April 16 (Reuters) - What matters in U. and global markets today , Editor-at-Large, Finance and Markets After a dreary, war-filled six weeks, global stocks are once again at record highs.
April 16 (Reuters) - What matters in U. and global markets today , Editor-at-Large, Finance and Markets After a dreary, war-filled six weeks, global stocks are once again at record highs.
(RTTNews) - After opening on a strong note and staying reasonably firm till a little past mid-morning, Indian stocks turned weak on Thursday as investors chose to take some profits, cashing in recent gains.
(RTTNews) - After opening on a strong note and staying reasonably firm till a little past mid-morning, Indian stocks turned weak on Thursday as investors chose to take some profits, cashing in recent gains.
Bongkod Worakandecha/iStock via Getty Images Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have evolved from niche allocations to core drivers of investment decision-making. As a result, investors are increasingly focused on how to integrate sustainability insights into their primary portfolio exposures—without compromising alignment to widely used benchmarks. The Russell 1000 Blossom ...
Bongkod Worakandecha/iStock via Getty Images Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have evolved from niche allocations to core drivers of investment decision-making. As a result, investors are increasingly focused on how to integrate sustainability insights into their primary portfolio exposures—without compromising alignment to widely used benchmarks. The Russell 1000 Blossom Index and the Russell 1000 Blossom Sector Relative Index combine two well-established FTSE Russell structures—the Russell US Indexes and the FTSE Blossom methodology—to identify large-cap US companies with stronger ESG practices. The combination delivers core US equity exposure while minimizing any industry or sector bias and incorporating ESG considerations in a transparent and systematic way. The Russell 1000® Index: a flagship benchmark for US equities Launched in 1984, the Russell US Indexes provide a comprehensive, modular framework for representing the US equity opportunity set. The indexes are capitalization-weighted and float-adjusted 1 , enabling them to capture approximately 99% of the US equity market’s investable market capitalization. More than $11 trillion in assets are benchmarked to Russell US Indexes across asset management, ETF and institutional portfolios worldwide 2 . The large-cap benchmark of the Russell US Indexes is the Russell 1000®, which measures the performance of the largest 1,000 US companies. Several characteristics have helped establish the Russell 1000 Index as a widely adopted benchmark: Transparent and objective methodology – Constituents are determined using clear, rules-based criteria rather than discretionary selection. Comprehensive market representation – The index captures the largest companies within the broader Russell 3000® Index universe, providing broad coverage of the US large-cap segment. Predictable semi-annual reconstitution – Russell US Indexes are reconstituted twice each year, ensuring the benchmark reflects ongoing chang...
Okta could have room to run as a potential rise in agentic artificial intelligence boosts business for the security software firm, according to Raymond James. The investment bank upgraded the identity and access management stock to outperform from market perform. It has an $85 price target on shares, implying 26.2% upside from Wednesday's close. Agentic AI refers to tools and services that assist ...
Okta could have room to run as a potential rise in agentic artificial intelligence boosts business for the security software firm, according to Raymond James. The investment bank upgraded the identity and access management stock to outperform from market perform. It has an $85 price target on shares, implying 26.2% upside from Wednesday's close. Agentic AI refers to tools and services that assist users with a variety of tasks, and technology firms are plowing considerable amounts of funds into the trend. "AI is beginning to move from the experimentation to the production phase in Enterprise use cases, and agents that have previously been using human identity security will now need their own identity security," analyst Adam Tindle said Thursday in a note to clients. "We see the potential for a significant unit [total addressable market] increase for Okta's core market due to Agents in the workforce." He added that Okta could bring in more revenue by expanding into cybersecurity services such as identity governance and administration (IGA) and privileged access management (PAM). "Expansion into IGA and PAM provide Okta with an intriguing consolidation story, and evolving security requirements for AI/agents could expand Okta's addressable market to provide durable growth and free cash flow generation," Tindle wrote. In addition, Okta seems to have cleared a major headwind that led its stock to plummet to roughly $60 from $200 over the past few years, according to Raymond James. Net revenue retention "decelerated from > 120% to ~106% due to downsized renewals from COVID cohorts that overprovisioned," Tindle wrote. "We see this headwind subsiding as average contract duration is just under three years (i.e., renewals have all rolled through), and our analysis of various metrics…suggests a forward waterfall that should result in upside to growth." Raymond James' call falls in line with consensus on the Street. Of the 47 analysts covering Okta, 32 have a buy or strong buy o...
Getty Images Investment overview I wrote about Sweetgreen, Inc. ( SG ) previously with a hold rating, as I did not see any plausible reasons for the stock to get re-rated upwards in the near term. My view has not changed. If anything, the setup looks worse today. Demand is still weakening, margins are now feeling the impact of fixed cost deleverage, and the slower store opening outlook tells us th...
Getty Images Investment overview I wrote about Sweetgreen, Inc. ( SG ) previously with a hold rating, as I did not see any plausible reasons for the stock to get re-rated upwards in the near term. My view has not changed. If anything, the setup looks worse today. Demand is still weakening, margins are now feeling the impact of fixed cost deleverage, and the slower store opening outlook tells us the growth runway is not as long as many once thought. While management now has a clearer turnaround plan, I do not think there is enough evidence yet that the business is actually stabilizing. Demand is still getting worse Bloomberg The biggest issue with SG's business and stock is that the core metric, same-store sales growth [SSG], continues to deteriorate. Just take a look at the recent numbers. Q4 SSSG came in at a whopping -11.5%, while traffic and mix were down >13%. That's not the end. That SSSG weakness carried into January, with SSSG down 11.8%. The data that I am tracking (via Bloomberg) also points to a high-single-digit growth decline since the start of 2026. The bad weather may explain some part of this weakness, but it doesn't change the fact that SG SSSG is deteriorating. Moreover, it is not like this is a single quarter of weakness. Look at the chart above; the weakness began multiple quarters ago and kept getting worse. Back in Q3, traffic and mix were also down 11.7%, and SSSG came in at -9.5%. My read then was that the operating fixes during Q2 and Q3 were not doing enough. But today, I am genuinely considering the fact that SG may be simply losing consumer relevance, and this could mean a structurally impaired demand story for the near-to-mid-term. To be fair, management does have a clearer turnaround plan now. Wraps are being tested, pricing architecture is being changed, menu tweaks are coming through, and there is more focus on throughput, hospitality, and operating consistency. That is fine, and it at least gives investors a better sense of what manag...
Good morning . Markets are betting on a US-Iran ceasefire extension. NYC doormen have had enough. And it’s millennials’ turn to go retro. Listen to the day’s top stories . — Angela Cullen Market Snapshot S&P 500 Futures 7,061.50 +0.0% Nasdaq 100 Futures 26,385.00 +0.1% Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index 1,193.91 +0.1% Market data as of 06:55 AM ET. Data is subject to provider delays. Stocks set new highs...
Good morning . Markets are betting on a US-Iran ceasefire extension. NYC doormen have had enough. And it’s millennials’ turn to go retro. Listen to the day’s top stories . — Angela Cullen Market Snapshot S&P 500 Futures 7,061.50 +0.0% Nasdaq 100 Futures 26,385.00 +0.1% Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index 1,193.91 +0.1% Market data as of 06:55 AM ET. Data is subject to provider delays. Stocks set new highs on rising optimism the US and Iran may extend their truce and return to the negotiating table. Adding fuel to the rally was an upbeat forecast from chipmaker TSMC . But tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz as at least two US-sanctioned ships made their way through the waterway . US regulators are also probing a series of suspiciously timed trades in the oil futures market ahead of rapid-fire policy pivots by Donald Trump related to the war. Trump’s bid to block Iran from using Hormuz chokes a key energy supply for China and risks a showdown with Xi Jinping a month before the two are due to meet face-to-face in Beijing. So far, the spillovers have been limited for the Chinese economy, with growth rebounding more than expected in the first quarter, but the data revealed few signs of a turnaround in consumer spending. Meanwhile, policymakers warned that markets are too blasé about the economic toll of the conflict. Elon Musk’s lieutenants have reached out to chip industry suppliers, asking them to move at “light speed” on his Terafab plan. The project aims to reshape the chipmaking landscape and propel the world’s richest person into an arena dominated by TSMC. Meanwhile, northern Spain’s successful AI buildout can be a model for others; here’s a glimpse of what happens when $90 billion of data centers come to town . In Texas, the grid operator has warned that power demand may quadruple by 2032 to feed booming data-center expansion . Apple, Google Offer ‘Nudify’ Apps Despite Policies Against Them Read more Patience is wearing thin for New York City’s doormen. They’r...
RBC Capital thinks the recent share price decline in auto suppliers due to concerns about the Section 232 tariff adjustments is overblown. Following a sharp selloff in BRP ( DOO ) after the company pulled its guidance due to tariff issues, many auto supplier stocks also turned lower. On April 6, the U.S. implemented a new structure for Section 232 duties on steel, aluminum, and copper and their de...
RBC Capital thinks the recent share price decline in auto suppliers due to concerns about the Section 232 tariff adjustments is overblown. Following a sharp selloff in BRP ( DOO ) after the company pulled its guidance due to tariff issues, many auto supplier stocks also turned lower. On April 6, the U.S. implemented a new structure for Section 232 duties on steel, aluminum, and copper and their derivative products, pursuant to an April 2 presidential proclamation. Instead of calculating tariffs only on the value of the metal content in finished goods, the tariffs are now applied to the full customs value of covered imports, which generally increases the effective duty paid on many metal‑containing product. Weighing in on the development, analyst Tom Narayan noted that the Section 232 tariff adjustment does not supersede U.S. tariff deals with the EU, Japan, or Korea, and does not supersede the 25% tariff imposed on cars made in Canada and Mexico. In regard to suppliers, the firm's view is that the USMCA exempt status largely remains intact. It was noted that tariffs on metals continue to apply to USMCA-qualifying goods, and there are useful offsets that can be used. Auto supplier stocks : Adient ( ADNT ), Allison Transmission ( ALSN ), American Axle & Manufacturing (AXL), Aptiv ( APTV ), Autoliv ( ALV ), BorgWarner ( BWA ), China Automotive Systems ( CAAS ), Cooper-Standard ( CPS ), Dana ( DAN ), Douglas Dynamics ( PLOW ), Garrett Motion ( GTX ), Gentex ( GNTX ), Gentherm ( THRM ), Johnson Controls ( JCI ), Lear ( LEA ), LKQ ( LKQ ), Modine Manufacturing ( MOD ), Monro ( MNRO ), Motorcar Parts of America ( MPAA ), Standard Motor Products ( SMP ), Superior Industries (SUP), Visteon ( VC ), Voxx International (VOXX), and Westport Fuel Systems ( WPRT ). More on auto supplier stocks Allison Transmission: Earnings Compounder At An Attractive Valuation Allison Transmission: Not A Great Year And 2026 May Not Be Very Different Dana Incorporated: Fundamentals Have Improved A...
Key PointsThanks to turnaround progress, this company's leadership team expects adjusted earnings per share to rise 73% (at the midpoint) between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2028.
Key PointsThanks to turnaround progress, this company's leadership team expects adjusted earnings per share to rise 73% (at the midpoint) between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2028.
New Hungarian Prime Minister Says Borders Will Remain Shut To Immigrants In the wake of Viktor Orbán's election defeat, one of the greatest fears among conservatives in the region is an unconstrained EU able to take action on foreign policy, health, and immigration without the threat of a veto. It is widely assumed that the incoming prime minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar, will seek a fast resolut...
New Hungarian Prime Minister Says Borders Will Remain Shut To Immigrants In the wake of Viktor Orbán's election defeat, one of the greatest fears among conservatives in the region is an unconstrained EU able to take action on foreign policy, health, and immigration without the threat of a veto. It is widely assumed that the incoming prime minister of Hungary, Péter Magyar, will seek a fast resolution of Brussels’ key issues with Hungary in order to unlock some €35 billion in funding. His election win was heralded as a substantial victory for the global left wing, from EU globalists to Democrats in the US. Their assumption is that with Orbán's veto power out of play, they will be able to do they want in Ukraine and in Hungary. However, the new Prime Minster may not be as cooperative as they initially believed. Magyar has stated that he will not try to block a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine which Orbán originally vetoed, but he also stated that Hungary will not be contributing to such loans and that the government will not support any attempt to induct Ukraine into the EU. He also announced this week that he will not allow Hungary to join in the EU's "Migration Pact" and that he plans to further strengthen Hungary's borders. This includes a continued rejection of the EU's asylum rules, which are widely abused by third world migrants to freely enter Europe and gain access to welfare subsidies. Beyond the Ukraine funding veto, it was Orbán's refusal to submit to open borders and mass immigration that caused constant conflict with the EU. He was frequently referred to by the political left as a "dictator" and a "fascist" in part because of his strict border policies (even though he is voluntarily leaving office after losing the election, which is not the behavior of a dictator). Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, attacked Orbán regularly for his border controls, stating that Hungary's program to reinforce their borders with walls and barbed wire ...
Sue Thatcher/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Ford restructures operations and leadership to scale EV and software strategy. (0:15) Google’s SpaceX stake could exceed $100B. (1:10) Nuclear energy stocks rally on funding, IPO plans and initiatives. (2:08) The following is an abridged transcript: Ford Motor ( F ) said it is creating a new end...
Sue Thatcher/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Ford restructures operations and leadership to scale EV and software strategy. (0:15) Google’s SpaceX stake could exceed $100B. (1:10) Nuclear energy stocks rally on funding, IPO plans and initiatives. (2:08) The following is an abridged transcript: Ford Motor ( F ) said it is creating a new end-to-end organization , Product Creation and Industrialization, combining its advanced technology and global industrial teams. The move comes alongside a leadership transition. Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer, will depart next month after nearly five years. Kieran Cahill, vice president of manufacturing for Europe and IMG, will retire after 37 years with the company. Ford said the restructuring is aimed at scaling next-generation vehicles and software as part of its Ford+ strategy and long-term target of an 8% adjusted EBIT margin by 2029. The new unit will be led by COO Kumar Galhotra and is designed to streamline decision-making and better integrate EV, digital, design and manufacturing operations. Ford added that its California-based Advanced Electric Vehicle Development team will continue leading future programs, including work on the Universal Electric Vehicle platform. Alphabet’s ( GOOG ) ( GOOGL ) investment in SpaceX ( SPACE ) could be worth more than $100B if the space company goes public at a valuation near $2T. Google LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet, disclosed in an Alaska regulatory filing that its stake has been diluted to about 5% following the SpaceX/xAI merger, down from 6.11%. Even at the lower ownership level, the holding would be worth billions of dollars in a record-setting IPO scenario. A public offering could also generate massive gains for early investors including Fidelity’s Contrafund, Founders Fund and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. CEO Elon Musk, who holds more than 40% of the company, could see his net worth s...
*Other Operating Data Consensus Source: Bloomberg More on Pepsico PepsiCo: Why The Turnaround Is Finally Taking Hold (Preview) PepsiCo: Elliott's Catalyst + 4% Yield = The Defensive Buy Of 2026 PepsiCo: Improving, But Core Problems Remain PepsiCo sees improved food segment results after lowering some prices Pepsico Non-GAAP EPS of $1.61 beats by $0.06, revenue of $19.44B beats by $500M
*Other Operating Data Consensus Source: Bloomberg More on Pepsico PepsiCo: Why The Turnaround Is Finally Taking Hold (Preview) PepsiCo: Elliott's Catalyst + 4% Yield = The Defensive Buy Of 2026 PepsiCo: Improving, But Core Problems Remain PepsiCo sees improved food segment results after lowering some prices Pepsico Non-GAAP EPS of $1.61 beats by $0.06, revenue of $19.44B beats by $500M
Trump plans to start anti-mine operations as part of a wider attempt to open the strait, but the clearance is laborious and dangerous Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has said he plans to begin anti-mine operations in the strait of Hormuz as part of a wider attempt to reopen the waterway, which has in effect been closed to marine traffic by Iran since the US and Israel launched their...
Trump plans to start anti-mine operations as part of a wider attempt to open the strait, but the clearance is laborious and dangerous Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has said he plans to begin anti-mine operations in the strait of Hormuz as part of a wider attempt to reopen the waterway, which has in effect been closed to marine traffic by Iran since the US and Israel launched their war in late February. Continue reading...
PM summons senior figures from Meta, TikTok, Google and X and says social media is ‘putting our children at risk’ Keir Starmer has told social media bosses “things can’t go on like this” in a Downing Street meeting over internet safety. The prime minister summoned senior figures at Meta, TikTok, Google and X to No 10 on Thursday morning as his government considers imposing new restrictions on plat...
PM summons senior figures from Meta, TikTok, Google and X and says social media is ‘putting our children at risk’ Keir Starmer has told social media bosses “things can’t go on like this” in a Downing Street meeting over internet safety. The prime minister summoned senior figures at Meta, TikTok, Google and X to No 10 on Thursday morning as his government considers imposing new restrictions on platforms, including an Australia-style ban for under-16s. Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, and Google owns YouTube. Continue reading...