News

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, both coming off record highs, moved up slightly to trade less than 0.1% above the flatline. The Nasdaq Composite also recovered from earlier losses but remained around 0.1% below flat.Markets remained cautious, with sentiment shaped by a mix of geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing earnings updates.

US stocks edged higher on Thursday after opening lower, as investors weighed stalled progress in US-Iran peace talks alongside a fresh batch of earnings, including Tesla’s results.The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, both coming off record highs, moved up slightly to trade less than 0.1% above the flatline. The Nasdaq Composite also recovered from earlier losses but remained around 0.1% below flat.Markets remained cautious, with sentiment shaped by a mix of geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing earnings updates.Blackstone president Jon Gray said the AI buildout is now the firm’s biggest investment driver, as demand for computing power and energy infrastructure surges.Gray noted that eight of the firm’s top-performing investments in the first quarter were tied to data centers, LNG, and battery storage, highlighting how AI demand is reshaping capital allocation.CEO Stephen Schwarzman added that Blackstone is now the “largest investor in AI-related infrastructure in the world.”The trend comes as AI-linked names such as Nvidia, AMD, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and Intel rally, alongside data centre and infrastructure players like Vertiv, Schneider Electric, and Eaton.The stock market is in a “balancing act” between earnings optimism and geopolitical risks, according to Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth.Hogan said the focus had recently shifted toward company-specific earnings, helping support markets, but warned that ongoing conflict headlines could quickly shift sentiment.He added that market reactions remain sensitive, with even a single social media post capable of driving sharp swings, limiting downside moves as investors stay alert to policy signals.

Business activity in the US came in stronger than expected in April, with both manufacturing and services PMI readings beating estimates, according to S&P Global.The manufacturing PMI rose to 54.0 versus a 52.5 forecast, while the services reading came in at 51.3, slightly above expectations of 51.0.Manufacturing activity hit its highest level since May 2022, driven by strong production and new orders, though forward-looking expectations remained relatively subdued.IBM shares fell more than 7.5% after its first-quarter earnings, with Wall Street analysts split on the outlook.Goldman Sachs and Bank of America reiterated buy ratings, citing productivity initiatives helping offset cost pressures, though Goldman trimmed its price target.In contrast, Morgan Stanley and UBS maintained more cautious stances, flagging concerns around AI-related risks to IBM’s software business and a lack of upside to full-year guidance.Donald Trump said he has ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessel found laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in maritime rules of engagement.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there would be “no hesitation,” adding that US mine-sweeping operations in the region are already underway and being intensified.The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf and rising concerns over disruptions to global oil flows through the critical shipping lane.Initial jobless claims came in slightly above expectations last week, though layoffs remained relatively muted.Data from the US Labor Department showed first-time filings rose by 6,000 to 214,000 for the week ended April 18, topping the Dow Jones estimate of 210,000.Continuing claims, which lag by a week, edged higher to 1.82 million, indicating a modest uptick in ongoing unemployment.American Airlines cut its 2026 earnings forecast, joining peers in lowering outlooks as rising fuel costs drive up expenses.For the first quarter, the airline reported an adjusted loss of 40 cents per share, narrower than the 47-cent loss expected, while revenue came in at $13.91 billion, ahead of estimates of $13.79 billion.Despite the guidance cut, shares of American Airlines rose nearly 2% in premarket trading.Honeywell shares tumbled more than 5% in premarket trade after the company issued a weaker-than-expected second-quarter outlook, citing the impact of geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran war.The company forecast Q2 earnings of $2.35–$2.45 per share, below estimates of $2.56, while revenue is expected between $9.4 billion and $9.6 billion, also missing consensus projections.Honeywell flagged weakness in its process automation and technology segment, pointing to a “challenging geopolitical environment,” while free cash flow fell year-on-year to $100 million, partly due to delayed collections.Netflix announced a fresh $25 billion share buyback programme, signaling a return to capital distribution.The move comes after the company stepped away from a potential deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets.Shares of Netflix rose more than 1% in premarket trading following the announcement.NewsLive TVMarketPopular CategoriesCalculatorsTrending NowLet's Connect with CNBCTV 18Network 18 Group :©TV18 Broadcast Limited. All rights reserved.