%, the steepest decline on the Dow, followed by IBM (IBM), which fell 1.9%.Micron Technology (MU), Oracle (ORCL), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Dell Technologies (DELL), Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon.com (AMZN) also logged declines.In economic news, US annual consumer inflation accelerated in April to the fastest pace in almost three years as energy prices surged amid the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy components, hit a seven-month high, official data showed."The unfavorable and larger-than-expected jump in core prices shows pressures are now spreading beyond energy, transportation, and food, into larger categories such as services and housing," Scott Anderson, chief US economist at BMO, said in a report. "If the energy price shock doesn't subside soon, we can expect more of the same in the months ahead."Energy prices surged nearly 18% annually last month, marking the biggest jump since September 2022, official data showed."The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is doing significant damage to the (Federal Reserve's) ability to hold the line on inflation," Anderson said. "At a minimum, this inflation report will keep the Fed on hold longer and may facilitate a move toward a more neutral policy stance at upcoming meetings -- removing the (Federal Open Market Committee's) implicit rate cut bias."The Fed, which late last month kept its policy rate steady for a third consecutive meeting, is widely expected to stay put again next month, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Its latest policy statement include an easing bias, which was opposed by three regional presidents.Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said inflation data on the services side was "unexpectedly disappointing," Reuters reported.Inflation is "going the wrong way, and it's going the wrong way not just in oil-related things and not just in tariff-related things," Goolsbee was quoted as saying at an event in Rockford, Illinois.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year rate up five basis points at 4.46% and the two-year rate rising 3.2 basis points to 4%.West Texas Intermediate crude was last up 4.4% at $102.39 per barrel, while Brent rose 3.5% to $107.86.US President Donald Trump recently rejected Iran's counteroffer to end the war, extending uncertainty around oil flows through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.Trump is now more seriously considering restarting military operations against Iran than he has in recent weeks, CNN reported, citing his aides. Trump, who will fly to Beijing this week, reportedly said he will have a "long talk" about the Iran war with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, though he downplayed the idea he would want China to play a role in ending the conflict."The global oil market continued to tighten amid limited prospects for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," Saxo Bank said in a report.In company news, EBay (EBAY) rejected video game retailer GameStop's (GME) proposal to acquire the e-commerce company in what would have been a $55.5 billion deal. EBAY shares rose 2.1%, while GameStop fell 3.5%.Gold was last down 0.2% at $4,721.20 per troy ounce, while silver gained 1.6% to $87.30 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$AMZN$CRM$DELL$EBAY$GME$IBM$INTC$MSFT$MU$ORCL$QCOM
Equities Fall Intraday Amid Tech Sell-Off
US Markets

Equities Fall Intraday Amid Tech Sell-Off

US benchmark equity indexes were mostly lower intraday, weighed down by a technology sell-off, as investors assessed the latest consumer inflation report.The Nasdaq Composite was down 1.5% at 25,886.7 after midday Tuesday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.6% to 7,368.1. Both indexes hit new peaks in the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 49,708.5.Among sectors, tech saw the steepest decline, shedding 2%, while healthcare paced the gainers.Shares of several big tech names were down intraday Tuesday, with Qualcomm (QCOM) sliding 13%, the worst performer on the S&P 500. Intel (INTC) followed Qualcomm on the index, down 9.3%. Salesforce (CRM) declined 2.9%, the steepest decline on the Dow.Oracle (ORCL), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Dell Technologies (DELL) fell about 5% each. Amazon.com (AMZN) and IBM (IBM) also logged declines, with Microsoft (MSFT) and Nvidia (NVDA) marginally lower.In economic news, US annual consumer inflation accelerated in April to the fastest pace in almost three years as energy prices surged amid the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy components, accelerated to the fastest since September, official data showed."A hotter-than-expected CPI report underscores the ongoing impact of higher energy prices seeping further into the economy with the core jumping to a seven-month high," Stifel Chief Economist Lindsey Piegza said in a note emailed to.Energy prices surged nearly 18% annually last month, marking the biggest jump since September 2022, official data showed."This morning's numbers reinforce why the (Federal Reserve) needs to remain patient," Thomas Feltmate, senior economist at TD Economics, said in a report. "With secondary price effects from higher energy prices likely to intensify in the months ahead, we're likely to see core measures of inflation drift a bit higher and hover around 3% through year-end."The Fed, which late last month kept its policy rate steady for a third consecutive meeting, is widely expected to stay put again next month, according to the CME FedWatch tool.US Treasury yields were higher intraday Tuesday, with the 10-year rate up 4.9 basis points at 4.46% and the two-year rate rising 4.4 basis points to 4.01%.West Texas Intermediate crude was up 3.7% at $101.67 per barrel intraday Tuesday, while Brent rose 3.3% to $107.66.US President Donald Trump recently rejected Iran's counteroffer to end the war, extending uncertainty around oil flows through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.Trump is now more seriously considering restarting military operations against Iran than he has in recent weeks, CNN reported, citing his aides."The global oil market continued to tighten amid limited prospects for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz." Saxo Bank said in a report.In company news, EBay (EBAY) rejected video game retailer GameStop's (GME) proposal to acquire the e-commerce company in what would have been a $55.5 billion deal. EBAY shares were up 0.8% intraday, while GameStop fell 0.7%.Gold was down 0.9% at $4,688.10 per troy ounce, while silver lost 0.4% to $85.60 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMD$AMZN$CRM$DELL$EBAY$GME$IBM$INTC$MSFT$NVDA$ORCL$QCOM
Wire

Salesforce, Pearson Expand Partnership to Strengthen Employee AI Readiness

Salesforce (CRM) and Pearson said Tuesday they have expanded their strategic partnership aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence readiness and skills development across Salesforce's global workforce.The multi-year collaboration creates an AI-based approach to workforce development by combining Salesforce's customer relationship management technologies with Pearson's expertise in skills intelligence, assessment, and learning design, according to the statement.This partnership will help Salesforce predict emerging role needs, develop critical capabilities at scale, and validate skills across its organization, the statement added.Price: $174.92, Change: $-2.57, Percent Change: -1.45%

$CRM
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Log Record Finish, Extend Streak of Weekly Gains

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 reached new peaks on Friday, scoring their fifth consecutive weekly gains.The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.9% to 25,114.4, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.3% to 7,230.1, both notching record closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.3% to 49,499.3. Barring technology and consumer discretionary, all sectors ended in the red, led by energy.This week, the Nasdaq gained 1.1%, while the S&P 500 added 0.9%, their fifth weekly rise in a row. The Dow is up 0.6% after last week's 0.4% loss.Apple (AAPL) shares jumped 3.2% on Friday, the second-biggest gainer on the Dow. Late Thursday, the tech giant logged fiscal second-quarter results above Wall Street's estimates as iPhone revenue came in stronger than expected.Apple's fiscal third-quarter revenue guidance was well above the Street's estimates despite supply constraints for Mac models that will likely continue for several months, Wedbush Securities said in a note.Several other tech names advanced, with Oracle (ORCL) up 6.5%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500, while Salesforce (CRM) climbed 4.1%, the best performer on the Dow. Shares of Intel (INTC), Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon.com (AMZN) also rose.In other company news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) reported year-over-year declines in their first-quarter earnings amid supply disruptions due to the Middle East war, though the figures came in ahead of the Street's estimates. Exxon shares fell 1%, while Chevron lost 1.4%.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.7% at $102.20 per barrel in Friday late-afternoon trade, while Brent dropped 1.7% to $108.57. Both benchmarks, however, were on track for their second consecutive weekly advance."Brent crude remains elevated after touching a fresh wartime high late in April, supported by worsening physical tightness and rising concern about outright shortages in some regions," Saxo Bank Head of Commodity Strategy Ole Hansen said in a report. "The near closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to prolong a disruption that is steadily tightening global energy markets, with flows through one of the world's most important oil arteries still severely restricted."US President Donald Trump said he is displeased with a new peace offer from Iran, CNBC reported Friday.Israel struck the Habbouch town in southern Lebanon, CNN reported, citing Lebanon's health ministry.US Treasury yields were mixed, with the 10-year rate up 1.3 basis points at 4.39% and the two-year rate little changed at 3.88%.In economic news, the US manufacturing sector saw continued growth in April, though inflationary pressures intensified amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, separate surveys by the Institute for Supply Management and S&P Global (SPGI) showed.Three Federal Reserve officials who wanted language changes in the April monetary policy statement said Friday that risks to inflation and employment didn't warrant an inclusion of the so-called easing bias.On Wednesday, regional presidents Beth Hammack of Cleveland, Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis and Lorie Logan of Dallas supported the Fed's decision to keep its benchmark lending rate steady, but opposed including an easing bias in the Federal Open Market Committee statement.Gold was down 0.1% at $4,623.30 per troy ounce, while silver climbed 2.6% to $75.95 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$CRM$CVX$INTC$MSFT$ORCL$SPGI$XOM
US Markets

Equity Markets Mostly Rise Intraday as Apple Helps Lift Tech

US benchmark equity indexes were mostly higher intraday as a post-earnings rally in Apple (AAPL) shares helped lift the technology sector, while oil prices fell.The Nasdaq Composite was up 1.2% at 25,183.1 after midday Friday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 7,252.5. Both benchmarks hit new closing highs in the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 49,661.6 intraday Friday.Among sectors, tech paced the gainers with a 1.7% jump, while energy saw the biggest drop.Apple shares were up 4%, the best performer on the Dow. Late Thursday, the tech giant logged fiscal second-quarter results above Wall Street's estimates as iPhone revenue came in stronger than expected.Apple's fiscal third-quarter revenue guidance was well above the Street's estimates despite supply constraints for Mac models that will likely continue for several months, Wedbush Securities said in a note.Several other big tech names were also advancing intraday, with Oracle (ORCL) up 7.4%, among the biggest gainers on the S&P 500. Shares of Intel (INTC), Salesforce (CRM), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon.com (AMZN), Cisco Systems (CSCO), and IBM (IBM) were also higher.In other company news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) reported year-over-year declines in their first-quarter earnings amid supply disruptions due to the Middle East war, though the figures came in ahead of the Street's estimates. Exxon shares were down 1.2% intraday, while Chevron lost 1.5%, the second-worst performer on the Dow.West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.1% to $101.82 per barrel, while Brent crude was down 2.1% at $108.04.US President Donald Trump said he is displeased with a new peace offer from Iran, noting that Tehran "wants to make a deal, but I'm not satisfied with it," CNBC reported Friday.Israeli strikes against the Habbouch town in southern Lebanon have killed six people, CNN reported, citing Lebanon's health ministry.US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 1.4 basis points at 4.38% and the two-year rate losing one basis point to 3.88%.In economic news, the US manufacturing sector saw continued growth in April, though inflationary pressures intensified amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, separate surveys by the Institute for Supply Management and S&P Global (SPGI) showed."The prices-paid index's steep climb to multiyear highs -- alongside the conspicuous slowdown in supplier deliveries -- signals mounting supply-chain stress and inflationary pressures driven by surging energy prices and war-related disruptions," TD Economics said in a note. "These resurgent price pressures are keeping the Federal Reserve on alert, supporting expectations that any additional monetary policy easing is unlikely in the near term."Three Fed officials who wanted language changes in the April monetary policy statement said Friday that risks to inflation and employment didn't warrant an inclusion of the so-called easing bias.On Wednesday, regional presidents Beth Hammack of Cleveland, Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis and Lorie Logan of Dallas supported the Fed's decision to keep its benchmark lending rate steady, but opposed including an easing bias in the Federal Open Market Committee statement.Gold rose 0.4% to $4,647 per troy ounce, while silver climbed 3% to $76.23 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$CRM$CSCO$CVX$IBM$INTC$MSFT$ORCL$SPGI$XOM
Wire

Salesforce Says Moderna Selects Agentforce Platform to Consolidate Commercial Operations

Salesforce (CRM) said Tuesday that Moderna (MRNA) has selected its Agentforce Life Sciences platform to consolidate commercial operations worldwide.The platform will combine data, artificial intelligence, and customer interactions across multiple regions into a single system, Salesforce said.The agreement allows the drugmaker to integrate information from different networks to generate real-time insights for cross-channel promotional campaigns, Salesforce said.The software's open architecture will connect various operations to support Moderna in scaling without vendor restrictions, the company added.Price: $182.49, Change: $+2.31, Percent Change: +1.28%

$CRM$MRNA
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Retreat From Record Highs as Tech Shares Fall, Oil Climbs

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 pulled back from record highs on Thursday, dragged down by a sell-off in technology stocks, while oil prices rose.The Nasdaq fell 0.9% to 24,438.5, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.4% to 7,108.4, a day after both indexes notched record-high closing levels. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4% to 49,310.3. Tech saw the steepest decline among sectors, shedding 1.5%, while utilities paced the gainers with a 2.8% advance.ServiceNow (NOW) shares sank nearly 18%, the worst performer on the S&P 500, following its quarterly results.Shares of other major tech names also fell, with Salesforce (CRM) down 8.7%, the steepest decline on the Dow. Microsoft (MSFT) lost 4%, while tech bellwether Nvidia (NVDA) shed 1.4%.International Business Machines (IBM) followed Salesforce on the Dow, as the stock tumbled 8.3%. Late Wednesday, the technology giant maintained its full-year revenue growth outlook even as it reported first-quarter results above Wall Street's estimates.Tesla (TSLA) slumped 3.6% despite the company reporting stronger-than-expected first-quarter results. The electric vehicle manufacturer is ramping up its capital investments, which will result in a negative free cash flow for the rest of 2026, according to Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja.Tesla's aggressive capital spending on artificial intelligence initiatives should boost revenue, though it may take some time before those gains materialize, UBS Securities said in a Thursday note to clients.American Express (AXP) shares fell 4.3%, also among the biggest declines on the Dow, even as the payments company reported better-than-expected first-quarter results and reiterated its full-year outlook.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 3.7% at $96.37 per barrel in Thursday late-afternoon trade, on track for its fifth day of gains. Brent rose 3.8% to $105.82, extending its advance to a fourth day.US President Donald Trump ordered the US navy to "shoot and kill any boat" placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, he said in a social media post on Thursday. Separately, Trump claimed that the US has "total control" over the key oil supply chokepoint.Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran earlier in the week, though he said the naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday reportedly seized two tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz."Hopes for a resolution between the US and Iran are fading as peace talks stall," ING Bank said Thursday in a report. "If no progress is made, the market will become increasingly numb to the noise and headlines that have dictated price action recently."A second round of ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon was scheduled to take place at the White House on Thursday, according to media reports. On April 16, Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year rate up 2.2 basis points at 4.33% and the two-year rate rising 3.6 basis points to 3.84%.In economic news, government data showed weekly applications for unemployment insurance in the US increased more than expected, while continuing claims largely matched Wall Street's estimates."We remain of the mind that the conflict in Iran is unlikely to cause significant disruptions in the US labor market," Jefferies Chief US Economist Thomas Simons said in a note on Thursday. "There are many vulnerable points in the global economy that are at risk in the near-term due to potential shortages of all sorts of commodities, but for better or worse, the US economy is likely going to be the most insulated in the world."Gold was down 0.9% at $4,712.20 per troy ounce, while silver lost 3.2% to $75.46 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AXP$CRM$IBM$MSFT$NOW$NVDA$TSLA
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Notch Peaks as Earnings Fuel Optimism

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 hit record highs on Wednesday as upbeat corporate results overshadowed a rise in oil prices following Iran's seizure of two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.The Nasdaq rose 1.6% to 24,657.6, while the S&P 500 climbed 1.1% to 7,137.9, both finishing at all-time highs after a two-day losing streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7% to 49,490.Most sectors were in the green, led by technology's 2.3% 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 jumped 5.5%, the best performer on the Dow.Boston Scientific (BSX) shares surged 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 jumped 7%.A number of tech stocks climbed, with Micron (MU) up 8.5%, among the biggest gains on the S&P 500. Apple (AAPL) rose 2.6%, the second-best performer on the Dow. Microsoft (MSFT) and Salesforce (CRM) also rose.West Texas Intermediate crude rose 3.3% to $92.58 per barrel in Wednesday late-afternoon trade, while Brent jumped 3% to $101.44.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.Trump does not consider Iran's claim that it seized two ships as a violation of the ceasefire, CNN reported, citing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.Tehran welcomes dialogue, but "breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X on Wednesday."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, with the 10-year rate little changed at 4.31% and the two-year rate up 2.7 basis points at 3.81%.Gold was up 0.9% at $4,759.60 per troy ounce, while silver gained 1.7% to $77.75 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$BA$BSX$CRM$MSFT$MU$PM
US Markets

Equities Higher Intraday Amid Strong Earnings Reports; Oil Rises

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.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$BA$BSX$CRM$IBM$MSFT$MU$PM$TSLA$TXN
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Hit New Highs Amid US-Iran Peace Talk Prospects

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 notched record highs on Wednesday, buoyed by hopes that another round of peace talks between the US and Iran will likely result in a deal.The Nasdaq rose 1.6% to 24,016, marking the 11th consecutive one-day gain in a row, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.8% to 7,023. Both are new closing highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% to 48,463.7.Most sectors ended in the red, led by materials, while tech saw the biggest gain.Microsoft (MSFT) shares climbed 4.6%, the top gainer on the Dow, with fellow tech majors Salesforce (CRM), Apple (AAPL), and IBM (IBM) among the best performers on the index.Reports suggest Washington and Tehran could return to Pakistan for a second round of talks ahead of the deadline for a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. The first round of negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough."We feel good about the prospects of a deal," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday, CNN reported."Markets have grown more confident that the Middle East crisis is moving toward a resolution, with the US and Iran arranging a second round of talks, and Tehran seemingly willing to halt shipments to avoid testing the US naval blockade," ING Bank said in a report.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 0.1% at $91.16 a barrel in Wednesday late-afternoon trade, while Brent gained 0.1% to $94.91.In company news, shares of retail brokers jumped, with Robinhood Markets (HOOD) up 10%, the best performer on the S&P 500. Webull (BULL) jumped 11%, while Interactive Brokers Group (IBKR) rose 3.4%.The rally followed the approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission of a rule change that would eliminate the $25,000 minimum equity requirement for so-called "pattern day traders."Morgan Stanley (MS) and Bank of America's (BAC) first-quarter results topped Wall Street's estimates. Morgan Stanley's shares climbed 4.5%, while Bank of America rose 1.8%.Snap (SNAP) rallied 7.9%. The social media company plans to lay off about 1,000 employees, or roughly 16% of its full-time workforce, as part of Chief Executive Evan Spiegel's efforts to reduce costs.In economic news, US homebuilder confidence sank this month to the lowest since September amid economic uncertainty, as well as increasing building material costs and interest rates, the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said."Builder sentiment has fallen back in spring as buyers face ongoing elevated interest rates and growing economic uncertainty," NAHB Chairman Bill Owens said. "The year started with hopes for housing momentum growth, but risks with respect to the Iran war, energy costs, and declines for consumer confidence have slowed the market."US Treasury yields were higher, with the 10-year rate up 2.8 basis points at 4.28% and the two-year rate rising 1.5 basis points to 3.77%.Gold was last down 0.7% at $4,816.50 per troy ounce, while silver fell 0.3% to $79.32 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$BAC$BULL$CRM$HOOD$IBKR$IBM$MS$MSFT$SNAP
US Markets

Equities Mostly Rise Intraday as Trump Reportedly Says War Likely 'Very Close to Over'

US benchmark equity indexes were mostly higher intraday as President Donald Trump reportedly said the Iran was likely "very close to over."The Nasdaq Composite was up 1% at 23,873.7 after midday Wednesday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 6,998.1. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3% to 48,376.9. Among sectors, consumer discretionary and technology paced the gainers, while industrials saw the steepest drop.Microsoft (MSFT) shares were up 4.4%, the top gainer on the Dow, with fellow tech majors Salesforce (CRM), Apple (AAPL), and IBM (IBM) among the best performers on the index.Trump said he sees the US-Israel war with Iran "as very close to over," news outlets reported, citing an interview on Fox Business Network conducted Tuesday and broadcast Wednesday. "We'll see what happens," Trump reportedly said. "I think they want to make a deal very badly."The army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Iran to try to prevent a renewal of the conflict, media outlets reported Wednesday."Markets have grown more confident that the Middle East crisis is moving toward a resolution, with the US and Iran arranging a second round of talks, and Tehran seemingly willing to halt shipments to avoid testing the US naval blockade," ING Bank said in a report.Iran's military has threatened to shut down shipping operations in the Red Sea, as well as the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman if a US blockade of its ports continues, CNN reported.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.7% at $91.87 a barrel intraday, while Brent gained 0.6% to $95.40.In economic news, US homebuilder confidence sank this month to the lowest since September amid economic uncertainty, as well as increasing building material costs and interest rates, the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said."Builder sentiment has fallen back in spring as buyers face ongoing elevated interest rates and growing economic uncertainty," NAHB Chairman Bill Owens said. "The year started with hopes for housing momentum growth, but risks with respect to the Iran war, energy costs, and declines for consumer confidence have slowed the market."US Treasury yields were higher intraday, with the 10-year rate up 3.2 basis points at 4.29% and the two-year rate rising 2.1 basis points to 3.78%.In company news, Morgan Stanley (MS) and Bank of America's (BAC) first-quarter results topped Wall Street's estimates. Morgan Stanley's shares were up 4.6%, while Bank of America rose 2.2%.Snap (SNAP) shares jumped 7.6%. The social media company plans to lay off about 1,000 employees, or roughly 16% of its full-time workforce, as part of Chief Executive Evan Spiegel's efforts to reduce costs.Gold was down 0.7% at $4,815.30 per troy ounce, while silver fell 0.4% to $79.18 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$BAC$CRM$IBM$MS$MSFT$SNAP
US Markets

Nasdaq Extends Rally to 9th Day as Tech Stocks Jump

The Nasdaq Composite advanced for the ninth straight session on Monday as US equity markets benefited from a jump in technology stocks.The Nasdaq climbed 1.2% to 23,183.7, while the S&P 500 added 1% to 6,886.2. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6% to 48,218.3. Barring utilities and consumer staples, all sectors ended in the green, led by tech and financials.Oracle (ORCL) shares surged nearly 13%, the top gainer on the S&P 500. The company said it introduced artificial intelligence-focused updates to its utilities software suite at its customer edge summit, targeting improvements in billing, grid operations, and asset management.ServiceNow (NOW), Dell Technologies (DELL), Salesforce (CRM) and Microsoft (MSFT) were among tech stocks that registered gains.US earnings growth expectations appear to have shrugged off uncertainty around the Iran war, with markets betting on stronger corporate results this year than those projected before the war began, BlackRock Investment Institute said in a note on Monday.BlackRock upgraded its rating on US stocks to overweight from neutral, saying the Middle East conflict will likely drive limited economic damage.Oil prices, which jumped above $100 per barrel earlier on Monday amid a US blockade of maritime traffic around Iran's ports, pared gains, with West Texas Intermediate crude oil last up 1.3% at $97.83. Brent advanced 3.1% to $98.18.The blockade started at 10 am ET Monday. The development came after the US and Iran failed to reach a deal during negotiations in Pakistan over the weekend, fueling concerns over an already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.US President Donald Trump said Iran called this morning and that "they'd like to work a deal," according to a Reuters report. Despite the failed peace talks, a two-week ceasefire announced last week still holds.Trump's remarks come as Iran has vowed to retaliate following the US blockade, CNN reported. The Iran-controlled strait has been effectively shut since the war began at the end of February.Trump is mulling over limited strikes against Iran following the failed negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation."As the conflict with Iran enters its seventh week, persistent concern about the time it will take to arrive at an effective resolution to the conflict will, however, likely remain for now as a negative overhang for market participants to navigate," said John Stoltzfus, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer Asset Management.Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries lowered its second-quarter oil demand forecast due to the Middle East conflict, but maintained its full-year estimates amid expectations for a rebound in the second half.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate last down 4.7 basis points at 4.29% and the two-year rate dropping 2.7 basis points to 3.78%.In company news, Goldman Sachs (GS) on Monday posted first-quarter results above market estimates, while Chief Executive David Solomon said a protracted Middle East conflict could pose upside risks to inflation. The lender's shares fell 1.9%, the worst performer on the Dow.JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Citigroup (C) are scheduled to release their quarterly results on Tuesday, while Bank of America (BAC) and Morgan Stanley (MS) will announce their results on Wednesday. Outside the banking sector, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Netflix (NFLX) and PepsiCo (PEP) are set to release their results this week.In economic news, US existing home sales decreased in March as softening job growth and weaker consumer confidence continued to deter potential buyers, data from the National Association of Realtors showed.Gold was last down 0.4% at $4,766.30 per troy ounce, while silver dropped 1.1% to $75.67 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BAC$C$CRM$DELL$GS$JNJ$JPM$MS$MSFT$NFLX$NOW$ORCL$PEP$WFC
International

US Equity Indexes Rise Amid Gains in Tech, Financials; Crude Oil Pares Gains on Hopes for Iran Deal

US equity indexes rose, with financials and technology topping sector charts, and crude oil futures paring gains after President Donald Trump attempted to cool geopolitical tensions.The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.2% to 23,183.74, the S&P 500 climbed 1% to 6,886.24, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.6% to 48,218.25. Defensive sectors -- consumer staples and utilities -- were the lone decliners.All three indexes clawed back intraday declines after President Trump said that "we've been called by the other side," referring to Iran. The US-Tehran talks in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, over the weekend ended without a lasting peace pact, as uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz remained the main sticking points."They'd like to make a deal very badly," Trump was cited as saying in media reports.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 1.6% to $98.14, and Brent crude futures climbed 3.2% to $98.27, after surging more than 7.5% each intraday.The CBOE Volatility Index slipped 0.6% to 19.12, after touching an intraday high of 21.58.US Treasury yields mostly fell, with the 10-year yield down 2.2 basis points to 4.30%, after rates rose across most of the yield curve earlier in the session.Trump's comments come as the US military blockade on all traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports came into effect on Monday, CNN reported.More than 15 US warships are in place to support the operation, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior official."If any of these ships [that the president refers to as Iran's 'fast attack ships'] come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED," Trump said on his Truth Social post. Iran said no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman would be safe if its ports are threatened, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.A US blockade might stop Iran's flow of oil revenue without destroying or capturing Iran's Kharg Island oil loading point, and so "potentially avoid escalatory Iranian attacks on its Gulf neighbors," according to a note from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs (GS), which reported higher Q1 earnings and net revenue pre-bell, is launching a new three-tranche offering in the US investment-grade debt market, with bond maturities spanning four to eight years, Bloomberg said Monday, citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter.The Q1 earnings season has begun in earnest with the release of Goldman Sachs' quarterly results. Mega-cap banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), and Morgan Stanley (MS), will report this week.Further in company news, Oracle (ORCL) said Monday it introduced AI-focused updates to its utilities software suite at its customer edge summit, targeting improvements in billing, grid operations, and asset management. Shares of the technology giant were up 13%, the top gainer on the S&P 500.Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow's (NOW) recent sell-offs amid the broader software disposal are disconnected from the artificial intelligence opportunities over the coming years, Wedbush said Monday. Shares of Salesforce and Microsoft were up 4.8% and 3.6%, respectively, the Dow's top gainers.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BAC$C$CRM$GS$JPM$MS$MSFT$NOW$ORCL
Sectors

Sector Update: Tech Stocks Gain Late Afternoon

Tech stocks were higher late Monday afternoon, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) rising 1.7% and the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) adding 2.4%.The Philadelphia Semiconductor index climbed 1.4%.In corporate news, Oracle (ORCL) said it introduced AI-focused updates to its utilities software suite at its customer edge summit, targeting improvements in billing, grid operations, and asset management. Oracle shares jumped 12%.The recent sell-offs in Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW) amid broader software apathy are disconnected from the AI opportunities over the coming years, as enterprises prioritize integrating AI across tech stacks, Wedbush said in a note. Shares of Salesforce and Microsoft were up 4.7% and 3.2%, respectivelyIntel (INTC) is seen with a modest upside bias to its fiscal Q1 results and full-year outlook, driven by resilient PC demand and a sharp inflection in server CPU demand, along with pricing gains of roughly 10%, UBS Securities said in a note. UBS maintained its neutral rating on the stock but raised its price target to $65 from $51. Intel shares rose 4.4%.

$CRM$INTC$MSFT$ORCL
International

US Equity Indexes Rise Amid Tech Gains; Crude Oil Jumps as Hormuz Blockade Takes Effect

US equity indexes were higher in Monday's midday trading amid gains in technology and financials.Crude oil futures jumped as geopolitical risk mounted after Iran negotiations failed to yield a lasting peace deal.The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7% to 23,061.8, and the S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to 6,849.6. Both gauges traded lower earlier in the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was slightly up at 47,944.8.Defensive sectors -- consumer staples and utilities -- led the decliners. The financial services sector was among the top gainers, ahead of quarterly earnings from mega-cap banks due this week.Goldman Sachs (GS), which reported higher Q1 earnings and net revenue pre-bell, is launching a new three-tranche offering in the US investment-grade debt market, with bond maturities spanning four to eight years, Bloomberg said Monday, citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter.Shares of the investment bank dropped 2.5% intraday, the steepest decline on the Dow.Further in company news, Oracle (ORCL) said it introduced AI-focused updates to its utilities software suite at its customer edge summit, targeting improvements in billing, grid operations, and asset management. Shares of the technology giant were up 11% intraday, the top gainer on the S&P 500.The recent sell-offs in Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM), and ServiceNow (NOW) amid broader software apathy are disconnected from the artificial intelligence opportunities over the coming years, as enterprises prioritize integrating AI across tech stacks, Wedbush said in a note. Shares of Salesforce and Microsoft were up 4.7% and 2.9%, respectively, intraday, the Dow's top gainers.Meanwhile, the CBOE Volatility Index was still up 3.7% to 19.93, after touching an intraday high of 21.58, as geopolitical risk remained elevated after the Iran peace talks brokered by Pakistan ended without an agreement with the US.The US military blockade on all traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports started at 10 a.m. ET Monday, after weekend peace talks in Pakistan faltered, CNN reported Monday. "If any of these ships [a reference to what the president calls Iran's 'fast attack ships'] come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED," President Donald Trump said on a social media post.Iran responded by saying that no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman would be safe if its ports are threatened, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday."Once again, high stakes negotiations between the US and Iran deadlocked over Washington's zero uranium enrichment demand, setting the stage for further escalation in the 6-week war and prolonged supply disruptions in advance of summer driving season," Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy and MENA research at RBC Capital Markets, said in a note.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures jumped 5.3% to $101.68, and Brent crude futures climbed 5.5% to $100.40, after surging more than 7.5% earlier in the session.US Treasury yields rose as gains in crude oil futures reignited inflation concerns. The 10-year yield was up 1.6 basis points to 4.33%, and the two-year rate climbed 1.3 basis points to 3.81%. In precious metals, gold futures fell 1.3% to $4,726.9 and silver futures declined 3.3% to $73.97.In US economic news, the pace of US existing home sales fell by 3.6% to a 3.98 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in March from 4.13 million in February, compared with a smaller decrease expected to a 4.05 million rate in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET, data from the National Association of Realtors released Monday showed. Total sales were down 1% from a year earlier."March home sales remained sluggish and below last year's pace," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Lower consumer confidence and softer job growth continue to hold back buyers."

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$CRM$GS$MSFT$NOW$ORCL
Wire

Microsoft, Salesforce Recent Sell-Offs Disconnected From Emerging AI Monetization Opportunities, Wedbush Says

Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce (CRM) and ServiceNow's (NOW) recent sell-offs amid the broader software disposal are disconnected from the AI opportunities over the coming years, with enterprises moving to integrate AI across their tech stacks on a priority, Wedbush said in a note Monday.The brokerage said its tech team has seen a rapid pace of enterprise AI adoption over the past few weeks, as per conversations with multiple customers and partners across the board including throughout Asia, furthering its enterprise software sector AI monetization thesis.Increased AI usage is also lowering the cost and skill required to execute sophisticated cyber attacks, Wedbush said, adding that AI in cybersecurity does not reduce the need for endpoints and their vendors, but multiplies it as more enterprises deploy LLM-powered agents, meaning more run-time monitoring and identity governance.In this context, Wedbush said its favorites included CrowdStrike (CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Zscaler (ZS), Check Point Software (CHKP), and Rubrik (RBRK).Price: $378.62, Change: $+7.75, Percent Change: +2.09%

$CHKP$CRM$CRWD$MSFT$NOW$PANW$RBRK$ZS
US Markets

ServiceNow's Moat Threatened Amid Growing AI Automation Risks, UBS Says in Downgrade

ServiceNow's (NOW) competitive advantage may have eroded amid growing evidence that workflow automation tasks can be automated by harnessing artificial intelligence models, UBS Securities said in a note e-mailed Friday.The company, which provides both software- and platform-as-a-service offerings, may also be facing headwinds from indications of reduced enterprise spending on non-AI or core software, the brokerage said."Our view to date, and the reason why ServiceNow has been our only buy-rated application software stock, has been that it has a wider moat and a more compelling 'AI winner' narrative than peers such as Salesforce (CRM) and Workday (WDAY)," UBS analysts Karl Keirstead and Claire Gerdes said in a note to clients."Now, we have less confidence in that view given anecdotes that workflow automation tasks can indeed be automated by harnessing AI models, raising the risk that more enterprises may do so instead of upgrading to ServiceNow's Pro Plus/Now Assist stock keeping unit," the duo wrote.UBS downgraded its rating on the ServiceNow stock to neutral from buy and lowered its price target to $100 from $170.The company's shares were down 8.6% in Friday afternoon trade, bringing its year-to-date losses to 46%.UBS said it now sees ServiceNow posting "skinnier-than-normal" beats in the quarters ahead."While ServiceNow has a strong track record of beating its guidance and hence we're not calling for a miss, the most likely scenario now appears to be skinnier-than-normal beats in the coming quarters and more limited upside to the guidance for stable organic (constant-current subscription revenue) growth of 19% in 2026," the analysts said.Earlier this year, ServiceNow agreed to integrate OpenAI's AI models directly into its business software under a multiyear deal aimed at helping accelerate enterprise AI adoption and outcomes.ServiceNow is scheduled to report first-quarter financial results April 22.Price: $82.33, Change: $-7.48, Percent Change: -8.33%

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