HMC News & Events

The National Transportation Safety Board called for standardized performance requirements and greater oversight to improve the safety of automated vehicle technology. The NTSB investigated two fatal 2024 crashes in which vehicles using Ford Motor Company's (F) hands-free partial automation system, BlueCruise, failed to stop for stationary vehicles. In a public meeting Tuesday to consider the investigations, the NTSB concluded that the drivers' overreliance on the automated system contributed to both crashes. In a Feb. 24, 2024, crash in San Antonio, a Ford traveling east in the center lane of Interstate 10 struck a stationary 1999 Honda CR-V (HMC). The Honda driver was killed, and the Ford driver sustained minor injuries. In a March 3, 2024, crash in Philadelphia, a Ford traveling north in the left lane of Interstate 95 struck two stationary vehicles-a 2012 Hyundai Elantra (HYMLF) and a 2006 Toyota Prius (TM) -causing them to collide with a passing Toyota Corolla. The drivers of the Prius and Elantra were killed. The Ford driver sustained minor injuries, and the Corolla driver was uninjured. In both crashes, no driver-applied or system-initiated braking or steering was recorded in the moments before impact. The NTSB found several gaps in safety and oversight of partial automation systems. There are no federal requirements for these systems to record data during crashes, which often means that manufacturers lack the needed information to comply with NHTSA's standing general order requiring them to report crashes involving this technology. Without manufacturer awareness and consistent data, critical information about these crashes remains inaccessible to regulators, investigators, law enforcement and safety groups. The NTSB issued recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA and Ford calling for: stronger federal guidelines and performance standards for safety features of partial automation systems, crash data recording and automatic crash notification requirements, improved driver monitoring systems to detect distraction, and changes to Ford's BlueCruise system to reduce excessive speeding and improve driver attention. Other publicly traded companies making autonomous vehicle technology include Tesla (TSLA), Waymo (GOOGL), Zoox (AMZN), Baidu (BIDU), and Pony AI (PONY).

The S&P 500 erased a nearly 1% gain and major averages close lower as Brent oil prices closed above $100 per barrel for a second session in a row, as traders watch developments related to the war in Iran. Sentiment remains fragile after a volatile week in which markets repeatedly swung in response to headlines from the Middle East and sharp moves in crude oil.Meanwhile, fund flows this week show investors pulling billions of dollars out of global equity funds while moving capital into cash and short-term bond funds, signaling a shift toward defensive positioning as the geopolitical situation evolves. Volatility has also risen, with the CBOE Volatility Index climbing into the high-20s, underscoring the nervous tone across financial markets.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Adobereported, provided Q2 guidance, and announced a CEO transitionMetais delaying the launch of is "Avocado" AI model,Amazonplans to move is annual Prime Day sale to June from July,Applehas cut commission fees collected from its App Store in China,BuzzFeedshares were under pressure after it2. WALL STREET CALLS:KinderCareto Underweight at Morgan Stanley and to Neutral at BairdNerdWalletto Underweight at Morgan StanleyAdobeto Equal Weight at Barclays with CEO transitioning out of roleHSBCNioto Buy on better earnings visibilityNutriento Overweight at Wells Fargo3. AROUND THE WEB:Formula 1is set to cancel two Middle East races in April amid the ongoing Iran war, ESPN reportsBE Semiconductoris receiving takeover interest amid rising demand for advanced chip-packaging technology, and is working with Morgan Stanleyto evaluate potential approaches, Reuters saysAnthropic is in talks with Blackstoneand other private equity firms to form a joint venture selling consulting services for integrating Claude into portfolio companies, The Information reportsByteDance is working with Aolani Cloud to use 500 NvidiaBlackwell computing systems in Malaysia, totaling around 36,000 B200 chips, in an effort to become a global AI leader, WSJ saysHonda's$15.7B writedown of its EV business demonstrates a reversal of its U.S. strategy and highlights challenges to come from China, Reuters says4. MOVERS:Klarnaadvanced after Board Chair Michael MoritzOncology Institutegained after B. Rileyto $8 from $6Hive Digitalincreased afterwith AMC RoboticsPar Technologyfell after announcing aSable Offshoreclosed lower aftera court found proof of bad faith in the company's pipeline approval5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Kyivstarand provided guidance for FY26One Group, with EPS and revenue missing consensusTurtle Beach, with CEO Cris Keirn stating that "although our fourth quarter and full-year results were below guidance… we took steps to manage costs, protect our brand position, and prepare the company for renewed growth"EverCommerceand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Savara, with EPS missing consensusINDEXES:The Dow fell 119.38, or 0.26%, to 46,558.47, the Nasdaq lost 206.62, or 0.93%, to 22,105.36, and the S&P 500 declined 40.43, or 0.61%, to 6,632.19.

The major averages were lower near noon, with oil prices slipping as traders await more developments related to the war in Iran. Sentiment remains fragile after a volatile week in which markets repeatedly swung in response to headlines from the Middle East and sharp moves in crude oil.Meanwhile, fund flows this week show investors pulling billions of dollars out of global equity funds while moving capital into cash and short-term bond funds, signaling a shift toward defensive positioning as the geopolitical situation evolves. Volatility has also risen, with the CBOE Volatility Index climbing into the high-20s, underscoring the nervous tone across financial markets.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Adobereported, provided Q2 guidance, and announced a CEO transitionMetais delaying the launch of is "Avocado" AI model,Amazonplans to move is annual Prime Day sale to June from July,Applehas cut commission fees collected from its App Store in China,BuzzFeedshares were under pressure after it2. WALL STREET CALLS:KinderCareto Underweight at Morgan Stanley and to Neutral at BairdNerdWalletto Underweight at Morgan StanleyAdobeto Equal Weight at Barclays with CEO transitioning out of roleHSBCNioto Buy on better earnings visibilityNutriento Overweight at Wells Fargo3. AROUND THE WEB:BE Semiconductoris receiving takeover interest amid rising demand for advanced chip-packaging technology, and is working with Morgan Stanleyto evaluate potential approaches, Reuters saysAnthropic is in talks with Blackstoneand other private equity firms to form a joint venture selling consulting services for integrating Claude into portfolio companies, The Information reportsByteDance is working with Aolani Cloud to use 500 NvidiaBlackwell computing systems in Malaysia, totaling around 36,000 B200 chips, in an effort to become a global AI leader, WSJ saysAlibabahas launched "JVS Claw," a mobile app meant to help users install and deploy OpenClaw, an agentic AI assistant, Bloomberg reportsHonda's$15.7B writedown of its EV business demonstrates a reversal of its U.S. strategy and highlights challenges to come from China, Reuters says4. MOVERS:Klarnagains in New York after Board Chair Michaelfor $50MOncology Institutehigher after B. Rileyto $8 from $6Hive Digitalincreases after announcing aPar Technologyfalls after announcing aSable Offshorelower aftera court found proof of bad faith in the company's pipeline approval5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Kyivstarand provided guidance for FY26One Group, with EPS and revenue missing consensusTurtle Beach, with CEO Cris Keirn stating that "although our fourth quarter and full-year results were below guidance… we took steps to manage costs, protect our brand position, and prepare the company for renewed growth"EverCommerceand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26Savara, with EPS missing consensusINDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.06%, or29.15, to 46,648.70, the Nasdaq was down 0.73%, or 161.81, to 22,150.17, and the S&P 500 was down 0.40%, or 26.81, to 6,645.81.

The Board of Directors of Honda Motor yesterday resolved to cancel the market launches and development of certain electric vehicle models that had been planned for production in North America, NA. As part of its strategic reassessment in response to the slowdown of the EV market in North America, the Company has decided to cancel the market launches and development of certain EV models that were previously planned for production in North America. As a result of reassessment of automobile electrification strategy including this decision, the Company now expects to record losses including impairment and write-off losses on tangible and intangible assets that were intended to be used for the production of EV models whose market launches and development have been canceled, as well as losses related to additional costs due to the cancellation of development and sales. In addition, due to a reassessment of recoverability prompted by intensified competition in China, the Company now expects to record impairment losses on certain investments accounted for using the equity method in China. The Company expects to record the following losses in the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026: Operating costs and expenses between 820B yen and 1,120B yen, Share of loss of investments accounted for using the equity method between 110.0B yen and 150.0B yen.