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Morgan Stanley

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111 stories mentioning Morgan StanleyUpdated 20h ago

Morgan Stanley projected SpaceX's revenue could reach $3.4 trillion by 2040 with adjusted EBITDA topping $2.7 trillion.

US Markets

Big Banks Delivered Strong Capital Markets Performance in First Quarter, RBC Says

Major US banks delivered stronger-than-expected capital markets revenue in the first quarter amid solid gains in advisory and equities trading, RBC Capital Markets said in a note sent to clients Thursday.The combined capital markets revenue of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Morgan Stanley (MS) climbed nearly 20% year over year, according to the brokerage.Their aggregate advisory revenue soared 68%, led by Goldman, RBC said. Total investment baking fees increased 31% from the year-ago quarter, including a boost from equity capital markets."We saw increased advisory revenues due the large deals announced in 2025 that closed in (the first quarter of 2026) and ECM revenues benefited from increased follow-on and convertible offerings," Gerard Cassidy, co-head of global financials research at RBC, said in the note.Equities trading rallied about 26%, with Citigroup logging the strongest performance and JPMorgan showing the smallest gain among the five banks.The banks' combined fixed income, currencies, and commodities revenue grew 10%, Cassidy said. All five banks except for Goldman achieved year-over-year growth in FICC.The lenders were "cautiously optimistic" about investment banking activity in the near term, factoring in macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, according to the brokerage.The deadline for the expiration of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is close. The White House is optimistic about reaching a deal with Tehran, noting that a potential second round of talks would likely be held in Pakistan. Prior peace negotiations in Islamabad ended without a deal last weekend."Many of the investment banks pointed to solid backlogs in (the first quarter) which we believe could be monetized in less volatile market conditions," Cassidy said. "The longer economic uncertainty and heightened market volatility exist, however, the more difficult it will be for the companies to grow their investment banking revenues."Price: $309.39, Change: $+3.46, Percent Change: +1.13%

$BAC$C$GS$JPM$MS
Wire

Morgan Stanley Posts 'Strong' Q1 on Trading Strength, Valuation Appears Stretched, Oppenheimer Says

Morgan Stanley (MS) reported a "strong" Q1 driven by trading and investment banking, but Oppenheimer said in a note Thursday the stock's valuation appears stretched relative to its historical levels.Q1 results came in well above its estimates, helped mainly by stronger trading revenue and better investment banking fees, with Morgan Stanley benefiting from strength in equities and select fixed income businesses driven more by business mix than a broader industry shift, Oppenheimer said.Banking revenue improved sharply, supported by advisory, equity underwriting, and debt issuance. The pipeline remained firm and pointed to a gradual recovery ahead. Expenses were broadly in line with expectations despite higher revenue which reflects cost discipline alongside continued investment in talent and technology.Morgan Stanley's capital position remained strong, with share buybacks higher than expected and management indicating that potential regulatory changes could be broadly capital neutral.Oppenheimer kept its perform rating for Morgan Stanley, adding that its current valuation looks elevated relative to history, and said it prefers Jefferies Financial (JEF) over Morgan Stanley for now.Price: $188.24, Change: $-3.38, Percent Change: -1.76%

$JEF$MS
Wire

Morgan Stanley Likely to Reward Stockholders Through Share Repurchases, Dividend Hikes, RBC Says

Morgan Stanley (MS) is likely to reward shareholders through stock buybacks and dividend hikes, given its excess capital position following robust Q1 results, RBC Capital Markets said in a Wednesday research report.The company's investment services business model with multiple growth engines delivered "outstanding" results in Q1, driven by its premier investment banking and trading businesses, the RBC analysts said.Return on tangible common equity in Q1 expanded to 27.1% from a year earlier, which is a validation of the strategy of connecting institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management into a "unified flywheel" of earnings power, according to the note.The brokerage now expects 2026 and 2027 EPS of $12.10 and $12.80, respectively, from $12 and $12.60 earlier.RBC reiterated its sector perform rating on the stock and the price target of $207 per share.Price: $188.62, Change: $-3.00, Percent Change: -1.57%

$MS
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
Asia Markets

S&P 500 Hits Record Amid Reports Iran Ceasefire to be Extended to Reach Peace Deal

US equity indexes closed mixed on Wednesday as strong gains in growth sectors pushed the S&P 500 to an all-time high amid speculation that the two-week Iran ceasefire could be extended to find a lasting peace agreement.The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.6% to 24,016.02. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,022.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, slipped 0.2% to 48,463.72.The US and Iran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to negotiate a peace deal, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Mediators are seeking technical talks to overcome the most contentious issues -- the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program -- preventing an agreement that would extend beyond next week, when an initial truce will expire, the person told Bloomberg.The CBOE Volatility Index, also known as the fear index, fell 1% to 18.17.Trump said the war with Iran was close to over, telling the world to brace for an "amazing two days," as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran in a bid to prevent a renewed conflict, Reuters reported. Pakistan's military confirmed Field Marshal Asim Munir had arrived in Tehran, the news report said. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Munir, who had mediated the last round of talks, was heading to Iran "to narrow gaps" between the two sides.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 0.2% to $91.06, and Brent crude futures were little changed at $94.84. Both the WTI and Brent futures were up as much as 1% earlier in the session.Technology, consumer discretionary, communication services, and financials led gainers in the final leg of trading. Industrials and materials were among the decliners. Except for Amazon.com (AMZN), all the other Magnificent-7 stocks ended higher. Tesla (TSLA) led the pack, with a gain of 7.6%.Tesla has completed the tape-out of its AI5 chip and is advancing development of AI6 and Dojo3, CEO Elon Musk said on X on Wednesday. Tape-out marks the final design stage before a chip is sent to manufacturing.Morgan Stanley (MS) posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record.In economic news, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rebounded to 11.0 in April from minus 0.2 in March, above the expectations for a 0.0 print in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. The Empire State index is the first manufacturing sector reading for April and suggests a return to expansion.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 2.3 basis points to 4.28% and the two-year higher by one basis point to 3.76%.Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index fell to 34 in April, its lowest since September 2025, from a revised 38 in March, compared with the 37 forecast in a Bloomberg-compiled poll.In precious metals, gold futures fell 0.7%% to $4,816.1 and silver futures declined 0.3% to $79.32.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AMZN$MS$TSLA
Sectors

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon

Financial stocks were mixed in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index shedding 0.1% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.9%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 2%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was decreasing 0.1%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was rising 1.5% to $75,233, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries increased 2.5 basis points to 4.28%In economic news, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rebounded to 11.0 in April from minus 0.2 in March, above the expectations for a 0.0 print in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.The National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index fell to 34 in April from a revised 38 in March, compared with expectations for 37 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.In corporate news, Morgan Stanley (MS) plans to raise $10 billion in one of the largest bond sales by a Wall Street bank, following its Q1 results, Bloomberg reported. Morgan Stanley posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record. Its shares climbed past 4%.Bank of America's (BAC) Q1 results topped Wall Street's estimates, buoyed by double-digit gains in investment banking and asset management fees, while Chief Executive Brian Moynihan said factors including robust consumer spending indicate a resilient US economy. Its shares rose 2.2%.Pacific Investment Management said it bought the entire $400 million bond issuance from Blue Owl Capital's (OWL) business development company, signaling confidence in a volatile private credit market, Bloomberg reported. Blue Owl Capital shares jumped past 8%.Ares Management (ARES) Chief Executive Michael Arougheti said private credit defaults are relatively contained, with most of the troubles in the sector caused by a lack of liquidity and high interest rates, Reuters reported Wednesday. Ares shares climbed 6%.

$ARES$BAC$MS$OWL
Japan

US Equity Indexes Mixed Amid Reports Iran Ceasefire May be Extended for Peace Talks

US equity indexes traded mixed ahead of Wednesday's close amid speculation on an extension of the two-week Iran ceasefire, setting the stage for a lasting peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.5% to 23,991.7 and the S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,023.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, declined 0.2% to 48,453.9.The US and Iran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to negotiate a peace deal, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Mediators are seeking technical talks to overcome the most contentious issues -- the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program -- preventing an agreement that would extend beyond next week, when an initial truce will expire, the person told Bloomberg.Trump said the war with Iran was close to over, telling the world to brace for an "amazing two days," as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran in a bid to prevent a renewed conflict, Reuters reported. Pakistan's military confirmed Field Marshal Asim Munir had arrived in Tehran, the news report said. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Munir, who had mediated the last round of talks, was heading to Iran "to narrow gaps" between the two sides.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 0.5% to $90.84, and Brent crude futures slipped less than 0.1% lower to $94.75. Both the WTI and Brent futures were up 1% earlier in the session.Technology, consumer discretionary, communication services, and financials led gainers in the final leg of trading. Industrials and materials were among the decliners.In company news, Morgan Stanley (MS) posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$MS
Wire

Sector Update: Financial

Financial stocks were mixed in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index shedding 0.1% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.9%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 2%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was decreasing 0.1%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was rising 1.5% to $75,233, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries increased 2.5 basis points to 4.28%In corporate news, Morgan Stanley (MS) plans to raise $10 billion in one of the largest bond sales by a Wall Street bank, following its Q1 results, Bloomberg reported. Morgan Stanley posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record. Its shares climbed past 4%.

$MS
Research

Research Alert: CFRA Upgrades To Strong Buy From Buy Opinion On Shares Of Morgan Stanley

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We keep our $220 target price assuming favorable capital market conditions and using a forward 2026 P/E of 17.7x, vs. the three-year (18.0x) and five-year (15.8x) historical averages. We increase our 2026 EPS estimate by $1.00 to $12.45 and 2027's by $0.60 to $12.85 on project revenue of $77.5B (prior $76.1B) and $80.0B (unchanged), respectively. We think the catalyst for higher growth is transactional within trading and investment banking. MS should also benefit from an elevated equity market that will drive higher fee income and net interest income in its Wealth Management and Investment Management segments. MS confirmed improving market conditions for investment banking advisory activities for equity/debt underwriting and M&A transactions in the pipeline for 2026. We are seeing operating leverage drive wider margins, with AI as a potential input to realize better efficiency ratios. Market risks include high asset prices, tight credit spreads, and uncertainty around the future path of interest rates.

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Wire

Market Chatter: Morgan Stanley Set to Raise $10 Billion in Bond Sale

Morgan Stanley (MS) plans to raise $10 billion in one of the largest bond sales by a Wall Street bank, following its Q1 results, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.The bank's four-part offering has maturities ranging from 4 to 11 years, the report said. The longest tenured security is set to yield 1.02 percentage points above Treasuries, compared with initial discussions of about 1.25 percentage points, the person told the media outlet.Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, according to the report.Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to a request for comment by.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $191.71, Change: $+8.37, Percent Change: +4.57%

$MS
Wire

Argus Raises Price Target on Morgan Stanley to $225 From $210

Morgan Stanley (MS) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $194.23, 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://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $191.57, Change: $+8.23, Percent Change: +4.49%

$MS
Wire

Wells Fargo Raises Price Target on Morgan Stanley to $200 From $189

Morgan Stanley (MS) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $194.23, 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://finwires.com/en/contact)Price: $191.68, Change: $+8.34, Percent Change: +4.55%

$MS
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
Sectors

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Rise Wednesday Afternoon

Financial stocks were advancing in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.9%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 2.1%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was decreasing 0.2%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was shedding 0.2% to $74,031, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 2.7 basis points to 4.28%In economic news, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rebounded to 11.0 in April from minus 0.2 in March, above the expectations for a 0.0 print in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.The National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index fell to 34 in April from a revised 38 in March, compared with expectations for 37 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.In corporate news, Morgan Stanley (MS) on Wednesday posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record. Its shares climbed past 4%.Bank of America's (BAC) Q1 results topped Wall Street's estimates buoyed by double-digit gains in investment banking and asset management fees, while Chief Executive Brian Moynihan said factors including robust consumer spending indicate a resilient US economy. Its shares rose 2.2%.Pacific Investment Management said it bought the entire $400 million bond issuance from Blue Owl Capital's (OWL) business development company, signaling confidence in a volatile private credit market, Bloomberg reported. Blue Owl Capital shares jumped past 8%.

$BAC$MS$OWL
Sectors

Sector Update: Financial

Financial stocks were advancing in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index up 0.4% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) adding 0.9%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 2.1%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was decreasing 0.2%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was shedding 0.2% to $74,031, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries was rising 2.7 basis points to 4.28%.In corporate news, Morgan Stanley (MS) on Wednesday posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record. Its shares climbed past 4%.

$MS
Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Mixed as Trump Aims to Cool Geopolitical Risk

US equity indexes traded mixed in midday trading on Wednesday as investors weighed President Donald Trump's attempts to downplay the possibility of an extended war in Iran.The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.8% to 23,836.9, and the S&P 500 rose 0.3% to 6,990.45. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, declined 0.4% to 48,346.9. S&P traded within a hair's breadth of its all-time high of 7,002.28.Technology, consumer discretionary, communication services, and financials were the gainers. Industrials and materials led the decliners.Trump said the war with Iran was close to over, telling the world to brace for an "amazing two days," as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran in a bid to prevent a renewed conflict, Reuters reported. Pakistan's military confirmed Field Marshal Asim Munir had arrived in Tehran, the news report said. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Munir, who had mediated the last round of talks, was heading to Iran "to narrow gaps" between the two sides.Meanwhile, Iran's military has threatened shipping in the Red Sea if the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports, after US Central Command said the blockade has "completely halted" Tehran's economic sea trade, CNN reported.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 0.6% to $91.86, and Brent crude futures climbed 0.9% to $95.69, off their respective session highs."The bottom line is that despite the market's rally since last week, the current ceasefire remains fragile," Thierry Wizman, global foreign-exchange and rates strategist at Macquarie Group, said in a note. "It is currently not letting the oil flow anyway. And if agreement is not reached on the nuclear issue, hostilities may restart, including in the Red Sea."Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 2.7 basis points to 4.28% and the two-year higher by 1.9 basis points to 3.77% as elevated crude oil futures risked firing up the inflation rate.In precious metals, gold futures fell 0.5%% to $4,826.60 and silver futures declined 0.2% to $79.42.In company news, Morgan Stanley (MS) posted stronger-than-expected Q1 results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record.Tesla (TSLA) has completed the tape-out of its AI5 chip and is advancing development of AI6 and Dojo3, CEO Elon Musk said on X on Wednesday. Tape-out marks the final design stage before a chip is sent to manufacturing. Shares of the electric vehicle manufacturer surged 6.3% intraday, among the top gainers on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.In economic news, the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State manufacturing index rebounded to 11.0 in April from minus 0.2 in March, above the expectations for a 0.0 print in a Bloomberg-compiled survey. The Empire State index is the first manufacturing sector reading for April and suggests a return to expansion.The National Association of Home Builders' monthly housing market index fell to 34 in April from a revised 38 in March, compared with expectations for 37 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The index was below 40 a year ago and is at its lowest since September 2025.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$MS$TSLA
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Allbirds to Pivot to AI From Shoes, Stock Soars; Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Q1 Earnings Top Estimates

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were up, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down in late-morning trading Wednesday, as investors remained hopeful that war in Iran could end soon.In company news, Allbirds (BIRD) said Wednesday it has executed a definitive agreement with an institutional investor for a $50 million convertible financing facility that will enable it to pivot its business to artificial intelligence compute infrastructure. The long-term goal is for the company to become a fully integrated "GPU-as-a-Service" and AI-native cloud solutions provider under the new name of NewBird AI, Allbirds said. Shares of Allbirds were up 616.3% around midday.Morgan Stanley (MS) reported Q1 earnings Wednesday of $3.43 per diluted share, up from $2.60 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus estimate of $3.00. First-quarter net revenue was $20.58 billion, up from $17.74 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $19.74 billion. Morgan Stanley shares were up over 5%.Bank of America (BAC) reported Q1 earnings Wednesday of $1.11 per diluted share, up from $0.89 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.01. First-quarter net revenue was $30.27 billion, up from $28.25 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $29.95 billion. Bank of America shares were up 1.7%.Snap (SNAP) said Wednesday it's cutting its workforce by 16%, or roughly 1,000 jobs. The cuts are expected to generate $500 million in annualized cost savings, Snap said. The company also updated its Q1 revenue outlook to about $1.53 billion, above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $1.52 billion. Snap shares were up 8.5%.CoreWeave (CRWV) will receive about $6 billion from Jane Street in exchange for use of its AI cloud platform, the companies said Wednesday. Jane Street has also made an equity investment of $1 billion at $109 per share, the companies said. CoreWeave shares were slightly up.Broadcom (AVGO) and Meta Platforms (META) said late Tuesday they have entered into a multiyear, multi-generation strategic partnership to support Meta's rapidly scaling AI compute infrastructure. Under the expanded partnership, Broadcom will deliver technology supporting Meta Training and Inference Accelerator chips, with plans to extend the deal through 2029, the companies said. Broadcom shares were up 3%, while Meta shares were up 1.8%.Price: $17.84, Change: $+15.35, Percent Change: +616.27%

$AVGO$BAC$BIRD$CRWV$META$MS$SNAP
US Markets

Morgan Stanley's Quarterly Results Beat Estimates Amid Investment Banking, Trading Gains

Morgan Stanley (MS) on Wednesday posted stronger-than-expected first-quarter results as sharp gains in investment banking and trading activity helped boost revenue to a record.Earnings per share jumped to $3.43 for the March quarter from $2.60 a year earlier and surpassed the FactSet-polled consensus of $3. Revenue climbed 16% to $20.58 billion, while analysts expected $19.74 billion.Revenue in the institutional securities division rose to $10.72 billion from $8.98 billion in the prior-year period, driven by a 36% surge in investment banking to $2.12 billion. Equity and fixed income groups also posted strong gains, at 25% and 29%, respectively.Wealth management revenue advanced 16% to a record $8.52 billion."Institutional securities benefited from robust client engagement and strength globally," Chief Executive Ted Pick said in a statement. "Wealth Management demonstrated continued momentum, with net new assets of $118 billion and fee-based asset flows of $54 billion."Shares of Morgan Stanley were up 5.5% intraday. The stock has risen 8.9% so far this year.Bank of America (BAC) reported its first-quarter performance on Wednesday, with both earnings and revenue topping market estimates amid double-digit gains in investment banking and asset management fees.JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Citigroup (C) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on Tuesday, while Wells Fargo's (WFC) revenue missed market views. On Monday, Goldman Sachs (GS) posted financials above Street projections.Price: $192.50, Change: $+9.16, Percent Change: +5.00%

$BAC$C$GS$JPM$MS$WFC
Research

Research Alert: Morgan Stanley Delivers Strong Q1 2026 Results, Beating Estimates

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:MS posted outstanding Q1 2026 results with EPS of $3.43, beating consensus of $3.01, up 14% Y/Y, while total revenue was $20.6B, up 16% Y/Y, leading to pretax income of $7.0B. Two of its three main segments contributed to growth, with strong regional performance led by Asia up 43% Y/Y and North America up 11% Y/Y. We remain bullish on MS as it stands to significantly benefit from a potential upturn in investment banking as a market leader, with rebound in global markets for trading and capital raising expected to benefit the firm. Management did not provide specific numerical guidance for future periods. AUM grew to $1.9T, up 13% Y/Y, with Alternatives and Solutions reaching $770B, up 184% Y/Y. Consolidated loans rose 17% Y/Y to $515B, with no high credit risks evident. We believe MS can deliver durable revenue and earnings growth that supports a higher valuation multiple, though risks remain from the Iran-U.S. conflict potentially slowing economies. MS returned $1.75B to shareholders via share repurchases.

$MS
Sectors

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Rise Premarket Wednesday

Financial stocks were rising premarket Wednesday, with the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advancing by 0.4%.The Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was 1.4% higher and its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was down 1.4%.Bank of America (BAC) stock was up 2.2% after the company reported higher Q1 earnings and net revenue.Morgan Stanley (MS) shares were up 2.8% after the company posted higher Q1 earnings and net revenue.First Horizon (FHN) stock was up about 3% after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.

$BAC$FAS$FAZ$FHN$MS$XLF

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