Khadija Saeed

A dedicated markets reporter, she covers stocks, macroeconomics, and major business developments with a sharp eye for detail and accuracy.

AppLovin stock price rises as it fights back against a short-seller report

AppLovin stock price rises as it fights back against a short-seller report

AppLovin shares rose 1.7% to $551.58 Thursday after the company sent a cease-and-desist letter to short seller CapitalWatch, demanding a retraction of a critical report. The stock has been volatile this month, dropping nearly 6% on Jan. 21 before rebounding in recent sessions. The SEC is investigating AppLovin’s data-collection practices. Fourth-quarter earnings are due Feb. 11.
29 January 2026
Applied Materials stock swings in Thursday trade as Mizuho upgrade meets tech selloff

Applied Materials stock swings in Thursday trade as Mizuho upgrade meets tech selloff

Applied Materials shares fell 0.9% to $333.80 Thursday despite a Mizuho upgrade and higher price target, as chip-equipment stocks traded mixed and the Nasdaq dropped 1%. About 7.7 million shares changed hands. The company released proxy materials for its March 12 shareholder meeting. Broader market weakness and policy risks, including U.S. export controls to China, continued to weigh on the sector.
29 January 2026
JPMorgan stock price rises above $304 as Fed pause and Washington headlines steer bank shares

JPMorgan stock price rises above $304 as Fed pause and Washington headlines steer bank shares

JPMorgan Chase shares rose 1.1% to $304.01 by late morning Thursday, with about 3.35 million shares traded. The move followed the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep rates steady and new details on a government-backed children’s savings program, which JPMorgan will match for eligible employees. Bank of America and Wells Fargo also gained, while Citigroup was little changed. Airline executives warned a proposed 10% credit-card rate cap could hurt loyalty program profits.
Eli Lilly stock price today: LLY rises on $1.93 billion Repertoire deal as earnings near

Eli Lilly stock price today: LLY rises on $1.93 billion Repertoire deal as earnings near

Eli Lilly shares rose 0.5% Thursday after Repertoire Immune Medicines announced a partnership with the company worth up to $1.93 billion. The deal follows Lilly’s $1.12 billion gene-editing agreement targeting hearing loss. Investors are also watching for Medicare’s plan to include Trulicity in upcoming price negotiations. Lilly’s earnings report is expected Feb. 4.
IREN stock price drops after Wednesday’s jump — what traders are watching into Feb. 5

IREN stock price drops after Wednesday’s jump — what traders are watching into Feb. 5

IREN shares fell 6.3% to $58.98 by late morning Thursday, reversing part of Wednesday’s 14% surge as bitcoin dropped 5.7%. Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital also declined. The selloff followed a winter storm that disrupted mining operations and cut IREN’s daily bitcoin output. Investors await IREN’s quarterly results on Feb. 5 for updates on AI and power constraints.
Lam Research stock slips after upbeat forecast; LRCX traders weigh the next leg of chip-tool demand

Lam Research stock slips after upbeat forecast; LRCX traders weigh the next leg of chip-tool demand

Lam Research shares fell about 0.9% Thursday, reversing gains after the company forecast March-quarter revenue of $5.7 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.35 per share, both above estimates. December-quarter revenue reached $5.34 billion. China accounted for 35% of sales last quarter. Investors remain focused on AI-driven memory demand and tool orders.
Western Digital stock slides ahead of earnings after Seagate rally — what’s next for WDC shares?

Western Digital stock slides ahead of earnings after Seagate rally — what’s next for WDC shares?

Western Digital shares fell 2.8% to $271.81 in early Thursday trading, paring Wednesday’s 10.7% rally ahead of its fiscal second-quarter results due after the U.S. market closes. Investors are watching for guidance on cloud storage demand and pricing. Seagate and Micron also slipped. Western Digital’s stock is up nearly 400% since November 2024.
GOOG stock drops from a record high as Alphabet faces an AI reality check before earnings

GOOG stock drops from a record high as Alphabet faces an AI reality check before earnings

Alphabet’s non-voting GOOG shares fell 2.5% to $328.00 after reaching a session high of $342.91. Google agreed to pay $135 million to settle a lawsuit over Android data collection, pending court approval. Microsoft shares plunged nearly 12% as Big Tech stocks slid on concerns about rising AI-related costs. Alphabet will report earnings on Feb. 4.

Stock Market Today

No $2,000 IRS stimulus check is coming in February 2026 — but Trump’s tariff-check talk keeps the rumors alive

No $2,000 IRS stimulus check is coming in February 2026 — but Trump’s tariff-check talk keeps the rumors alive

7 February 2026
The IRS has not announced new federal stimulus payments for February 2026, and Congress has not approved fresh checks. Trump told NBC he is considering $2,000 tariff rebate checks but has not committed, saying any payout would likely come later in 2026. The IRS warns taxpayers to ignore texts and emails about “stimulus payments” and verify notices through official channels.
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