Markets

Market rebound stalls as investors weigh trade talks and cooler inflation numbers

US stocks closed lower Wednesday, ending the S&P 500s three-day win streak as Wall Street sifted through a number of headlines. On the trade front, US-China negotiations resulted in a preliminary agreement to revive last month’s Geneva tariff truce and ease rare-earth export limits.

Meanwhile, May inflation came in cooler than expected, with minimal impact so far from recent tariffs. The S&P 500 slipped 0.27%, the Nasdaq shed 0.50%, and the Russell 2000 dropped 0.38%.

Energy led the market for the second day, with utilities the only other sector in the green, while materials and consumer discretionary lagged. Starbucks led the days gains, up 4% after the coffee chain debuted new AI-powered tech and got a price target hike. American Airlines, Delta, and JetBlue were among the worst performers after the latest inflation numbers showed airfare was declining. Elsewhere...

Tesla rose as much as 2% before closing flat after CEO Elon Musk walked back his recent comments about President Trump and floated a new date for the company’s robotaxi rollout.

Dave & Buster’s climbed 17% after the adult arcade chain missed Q1 profit estimates but said traffic is starting to bounce back.

Lockheed Martin fell over 4% after reports that the Pentagon halved its order for the company’s popular F-35 fighter jets.

Victoria’s Secret fell 5% after the lingerie retailer topped Q1 revenue forecasts but lowered its full-year profit outlook, citing a $50 million tariff hit.

Snap ticked up about 1% after announcing its latest iteration of smart glasses, with new AI-powered Specs set to debut next year.

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Nike sinks to lowest level since 2014 after warning of “challenged” sales environment in Q4 report

Did Nike do it?

Investors had a mixed reaction after the global sports apparel company reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the bell. Shares initially rose 5% as Nike beat out Wall Street expectations amid a hefty tariff refund bonus. However, the stock then sank to its lowest level since August 2014 in postmarket trading.

Here are the Q4 numbers:

  • Revenue of $11.0 billion (estimate: $10.8 billion).

  • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.20 (estimate: $0.12).

Ahead of this report, Nike warned that results would be flattered by a one-time tariff refund (now estimated at roughly $0.52 per share for the bottom line). That gave the company an extra cushion in snapping its streak of seven quarters of year-over-year profit declines.

Over the past year, the company had been punished by tariffs on imported goods, stagnant consumer spending, and increasing competition from other footwear brands like New Balance, Adidas, and Hoka.

Outgoing CFO Matthew Friend deemed it an “increasingly challenging operating environment, where sell-through remains challenged.”

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Rocket Lab deal lifts space stocks

Shares of Rocket Lab are surging after announcing an $8 billion acquisition of satellite communications operator Iridium Communications, helping lift a broader basket of space-related stocks as investors piled back into the sector.

Planet Labs, AST SpaceMobile and Redwire all traded higher alongside Rocket Lab, extending gains in an industry that has drawn enhanced investor attention in recent months in light of the strategic importance that governments place on space and satellite communications infrastructure.

In a presentation, Rocket Lab’s management called the purchase “a shortcut” for its satellite communications business.

Under the terms of the agreement, Iridium shareholders will receive $27 in cash and Rocket Lab stock, valuing Iridium at $54 per share. Backed by a $3.6 billion bridge loan committed by Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo, Rocket Lab absorbs Iridium’s globally licensed spectrum and an active base of 2.5 million subscribers.

Rocket Lab has also remained one of the most active launch providers in the sector. The company completed its 12th launch of the year last week, maintaining one of the highest launch cadences among commercial space companies.

Today's rally helps offset a brutal stretch for the group. Rocket Lab shares had fallen over 35% over the prior month, while Planet Labs stock was down more than 40% and AST SpaceMobile stock was down around 30% over the same window.

markets
Jake Lahut

Comcast shares rise on news of NBCUniversal spinoff deal

Comcast rose on the news that the telecom behemoth is spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky from its cable portfolio. 

Comcast initially jumped up to 17% in early trading, with the deal leaving management to focus on its core verticals of cable, wireless, and business services. 

NBCUniversal and Sky will form a new publicly traded company, similar to Versant Media, the holding company of CNBC and MS NOW that Comcast officially spun off in January. Bravo, one of the most lucrative properties that remained at Comcast, will remain part of NBCUniversal in the deal. The Universal theme parks and studios will also come with the new spinoff entity, along with Telemundo and Peacock.

Mike Cavanagh, the co-CEO of Comcast, will become the CEO for NBCUniversal, according to CNBC. 

The spinoff will be completed in about a year, according to a Comcast company statement. Its shareholders will also own shares in NBCUniversal, according to the same statement.

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