Applied Digital (APLD) stock jumps 14.6% ahead of Jan. 7 earnings as ChronoScale plan stays in focus

Applied Digital (APLD) stock jumps 14.6% ahead of Jan. 7 earnings as ChronoScale plan stays in focus

Applied Digital Corp (APLD.O) surged 14.6% to $28.11 Friday, with 36.1 million shares traded, ahead of its Jan. 7 earnings report. The company recently announced plans to spin out its cloud unit and merge it with Ekso Bionics, forming ChronoScale, with Applied Digital set to control 97% of the new entity. The proposed deal remains subject to final agreements and approvals.
China’s 55% beef tariff triggers quota scramble, squeezing Australian wagyu and Angus

China’s 55% beef tariff triggers quota scramble, squeezing Australian wagyu and Angus

China has imposed a 55% tariff on beef imports exceeding annual quotas under a new three-year safeguard regime. Australian exporters warn premium wagyu and Angus cuts may be crowded out as larger shippers rush to fill quotas. Analysts expect displaced beef to pressure Australian prices in late 2026. The Australian Meat Industry Council estimates the measures could cut beef exports to China by a third.
3 January 2026
Rivian stock drops after 2025 delivery update; Feb. 12 earnings now the next test

Rivian stock drops after 2025 delivery update; Feb. 12 earnings now the next test

Rivian shares fell 1.5% to $19.41 Friday after reporting 2025 production of 42,284 vehicles and deliveries of 42,247, in line with expectations. The company produced 10,974 vehicles and delivered 9,745 in the fourth quarter. Rivian will release full earnings results on Feb. 12. Investors await updates on the lower-priced R2 SUV launch in 2026.
XRP price forecast for next week: Can Ripple’s token hold $2 after U.S. strikes Venezuela?

XRP price forecast for next week: Can Ripple’s token hold $2 after U.S. strikes Venezuela?

XRP jumped 5.8% to around $2.00 after U.S. military strikes in Venezuela and President Trump’s claim that Nicolás Maduro was captured. Venezuela declared a national emergency but oil company PDVSA’s operations were reportedly unaffected. Bitcoin and ether saw smaller gains, with no signs of broad crypto panic. Traders are watching for further Venezuela developments and key U.S. economic data next week.
3 January 2026
US strike on Venezuela: What happens next for the economy, oil exports and the bolivar

US strike on Venezuela: What happens next for the economy, oil exports and the bolivar

U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a Saturday raid, according to President Donald Trump and a U.S. official. Oil exports remain halved by sanctions and tanker seizures, with the bolivar down 83% in 2025. PDVSA’s main facilities were undamaged, but the port of La Guaira sustained severe damage. Most oil tankers remain stuck in Venezuelan waters, shipping data showed.
3 January 2026
UiPath (PATH) stock slides after CEO share sale filing as S&P MidCap 400 entry takes effect

UiPath (PATH) stock slides after CEO share sale filing as S&P MidCap 400 entry takes effect

UiPath shares fell nearly 3% to $15.88 in heavy trading Friday, their first session as an S&P MidCap 400 stock. CEO Daniel Dines sold 45,000 shares on Jan. 2 under a pre-arranged plan, according to a regulatory filing. The stock traded between $15.50 and $16.85, with about 44.1 million shares changing hands. Traders are watching for index-related flows and key U.S. economic data next week.
Natural gas prices next week: Henry Hub braces for Venezuela shock but warm U.S. forecast still rules

Natural gas prices next week: Henry Hub braces for Venezuela shock but warm U.S. forecast still rules

U.S. natural gas futures settled at $3.618/mmBtu Friday, down 6.8 cents, as forecasts showed weaker heating demand. U.S. strikes on Venezuela raised geopolitical risk, but PDVSA oil operations remained normal. Warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected to persist into mid-January, pressuring gas prices. U.S. storage withdrawals and demand both trended below seasonal averages.
3 January 2026
Silver price forecast next week: Venezuela strikes raise safe-haven bid as $70-$75 range comes into view

Silver price forecast next week: Venezuela strikes raise safe-haven bid as $70-$75 range comes into view

U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, President Trump said, with more details expected at an 11 a.m. press event. Spot silver was last up 1.6% at $72.39 an ounce, near record highs, while the iShares Silver Trust ETF rose 2% to $65.75. Venezuelan oil operations remained normal, sources said. Markets await further signals from Washington and Caracas.
3 January 2026
Phillips 66 stock forecast: PSX faces oil-price test after U.S. strikes Venezuela

Phillips 66 stock forecast: PSX faces oil-price test after U.S. strikes Venezuela

President Donald Trump said the U.S. struck Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro. Phillips 66 shares closed up 1.2% at $130.57 Friday, before the news broke. Two sources told Reuters that PDVSA’s oil operations were running normally. Brent crude settled at $60.75 a barrel, with markets closed for the weekend.
Valero Energy stock forecast: VLO in focus after U.S. strikes Venezuela, oil shock looms for Monday

Valero Energy stock forecast: VLO in focus after U.S. strikes Venezuela, oil shock looms for Monday

U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro after overnight strikes, with more details expected at an 11 a.m. press conference. Valero shares closed Friday at $165.31, up 1.55%, and about 11% below their 52-week high. Oil prices are expected to rise on supply concerns, though Venezuela’s oil production and refining remained normal, sources said. Valero reports earnings Jan. 29.
3 January 2026
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) stock forecast: What to watch after U.S. strikes Venezuela

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) stock forecast: What to watch after U.S. strikes Venezuela

The U.S. launched strikes inside Venezuela early Saturday; President Trump said Nicolás Maduro was captured and flown out of the country. Occidental Petroleum closed a $9.7 billion sale of its OxyChem unit to Berkshire Hathaway and shares rose 3.06% Friday. Oil production at PDVSA remained normal, but traders are watching for supply disruptions as OPEC+ meets Sunday.
MARA Holdings stock jumps 10% as bitcoin steadies near $90,000 — what traders watch next

MARA Holdings stock jumps 10% as bitcoin steadies near $90,000 — what traders watch next

MARA Holdings shares jumped 10.2% to $9.91 on Friday, tracking a rebound in bitcoin mining stocks as bitcoin hovered near $90,000 in thin post-holiday trading. Riot Platforms and CleanSpark also advanced. The S&P 500 and Dow closed higher, while the Nasdaq slipped. Investors await next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data after a government shutdown delayed some reports.
Marathon Petroleum stock forecast: MPC in focus after U.S. strikes Venezuela, oil supply fears loom

Marathon Petroleum stock forecast: MPC in focus after U.S. strikes Venezuela, oil supply fears loom

Marathon Petroleum closed up 1.6% at $165.14 Friday, just before the U.S. struck Venezuela and President Trump announced the capture of Nicolas Maduro. PDVSA’s main oil facilities were undamaged and operating normally, sources said. Oil futures last settled at $57.32 for U.S. crude and $60.75 for Brent. Investors expect volatility in refining stocks when markets reopen.

Stock Market Today

Semiconductor stocks surge as AI capex stays high; Nvidia and AMD lead into next week

Semiconductor stocks surge as AI capex stays high; Nvidia and AMD lead into next week

7 February 2026
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped 5.7% to 8,048.6 on Friday, with Nvidia up 7.87% and AMD rising 8.28%. The surge followed new forecasts showing global chip sales could hit $1 trillion in 2026. Amazon expects a 50% increase in capital spending this year, fueling demand for chips. The Dow Jones crossed 50,000, helped by gains in chipmakers.
Oil stocks jump on Iran risk lift for crude — what to watch before Monday

Oil stocks jump on Iran risk lift for crude — what to watch before Monday

7 February 2026
U.S. oil stocks surged Friday as crude prices rose on renewed Middle East tensions. Exxon Mobil gained 2.0%, ConocoPhillips 2.5%, and Occidental Petroleum 2.7%. Refiners rallied after a national union deal eased strike risk, though BP’s Whiting plant faces a local dispute. Brent settled at $68.05 a barrel, up 0.74%.
Silver price rebound masks fresh stress after CME lifts margins again

Silver price rebound masks fresh stress after CME lifts margins again

7 February 2026
Spot silver surged 8.6% to $77.33 an ounce Friday after dropping below $65, but still lost over 8.7% for the week. CME Group raised margin requirements for COMEX silver futures to 18% from 15%, effective after Feb. 6. China’s UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund hit its 10% down limit for a fifth session. Traders await key U.S. jobs and inflation data next week.
Go toTop