TSMC's Optimistic Outlook Boosts Tech Stocks
The major averages were broadly higher near noon, rebounding from back-to-back days of losses as optimism around a strong outlook from TSMC bolsters technology sentiment and lifts semiconductor and AI-related shares. Additionally, bank stocks rose after the latest spate of quarterly earnings, with Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs on the rise.Looking to commodities, gold was edging lower following massive recent gains for the asset. Meanwhile, oil prices were falling to trade below $60 per barrel.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:TSMCreportedand provided upbeat guidance for Q1 and 2026Goldman Sachsreportedand increased its quarterly dividendMorgan StanleyreportedBoston ScientificPenumbrafor $374 per share in cash and stockMission ProduceCalavo Growersfor $27 per share in cash and stock2. WALL STREET CALLS:RBC Capitalof Nvidiawith an Outperform rating and $240 price targetDraftKingsto Overweight from Equal Weight at Wells FargoApplied Materialsto Overweight from Equal Weight at BarclaysMorgan StanleyKLA Corp.to Overweight, sees more focus on logicKeyBancRocket Labwith growth catalysts well known3. AROUND THE WEB:A National Transportation Safety Board report said a UPScargo plane crash in Louisville that killed 15 may have been linked to cracks in a left-engine assembly that Boeinghad previously concluded would not affect flight safety, despite similar fractures occurring on other aircraft, NY Times saysAppleand Qualcommare scrambling to secure glass cloth fiber, used in chip substrates and PCBs, amid a surge in demand from AI companies like Nvidia, Nikkei Asia reportsCaterpillarbriefly hit a $300B market cap for the first time this week, driven by demand for its data center power generation equipment, Bloomberg saysAmazonis challenging Saks Global Enterprises' bid to fund its bankruptcy with financing that would provide the retailer with fresh cash, saying it would harm Amazon and other unsecured creditors, Bloomberg reportsChevronis poised to receive an expanded Venezuela license from the U.S. government this week that could allow for increased production and exports, Reuters says4. MOVERS:Coherenthigher after launching theBRC Groupincreases afterFluencegains after announcing it willsolution for the Pioneer Clean Energy CenterOcugenlower afterfrom its Phase 2 ArMaDa studyMoonLake Immunotherapeuticsfalls in New York after Goldman Sachsthe stock to Sell5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCEBlackRock, with EPS and revenue beating consensusQuantum Corp.for Q3MatsonHome BancShares, with Chairman John Allison commenting, "HOMB delivered a record $475.4 million in annual income, driven by strong fourth-quarter"Bank7, with EPS beating consensusINDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 0.75%, or 370.15, to 49,519.78, the Nasdaq was up 0.99%, or 232.93, to 23,704.68, and the S&P 500 was up 0.71%, or 49.42, to 6,976.02.
