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Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Futures Edging Lower Pre-Bell as Traders Cautious on Tech, US Strikes Iran Targets Anew

(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Thursday as traders saw tech stocks trend downwards and the US unleashed another round of strikes against Iran.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 1% lower.SK Hynix (SKHY) stock fell more than 11% in Seoul and 8% in premarket activity on the Nasdaq.US Central Command said in a post on X that it completed another wave of attacks against Iran, holding the nation "accountable" at the direction of President Donald Trump.Iran warned that it would hit key infrastructure in the Gulf region if the US followed through on Trump's threats on Tuesday to strike Iranian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants if progress on peace talks was not achieved.Traders took note of the latest round of earnings with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) posting higher Q2 earnings and revenue.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.3% at $86.06 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.3% higher at $80.66 per barrel.US retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, following a 1.0% gain in the prior month and meeting expectations in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Initial jobless claims dropped to 208,000 in the week ended July 11 from 216,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 217,000. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 41.4 in July from 10.3 in June, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to a reading of 12.5.The July US housing market index, slated for 10 am ET, is expected at 35, unchanged from the prior month. Pending home sales for June are expected to decline by 0.5% after a gain of 3.8% in the prior month.Federal Reserve Dallas President Lorie Logan, Kansas City President Jeffrey Schmid, and Vice Chair Philip Jefferson are slated to speak on Thursday.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 2.8% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.3% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.9% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.4%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.9% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shares were 4.2% lower despite the company's Q2 earnings and revenue surpassing analysts' consensus estimates. Stocks of STMicroelectronics (STM), Western Digital (WDC), and Seagate Technology (STX) were down as part of a larger decline in the tech sector. STMicroelectronics shares fell 4.8%, Western Digital stock was down 7.7%, and Seagate Technology shares dropped 6.5%.On the winning side, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up 6.7% after the company reported Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue that beat analyst estimates, as well as boosting its 2026 outlook. Baidu (BIDU) stock was up 2.1% after the company said its board approved a plan to pursue a voluntary conversion to a dual-primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, while maintaining its primary listing on the Nasdaq.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BIDU$SKHY$STM$STX$TSM$UNH$WDC
Stocks Mostly Down Pre-Bell as Investors Await More Earnings, Retail Sales Data
US Markets

Stocks Mostly Down Pre-Bell as Investors Await More Earnings, Retail Sales Data

US equity markets were mostly tracking in the red before the opening bell Thursday as traders await the latest round of earnings and the June retail sales report.The S&P 500 edged down 0.1% and the Nasdaq was off 0.5% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%. The three main indexes finished Wednesday trading higher for the second consecutive session.UnitedHealth (UNH), GE Aerospace (GE), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Prologis (PLD), US Bancorp (USB), State Street (STT) and Citizens Financial (CFG) are expected to report their latest financial results before the bell, among others. Streaming giant Netflix (NFLX) posts its earnings after the markets close.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's (TSM) US-listed shares declined 3.9% pre-bell after the semiconductor manufacturer reported its second-quarter results. United Airlines (UAL) was down 2.3% as the air carrier flagged an additional $6 billion in fuel costs for 2026 amid rising oil prices.J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) jumped 6.4% as the transportation and logistics company's second-quarter results topped market estimates. Apple (AAPL) added 0.2% after finishing Wednesday with a 4% gain amid media reports that the iPhone maker has held talks with bankers in recent months about possible acquisitions of chip companies.Last month's retail sales report is out at 8:30 am ET.Government data showed Wednesday that producer prices unexpectedly dropped on a monthly basis in June amid a steep decline in the cost of energy products. Earlier in the week, an official report showed that consumer prices decreased last month for the first time in more than six years."While still nominally elevated at a dangerously high level, the relative improvement in inflation in June emboldens the more dovish argument that price pressures are already cooling and could retreat further into year-end as the lingering impact from tariffs falls off and energy prices potentially normalize amid -- still tentative -- but ongoing, US-Iran peace negotiations," Stifel said in a note Wednesday.US Treasury yields were up in premarket action, with the two-year rate increasing 3.2 basis points to 4.16% and the 10-year rate adding 2.8 basis points to 4.57%.Thursday's economic calendar also has the weekly jobless claims bulletin at 8:30 am, along with the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index for July. The housing market index for the current month and the pending home sales index for June are both out at 10 am.Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid are all slated to speak on Thursday.Inflation is more likely to accelerate than cool given price pressures arising from an artificial intelligence boom and major supply shocks, Fed Governor Lisa Cook said Wednesday. Separately, New York Fed President John Williams said that inflation should ease in the next few quarters as energy prices retreat.West Texas Intermediate crude oil dipped less than 0.1% to $79.59 a barrel before the open, while Brent nudged down 0.3% to $84.72.The US Central Command said Wednesday its forces disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to transit towards an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf. The US resumed its naval blockade on Iranian ships and ports earlier this week.A spokesperson for Iran's top military command reportedly said Thursday that it will destroy key infrastructure in the Middle East if the US follows through on President Donald Trump's threat to attack power plants and bridges in the country in case a deal isn't finalized, CNBC reported.Gold decreased 0.3% to $4,039 per troy ounce, while bitcoin fell 1.1% to $64,176.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$ABT$CFG$GE$JBHT$NFLX$PLD$STT$TSM$UAL$UNH$USB
Wire

Piper Sandler Raises Price Target on UnitedHealth Group to $475 From $420, Maintains Overweight Rating

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $442.32, 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: $420.50, Change: $-4.69, Percent Change: -1.10%

$UNH
Wire

Update: Market Chatter: DOJ Expands Antitrust Probe Into Claritev

(Updates with Claritev's response in the fourth paragraph.)The US Justice Department recently sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to lawyers for a group of hospitals and doctor groups suing Claritev (CTEV) for alleged antitrust violations, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.The lawsuits accuse the healthcare technology firm of conspiring with UnitedHealth Group (UNH), CVS Health's (CVS) Aetna and Cigna Group (CI) and other health insurers to lower reimbursements for out-of-network services, the report said."We decline to comment on any matters before the DOJ, according to longstanding policy," a DOJ spokesperson told. "However, we can affirm that under the Trump Administration this DOJ will continue to prioritize affordability for all Americans across our economy.""Claritev previously disclosed both the closure of the DOJ's criminal antitrust investigation and the company's receipt of a civil investigative demand ("CID")," a Claritev spokesperson said in an emailed statement to. "The CID does not make findings or allegations, and Claritev is fully cooperating with the DOJ in providing the information it seeks."(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: $28.59, Change: $-1.26, Percent Change: -4.21%

$CI$CTEV$CVS$UNH
Wire

Update: Market Chatter: DOJ Expands Antitrust Probe Into Claritev

(Update with the Justice Department's response to a request for comment in the third paragraph.)The US Justice Department recently sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to lawyers for a group of hospitals and doctor groups suing Claritev (CTEV) for alleged antitrust violations, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.The lawsuits accuse the healthcare technology firm of conspiring with UnitedHealth Group (UNH), CVS Health's (CVS) Aetna and Cigna Group (CI) and other health insurers to lower reimbursements for out-of-network services, the report said."We decline to comment on any matters before the DOJ, according to longstanding policy," a DOJ spokesperson told. "However, we can affirm that under the Trump Administration this DOJ will continue to prioritize affordability for all Americans across our economy."Claritev didn't immediately reply to a request for comment from.(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: $26.49, Change: $-3.35, Percent Change: -11.23%

$CI$CTEV$CVS$UNH
Wire

Market Chatter: DOJ Expands Antitrust Probe Into Claritev

The US Justice Department recently sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to lawyers for a group of hospitals and doctor groups suing Claritev (CTEV) for alleged antitrust violations, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.The lawsuits accuse the healthcare technology firm of conspiring with UnitedHealth Group (UNH), CVS Health's (CVS) Aetna and Cigna Group (CI) and other health insurers to lower reimbursements for out-of-network services, the report said.Claritev and the Justice Department didn't immediately reply to requests for comment from.(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: $27.91, Change: $-1.93, Percent Change: -6.47%

$CI$CTEV$CVS$UNH
Update: Nasdaq Snaps 3-Day Winning Streak as Oil Jumps Amid US-Iran Tensions
US Markets

Update: Nasdaq Snaps 3-Day Winning Streak as Oil Jumps Amid US-Iran Tensions

(Updates with market moves at the end of the day.)Equities on Wall Street fell Monday, snapping a three-day winning streak for the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite, as oil prices rallied amid a re-escalation in the US-Iran conflict.The Nasdaq shed 1.6% to close at 25,873.2, while the S&P 500 lost 0.8% to 7,515.8. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.3% to 52,498.6. Among sectors, tech saw the steepest decline, down 2.1%, while energy led the gainers with a 3.2% advance.West Texas Intermediate crude was up 8.8% at $77.72 a barrel in Monday late-afternoon trade, while Brent gained 9.2% to $82.97.The US and Iran continued to exchange airstrikes over the weekend, with Tehran targeting American military facilities across Middle Eastern countries, news outlets reported. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly said it closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz until further notice, though the US military disputed the claim.The strait is open and will remain so "with or without Iran," President Donald Trump said in a social media post Monday, adding that the US was reinstating a blockade of Iranian shipping through the narrow waterway.Hostilities between the US and Iran resumed recently, weeks after they signed a memorandum of understanding to end their war that began at the end of February. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important chokepoint for crude flows."Clearly, the risk is that this escalates to levels seen early in the war, where neighboring countries and their energy infrastructure are also targeted," ING Bank said in a report. "Escalation has slowed vessels transiting the strait to a trickle, renewing concerns over oil supply tightness through the third quarter."The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Monday reduced its global oil demand growth outlook for this year while upgrading its projection for 2027.US Treasury yields were higher, with the two-year rate up 6.1 basis points at 4.27% and the 10-year rate rising 4.5 basis points to 4.61%.Official data on Tuesday are expected to show that the consumer price index dropped 0.1% in June on a sequential basis and rose 3.8% annually, according to a Bloomberg-compiled consensus. Wall Street is projecting core CPI, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, to rise 0.2% month over month and 2.9% annually.The Federal Reserve may have to consider raising interest rates if inflation remains high, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said Monday."If we get another hot reading on core inflation this week, then the (Federal Open Market Committee) will need to consider tightening monetary policy in the near term," Waller said in a speech in New York. "We are at a crossroads for policy, and the appropriate action will depend on incoming data."There's a 59% likelihood that the Fed will keep its monetary policy unchanged later this month, down from 74% a week ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The odds of a 25-basis-point rate increase moved to 41% on Monday from about 26% a week earlier.The S&P 500 is heading into the second-quarter reporting cycle with consensus earnings growth projections at their highest in recent quarters, Oppenheimer Asset Management said Monday in a report.US banking giants JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs (GS), Wells Fargo (WFC), Morgan Stanley (MS), and Citigroup (C) are expected to report their quarterly results later this week. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), UnitedHealth (UNH) and Netflix (NFLX), among others, also report this week.First Hawaiian (FHB) agreed to acquire TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) in an all-stock deal to create one of the largest banks headquartered in the western US, with combined assets of about $34 billion. First Hawaiian shares fell 3.3%, while TriCo jumped 12%.Gold fell 2.6% to $4,005.10 per troy ounce, while silver lost 3.9% to $57.83 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BAC$C$FHB$GS$JNJ$JPM$MS$NFLX$TCBK$UNH$WFC
Equities Fall Intraday, Oil Soars as Trump Reinstates Iranian Shipping Blockade in Hormuz
US Markets

Equities Fall Intraday, Oil Soars as Trump Reinstates Iranian Shipping Blockade in Hormuz

US benchmark equity indexes were lower intraday, while oil prices jumped as President Donald Trump said Washington was reinstating a blockade of Iranian shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in the Middle East.The Nasdaq Composite was down 1.3% at 25,939.2 after midday Monday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.7% to 7,526.4. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.3% to 52,507. Among sectors, technology saw the steepest decline, while energy paced the gainers.West Texas Intermediate crude was up 7.4% at $76.72 a barrel, while Brent gained 7.5% to $81.76.The US and Iran continued to exchange airstrikes over the weekend, with Tehran targeting American military facilities across several Middle Eastern countries, news outlets reported. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly said it closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz until further notice, though the US military disputed the claim.The strait is open and will remain so "with or without Iran," Trump said in a social media post Monday, adding that the US was reinstating a blockade of Iranian shipping through the narrow waterway."The USA will be, from this point forward, known as 'the guardian of the Hormuz strait,' but as such, and as a matter of fairness, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped," Trump said.Hostilities between the US and Iran resumed recently, weeks after they signed a memorandum of understanding to end their war. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important chokepoint for crude flows.The growing US-Iran conflict threatens to derail the recovery of global oil inventories and further diminishes the chances of a diplomatic breakthrough, Saxo Bank said in a note.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Monday reduced its global oil demand growth outlook for this year while upgrading its projection for 2027.US Treasury yields were higher intraday, with the two-year rate up 5.7 basis points at 4.27% and the 10-year rate rising 4.5 basis points to 4.61%.In company news, First Hawaiian (FHB) agreed to acquire TriCo Bancshares (TCBK) in an all-stock deal to create one of the largest banks headquartered in the western US, with combined assets of about $34 billion. First Hawaiian shares were down 4%, while TriCo jumped 11%.US banking giants JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs (GS), Wells Fargo (WFC), Morgan Stanley (MS), and Citigroup (C) are expected to report their latest quarterly financial results later this week, along with other major corporations, including Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), UnitedHealth (UNH) and Netflix (NFLX).Gold fell 2.7% to $4,004.80 per troy ounce, while silver lost 3.7% to $57.92 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BAC$C$FHB$GS$JNJ$JPM$MS$NFLX$TCBK$UNH$WFC
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Futures Drop Pre-Bell as Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Closed Once Again, Oil Prices Jump

(Updates with recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)US equity futures were lower pre-bell Monday as hostilities continued to re-escalate in the Middle East and Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz once again closed, driving up oil prices.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.1% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.2% lower.The US and Iran traded heavy missile and drone attacks over the weekend, with the US military saying they hit Iranian military facilities, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.Iran, which is seeking to set up a permanent fee and permit system for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, said Sunday that the waterway remains closed until "stability and calm" is restored.In a post on X, US Central Command said that its forces are "postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping."Traders await a slew of earnings releases this week, including results from major US banks JPMorgan (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Citigroup (C) on Tuesday; Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Morgan Stanley (MS), and BlackRock (BLK) on Wednesday; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), GE Aerospace (GE), and Netflix (NFLX) on Thursday.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 4.3% at $79.27 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 4.2% higher at $74.41 per barrel.Federal Reserve board members Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller are slated to speak on Monday.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1.9% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.2% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 2.1% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index was flat in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Micron Technology (MU), AMD (AMD), and Intel (INTC) stocks were lower as part of a broader decline in the semiconductor sector. Micron shares fell 5.5%, AMD stock was down 2.9%, and Intel shares were 3.5% lower.On the winning side, the increase in oil prices lifted energy-related stocks. TotalEnergies (TTE) shares were up 1.6%, ConocoPhillips (COP) stock was 1.9% higher, and BP (BP) shares rose 1.6%. Accenture (ACN) stock was up 1% after the company said its subsidiary Accenture Capital on Friday closed the sale of five tranches of notes totaling approximately $5 billion.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$ACN$AMD$BAC$BLK$BP$C$COP$GE$GS$INTC$JNJ$JPM$MS$MU$NFLX$TSM$TTE$UNH$WFC
Japan

US Equity Futures Drop Pre-Bell as Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Closed Once Again, Oil Prices Jump

US equity futures were lower pre-bell Monday as hostilities continued to re-escalate in the Middle East and Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz once again closed, driving up oil prices.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.1%, S&P 500 futures were down 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.9% lower.The US and Iran traded heavy missile and drone attacks over the weekend, with the US military saying they hit Iranian military facilities, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck US installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.Iran, which is seeking to set up a permanent fee and permit system for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, said Sunday that the waterway remains closed until "stability and calm" is restored.In a post on X, US Central Command said that its forces are "postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping."Traders await a slew of earnings releases this week, including results from major US banks JPMorgan (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Wells Fargo (WFC), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Citigroup (C) on Tuesday; Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Morgan Stanley (MS), and BlackRock (BLK) on Wednesday; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), GE Aerospace (GE), and Netflix (NFLX) on Thursday.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 3.4% at $78.59 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 3.4% higher at $73.88 per barrel.Federal Reserve board members Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller are slated to speak on Monday.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BAC$BLK$C$GE$GS$JNJ$JPM$MS$NFLX$TSM$UNH$WFC
Equity Futures Down Amid Middle East Tensions; Key Earnings on Deck
US Markets

Equity Futures Down Amid Middle East Tensions; Key Earnings on Deck

The benchmark US equity measures were pointing lower before the opening bell Monday amid rising tensions in the Middle East, as markets awaited key inflation data and some major corporate earnings due later this week.The S&P 500 declined 0.4% and the Nasdaq was off 1.2% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.1%. The three main indexes closed higher Friday.The US and Iran continued to exchange airstrikes over the weekend, news outlets reported.On Sunday, the US Central Command said it completed a new wave of strikes against Tehran at multiple locations, after conducting attacks a day earlier in response to the country targeting another commercial ship transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.Iran responded by targeting US military facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, according to local state media. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also reportedly said it closed the strait until further notice, though the US military disputed the claim."The Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway," CENTCOM said on the X platform. "Iran does not control the strait."West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 3.4% at $73.81 a barrel before the open, while Brent gained 3.3% to $78.50.With no major economic data scheduled for Monday, traders await the official US consumer price index for June, scheduled for Tuesday, followed by data on wholesale prices and retail sales for the same month on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is scheduled to speak at 5:25 am ET Monday, while Fed Governor Christopher Waller speaks at 12:30 pm. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's testimony is due later in the week.US Treasury yields were mixed in premarket action Monday, with the 10-year rate little changed at 4.57% and the two-year rate rising one basis point to 4.22%.Banking giants JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs (GS), Wells Fargo (WFC), Morgan Stanley (MS), Citigroup (C) are all expected to release their latest financial results later this week, along with other major corporations, including Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), UnitedHealth (UNH) and Netflix (NFLX).Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's (TSM) US-listed shares were up 0.1% pre-bell. Micron Technology (MU) fell 5.6%, while Nvidia (NVDA) decreased 1.7%.Gold dipped 0.9% to $4,075 per troy ounce, while bitcoin dropped nearly 2% to $62,893.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BAC$C$GS$JNJ$JPM$MS$MU$NFLX$NVDA$TSM$UNH$WFC
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare

Healthcare stocks were edging higher premarket Wednesday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) up 0.2% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advancing by 0.4%.Pacira BioSciences' (PCRX) non-opioid pain therapy Exparel is now separately reimbursed by UnitedHealthcare (UNH) across outpatient settings, including hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers, the company said. Shares of Pacira BioSciences were up more than 3% pre-bell.

$PCRX$UNH
Wire

Pacira BioSciences' Exparel Now Separately Reimbursed by UnitedHealthcare Across Outpatient Settings

Pacira BioSciences' (PCRX) non-opioid pain therapy Exparel is now separately reimbursed by UnitedHealthcare (UNH) across outpatient settings, including hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers, the company said Wednesday.The update allows for Exparel to be reimbursed outside the surgical bundle for eligible UnitedHealthcare members, the company said.Shares of the company were up 1.3% in recent premarket trading.

$PCRX$UNH
UnitedHealth to Top Second-Quarter Earnings Views on Favorable Utilization Trends, Morgan Stanley Says
US Markets

UnitedHealth to Top Second-Quarter Earnings Views on Favorable Utilization Trends, Morgan Stanley Says

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is likely to report second-quarter earnings above Wall Street's consensus, supported by favorable utilization trends, as managed care organizations prepare to file their financials, Morgan Stanley said in a client note emailed Tuesday.The brokerage estimates the health insurance giant to post adjusted earnings of $4.95 per share for the second quarter, compared with the consensus view of $4.85.UnitedHealth's utilization trends are seemingly favorable, which bodes well for managed care organizations heading into second-quarter earnings, Morgan Stanley said. UnitedHealth is executing well, including across its Optum Health business."We expect (UnitedHealth) will set a positive tone when it kicks off reports on July 16," the brokerage said in the note.Humana (HUM) recently affirmed its guidance, while Ardent Health's (ARDT) first-quarter core profitability jumped year-on-year despite softer seasonal volume. All that points "to a more manageable utilization environment," according to Morgan Stanley.The brokerage said artificial intelligence is an "underappreciated" earnings driver for UnitedHealth, which is investing $1.5 billion in AI to save about $1 billion in operating costs in 2026.Morgan Stanley views UnitedHealth as an "AI enabler," with Optum Insight evolving into an AI-enabled healthcare platform. The brokerage estimates AI could drive about 20% EPS upside, excluding new high-margin insight revenue streams.For 2026, Morgan Stanley projects UnitedHealth to report adjusted EPS of $18.27, while the Street is currently looking for $18.39.Morgan Stanley expects 2027 EPS of $20.96 versus the market's view for $20.94. The brokerage sees an upside of 22% to these estimates if the health insurer achieves its margin recovery strategy and moves closer to target profitability levels.Morgan Stanley raised its price target on UnitedHealth to $468 from $453, while maintaining an overweight rating on the company's stock.

$ARDT$HUM$UNH
Dow Logs New High Even as Tech Underperforms
US Markets

Dow Logs New High Even as Tech Underperforms

The Dow Jones Industrial Average resumed its record-setting advance on Thursday, even as the technology sector underperformed amid a sell-off in Broadcom (AVGO) and CrowdStrike (CRWD) shares.The Dow rose 1.7% to 51,561.9, notching a fresh closing high after falling on Wednesday for the first time in six sessions. The S&P 500 gained 0.4% to 7,584.3, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1% to 26,831.Barring tech and consumer staples, all sectors ended in the green, led by healthcare.In company news, Broadcom shares tumbled nearly 13%, the second-worst performer on the S&P 500 as the company's artificial intelligence revenue outlook fell short of the market's bullish expectations.The company's decision not to upgrade its 2027 guidance for AI sales apparently disappointed investors, especially as the chip designer reported strong semiconductor demand for its fiscal second quarter, UBS Securities analysts said.CrowdStrike reported strong fiscal first-quarter results amid accelerating demand for AI, but questions around performance sustainability remain, BofA Securities said. The stock fell 3.8%.Ciena (CIEN) plunged nearly 14%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500, despite providing an upbeat fiscal third-quarter revenue outlook. The networking systems and software company's results topped market estimates in the prior three-month period."AI and cybersecurity remain important long-term themes, but popular themes can carry heavy expectations," Ruben Dalfovo, investment strategist at Saxo Bank, said in a report. "In a hot market, even excellent earnings may need to bring their own fire extinguisher."UnitedHealth (UNH) climbed 5.2%, the top gainer on the Dow, after BofA Securities upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from neutral.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 3% at $93.19 a barrel in Thursday late-afternoon trade, while Brent fell 2.6% to $95.30.Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire, subject to Iran-backed Hezbollah ending all fire and evacuating its operatives from the South Litani Sector, according to a joint statement from the US, Israel and Lebanon released Wednesday.But just hours after the deal, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters launched strikes, CNN reported."News that Israel and Lebanon agreed on a ceasefire could potentially open the door for talks to advance," ING Bank said in a report on Thursday. "Every day that passes without a resumption of oil flows (through the Strait of Hormuz) leaves the market increasingly vulnerable. This increases the pressure to strike a deal."In economic news, job cut announcements in May hit the highest for the month since 2020, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday, while US weekly applications for unemployment insurance rose unexpectedly."On top of the headline AI story, we're seeing a sharp rise in cuts tied to acquisitions and mergers and a jump in bankruptcy-related losses, which tells me companies are restructuring aggressively as they reposition for an AI-driven economy," Andy Challenger, the firm's chief revenue officer, said in a statement. "The labor market is being reshaped by technology in real time."The Challenger report arrives a day before the May nonfarm payrolls release. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect 85,000 new jobs, down from 115,000 in April, with the unemployment rate seen holding at 4.3%.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down 2.4 basis points at 4.48%, and the two-year rate falling three basis points to 4.06%.Gold was last up 0.9% at $4,507 per troy ounce, while silver rose 0.8% to $74.31 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AVGO$CIEN$CRWD$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Climb Late Afternoon

Healthcare stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index climbing 3.2% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) rising 3%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) added 2.6%.In corporate news, Eli Lilly (LLY) shares gained 4.3% after Ascidian Therapeutics said Lilly will receive exclusive, target-specific rights to Ascidian's RNA exon editing technology for undisclosed kidney disease targets in exchange for up to $1.9 billion under a research partnership and licensing deal.Merck (MRK) shares climbed 5% after it said Thursday it will pay over $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits that blame the drugmaker's Gardasil cancer vaccine for causing autoimmune ailments in young women, Bloomberg reported.The US Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Amarin (AMRN) failed to prove that a generic-drug manufacturer actively induced other companies to infringe upon two of its Vascepa patents after the generic maker received approval for a so-called "skinny-label" version of the drug. Amarin shares fell 4.4%.BofA Securities upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to buy from neutral as medical cost trends improve and "supportive" near-term data points form a favorable Q2. UnitedHealth shares rose 5.4%.

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Equities Higher Intraday as Broadcom Sell-Off Weighs on Tech Sector
US Markets

Equities Higher Intraday as Broadcom Sell-Off Weighs on Tech Sector

US benchmark equity indexes were higher intraday, even as a sell-off in Broadcom (AVGO) shares weighed on the technology sector.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.6% at 51,517.2 after midday Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 7,586.8. The Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.1% to 26,872. Barring technology and materials, all sectors were in the green, led by healthcare.In company news, Broadcom shares were down nearly 12% intraday, the second-worst performer on the S&P 500 as the company's artificial intelligence revenue outlook fell short of the market's bullish expectations.The company's decision not to upgrade its 2027 guidance for AI sales apparently disappointed investors, especially as the chip designer reported strong semiconductor demand for its fiscal second quarter, UBS Securities analysts said.CrowdStrike (CRWD) reported strong fiscal first-quarter results amid accelerating demand for artificial intelligence, but questions around the company's performance sustainability remain, BofA Securities said. The stock was down 4.6%.Ciena (CIEN) plunged 15% despite providing an upbeat fiscal third-quarter revenue outlook on Thursday. The networking systems and software company's results topped market estimates in the prior three-month period.UnitedHealth (UNH) was up 5% intraday, the top gainer on the Dow, after BofA Securities upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from neutral.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 3.9% at $92.27 a barrel intraday Thursday, while Brent fell 3.2% to $94.67.Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire, subject to Iran-backed Hezbollah ending all fire and evacuating its operatives from the South Litani Sector, according to a joint statement from the US, Israel and Lebanon released Wednesday.But just hours after the deal, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters launched strikes, CNN reported."News that Israel and Lebanon agreed on a ceasefire could potentially open the door for talks to advance," ING Bank said in a report on Thursday. "Every day that passes without a resumption of oil flows (through the Strait of Hormuz) leaves the market increasingly vulnerable. This increases the pressure to strike a deal."In economic news, job cut announcements in May hit the highest for the month since 2020, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday, while US weekly applications for unemployment insurance rose unexpectedly."On top of the headline AI story, we're seeing a sharp rise in cuts tied to acquisitions and mergers and a jump in bankruptcy-related losses, which tells me companies are restructuring aggressively as they reposition for an AI-driven economy," Andy Challenger, the firm's chief revenue officer, said in a statement. "The labor market is being reshaped by technology in real time."The Challenger report arrives a day before the May nonfarm payrolls release. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect 85,000 new jobs, down from 115,000 in April, with the unemployment rate seen holding at 4.3%.US Treasury yields were lower intraday, with the 10-year rate down 2.8 basis points at 4.47%, and the two-year rate falling 3.3 basis points to 4.05%.Gold was up 0.9% at $4,508.50 per troy ounce, while silver rose 0.8% to $74.28 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AVGO$CIEN$CRWD$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Gain Thursday Afternoon

Healthcare stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index climbing 3.2% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) rising 2.8%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) added 2.2%.In corporate news, Eli Lilly (LLY) shares climbed 5% after Ascidian Therapeutics said Lilly will receive exclusive, target-specific rights to Ascidian's RNA exon editing technology for undisclosed kidney disease targets in exchange for up to $1.9 billion under a research partnership and licensing deal.Merck (MRK) shares rose 3.9% after it said Thursday it will pay over $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits that blame the drugmaker's Gardasil cancer vaccine for causing autoimmune ailments in young women, Bloomberg reported.BofA Securities upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to buy from neutral as medical cost trends improvement and "supportive" near-term data points form a favorable Q2. UnitedHealth shares gained 5.2%.

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Wire

UnitedHealth, CVS, Cigna Seen Benefiting From Utilization Trends, AI Upside, Morgan Stanley Says

UnitedHealth (UNH), CVS Health (CVS) and Cigna (CI) are among the managed-care companies that could benefit from improving utilization trends and potential artificial intelligence-driven efficiency gains across the healthcare system, Morgan Stanley said in a note Thursday.The firm said early signs of softer utilization have supported recent gains in managed-care stocks. The group has delivered a series of medical-loss-ratio beats in Q1 and some companies raising guidance. However, it noted that investors are still awaiting clearer confirmation of underlying trends and utilization signals remaining mixed ahead of Q2 results.AI adoption is increasingly embedded across managed-care operations, including prior authorization, call centers, provider portals, care management, pharmacy utilization and payment integrity.Morgan Stanley said UnitedHealth stands out as a leading "AI enabler," particularly through Optum Insight initiatives, which support both efficiency gains and potential revenue upside.The firm's scenario analysis assumes 0.5% to 2.0% AI-driven insurance margin expansion, which could translate into an illustrative 18% to 71% EPS upside across managed-care companies. It added that administrative workflows, particularly prior authorization, remain key areas of automation potential.Morgan Stanley boosted its price targets on UnitedHealth, CVS Health, Elevance Health (ELV), Centene (CNC), Molina Healthcare (MOH), and Humana (HUM).Price: $399.90, Change: $+22.90, Percent Change: +6.07%

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Research

Update: BofA Securities Upgrades UnitedHealth to Buy From Neutral, $450 Price Target

(Updated to include BofA's commentary)BofA Securities upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to buy from neutral as medical cost trends improvement and "supportive" near-term data points form a favorable Q2.If utilization trends continue to moderate, the brokerage believes the company-given its bellwether status-should lead a broader MCO rally, analysts led by Kevin Fischbeck wrote in a Thursday note.UnitedHealth has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $404.44, 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: $399.70, Change: $+22.70, Percent Change: +6.02%

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