Major Averages Surge, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Weakest Since 2022

The major averages were sharply higher near noon, signaling a positive end to an otherwise difficult month in which the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are on track for their weakest performance since 2022. Oil prices remain higher amid continued conflict in the Middle East, though The Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Trump has told aides he may be willing to end military activities even if the Strait of Hormuz stayed mostly closed. CBS News reported, however, that Trump said the U.S. is not pulling assets from the Strait just yet. Tensions remain amid Iran's reported strikes on a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidiaisin Marvellas part of a strategic partnership over silicon photonics technologyBiogenApellisfor $41 per share in cash at closing, or $5.6BEli LillyCentessafor $38 per share in cash plus one contingent value rightMcCormickwith Unilever'sFoods businessKKRand Taiyo2. WALL STREET CALLS:BernsteinWestern Digitalon attractive entry post selloff10x Genomicsto Outperform at William BlairPhreesiato Neutral or equivalent ratings at Baird, Truist, Citi and JPMorganTDColgate-Palmoliveon higher oil-based input costsWall Streetof MiniMedwith mostly Buy or equivalent ratings3. AROUND THE WEB:Swiss senior parliamentarians have told UBSexecutives they would create a compromise related to the new rules as Bern finalizes a decision on how much capital the bank should hold, FT saysJehoshaphat Research issued a cautious report on Techtronic, claiming "corporate abuses" at the companyIrenic Capital Management has built a position in Snapand is pushing for changes at the social media company to improve financial and operating performance, Bloomberg saysNetflixis considering expanding its current two-game package to four games, WSJ reportsAppeals court denies reviving criminal case against Boeing, Bloomberg says4. MOVERS:Agios Pharmaceuticalsincreases after announcing it will pursue U.S.WeRidegains after launching afare-charging operations in Dubai with UberAehr Testhigher after receiving afor wafer-level test and burn-in of silicon photonics integrated circuitsT1 Energylower afterand maintaining its guidance for FY26Constellation Energyfalls afterEPS estimates5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Purple Innovationand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26FactSetand raised its guidance for FY26J.Jill, with EPS and revenue beating consensusTD Synnexwith CEO Patrick Zammit commenting, "We're pleased with how we've started fiscal 2026"Interactive Strengthfor FY26INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 1.01%, or 458.32, to 45,674.46, the Nasdaq was up 1.86%, or 382.78, to 21,177.42, and the S&P 500 was up 1.38%, or 87.79, to 6,431.51.