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US Stock Market Live Updates:A recent pullback in McDonald’s may be opening a fresh entry point for investors.Shares are down nearly 10% from their late-February highs, but Oppenheimer continues to back the stock as a top pick. The brokerage reiterated its “outperform” rating with a $355 price target, implying over 15% upside from recent levels.The optimism hinges on near-term catalysts. These include a revamp of the McValue platform and an upcoming beverage platform launch, which analysts expect to support growth.“Underappreciated unit growth, healthy Int’l.-SSS, and improving margin visibility are also pillars of our thesis,” said analyst Brian Bittner.While concerns around health trends and valuation persist, Oppenheimer believes company-specific tailwinds could outweigh these risks over the medium term. The stock edged up about 1% in Monday’s trade, suggesting early signs of investor interest returning.CNBCThe Dow Jones Transportation Average has been showing relative strength, rising for a fourth straight session and trading about 4% below its record high. It has also held above its 100-day moving average despite recent volatility and higher fuel prices.In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to lag. It remains roughly 7% below its peak and has stayed below its 200-day moving average for over two weeks.The divergence dates back to December, when transports began outperforming industrials.Under Dow Theory, confirmation between the two indices is typically seen as a sign of broader market strength. If industrials move back above their 200-day average, it could indicate a catch-up. Otherwise, transports may see some moderation to close the gap.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said he expects the Federal Reserve to ease monetary policy once the current oil-driven supply shock fades.

Speaking to CNBC, Hassett argued that productivity gains driven by artificial intelligence and higher capital spending could help offset inflationary pressures.

“Capital spending and boosts from artificial intelligence puts downward, downward pressure on inflation, and that should take the pressure off the Fed,” he said.

That, in turn, could give the central bank room to cut rates.

“They should be able to lower rates, and I expect that’s what’s going to happen when my friend, Kevin Warsh, gets in there,” Hassett added, signalling expectations of a policy shift under potential new leadership.

The takeaway: near-term inflation may remain sticky due to energy, but structural forces like AI could drive the next phase of monetary easing.

The ETF turf war around Big Tech is heating up.

BlackRock has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq-100, directly challenging Invesco’s dominant QQQ product.

The proposed fund will trade under the ticker IQQ.

The move puts BlackRock in direct competition with the Invesco QQQ Trust, one of the most widely held ETFs globally, with about $376 billion in assets under management since its launch in 1999.

Backing the move, Nasdaq said expanding access to the Nasdaq-100 would improve “efficiency, liquidity, and availability” of benchmark-linked exposure across markets.

The bigger picture: BlackRock is doubling down on passive investing — and taking aim at one of the most entrenched products in the ETF market.After a bruising run for US equities, there are early signs of a turnaround.Morgan Stanley strategist Mike Wilson believes the S&P 500 is “carving out a low,” signalling a potential near-term bottom for the market.“We believe the S&P 500 is carving out a low and think it makes sense to start adding length in cyclical and quality growth trades,” Wilson said, pointing to strong earnings, compressed valuations and weak sentiment as supportive factors.His bet: sectors tied to economic recovery.Wilson highlighted financials, consumer discretionary and mega-cap technology, especially hyperscalers, as key opportunities. The recent correction, he noted, has eased valuations enough to justify gradually rebuilding exposure.The shift is notable. Wilson has been among the more cautious voices on equities, but now sees selective buying opportunities emerging as market conditions reset.The US services sector is still expanding, but the cracks are getting harder to ignore.Data from the Institute for Supply Management showed the services PMI slipped to 54 in March, missing estimates of 55.4 and down from February. It remains above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction.Under the hood, the picture is less reassuring.The prices index surged to 70.7, its highest level since October 2022, pointing to renewed inflationary pressure. At the same time, the employment index dropped sharply to 45.2, its lowest since December 2023, signalling a contraction in hiring.Demand indicators were mixed. New orders edged up to 60.6, but export orders weakened, while business activity slowed. Imports, however, picked up.The takeaway: growth is holding up for now, but rising costs and weakening hiring are emerging as key pressure points.US markets started the week on a mixed note, even as oil prices edged lower and geopolitical tensions kept investors on edge.The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite opened in positive territory, rising 0.1% and 0.3%, respectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, slipped 35 points, or 0.1%, reflecting a cautious undertone.The mood remains tied to developments in the West Asia war.US President Donald Trump has warned of possible strikes on Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday, keeping markets sensitive to further escalation. The situation over the weekend has already added to uncertainty, particularly around energy supply routes.

Artificial intelligence-led disruption could leave lasting scars on workers, even as it promises broader economic gains, according to economists at Goldman Sachs.

The brokerage warned that AI-driven labour displacement may weigh on earnings, employment stability and career progression for years. “Similarly to previous waves of technological change, AI-driven displacement could impose lasting costs on affected workers,” economists Pierfrancesco Mei and Jessica Rindels said in a note.

Workers forced out of roles could face slower re-entry into the job market, while the impact on real earnings growth may persist over the long term. Older and less adaptable workers are likely to be hit harder than younger, more retrainable peers, the note added.

The effects could worsen if displacement coincides with an economic downturn, and may also delay wealth creation through lower savings and slower homeownership. However, Goldman Sachs said targeted retraining programmes can help mitigate some of these challenges by improving wages and employment stability.

The next big test for global markets could come as early as Tuesday evening, with a looming deadline tied to Donald Trump’s push for a deal with Iran, according to financial services firm Raymond James.

Despite escalating tensions and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, markets have shown surprising resilience, leaving institutional investors puzzled.

“The question every institutional investor is asking themselves seems to be why we haven’t sold off harder, or had anything remotely close to a ‘capitulation’ day after five weeks of Hormuz being effectively closed,” said Tavis McCourt, institutional equity strategist at the firm.

McCourt attributed the market’s stability to strong economic momentum in early 2026, supported by recent data releases, as well as a backwardated oil curve that has helped soothe both credit and equity markets.

However, he cautioned that the next major trigger lies ahead. “The next hurdle for this market is the next Trump deadline for a deal with Iran this Tuesday evening,” he said, flagging the event as a potential inflection point for investors.

 Shares of Netflix, Soleno Therapeutics and Twilio were among the key movers in premarket trade on Monday, driven by analyst upgrades and deal announcements.Netflix rose 1.5% after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to “buy” from “neutral.” The brokerage said the streaming giant is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in content acquisition and development, while also highlighting a strong likelihood of multiyear capital returns to shareholders.Shares of Soleno Therapeutics surged nearly 40% after Neurocrine Biosciences announced plans to acquire the company for $53 per share in cash, valuing the deal at around $2.9 billion. Neurocrine said the acquisition would bolster its medicine portfolio and reinforce its position in endocrinology and rare diseases.Meanwhile, Twilio gained over 3% after Jefferies upgraded the stock to “buy” from “hold.” The brokerage noted that Twilio is poised to play a critical role in the development and scaling of voice-based artificial intelligence.NewsLive TVMarketPopular CategoriesCalculatorsTrending NowLet's Connect with CNBCTV 18Network 18 Group :©TV18 Broadcast Limited. All rights reserved.