U.S. Service Sector Expansion Boosts Stocks
Stocks ended the day higher after data showed the U.S. service economy expanded at the fastest pace since mid-2022 while a price index hit an almost one-year low, taking attention off geopolitical headlines for a session. The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fifth day and while there have been reports Iran has made indirect contact about potential talks, feeding some risk appetite, uncertainty around the durability of any de-escalation continues to drive positioning and the energy complex continues to influence the broader market's direction. Crude oil prices wavered near $75 per barrel in a volatile session.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Applecontinued a week of new product launches, with the latest being thelaptopGooglesaid it isbrought against the company over its flagship AI product GeminiModernaentered into aworth up to $2.25B with a subsidiary of Roivant Sciencesand Arbutus BiopharmaRoss Storesreported a, raised its quarterly dividend and approved a new two-year $2.55B stock repurchase planFordreportedyear-over-year in February to 149,962 vehicles2. WALL STREET CALLS:BofA reinstated Teslaat Buy as the "Targetat Telsey Advisory and to Market Perform at BernsteinPiper Sandlerat NorthlandLegalZoomat BarclaysFirst Solarat GLJ Research on weak guidance3. AROUND THE WEB:AmazonPublisher Services, which helps websites run ad auctions, is exploring offering technology to help other apps and sites sell ads in AI chatbots, The Information saysOpenAI is developing an alternative to Microsoft'sGitHub, The Information reportsMetais testing a shopping research feature for its AI chatbot that will allow requests for product suggestions, Bloomberg saysThe White House is debating if it will allow Tencentto maintain stakes in popular video game groups, FT reportsDOJ investigating possible price fixing in fertilizer market, Bloomberg reports4. MOVERS:SCHMIDgained afterthe first specialized InfinityLine H+ systemEvolusadvanced afterand providing guidance for FY26Babcock & Wilcoxincreased afterand announcing it has received full notice to proceed on a $2.4B design-build agreement with Base ElectronIndie Semiconductorfell after filing to sell $150M ofGitLabclosed lower afterand authorizing a $400M share repurchase program5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Abercrombie & Fitchreportedand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Holleyreported, with EPS missing consensusDycomreported Q4 results, withon "strong fourth quarter performance"Bath & Body Worksreported, with EPS and revenue beating consensusBayerreportedand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow rose 238.14, or 0.49%, to 48,739.41, the Nasdaq gained 290.79, or 1.29%, to 22,807.48, and the S&P 500 advanced 52.87, or 0.78%, to 6,869.50.
