UnitedHealth stock: the Medicare Advantage deadline that could drive UNH’s next move

UnitedHealth stock: the Medicare Advantage deadline that could drive UNH’s next move

UnitedHealth Group shares fell 1.8% to $286.93 Friday as investors weighed the government’s proposed 2027 Medicare Advantage rates. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services set a Feb. 25 deadline for comments and plans to announce final rates by April 6. UnitedHealth’s stock had plunged nearly 20% earlier in the week after the initial rate proposal missed analyst expectations.
1 February 2026
Novo Nordisk stock heads into earnings week as Wegovy pill scripts top 26,000

Novo Nordisk stock heads into earnings week as Wegovy pill scripts top 26,000

Novo Nordisk Class B shares closed at 369.6 Danish crowns on Friday, down 0.8 crown, as investors awaited the company’s 2025 financial statement set for Feb. 4. U.S. prescriptions for the new Wegovy pill surged to 26,109 in the week ending Jan. 23, up sharply from its launch. Leadership changes in China and rising competition from AstraZeneca add pressure ahead of earnings.
China Construction Bank Class A stock price: PMI slump and home-price data set up Monday’s trade

China Construction Bank Class A stock price: PMI slump and home-price data set up Monday’s trade

China Construction Bank A shares closed at 8.72 yuan Friday, down 0.6% as China’s official PMI fell to 49.3 in January, signaling contraction. New home prices in 100 cities rose 0.18% last month, while resale price declines slowed. The non-manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.4, its lowest since December 2022. Investors remain cautious ahead of further economic data and policy signals.
Goldman Sachs stock heads into Monday after Warsh Fed pick — what to watch next

Goldman Sachs stock heads into Monday after Warsh Fed pick — what to watch next

Goldman Sachs shares fell 0.5% to $935.41 Friday after Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh for Federal Reserve chair, raising uncertainty over interest rates and regulation. Trading volume reached about 1.9 million shares. The Senate confirmation process faces delays as Sen. Thom Tillis demands a DOJ inquiry into Jerome Powell conclude first. Goldman’s ActiveBeta ETF will cut its fee to 0.15% and change its ticker to GSWO after Feb. 4.
Wells Fargo stock price: What to watch after Scharf’s $40 million pay filing

Wells Fargo stock price: What to watch after Scharf’s $40 million pay filing

Wells Fargo shares closed down 0.1% at $90.49 Friday, with 18.3 million shares traded. The board approved CEO Charlie Scharf’s 2025 pay at $40 million, citing regulatory progress and $21.3 billion in net income. U.S. stocks slipped as markets reacted to inflation data and speculation over Trump’s Fed chair pick. The Treasury will auction new 3-year and 10-year notes on Feb. 4.
1 February 2026
AstraZeneca stock price: NYSE switch, China bets and earnings put AZN in play this week

AstraZeneca stock price: NYSE switch, China bets and earnings put AZN in play this week

AstraZeneca shares closed in London at 135.48 pounds Friday, up 0.65%. The company moves its U.S. listing from Nasdaq to the NYSE on Monday, keeping the AZN ticker. AstraZeneca recently announced a $1.2 billion obesity drug deal with CSPC and pledged $15 billion investment in China by 2030. Investors await full-year results on Feb. 10.
PetroChina A-share stock heads into Monday: oil near $70, OPEC+ decision, and a Dalian refinery restart report

PetroChina A-share stock heads into Monday: oil near $70, OPEC+ decision, and a Dalian refinery restart report

PetroChina’s Class A shares closed at 11.02 yuan in Shanghai Friday, up 1.2% after reaching a 52-week high of 11.15 yuan. Crude prices hovered near six-month peaks as OPEC+ kept March output steady, citing Iran tensions. PetroChina’s parent plans to restart a 200,000 bpd Dalian refinery unit by mid-2026 to process discounted Russian crude, pending regulatory approval.
Verizon’s near-12% leap puts communication services stocks in focus ahead of Disney, Alphabet results

Verizon’s near-12% leap puts communication services stocks in focus ahead of Disney, Alphabet results

Verizon surged 11.8% after raising its 2026 profit outlook and announcing a $25 billion buyback. XLC closed at $120.08, up 0.24%, as telecom gains offset losses in internet platforms. AT&T and T-Mobile also rose sharply. The S&P 500 fell 0.43% Friday amid investor focus on Fed leadership and mixed tech earnings.
Basic Materials Stocks Slide After Metal Selloff — What to Know Before Monday’s Open

Basic Materials Stocks Slide After Metal Selloff — What to Know Before Monday’s Open

The iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF fell 3.3% to $170.29 Friday, closing the week below its 52-week high after a sharp metals selloff. U.S.-listed gold and silver miners led declines as China’s manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.3, missing forecasts. Freeport-McMoRan slid 7.5%, while Air Products and Chemicals jumped 6.5% on earnings. Investors await U.S. and China economic data for direction.
Energy stocks brace for Monday after OPEC+ holds March output, Exxon and Chevron headlines

Energy stocks brace for Monday after OPEC+ holds March output, Exxon and Chevron headlines

OPEC+ kept March oil output unchanged Sunday, sending crude prices to multi-month highs as U.S.-Iran tensions mount. The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 1.1% Friday to $51.05, lifted by higher oil prices and strong earnings from Exxon and Chevron. Exxon posted adjusted Q4 earnings of $1.71 per share; Chevron reported $1.52, both beating forecasts. Brent crude closed at $70.69 a barrel, WTI at $65.21.
1 February 2026

Stock Market Today

Real estate stocks rise as rate-cut bets return; XLRE ends at $41.99 ahead of payrolls and CPI

Real estate stocks rise as rate-cut bets return; XLRE ends at $41.99 ahead of payrolls and CPI

7 February 2026
U.S. real estate stocks rose Friday, with XLRE up 1.8% to $41.99 and VNQ and IYR each gaining 1.6%. The Dow closed above 50,000 for the first time as the 10-year Treasury yield ended at 4.206%. Bank of America downgraded Public Storage and Extra Space Storage, citing weak housing turnover and high borrowing costs. The delayed January jobs report is set for Feb. 11, with CPI due Feb. 13.
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