Major Averages Mixed as Oil Prices Surge Nearly 4%

The major averages had a mixed day as profit-taking and risk aversion appeared to take hold ahead of the forthcoming jobs report. After major indexes hit record highs in recent sessions,  broader sentiment reflects a shift to a more measured and selective market, with investors digesting geopolitical developments, mixed earnings cues and fresh macro indicators.Looking to commodities, gold was mostly unchanged, while oil was sharply higher, climbing nearly 4%.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Shares of defense companies surged after President Trump said on social media yesterday that he wants theto be $1.5T, not $1TJPMorgan Chasewillof the Apple Card, taking over from Goldman SachsApplied DigitalreportedParamount Skydancereaffirmed itsfor Warner Bros. DiscoveryGlencorewith Rio Tintoabout a possible combination2. WALL STREET CALLS:Alphabetto Overweight at Cantor FitzgeraldNeedhamNikeon its slower than expected turnaround while Deutsche Bank resumed coverage with a Hold ratingPiper Sandlerthe "Big 3" U.S. automakers General Motors (GM), Fordand Stellantisto OverweightUBSGapto Buy ahead of an expected positive earnings inflectionAlcoato Underweight at JPMorgan3. AROUND THE WEB:After AbbVie (ABBV) denied it is in talks to acquire Revolution Medicines, FT reported that Merckis in talks to buy the cancer drug makerNvidiarequires full upfront payment from Chinese customers looking to buy H200 AI chips, Reuters reportsFordintends to introduce eyes-off technology on an upcoming $30,000 all-electric car in 2028, CNBC saysChina on Wednesday unveiled rules banning major platforms like Alibabaand JD.comfrom coercing merchants into discounts or practices seen as disrupting market order, Bloomberg reportsChevronis in discussions with the U.S government to expand a key license to operate in Venezuela so it can increase crude exports to its own refineries and sell to other buyers, Reuters says4. MOVERS:flyExclusiveincreases after signing anwith StarlinkEnlivengains after reporting "positive" initialfor ELVN-001 in CMLChina SXT Pharmaceuticalshigher in New York after announcing the launch ofImmuneeringlower after reporting survival and safety data from itsCorMedixfalls afterfor Q4 and FY265. EARNINGS/GUIDANCEConstellation Brandsreportedand reiterated its FY26 EPS guidanceCommercial Metalsand provided guidance for Q2, with CEO Peter Matt commenting, "The first quarter market an exceptional start to 2026"RPM, with EPS and revenue missing consensusHelen of Troyand cut its guidance for FY26Simply Foodsand provided guidance for FY26, with CEO Geoff Tanner commenting, "Our first quarter financial performance came in modestly ahead of our expectations"INDEXESThe Dow rose 270.03, or 0.55%, to 49,266.11, the Nasdaq lost 104.26, or 0.44%, to 23,480.02, and the S&P 500 advanced 0.53, or 0.0077%, to 6,921.46.