Major U.S. Indices Close Sharply Lower, Nasdaq Down 1.43%
The major averages closed sharply lower amid another wave of corporate earnings. Results were positive in spaces like pharmaceuticals and consumer products, with Merck and PepsiCo reporting upbeat quarterly earnings, but a rotation from tech sunk the indexes, particularly the Nasdaq. Investors are still awaiting plenty more big corporate earnings reports, with results from big players like Alphabet and Amazon due later this week.In Capitol Hill news, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 217-214 to pass legislation funding major parts of the government and ending a partial shutdown, with the package heading to President Trump's desk. The package includes five full-year spending bills and an extension of Department of Homeland Security funding through February 13.In commodities, gold prices have surged again after two days of sharp declines, while oil prices are also on the rise ahead of API crude numbers set to be released this afternoon.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Elon Musk confirmed that, with The Information reporting that the deal price was $250BPayPalreportedand named HP Inc.'sEnrique Lores as CEO, succeeding Alex ChrissDisney, with Disney Experiences chairman Josh D'Amaro named the media giant's next CEOPepsiCoreportedand announced a new $10B share repurchase programBanco SantanderWebster Financialfor $12.2B in cash and shares2. WALL STREET CALLS:Palantirto Outperform at Baird and Northland after Q4 reportSoFi Technologiesto Overweight at JPMorganVisaand MasterCardto Outperform at DaiwaExxon Mobilto Underperform at BNP ParibasFigureto Underperform at BofA3. AROUND THE WEB:Grindris in early testing for a new AI subscription tier named "Edge", with pilot prices ranging from $80 to $200 a week, Business Insider reportsGoogleintends to spend $4.75B to help find enough electricity to run its fleet of data centers, WSJ reportsMetahas given $65M to two super PACs to elect California state candidates, regardless of party, whom it views as supportive of the AI and tech industry, Politico reportsSuppliers accustomed to catering to Apple'severy demand are gaining leverage as AI companies outduel the company in a race to secure components, WSJ saysBlackrock's GIP is partnering with EQT ABto acquire AES Corp., Bloomberg reports4. MOVERS:DaVitagains afterand providing guidance for FY26Palladyne AIincreases after securing a contract with aSigma Lithiumhigher in New York after BofAthe stock to NeutralGartnerfalls afterFuboTVlower afterand announcing a planned reverse stock split5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Palantirreportedand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Ball Corp., with EPS and revenue beating consensusIllinois Tool Works, with CEO Christopher O'Herlihy commenting, "ITW delivered a solid finish to the year"ATIand provided guidance for FY26Merckand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow fell 166.67, or 0.34%, to 49,240.99, the Nasdaq lost 336.92, or 1.43%, to 23,255.19, and the S&P 500 declined 58.63, or 0.84%, to 6,917.81.
