-- Descartes Systems Group (DSGX) shares rose over 5% in Thursday afternoon trading after Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded the stock to buy from neutral, while lowering the price target to $90 from $100.
Trading volume stood at over 622,000 shares, compared with a daily average of 724,731.
Price: $76.41, Change: $+3.81, Percent Change: +5.25%
Financial stocks fell in late Thursday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) each easing 0.2%.The Philadelphia Housing Index dropped 0.5%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) rose 0.8%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) gained 0.4% to $75,140, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries advanced 2.7 basis points to 4.309%.In economic news, US initial jobless claims last week fell to 207,000 from a downwardly revised 218,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to 213,000 in a survey of analysts by Bloomberg.US industrial production fell by 0.5% in March, compared with expectations for a 0.1% increase in a Bloomberg survey, and following an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in February.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 26.7 in April after increasing to 18.1 in March, compared with expectations for a decline to 10 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.The New York Federal Reserve's services index improved to minus 14 in April from minus 22.6 in March, compared with minus 20 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.In regulatory news, the US Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking public comment in support of a comprehensive review of the Consolidated Audit Trail and other such audit trails used in the regulation of the country's securities markets.In corporate news, Charles Schwab's (SCHW) Q1 results rose amid a surge in client assets, even as revenue fell short of Wall Street's estimates. The shares fell 7.7%.Goldman Sachs (GS) rates-trading business faced pressure in Q1 as Iran-related market volatility led to losses on certain positions, Reuters reported. The bank posted a 10% drop in fixed-income, currencies and commodities revenue to $4 billion, driven by weaker results in interest-rate trading, mortgages, and credit products, the report said. Goldman shares were little changed.Marsh & McLennan (MRSH) shares climbed 4.6% after the company reported Q1 adjusted net income and revenue that surpassed analysts' estimates.The National Basketball Association is in early discussions with private credit firms, including Apollo Global Management (APO), Ares Management (ARES) and Sixth Street about funding a potential European basketball league expansion, Bloomberg reported. Apollo shares rose 0.1%, and Ares fell 2.7%.
US equity indexes rose ahead of Thursday's close after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, removing a major obstacle to the Middle East diplomacy for a lasting Iran truce deal.The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% to 24,069.1, with the S&P 500 up 0.2% to 7,035.2, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher by 0.2% to 48,583.5. Energy, real estate, and technology led the gainers. Health care was the worst performer.President Trump said the US might hold discussions with Iran this weekend, The Wall Street Journal reported. "We're very close to making a deal," the president told reporters outside the White House, according to the WSJ. Trump said he wasn't sure the current two-week ceasefire in the war would need to be extended, according to the report.Earlier on Thursday, Trump said on Truth Social that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting 5 pm ET. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he welcomed the decision. In a follow-up social media post on Thursday, Trump said he will invite the Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for talks.Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the naval blockade of Iran is an example of "polite" behavior during the ongoing ceasefire, and US forces are ready to strike power plants and the energy industry in the country, if ordered, according to a report from Reuters.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose 2.5% to $93.77, and Brent crude futures jumped 3.7% to $98.58.
Health care stocks were softer late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each decreasing 0.7%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) dropped 1.3%.In corporate news, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) lowered its full-year earnings outlook on Thursday to reflect the acquisition of cancer diagnostics company Exact Sciences, while the healthcare firm reported Q1 results above market estimates. Its shares fell past 5%.Gilead Sciences (GILD) could beat Q1 consensus estimates, but weaker-than-expected persistence rates for Yeztugo point to a potential risk to long-term peak sales for the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis drug, RBC Capital Markets said in a note. Gilead shares were down 0.8%.QuidelOrtho (QDEL) shares tumbled 28%. The company said late Wednesday it expects preliminary unaudited revenue of $615 million to $620 million for Q1. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $677.8 million.Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) shares jumped past 12% after a senior US health official signaled plans to ease restrictions on certain peptides.