US Stock Futures Recover After Early Dip, Poised To Open Higher Amid Volatility: 'Fed Is Likely To Cut Rates Again On June 18th,' Says Expert (UPDATED)
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 11 2025
0mins
Should l Buy BLK?
Source: Benzinga
U.S. Stock Market Update: U.S. stock futures showed a slight rebound after a decline on Thursday, with major indices like the Dow Jones and S&P 500 experiencing significant drops due to economic concerns despite a decrease in annual inflation to 2.4% in March.
Economic Indicators and Predictions: Investors are closely monitoring upcoming producer price index data and consumer sentiment reports, while analysts predict that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in June following the drop in core consumer price inflation to its lowest level since March 2021.
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Analyst Views on BLK
Wall Street analysts forecast BLK stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1090.270
Low
1209
Averages
1354
High
1550
Current: 1090.270
Low
1209
Averages
1354
High
1550
About BLK
BlackRock, Inc. is an investment management company. The Company provides a range of investment management and technology services to institutional and retail clients. Its diverse platform of alpha-seeking active, private markets, index and cash management investment strategies across asset classes enables the Company to tailor investment outcomes and asset allocation solutions for clients. Its product offerings include single- and multi-asset portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives, and money market instruments. Its products are offered directly and through intermediaries in a range of vehicles, including open-end and closed-end mutual funds, iShares exchange-traded funds, separate accounts, collective investment funds and other pooled investment vehicles. It also offers technology services, including the investment and risk management technology platform, Aladdin, Aladdin Wealth, eFront, and Cachematrix, as well as advisory services and solutions.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Blackrock and LyondellBasell See Active Options Trading
- Blackrock Options Volume: Blackrock Inc (BLK) saw options trading volume of 3,352 contracts today, representing approximately 335,200 shares, which is about 41.7% of its average daily trading volume of 803,525 shares over the past month, indicating heightened market interest in its future performance.
- High Strike Call Activity: Within BLK, the $1150 strike call option has seen 748 contracts traded today, equating to approximately 74,800 shares, reflecting investor expectations for the stock's upward movement before the March 20, 2026 expiration.
- LyondellBasell Options Activity: LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) recorded an options trading volume of 31,160 contracts today, representing around 3.1 million shares, or approximately 41.5% of its average daily trading volume of 7.5 million shares over the past month, showcasing its market activity.
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Blackrock and LyondellBasell See Active Options Trading
- Blackrock Options Volume: Blackrock Inc (BLK) saw options trading volume of 3,352 contracts today, representing approximately 335,200 shares, which is about 41.7% of its average daily trading volume of 803,525 shares over the past month, indicating heightened market interest in its future performance.
- High Strike Call Activity: Within BLK, the $1150 strike call option has seen 748 contracts traded today, equating to approximately 74,800 shares, reflecting investor expectations for the stock's upward movement before the March 20, 2026 expiration.
- LyondellBasell Options Activity: LyondellBasell Industries NV (LYB) recorded an options trading volume of 31,160 contracts today, representing around 3.1 million shares, or approximately 41.5% of its average daily trading volume of 7.5 million shares over the past month, showcasing its market activity.
- Bullish Call Options: The $45 strike call option for LYB has seen 14,060 contracts traded today, representing about 1.4 million shares, indicating that investors are optimistic about the stock's growth potential in the coming years.
See More
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- AI Investment Focus: Jim Cramer emphasized the significance of AI stocks during the Investing Club meeting, particularly highlighting Nvidia as the gold standard in AI computing, with its stunning quarterly results reinforcing the notion of an ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- Corning's New Strategy: After visiting its Kentucky factory, Jim learned about Corning's ambition to enhance data center connectivity by replacing copper with fiber optics, indicating a strong growth trajectory in the data center market that could drive future company performance.
- Eaton's Acquisition Plans: Eaton's strategy to spin off its eMobility unit and acquire Boyd Thermal aims to bolster its competitive edge in liquid cooling technology, which is crucial for managing heat in AI chips, thereby enhancing its market position.
- Alphabet and Amazon Performance: Alphabet stands out in the AI sector with its strong YouTube and cloud computing divisions, while Amazon's AWS cloud business is accelerating, although both face capital expenditure pressures, they are still viewed as solid long-term investment opportunities.
See More
SoFi Technologies Faces Market Challenges Amid Broader Decline
- Earnings Beat: SoFi reported earnings of 13 cents per share on January 30, exceeding the consensus estimate of 12 cents, with revenue increasing by $273.72 million year-over-year, demonstrating resilience in a competitive fintech landscape.
- Membership Growth Outlook: SoFi anticipates total membership to grow at least 30% year-over-year by 2026, projecting adjusted net revenue of approximately $4.655 billion, reflecting confidence in future growth and strategic market expansion.
- Technical Analysis Indicates Downtrend: SoFi's stock is currently trading 13.1% below its 20-day SMA and 32.5% below its 100-day SMA, indicating a clear bearish trend in both the short and medium term, warranting caution from investors.
- Analyst Rating Changes: Despite a 25.55% increase in stock price over the past 12 months, SoFi remains below its 52-week high of $32.73, with an average price target of $24.72, indicating mixed market sentiment regarding its future performance.
See More
Market Moves: Netflix Rises, Banks Decline Amid Concerns
- Netflix Share Surge: Netflix shares rose 10% after the streaming service declined to increase its bid for Warner, opting instead to match a new offer from Paramount, which enhances its competitive position and may attract more subscribers.
- Bank Stocks Decline: Several bank stocks fell amid concerns over potential losses linked to the collapse of UK mortgage provider Market Financial Solutions, with Barclays down about 4%, indicating market worries about financial stability.
- Duolingo Guidance Warning: Duolingo's shares dropped 14% after issuing weaker-than-expected guidance for Q1 and full-year 2026, projecting revenue of $288.5 million for Q1, below the $291.4 million consensus, highlighting risks of slowing growth.
- Block Layoffs Impact: Payment company Block announced it would lay off over 4,000 employees, yet shares soared 14% as its Q4 earnings exceeded analyst expectations, indicating a strategic restructuring to navigate market challenges.
See More
GIP and EQT Close to Finalizing Acquisition of Power Company AES - Bloomberg News
- Acquisition News: GIP is nearing a deal to acquire Power Firm AES, indicating significant movement in the energy sector.
- Market Impact: This acquisition could have substantial implications for the energy market, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics.
See More
Private Equity Industry Faces Survival Crisis
- Continued Low Returns: According to a report by Bain & Co, private equity firms returned only about 14% of the capital to investors in 2025, marking the lowest level since the 2008-09 financial crisis, indicating a severe lack of overall return capability in the industry that pressures fund managers to prove their value creation abilities.
- Increased Exit Challenges: The report highlights that the average time to sell businesses has extended from 5-6 years between 2010-2021 to 7 years now, with exit volumes dropping by 2% last year, which not only undermines investor confidence but also intensifies survival pressures on smaller funds.
- Severe Fundraising Environment: In 2025, buyout fundraising fell by 16% year-over-year to $395 billion, with the number of closed funds decreasing by 23%, reflecting weak demand for new funds, particularly impacting smaller and emerging managers who face greater challenges.
- Accelerating Industry Consolidation: As performance gaps widen and capital concentrates among top-tier managers, industry experts predict an acceleration in consolidation, with many smaller funds facing extinction risks, especially if they fail to create value effectively, indicating a
See More
