Khadija Saeed

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

Why D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) stock jumped 8% — and what investors are watching next

Why D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) stock jumped 8% — and what investors are watching next

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 13:50 ET — Market closed D-Wave Quantum Inc shares (QBTS) closed up 7.6% at $28.13 on Friday, ending the week’s first session with a sharp move in a corner of the market known for fast swings. Trading was heavy, with about 48.4 million shares changing hands. The jump matters now because quantum-computing pure plays have become momentum-driven trades, with investors struggling to anchor valuations as the companies push toward broader commercial adoption. Reuters has previously described the group as highly volatile, reflecting uncertainty over how quickly the technology turns into durable revenue. Reuters For D-Wave,
GE Aerospace stock jumps to a fresh 52-week high to start 2026, with earnings next in focus

GE Aerospace stock jumps to a fresh 52-week high to start 2026, with earnings next in focus

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 13:55 ET — Market closed GE Aerospace shares (GE) jumped 4.13% on Friday, the first trading day of 2026, to close at $320.75. The stock traded between $308.66 and $320.98, and about 4.3 million shares changed hands, data showed. Yahoo Finance The move pushed the jet-engine maker to a new 52-week high, topping its prior peak of $318.06 set on Dec. 26. GE also outpaced aerospace peers as U.S. stocks ended higher, with Honeywell up 0.4% and RTX gaining 2.1%. MarketWatch Why it matters now: GE ended 2025 with an 83% rally, standing out even
Nike stock today: NKE slips into 2026 as rates rise and investors brace for jobs data

Nike stock today: NKE slips into 2026 as rates rise and investors brace for jobs data

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 13:54 ET — Market closed Nike shares ended Friday down 0.67% at $63.28, underperforming some apparel and footwear peers on the first U.S. trading day of 2026. MarketWatch The move matters because Nike is entering the new year still in the early stages of a turnaround, with investors balancing company-specific execution risks against a macro backdrop that is starting to move again after year-end. U.S. stocks finished mixed on Friday as Treasury yields climbed and the dollar firmed, a combination that can weigh on global consumer brands with large overseas revenue. “Today is kind of
Bank of America stock rises as yields edge up; what could move BAC next week

Bank of America stock rises as yields edge up; what could move BAC next week

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 1:55 PM ET — Market closed Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) shares rose 1.73% to close at $55.95 on Friday, tracking gains across major U.S. banks. JPMorgan Chase climbed 1.01%, Wells Fargo gained 2.15% and Citigroup added 1.72%, according to MarketWatch data. MarketWatch The move came as Treasury yields pushed higher, a shift that often matters for bank stocks because it can change the economics of lending. The benchmark 10-year yield rose 3.8 basis points — a basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point — to 4.191%, while the 30-year yield climbed to
Energy stocks jump to start 2026 as Exxon, Chevron rise; OPEC+ and Venezuela in focus

Energy stocks jump to start 2026 as Exxon, Chevron rise; OPEC+ and Venezuela in focus

NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 13:36 ET — Market closed U.S. energy stocks kicked off 2026 with broad gains on Friday, with oilfield services and exploration-and-production names outperforming even as crude futures finished slightly lower. Oil Services ETF OIH rose 3.9% and the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF XOP gained 2.1%. Among large caps, Exxon Mobil ended up 1.9% at $122.65 and Chevron gained 2.3% to $155.90, while oilfield services provider SLB jumped 4.8% to $40.20. The outperformance matters now because investors began the year rotating into value-linked sectors and “real economy” beneficiaries, even as markets
Utilities stocks punch higher in 2026 opener as XLU beats market; NextEra filing in focus

Utilities stocks punch higher in 2026 opener as XLU beats market; NextEra filing in focus

NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 13:39 ET — Market closed U.S. utility stocks started 2026 on a stronger footing, with the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) rising 1.2% on Friday to $43.18. The ETF traded between $42.66 and $43.38, setting up near-term chart levels traders often watch for support and resistance. The move matters because utilities are often treated as “bond proxies” — a shorthand for dividend-heavy stocks that can become less attractive when interest rates rise. U.S. Treasury yields still climbed, with the 10-year yield up 3.8 basis points (one basis point is 0.01 percentage point) to 4.191%,
Basic materials stocks jump to start 2026 — XLB rises as copper steadies and miners climb

Basic materials stocks jump to start 2026 — XLB rises as copper steadies and miners climb

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 1:42 PM ET — Market closed U.S. basic materials stocks ended the first session of 2026 higher, lifting the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) — an exchange-traded fund that tracks a basket of large U.S. materials companies — 1.7% to $46.12 at Friday’s close. MarketWatch The basic materials group spans miners, chemical makers and building-material producers, leaving it especially sensitive to swings in metals prices and shifts in the economic outlook. With markets reopening after the holiday lull, investors are using early-January trading to recalibrate exposure to cyclical sectors tied to growth. Yahoo Finance
Healthcare Stocks Today: XLV edges up as drugmakers raise U.S. list prices on 350 medicines

Healthcare Stocks Today: XLV edges up as drugmakers raise U.S. list prices on 350 medicines

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 13:21 ET — Market closed Drugmakers are lifting U.S. list prices on hundreds of medicines as 2026 begins, putting drug-pricing politics back in focus for healthcare investors. The sector finished higher in Friday’s session, the last U.S. trading day before the weekend. Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 branded medicines for 2026, including vaccines for COVID-19, RSV and shingles, as well as Pfizer’s cancer drug Ibrance, Reuters reported, citing data from healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors. The median list-price increase is about 4%, and the changes do not reflect rebates
Defense and space stocks jump to start 2026 as Boeing, Rocket Lab lead gains

Defense and space stocks jump to start 2026 as Boeing, Rocket Lab lead gains

NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 13:12 ET — Market closed U.S. aerospace, defense and space-linked stocks rose sharply on Friday, led by Boeing and Rocket Lab, as investors returned to the group on the first trading day of 2026. MarketWatch The move matters because the sector sits at the intersection of two market themes that have been driving flows into January: geopolitical risk and government-backed demand. Defense contractors typically draw buyers when investors want revenue visibility, since much of their work is tied to multi-year contracts. Investing The rally also came as Wall Street steadied after a late-December slide, with
Rare metals stock CRML jumps 17% — what’s driving Critical Metals after the 2026 open

Rare metals stock CRML jumps 17% — what’s driving Critical Metals after the 2026 open

NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 1:10 PM ET — Market closed Critical Metals Corp shares surged 17% on Friday to close at $8.12, capping a strong first session of 2026 for the rare metals stock. The shares were little changed in after-hours trading. Yahoo Finance The move matters because rare earths — a group of 17 elements used in powerful permanent magnets — sit at the center of supply-chain politics for electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems. For investors, junior rare earth developers have become a high-beta trade on industrial policy: sentiment can turn quickly on signs of government
Data center stocks kick off 2026 with Vertiv jump after Barclays upgrade

Data center stocks kick off 2026 with Vertiv jump after Barclays upgrade

NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 12:56 ET — Market closed Data center stocks ended the first trading day of 2026 on Friday with a sharp split between infrastructure suppliers and real estate landlords. Vertiv Holdings (VRT) jumped 8.4% and Applied Digital (APLD) rose 14.6%. Power-management supplier Eaton (ETN) gained 2.8%, while Digital Realty (DLR) and Iron Mountain (IRM) edged up and Equinix (EQIX) slipped. The moves matter now because investors are starting the year re-pricing what the AI data center build-out means for earnings, not just revenue. Stocks tied to power delivery and cooling can benefit when customers pack more
ServiceNow (NOW) stock price today: Shares slide nearly 4% to start 2026 as software lags

ServiceNow (NOW) stock price today: Shares slide nearly 4% to start 2026 as software lags

NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 12:48 ET — Market closed ServiceNow, Inc. shares closed down $5.71, or 3.7%, at $147.45 on Friday, after trading as high as $154.69 and as low as $145.65. Volume was about 9.9 million shares, according to trade data. The decline marked a third straight daily drop for ServiceNow and left the stock about 38% below its 52-week high, according to MarketWatch. The pullback came even as the S&P 500 rose 0.19% and the Dow gained 0.66%, while peers in enterprise software also fell, including Salesforce, which dropped 4.26%. MarketWatch Why it matters now: investors began

Stock Market Today

Corning stock price hits record close — what’s driving GLW and the next big test

Corning stock price hits record close — what’s driving GLW and the next big test

7 February 2026
Corning shares jumped 8.3% to a record $122.16 Friday, gaining 11% over two sessions amid strong demand for AI infrastructure stocks. The move follows a $6 billion optical fiber deal with Meta and upgraded company forecasts. Shares traded as high as $122.56 and rose 0.6% after hours. COO Avery Nelson sold 1,894 shares for tax withholding, retaining 66,050.
PepsiCo stock: €2.5 billion bond deal lands as investors size up the price-cut gamble

PepsiCo stock: €2.5 billion bond deal lands as investors size up the price-cut gamble

7 February 2026
PepsiCo priced €2.5 billion in euro notes across four maturities, with settlement set for Feb. 11, according to an SEC filing. The company plans to use proceeds for general corporate purposes, including repaying commercial paper. Shares closed at $170.49 Friday, up 1.8%. PepsiCo is also cutting U.S. snack prices by up to 15% after consumer pushback.
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