Nasdaq Slightly Up, S&P 500 Little Changed
The major averages were mixed near noon - with the Nasdaq trading slightly higher, the Dow lower, and the S&P 500 little changed - as investors adjust to a renewed U.S.-Iran escalation scenario and weigh an early slate of corporate earnings, including from Goldman Sachs. Markets are starting the week on the back foot after the weekend collapse in peace negotiations.Crude oil has surged past $100 per barrel once again as President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks between the U.S. and Iran ended without an agreement in place. The breakdown of talks has reignited concerns that the war in Iran will last longer than feared.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Goldman Sachsreported, though the company noted that the macro environment started to weigh on sentiment as Q1 progressedFastenalreportedand provided its outlook for 2026Baker Hughesits Waygate Technologies business to Hexagonfor $1.45BSomnigroupLeggett & Plattin a $2.5B all-stock transactionOver 1,000 writers, actors, and directors haveParamount Skydance'sproposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery2. WALL STREET CALLS:Best Buyto Sell from Buy at Goldman SachsKeyBancT-Mobileon valuation, Q1 results catalystStarbucksto Hold at JefferiesConstellation Brandsto Buy at TD CowenNiketo Hold from Buy at HSBC3. AROUND THE WEB:Booking.comexperienced a data breach with "unauthorized parties" gaining access to customer data, The Guardian saysPolyPeptideis attracting private equity takeover interest, with EQT, KKR, and Advent among suitors looking into a potential acquisition of the company, Bloomberg reportsMetais developing an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg that can interact with employees in his stead as part of a bigger effort to remake the company around AI, FT saysSoftbankhas formed a company to build a foundation model for "physical AI", which autonomously controls robots and machines, in Japan through a public-private partnership, Nikkei Asia reportsInventurus Knowledge Solutions, or IKS, is in advanced talks to acquire TruBridgefor about $600M, Economic Times says4. MOVERS:Allogene Therapeuticshigher after reporting data from itsRevolution Medicinesincreases after announcing topline results from itsSpyre Therapeuticsgains after reporting its trial of SPY001Conagra Brandslower afterCoStarfalls afterThird Point disposed of its position in the company and won't seek a proxy fight5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Children's Place, with EPS and revenue lower year-over-yearMarti Technologiesfor FY26JPMorgan & Chaseon April 14ALT5 Sigma CorporationTSMCon April 16INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was down 0.49%, or 233.91, to 47,682.66, the Nasdaq was up 0.21%, or 47.37, to 22,950.26, and the S&P 500 was up 0.01%, or 0.67, to 6,817.56.