Major Averages Broadly Lower as Tech Stocks Decline
The major averages were broadly lower near noon as tech stocks continue to decline and as investors continue to analyze earnings, monetary policy news, and macroeconomic data. On the macro side, markets are digesting the implications of the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair. Warsh's nomination has lifted the U.S. dollar and pressured commodities like gold and silver, while traders recalibrate expectations for interest rates and policy continuity. At the same time, the upcoming week's heavy slate of earnings and labor market data looms as a catalyst for direction in equities.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:President Trump has nominatedApplereportedand provided Q2 revenue guidanceChevronand Exxon Mobilboth reportedVerizonreportedand authorized a $25B share repurchase programAmerican Expressand Visaboth reported2. WALL STREET CALLS:HSBCPinterestto Hold on softer near-term outlookSanDiskto Outperform at Raymond JamesCodere Onlineto Hold at StifelSpotifyto Buy at CitiSouthwestto Outperform at BMO Capital3. AROUND THE WEB:Alibabaand ByteDance both plan to release flagship AI models around China's mid-February Lunar New Year holiday, including ByteDance's Doubao 2.0, The Information saysAccording to new NHTSA crash data and Tesla'snew disclosure of Robotaxi mileage, Tesla's driverless vehicles are crashing at a much higher rate than human drivers, even with a safety monitor in every vehicle, Electrek reportsGameStopshares have dropped 80% since becoming a meme stock in 2021, but GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen plans to turn the $11B company into a $100B juggernaut, WSJ saysNvidiaassisted China's DeepSeek with refining its AI models that were later used in the Chinese military, Reuters reportsStructure Therapeutics, which his working on next-gen oral obesity medication, has emerged as the next top M&A target for Big Pharma, Axios says4. MOVERS:Robert Halfgains afterand provided guidance for Q1Deckers Outdoorincreases afterand raising its guidance for FY26Critical Metals (CRML) lower in New York afterto fast track the development of its Tanbreez projectLexiconfalls after announcing aPennyMac Financiallower after5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCESoFi Technologiesand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26GCL Globalresults and cut its guidance for FY26Church & Dwight, with CEO Rick Dierker commenting, "we are pleased to deliver another year of industry-leading results"Colgate-Palmolive, with EPS and revenue beating consensusAon plc, with CEO Greg Case commenting, "Our fourth-quarter and full-year results reflect the strong execution of our 3x3 Plan, accelerating our client-centric Aon United strategy"INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.84%, or 414.43, to 48,657.13, the Nasdaq was down 0.64%, or 151.85, to 23,533.28, and the S&P 500 was down 0.51%, or 35.80, to 6,933.21.
