QXO to Buy TopBuild for $17 Billion in Brad Jacobs’ Biggest Building-Products Push Yet
QXO said Sunday it will acquire TopBuild for about $17 billion in cash and stock, offering
Social Security 2027 COLA Forecast Holds at 2.8%, but Retirees May Get Less Relief Than They Hope
An early forecast for Social Security’s 2027 cost-of-living adjustment held at 2.8%, matching this year’s increase, despite a jump in March inflation. The Senior Citizens League said this would add about $56.69
Watches and Wonders 2026: Rolex, Patek And Cartier Meet Luxury’s Gulf Shock
Watches and Wonders Geneva entered its final public days Sunday as luxury brands faced sharp sales drops in the Gulf due to Middle East conflict. LVMH, Kering, and Hermès all reported declines tied to weaker Gulf demand, with Dubai mall sales plunging up to 50% in March. Airport retail also suffered as flight cancellations peaked. Swiss watch exports fell for a second year in 2025.
Gold Price Near $4,830 Faces Monday Test After Hormuz Reversal Revives Safe-Haven Risk
Spot gold last traded at $4,829.40 an ounce before markets closed for the weekend, after touching $4,889.60 on Friday. Iran kept the Strait of Hormuz shut, pushing oil and inflation concerns back into focus and adding a risk premium to gold. Silver, platinum, and palladium also rose. U.S. and Iranian officials reported little progress in talks over the strait and nuclear issues.
Psyence Biomedical in Spotlight After Trump’s Ibogaine Order Puts Supply Strategy to the Test
Psyence Biomedical shares jumped 29.5% to $7.60 after President Trump signed an order to accelerate research into psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine. The order offers faster FDA handling and $50 million in federal support but does not legalize ibogaine. Psyence, which supplies GMP-grade ibogaine, has no approved products and its lead drug is still in Phase IIb trials.
Medical Properties Trust, Inc. Faces Fresh Tenant Stress as Debt Maturities Loom
Medical Properties Trust closed Friday at $5.23, up 0.58%, as several hospitals tied to its new tenant base showed fresh signs of financial strain. The company faces $1.23 billion in debt maturing in 2026 and $1.6 billion in 2027. MPT says new operators are current on rent and still targets $1 billion in annualized cash rent by the end of 2026. Shareholders will meet May 28 in Birmingham.
Why Rolls-Royce Holdings Is Back in Focus: UK Nuclear Deal, Dividend Date and Fresh Share Momentum
Rolls-Royce shares jumped 4.8% Friday as UK defence stocks rallied, lifting the FTSE 100. The company goes ex-dividend April 23 and holds its AGM April 30 after announcing a £7–9 billion buyback and a 5 pence final 2025 dividend. Britain signed a contract with Rolls-Royce SMR to begin design work on the first UK small modular reactors. Rolls-Royce also reported German test benches now run on HVO fuel.
Interactive Brokers Earnings Preview: IBKR Faces a Crucial Test After Trading Surge
Interactive Brokers shares rose nearly 3% to $81.71 ahead of Tuesday’s first-quarter results, with analysts expecting earnings of about 60 cents per share. March saw daily average revenue trades up 25% year-on-year to 4.329 million, client accounts up 31%, and margin loans up 35% to $86 billion. However, DARTs and client equity slipped 1% and 4% from February. The company has expanded into crypto transfers and prediction markets.
Oil Price Week Ahead: Why Brent and WTI Face a Fresh Hormuz Shock
Oil prices fell sharply Friday as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stalled after Trump accused Iran of ceasefire violations. Brent closed at $90.38 a barrel, down 9%, and WTI at $83.85, down 11%. Some vessels passed the strait with reduced crews, but normal tanker flows have not resumed. The IEA reported global supply dropped by 10.1 million barrels per day in March.
Google’s Reported AI Chip Talks Put Marvell Technology in the Middle of the Custom AI Chip Race
Google is in talks with Marvell Technology to develop two new AI chips, including a memory processing unit and a new TPU for inference, The Information reported Sunday. Reuters could not immediately verify the report, and neither company responded to requests for comment. Marvell shares closed at $139.69 before the news surfaced. The companies reportedly aim to finalize the memory chip design next year.
AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 7 Enters Off-Nominal Orbit After Blue Origin Launch, Clouding 2026 Rollout
AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite entered an off-nominal orbit after launching on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket Sunday from Cape Canaveral. The satellite powered on, but its trajectory clouds AST’s 2026 network rollout plans. New Glenn’s reused booster landed successfully. BlueBird 7 is the second of AST’s next-generation satellites intended to deliver direct-to-device 4G and 5G broadband.
Blue Origin Just Reused New Glenn — and Landed the Booster in a SpaceX Challenge
Blue Origin landed a reused New Glenn booster in the Atlantic after launching AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite from Cape Canaveral at 7:25 a.m. EDT Sunday. The booster, previously flown in November, returned to the sea platform Jacklyn about 10 minutes after liftoff. The mission marks Blue Origin’s first recovery of a New Glenn booster after a second flight. BlueBird 7 aims to expand space-based cellular broadband for ordinary smartphones.
Social Security’s 2027 COLA Estimate Just Jumped — But Retirees May Not Like Why
March inflation pushed early 2027 Social Security COLA estimates to 2.8%–3.2%. The March CPI-W rose 3.3% from a year earlier, driven by surging energy costs. The final COLA will be set in October after third-quarter inflation data. Social Security paid benefits to 70.9 million people in March.
Chevron Stock Falls as Oil Prices Crash — Then Strait of Hormuz Risk Returns
Chevron shares fell 2.2% to $183.99 Friday as oil prices plunged after Iran briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported Sunday that shipping stalled again following renewed tensions, with at least two ships reporting gunfire. Brent crude dropped 9% Friday to $90.38 a barrel. Chevron’s trading volume more than doubled to 15.7 million shares.
US Stock Market Today: Live Updates 19.04.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: April 19, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: April 19, 2026, 7:25 PM EDT Wall Street Hits Record Highs on Eased Middle East Tensions, Dow Surges Over 800 Points April 19, 2026, 7:16 PM EDT. Wall Street benchmarks closed at **record highs** on Friday, led by a **broad risk rally** following de-escalation signs in the Middle East. The **S&P 500** rose 1.2%, the **Nasdaq Composite** gained 1.5%, both marking their third consecutive record closes. The **Dow Jones Industrial Average** surged 868 points, its strongest finish since February. Small-cap stocks outperformed, with the **Russell 2000** hitting a record high as
Why Definium Therapeutics’ LSD-Based Drug Has Wall Street Watching 2026
Definium Therapeutics shares rose to $22.68 after Stifel and Piper Sandler initiated coverage with Buy ratings, citing late-stage trials of DT120, an LSD-based tablet for anxiety and depression. The company will host an investor day April 22 in New York to discuss upcoming Phase 3 data. DT120 is in four pivotal studies, with top-line results expected through 2026. Johnson & Johnson and Compass Pathways are advancing rival clinic-based psychiatric drugs.
AEVEX Stock Jumps 35% After $320 Million Drone IPO as AVEX Tests Defense-Tech Demand
AEVEX shares closed at $26.93 in their NYSE debut, 35% above the $20 IPO price. The Solana Beach-based drone maker raised $320 million by selling 16 million shares. First-quarter revenue is estimated at up to $208 million, compared with $53.3 million a year earlier. The offering is expected to close April 20.
Why VICI Properties Stock Jumped Ahead of Earnings: The Casino REIT’s $1.5 Billion Question
VICI Properties shares rose 2.15% to $29.01 Friday, outperforming the S&P 500 and Dow ahead of its April 29 earnings report. The company’s market value reached about $34.8 billion. Investors are focused on cash-flow guidance and VICI’s expanded $1.5 billion One Beverly Hills loan commitment. Volume was 8.7 million shares, below the 50-day average.
NuScale Power Stock Jumps as Fluor’s $150 Million SMR Share Sale Lands
Fluor sold 12.9 million NuScale Power shares to Citi at $11.63 each, cutting its stake to 3.9%, according to SEC filings. The sale, disclosed Friday, dropped Fluor below the 5% Schedule 13D threshold. NuScale shares closed at $12.65, up 10.8% on heavy volume.
Grab Holdings Limited Stock Jumps Before Earnings as Buyback and Taiwan Deal Face a Hard Test
Grab Holdings shares climbed 4.7% to $4.21 on Nasdaq Friday, with 72.8 million shares traded. The company will report first-quarter results after U.S. markets close May 4. Grab agreed in March to buy Foodpanda Taiwan for $600 million, its first planned expansion outside Southeast Asia. The firm is also executing a $400 million share buyback program.
US Stock Market This Week: S&P 500, Nasdaq Close at Records as Oil Tumbles Before Big Earnings Week
U.S. stocks closed at record highs Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq logging their third straight records as oil prices plunged and hopes rose for a U.S.-Iran deal. Brent crude fell 9% to $90.38 a barrel after Iran said ships could pass the Strait of Hormuz, but by Saturday Iran tightened control and ships reported gunfire. The Dow jumped 868.71 points to 49,447.43. Energy stocks lagged as travel and consumer shares surged.
SoFi Stock Runs Toward a Make-or-Break Earnings Test After a Volatile Week
SoFi Technologies shares closed up 2.1% at $19.43 Friday, with trading volume above 73 million ahead of its April 29 earnings report. The stock’s rise follows allegations from short seller Muddy Waters, which SoFi has denied. Investors are watching for signs of stable lending and fee revenue amid scrutiny of the company’s accounting. Affirm, Robinhood, and LendingClub also gained Friday.
American Airlines Rejects United Merger Talk as AAL Stock Faces Its Next Big Test
American Airlines said Friday it is not in merger talks with United Airlines and has no interest in a deal, following reports United’s CEO raised the idea with President Trump in February. American called a merger “negative for competition and for consumers.” Shares of both airlines rose before markets closed for the weekend. American will report first-quarter results April 23.
Tesla Terafab Hiring Push Puts Elon Musk’s AI Chip Bet on the Clock
Tesla is hiring semiconductor engineers in Taiwan for its Terafab AI chip project, days before reporting first-quarter results on April 22. Job postings list nine roles tied to advanced chipmaking, including 2-nanometer-class technology. Investors remain focused on Tesla’s AI spending as vehicle deliveries fell to 358,023 in the first quarter. Tesla shares closed Friday at $400.62, up 3%.
Netflix Stock Sinks After Weak Forecast as Reed Hastings Exit Raises Growth Questions
Netflix shares fell 9.8% Friday after a weak second-quarter forecast overshadowed a first-quarter profit boost and news that co-founder Reed Hastings will exit the board in 2026. The company projected Q2 revenue and earnings below analyst estimates, kept its 2026 outlook unchanged, and faces investor doubts over whether price hikes and ad revenue can offset slowing subscriber growth.
Intel Stock Hits Dot-Com-Era High. Now Comes the Earnings Test
Intel shares hit $70.32 Friday, their highest intraday level since 2000, before closing at $68.50 ahead of first-quarter results due April 23. Investors cited new AI chip deals with Google and a planned partnership with Elon Musk’s Terafab project. Intel also agreed to buy back a 49% stake in its Irish Fab 34 for $14.2 billion. Analyst targets rose, but most ratings remain cautious.
Nvidia Stock Faces a $20 Billion AI Chip Test as Cerebras Heads for IPO
Cerebras Systems filed for a U.S. IPO and reported 2025 revenue of $510 million, swinging to a profit of $1.38 per share from a loss a year earlier. Reuters cited a report that OpenAI agreed to pay Cerebras over $20 billion for servers, though this was unconfirmed. Nvidia shares closed up 1.7% at $201.68, valuing the company at about $4.53 trillion. Nvidia projected fiscal Q1 revenue of $78 billion.
US Stock Market Today: Live Updates 18.04.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: April 18, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: April 18, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT Ford Motor Stock Valuation Reviewed After Recent Price Movements April 18, 2026, 11:57 PM EDT. Ford Motor (F) shares climbed about 12% over the past month but remain volatile with mixed returns over the last quarter. The stock closed at $12.87, trading roughly 32.7% above a $9.70 per share fair value estimate from Bailey's narrative, which signals overvaluation due to strategic caution over EV ambitions. Conversely, a discounted cash flow (DCF) model pegs Ford's fair value at $13.66, suggesting a mild undervaluation. The contrast highlights
NVIDIA Pushes Deeper Into Robotics as TSMC, ASML Signal AI Spending Boom Isn’t Cooling
Nvidia expanded its robotics partnership with Cadence Design Systems, integrating AI models and simulation engines for robot training. Nvidia shares rose 1.2% to $200.79 Friday, valuing the company at $4.53 trillion. TSMC and ASML raised 2026 sales forecasts as AI chip demand remains strong. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Nvidia’s SchedMD acquisition, citing concerns over control of supercomputing software.
QVC Bankruptcy Filing: Home-Shopping Pioneer Seeks Fast Chapter 11 to Cut More Than $5 Billion of Debt
QVC Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas on Thursday, aiming to cut debt to $1.3 billion from $6.6 billion while keeping QVC and HSN running. The company reported an $2.4 billion net loss in 2025 and an 8% revenue drop. U.S. operations are affected; international units are not. QVC expects to exit bankruptcy in about 90 days and warned shareholders of a total loss.
Oil Prices Plunge, Dow Jones Jumps After Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)
Oil prices dropped and U.S. stocks hit new records Friday after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping during a 10-day ceasefire. Brent crude fell to $88.90 a barrel, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq set highs. Iran said passage is open but with restrictions, and the U.S. Navy warned of lingering mine threats. Major shipping lines remained cautious about resuming transit.
Intel Stock Hits Highest Since 2000 as Turnaround Rally Faces Earnings Test
Intel shares hit $70.32 intraday Friday, their highest since 2000, before trading near $68.75 as investors bet on an AI-driven turnaround. The stock surge follows new deals with Google and Tesla, and a $14.2 billion buyback of its Ireland plant stake. First-quarter results are due April 23. Analysts warn of weak PC demand and a $10.32 billion foundry loss in 2025.
Figma Stock Slides as Anthropic’s Claude Design Deepens Valuation Debate, Adobe Faces AI Scrutiny
Janet Yellen accused Donald Trump of undermining Federal Reserve independence, warning of unprecedented threats as Kevin Warsh heads into a contentious Senate confirmation. Trump vowed to fire Jerome Powell if he remains after his term ends May 15. Warsh’s nomination faces opposition from both parties, including ethics concerns over his financial disclosures. Bitcoin rose 4.5% to $77,447 amid broader market relief after Iran signaled the Strait of Hormuz would stay open.
US Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Records as Oil Slides on Hormuz Reopening
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit new intraday records Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would stay open during a 10-day truce, sending oil below $90 a barrel. The Dow reached a two-month high, while Exxon and Chevron fell about 5% as crude dropped. American Airlines rose 8%. Shipping firms warned risks remain in the strait, with U.S. Navy citing unclear mine threats.
Oklo Stock Surges as White House Space Nuclear Plan and Board Overhaul Lift Reactor Shares
Oklo shares climbed 8.5% to $69.69 by midday Friday after the company overhauled its board and the White House called for faster space-reactor development. The board expanded to 11, adding Mark Peters and David Christian. NuScale Power and BWX Technologies also rose. Oklo’s market value hit $16.5 billion, despite no 2025 revenue and a $105.7 million net loss.
AMC Stock Jumps Nearly 20% on Super Mario Box Office Boost, but Debt Still Looms
AMC Entertainment shares surged nearly 20% Friday after the chain reported record Easter weekend revenue, with more than 6 million visitors and strong results from “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” By midday, AMC traded at $1.93, up $0.32. Cinemark and Marcus also posted their best-ever Easter five-day box office. Despite the rally, AMC stock remains far below its 52-week high of $4.08.