Major Averages Close Broadly Higher as Investors Brace for Earnings Reports
The major averages closed broadly higher as traders brace for another week of corporate earnings reports, including from big names Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla, as well as the latest Federal Reserve interest rate decision slated for later this week.Investors are also monitoring even more tariff news, as President Trump over the weekend threatened 100% tariffs on all Canadian goods and products if the country reaches a trade agreement with China. However, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada has "no intention" of pursuing such a trade deal. Additionally, rising tensions in Minnesota remain in focus following another fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by an ICE officer over the weekend. Amid all the news coming out of the state, a group of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies called for an "immediate de-escalation of tensions."Looking to commodities, gold continues to soar to record highs, surpassing the $5,000 mark for the first time.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:A group of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies, including 3M, Target, UnitedHealth, and Best Buy, called for anin the stateNvidiaisin CoreWeaveUSA Rare Earthentered into a non-binding Letter of Intent with the U.S. government forMerckis no longer in talks to acquire Revolution Medicines,IonQSkyWater Technologyfor $35 per share in cash and stock2. WALL STREET CALLS:Meta Platformsto Buy at Rothschild & Co RedburnCiscoto Outperform at Evercore ISIBTIGof Fannie Maeand Freddie Macwith Buy ratings and $20 price targetsVaronisto Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan StanleyPiperIO Biotech, sees no assurance strategic alternatives process will pan out favorably3. AROUND THE WEB:Oil majors that operate the Karachaganak field in Kazakhstan, including Eniand Shelllost an international arbitration case, leaving them liable to pay as much as $4B, Bloomberg reportsNikeis looking into a potential data breach, Reuters saysA foreign investment fund is in advanced talks to acquire Israeli medical aesthetics firm InModefor about $1.1B, or a 25% premium to its $882M valuation, which would result in the company being delisted, Calcalist reportsGooglehas acquired Common Sense Machines, which offers AI models that create 3D assets from 2D images, The Information saysMeta'sdecision to deprioritize VR in favor of AI and internet-connected glasses has chilled the VR industry, leading to concerns about its future, CNBC reports4. MOVERS:Land's Endhigher after announcing an agreement with WHP Global toTronoxincreases after providing Q4 guidance and announcing theSareptagains after reporting topline three-yearSatellogicfalls after pricing 7.4M shares at $4.73 inBlackRock TCP Capitallower after5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCESteel Dynamics, with EPS beating consensusBank of Hawaii, with CEO Peter Ho commenting, "Bank of Hawai'i completed 2025 with strong financial performance"Velocity Financialprovidedand FY25Trade Deskreaffirmed itsLakeland Financial, with CEO David Findlay commenting, "The Lake City Bank team produced a very strong fourth quarter with exceptional performance metrics"INDEXES:The Dow rose 313.69, or 0.64%, to 49,412.40, the Nasdaq gained 100.11, or 0.43%, to 23,601.36, and the S&P 500 advanced 34.62, or 0.50%, to 6,950.23.
