01 Stock Market
As of Apr 13, U.S. stock index futures performed as follows: Dow contracts were lower by 1.03%, S&P 500 minis slipped 0.75%, and Nasdaq-100 futures retreated 0.79%, as traders digested fresh bank earnings, a sharp jump in oil prices and rising Middle-East tensions ahead of the opening bell.
Notable Stock Movers: Energy-linked fund USO up 7.40% at $134.06 after crude oil spiked past $100. Defense-oriented software group PLTR up 1.66% at $130.19 on renewed buying by a high-profile fund manager. Oil-field services leader BKR up 1.35% at $63.68 after announcing an asset sale, while biotech developer IDYA up 13.90% at $34.74 surged ahead of clinical data. Semiconductor heavyweight NVDA fell 1.63% to $185.55, extending its recent struggle to break out of its trading range.
Investor focus is split between banks posting robust first-quarter profits, the latest wave of takeover news, and a broad risk-off tone driven by geopolitical headlines. Energy names dominate the pre-market leaderboard, whereas large-cap growth stocks face pressure amid concerns that higher oil prices could rekindle inflation and temper risk appetite.
02 Other Markets
• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose 0.92%, to 4.36%.
• U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.31% to 99.02.
• WTI crude oil futures rose 8.08% to 104.37 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures fell 1.29% to 4725.60 USD/ounce.
03 Key News
1. Goldman Sachs reported a jump in quarterly profit to $5.4 billion, powered by record equity-trading revenue. Investment-banking fees climbed 48% as the firm led high-profile mergers and pre-IPO mandates, offsetting softer fixed-income trading. Management highlighted volatile markets and geopolitical uncertainty as catalysts for client hedging activity that lifted performance.
2. Mattress maker Somnigroup agreed to buy component supplier Leggett & Platt in an all-stock deal valued at $2.5 billion. Leggett holders will receive 0.1455 Somnigroup share for each of their own, giving them roughly 9% of the combined company. Executives said the tie-up deepens vertical integration, broadens end-markets and is expected to be earnings-accretive with cost-saving opportunities.
3. Investment house ARK Invest purchased 85,485 additional shares of Palantir, while President Trump publicly praised the company’s defense capabilities. The combined endorsement sparked renewed interest in the data-analytics specialist, whose stock has lagged this year amid valuation concerns. ARK framed the trade as “buying the dip” in a core artificial-intelligence holding.
4. Baker Hughes is divesting its Waygate Technologies inspection unit to Sweden’s Hexagon for about $1.45 billion in cash. The sale aligns with Baker Hughes’ strategy to shed non-core assets and focus on energy-transition technologies. Closing is targeted for the second half of the year, with Hexagon funding the purchase through cash and existing credit lines.
5. ARK Invest trimmed its stake in nuclear-technology contractor BWX Technologies after the stock hit a record high. Two ARK exchange-traded funds off-loaded nearly 3,500 shares, locking in gains after BWX outperformed the broader market on defense contracts and new uranium-enrichment plans. BWX remains among ARK’s significant holdings despite the reduction.
6. Clinical-stage biotech IDEAYA Biosciences rallied in anticipation of Phase 2/3 melanoma trial results due soon. Investors are positioning ahead of top-line data on its synthetic-lethal therapy, which could unlock a pivotal pathway toward regulatory submission. Management has highlighted the study as a key value driver for 2026.
7. Chip-foundry giant TSMC signaled a potential 50% year-on-year net-profit surge for the first quarter, citing relentless demand for advanced AI processors. Preliminary revenue rose 35%, and analysts expect another record quarter when results are released later this week. The company is also weighing higher capital spending to expand cutting-edge capacity.
8. The U.S. administration ordered the Navy to enforce a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying pressure on Iran. The move, announced by President Trump, aims to curb Iranian oil exports and follows a breakdown in peace negotiations. Energy markets rallied on fears of supply disruptions, lifting crude prices and boosting related equities.
9. Trump-linked crypto venture World Liberty Financial faces backlash as investor Justin Sun accuses insiders of embedding wallet-freezing controls. The dispute has fueled governance concerns and weighed on sentiment across digital-asset names, with more than $280 million in crypto long positions liquidated amid heightened market anxiety.
10. MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor hinted at another significant Bitcoin purchase, posting “think bigger” alongside the firm’s acquisition tracker. The software-intelligence company has accumulated over 766,000 BTC and signaled continued commitment to its offensive treasury strategy, which currently sits on sizable unrealized losses but remains central to its corporate identity.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.
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