Markets

US stocks tick higher on positive feedback from trade talks

Stocks cruised higher for the second day in a row as Wall Street looked ahead to the outcome of US-China trade talks. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said discussions were “going really, really well” after another day of negotiations. The S&P 500 rose about 0.5%, closing less than 2% away from its record high, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.7%. Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 was up 0.6%.

Energy led sector gains, closing up 1.7%, while industrials was the only sector that finished in the red. J.M. Smucker shares led S&P 500 decliners, slipping over 15% after the Uncrustables maker posted quarterly sales that came in below Wall Street’s estimates. Elsewhere…

Tesla traded up more than 5% on recent company tweets that suggest its long-awaited robotaxi launch is imminent — and on time.

Midwestern gas and convenience chain Casey’s General Stores soared 11% following a strong earnings report posted Monday after the bell, as food continues to drive profits.

Warner Bros. Discovery jumped 5% as investors digested Monday’s announcement that the company will split into two separate publicly traded entities.

Oil names including Schlumberger, ConocoPhillips, and Halliburton all climbed over 3.5% as trade talk momentum lifted hopes for stronger global energy demand.

Paramount shares ticked up over 1% after the legacy media company said it would cut 3% of its workforce as it grapples with shifting audience habits and pressure to cut costs.

Flutter Entertainment shares rose nearly 2% after the FanDuel parent announced a new $0.50 surcharge on bets placed in Illinois to offset the state’s new tax hike. Rival DraftKings popped nearly 4%.

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WSJ reports GameStop is preparing an offer for eBay and has quietly been building a stake in the company

GameStop is preparing an offer for eBay and has been quietly building a stake in the company, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal, a move it calls “part of CEO Ryan Cohen’s audacious plan to turn the trailer into a $100 billion-plus juggernaut.”

From WSJ:

GameStop, which has a market value of around $12 billion, has been quietly building a stake in eBay’s shares ahead of a potential offer, the people said. EBay is several times GameStop’s size, with a market value of around $46 billion. 

GameStop could submit an offer for eBay as soon as later this month, the people said. 

If eBay isn’t receptive, Cohen could decide to take the offer directly to eBay’s shareholders, one of the people added. Details of the potential offer for eBay couldn’t be learned. 

Shares of GameStop rose 7.4% after hours following the report, while eBay soared 12%. 

GameStop, which has a market value of around $12 billion, has been quietly building a stake in eBay’s shares ahead of a potential offer, the people said. EBay is several times GameStop’s size, with a market value of around $46 billion. 

GameStop could submit an offer for eBay as soon as later this month, the people said. 

If eBay isn’t receptive, Cohen could decide to take the offer directly to eBay’s shareholders, one of the people added. Details of the potential offer for eBay couldn’t be learned. 

Shares of GameStop rose 7.4% after hours following the report, while eBay soared 12%. 

US airlines pop on report Spirit preparing to shut down as government rescue deal fails to gain support

US airlines are spiking on Friday following a Wall Street Journal report that low-budget carrier Spirit Airlines is preparing to shut down. According to CBS News, the airline could cease operations as early as Saturday, barring an intervention.

In late April, President Trump said he would “love somebody to buy Spirit.” The administration weighed a $500 million rescue package, though it received significant blowback from members of Congress and ultimately didn’t receive support from Spirit’s creditors.

On Friday, Trump told reporters that the administration has given Spirit a “final proposal.”

Shares of Spirit’s rivals surged on the report, with budget carriers like Frontier Airlines and JetBlue climbing by double digits. The big four — Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines — rose by low single digits. Alaska Air and Allegiant also saw a bump.

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Estée Lauder gets a glow-up after earnings beat, guidance hike

Estée Lauder shares are soaring after the beauty giant released Q3 earnings results that topped expectations and raised its full-year outlook, while also expanding its restructuring plan.

The key numbers:

  • Revenue of $3.71 billion (compared to analysts’ estimate of $3.69 billion).

  • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.91 (estimate: $0.65).

Estée Lauder also lifted its full-year earnings outlook to a range of $2.35 to $2.45 per share, up from $2.05 to $2.25 previously.

The bottom line is getting flattered by job cuts, with management increasing that target to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a prior range of 5,800 to 7,000, as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and shift toward faster-growing sales channels.

The rally comes after a tough stretch for the stock, which is down more than 20% year to date, with the results inspiring hope that its turnaround efforts will bear fruit.

CEO Stéphane de La Faverie said fiscal 2026 is “promising to be the pivotal year we intended,” with the company expecting to restore organic sales growth and expand margins for the first time in four years.

Amid these positive signals, Estée Lauder flagged risks from tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and potential disruptions tied to the Middle East.

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