Major Averages Close Mixed as Investors Take Profits
The major averages had a mixed finish following two days of gains as investors took profits and shifted focus to this week's economic data. Last session's advance was driven by tech and AI-linked names, with chipmakers and large tech stocks lifting benchmarks to new records. Memory and storage technology stocks, notably, helped support the broader market rally as the industry gathers at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.Private-sector employment increased in December, though by less than expected, according to data released by payrolls processor ADP. Companies added 41,000 jobs during the month, reversing a revised loss of 29,000 in November and offering some improvement after a period of weakness in the labor market toward the end of 2025. Private payrolls had contracted in three of the four months leading up to December.Looking to commodities, gold edged lower, while oil was down over 1% after crude numbers from the API and DOE.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Warner Bros. Discoveryis urging shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance'samended takeover offer, saying the Netflixagreement will offer "superior value"Mobileyeagreed to acquire Mentee Robotics in a $900M cash and stock dealU.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins releasedfor Americans, one that urges Americans to eat more protein and less processed foodMeanwhile, President Trump is pushing tofrom buying single-family homesTrump also accused defense contractors of issuing "massive" dividends and said that buybacks for such companies2. WALL STREET CALLS:BarclaysWayfairon expected market share gains in 2026AST SpaceMobileto Underperform at ScotiabankOppenheimerMcDonald'son "break-out" opportunity in 2026First Solarto Hold from Buy at JefferiesRegeneronto Buy at BofA on more bullish Eylea HD view3. AROUND THE WEB:Abbieis near a deal to acquire Revolution Medicines, WSJ reportsJPMorganhas cut ties with proxy-advisory firms and will start using an internal AI-powered platform to assist on U.S. company votes, WSJ reportsArmis launching a "Physical AI" division to expand its presence in the robotics market, Reuters saysQualcommis in discussions with Samsung Electronicsover a contract for manufacturing two-nanometer chips, Reuters reportsThe Chinese government this week asked some tech companies to temporarily halt plans to buy Nvidia'sH200 AI chips, The Information reports4. MOVERS:Monte Rosaadvanced after announcingVentyx Biosciencesgained after UBSwith a Buy ratingOlaplexgained after Bloomberg said the company iswith HenkelDatavaultfell after entering aPenguin Solutionsdeclined afterin Zilia Technologies5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCEAlbertsonsreportedand narrowed its FY25 earnings guidanceApogee Enterprisesand cut its guidance for FY26UniFirstand reaffirmed its guidance for FY26Innovative EyewearreportedAAR Corp., with CEO John Holmes commenting, "AAR delivered another outstanding quarter"INDEXES:The Dow fell 466.00, or 0.94%, to 48,996.08, the Nasdaq gained 37.10, or 0.16%, to 23,584.28, and the S&P 500 declined 23.89, or 0.34%, to 6,920.93.
