AP News & Events

Markets are attempting to recover this morning after Wednesday's geopolitical-driven selloff, with U.S. stock futures moving modestly higher as oil prices retreat from recent highs. Nasdaq futures are leading the rebound, supported by renewed buying in semiconductor stocks, while investors assess the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict and their potential impact on inflation and global growth.Although the U.S. launched another round of strikes against Iran and Tehran retaliated by targeting U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, investors appear encouraged by signs that neither side is seeking a prolonged disruption to energy markets. Oil prices have pulled back after an early spike, helping improve sentiment across equities and easing some concerns about another inflation shock.The Federal Reserve remains an important backdrop after minutes from the June meeting showed policymakers divided over the path of interest rates. While the Fed left rates unchanged, several officials expressed concern that higher energy prices and continued AI-related investment could keep inflation elevated, reinforcing expectations that another rate increase later this year remains possible. Investors will also watch the weekly jobless claims report and comments from New York Fed President John Williams for additional clues on the economic outlook.In pre-market trading, S&P 500 futures rose 0.23%, Nasdaq futures rose 0.91% and Dow futures rose 0.05%.Check out this morning's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.HIGHER -Amco-Pittsburghup 11% after announcing that customer order activity during the first six months of 2026 totaled approximately $268M, an increase of 32% compared to the same period in 2025UP AFTER EARNINGS -Simply Good Foodsup 16%AZZ Inc.up 8%Triple Flagup 1%DOWN AFTER EARNINGS -Byrna Technologiesdown 19%Levi Straussdown 3%PepsiCodown 2%LOWER -Ionis Pharmaceuticalsand AstraZenecadown 20% and 8%, respectively, after Ionis and partner AstraZeneca announced that the CARDIO-TTRansform Phase 3 trial for eplontersen in patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy did not meet the primary efficacy endpointSalesforcedown 1% after KeyBanc downgraded the stock to Sector Weight from OverweightStellantisdown 1% after JPMorgan downgraded shares to Neutral

Investors bought the early-session dip in the Tech space on Wednesday, helping the sector join Energy as the only two areas of the market to register gains.  Consequently, Nasdaq Composite finished the day up 0.2% and S&P 500 was well off the intra-day lows to end the session down just 0.3%, rising above 7,480 into the close after dipping as low as 7,420 earlier.  Semiconductors, memory, and servers were especially strong within the broader AI bounce-back theme, while Software stocks softened after Tuesday's rally.  Large-cap Growth performance also exceeded that of SMID and Value.Markets remain on edge however, with volatility in the Tech arena compounded by the ongoing geopolitical concerns.  Headlines questioning whether the overall state of U.S.-Iran ceasefire can be preserved after the two sides exchanged attacks over the past 48 hours have propped up Energy prices.  In the evening session, WTI Crude Oil is now above $74 per barrel.  S&P e-minis and Nasdaq 100 index futures are down by about a decimal.  Precious metals also remain under pressure, with higher oil price narrative and its inflationary implications supporting the US Dollar vis-a-vis an up-creep in yields and assumptions of tighter-for-longer Fed policy.  This was further reinforced in today's FOMC minutes from last month's meeting tilting decidedly more hawkish.Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.HIGHER AFTER EARNINGS -AZZ Inc.up 8.3%ALSO HIGHER -Ampco-Pittsburghup 13.7% after announcing increase in customer order activityLarimar Therapeuticsup 3.3% after insider buyAeroVironmentup 1.2% after providing medium-term targetsDOWN AFTER EARNINGS -Levi Straussdown 6.0%PriceSmartdown 2.7%ALSO LOWER -MDA Space Ltd.down 6.9% after equity offeringCostco Wholesaledown 1.2% after June comps data

Ampco-Pittsburgh "announced that customer order activity during the first six months of 2026 totaled approximately $268 million, an increase of 32% compared to approximately $204 million for the same period in 2025. The increase in customer order activity reflected strength across both of the Company's operating segments. During the first six months of 2026, Forged and Cast Engineered Products experienced customer order activity of approximately $153 million, up 25% compared to the prior-year period, while Air and Liquid Processing experienced customer order activity of approximately $116 million, up 42% year over year. Within FCEP, the Company continues to see improving order activity for roll products, particularly in North America, while demand for its specialty forged engineered products remains solid. The recent quota and tariff protections in Europe will positively impact production of steel in one of our largest markets."