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US stocks: US market rises as yields ease, Moderna lifts healthcare stocks

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US stocks: US market rises as yields ease, Moderna lifts healthcare stocks
The main U.S. stock market indexes closed modestly higher on Wednesday, as easing government bond yields boosted risk appetite while a dramatic rally in shares of vaccine-maker Moderna drove gains in the healthcare sector.

Investors barely reacted to minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s July meeting, which showed deepening concern about inflation with “several” policymakers ready to raise interest rates. “Many” said a rate hike would be needed if inflation does not decline to ‌the U.S. central ⁠bank’s 2% ⁠target.

But a day after the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond hit its highest level since 2007, the yield fell on Wednesday along with the 10-year Treasury yield. ​The moves came after the U.S. Treasury announced it would double the size of liquidity support buyback operations for longer-dated bonds.

“The risk-on trade is trying to ​hang on to the lifeline that Treasury Secretary Bessent sent,” said Carol Schleif, chief market strategist at BMO Private Wealth, noting that riskier assets including high-profile technology stocks had sold off in recent days as bond yields rose.

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Concerns over ballooning government debt and rising inflation had pushed global ​bond yields to multi-decade highs on Tuesday. Schleif said investors were relieved by the ⁠government support as higher ‌rates “could potentially impact the AI trade” as technology companies have been issuing debt and equity and using their ​own cash to fund ​construction of data centers supporting AI.


However, equity indexes pared gains as the session wore on. Jim Baird, chief ⁠investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, said that investors likely took some profits ​after the initial rally and he added that the morning’s announcement “doesn’t mean that the longer-term ​issue of higher rates is off the table.”
According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 18.15 points, or 0.24%, to end at 7,709.91 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 40.08 points, or 0.15%, to 26,331.09. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 123.94 points, or 0.23%, to 53,467.34.Moderna’s shares surged more than after the company said its personalized mRNA cancer therapy developed with Merck cut the risk of melanoma recurrence and spread in a late-stage trial. Merck shares also jumped and it was the biggest gainer in the blue-chip Dow.

Moderna’s rallyboosted healthcare peers such as ‌Novavax and U.S.-listed shares of BioNTech.

The S&P 500 healthcare sector rallied sharply, hitting a record high and providing the biggest boost to the benchmark index from any of its 11 major industry sectors. The Nasdaq biotechnology index also ​jumped.

S&P 500 information technology ​stocks dipped during the session with chip ⁠stocks leading losses.

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However, Marvell Technologies shares climbed after it said it will help develop Google’s in-demand custom chips and has offered the search giant the right to buy a potential $12.2 billion stake.

Marvell was one of the few gainers in the volatile Philadelphia semiconductor index, which ​ended lower. Google parent Alphabet’s shares were little changed during the session.

Target shares rose after the retailer raised its annual sales forecast. Lowe’s shares gained even after it trimmed its annual sales growth forecast and Estee Lauder shares jumped after the cosmetics maker forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates.

Brent crude futures settled higher with Middle East progress still unclear. U.S. President Donald Trump said no talks were taking place with Iran and insisted the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting Iran’s assertion that the strait remained shut to shipping.

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Desert Control AS 2026 Q2 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (OTCMKTS:DRTFF) 2026-08-19

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team

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Details emerge on Forrest’s Cott housing plan

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Details emerge on Forrest’s Cott housing plan

Andrew Forrest’s $10.5 million plan to build multiple homes near his Le Fanu mansion in Cottesloe is progressing through the planning system.

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Why is Bill.com stock climbing today?

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Why is Bill.com stock climbing today?

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Ethan Allen stock jumps on $3 special dividend declaration

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Ethan Allen stock jumps on $3 special dividend declaration

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Outshine fruit bars recalled nationwide over glass concerns

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Outshine fruit bars recalled nationwide over glass concerns

Consumers are being urged to check their freezers after several varieties of Outshine fruit bars sold nationwide were recalled due to possible glass contamination.

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream is voluntarily recalling select batches of Outshine fruit bars sold in six-count packages and 24-count Variety Packs, according to an Aug. 18 announcement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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The recall was issued after consumers reported finding glass in the products, the announcement noted.

“Dreyer’s is taking this action out of an abundance of caution following consumer reports of glass found in the product,” the company said.

FROZEN DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION THAT LED TO MULTIPLE PET ILLNESSES

Consumers are being urged to check their freezers after several varieties of Outshine Fruit Bars sold nationwide were recalled following reports that glass was found in the products.

Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars are among select products recalled by Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

No illnesses or injuries have been reported, according to Dreyer’s.

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The affected products were distributed to retailers nationwide

Consumers are urged to check the UPC, batch code and best-before date on the packaging to determine whether their fruit bars are included in the recall.

WALMART TOMATO BISQUE SOUP RECALLED OVER POSSIBLE LISTERIA CONTAMINATION

The recalled products include certain batches of:

  • Outshine Strawberry 6-count Fruit Bars
  • Outshine Watermelon 6-count Fruit Bars
  • Outshine Grape 6-count Fruit Bars
  • Outshine Tangerine 6-count Fruit Bars
  • Outshine Black Cherry 6-count Fruit Bars
  • Outshine 24-count Variety Pack Fruit Bars

A complete list of affected batch codes, UPCs and best-before dates can be viewed on the FDA’s website.

POPULAR REESE’S, ALMOND JOY ICE CREAM BARS RECALLED OVER LABELING ERROR

Consumers are being urged to check their freezers after several varieties of Outshine Fruit Bars sold nationwide were recalled following reports that glass was found in the products.

Select 24-count Outshine Fruit Bars Variety Packs are being recalled nationwide over possible glass contamination. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

No other Outshine products or varieties are affected, according to the company.

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Anyone who purchased an affected product should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

FOX Business reached out to Dreyer’s for comment.

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Revelation Biosciences grants restricted stock awards to CEO and CFO

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Revelation Biosciences grants restricted stock awards to CEO and CFO

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Chinese Robot Maker Unitree Sees Shares Surge Nearly 500% on Stock Market Debut in Shanghai

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Chinese Robot Maker Unitree Sees Shares Surge Nearly 500% on

Shares in Unitree, the world’s largest maker of humanoid robots, surged as much as 600% before paring back to a gain of nearly 500% on the company’s debut on China’s stock market Wednesday, marking one of the most explosive public listings of the year as investors race to identify winners in the fast-growing robotics sector.

Shares in the company, officially known as Yushu Technology Co., rose to as high as 1,100 yuan, or roughly £120.39, from an initial public offering price of just 150.8 yuan, before settling to a still-remarkable gain of nearly 500% by the end of trading. The listing places Unitree among the standout technology debuts on Chinese exchanges this year, reflecting intense investor appetite for exposure to humanoid robotics, an industry widely viewed as one of the central battlegrounds in the broader global race around artificial intelligence.

Unitree, founded in 2016, has built global recognition largely through viral videos showcasing its robots performing martial arts routines, running at speeds comparable to Olympic athletes, and serving as backup dancers during pop star performances. The company shipped more than 5,500 humanoid robots last year, positioning it as one of the most commercially established players in a market still in its relatively early stages of large-scale deployment.

The broader humanoid robotics market is projected to grow dramatically over the coming decade. Analysts estimate that global sales of humanoid robots could climb from roughly $2 billion in 2025 to as much as $300 billion by 2035, a growth trajectory that has fueled significant investor enthusiasm for companies positioned to capture a meaningful share of that expansion.

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Retail investor demand for Unitree’s IPO proved exceptionally strong. According to reporting on the listing, the portion of shares set aside for non-professional individual investors was oversubscribed by thousands of times, reflecting the scale of public enthusiasm surrounding the offering among ordinary Chinese stock market participants, in addition to institutional interest.

Unitree occupies a relatively unique position within the still-developing humanoid robotics industry as one of the few publicly listed pure-play companies in the space. Its largest competitor, AgiBot, remains privately held, while a smaller rival, UBTech, is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange rather than mainland Chinese markets. At least half a dozen other Chinese humanoid robotics companies, including Deep Robotics and Leju Robotics, are reportedly preparing their own public listings, suggesting Unitree’s debut could serve as an early bellwether for investor appetite toward the broader sector as additional competitors move toward going public.

The scale of Wednesday’s share price surge has had a dramatic personal financial impact on Unitree founder and chief executive Wang Xingxing, who founded the company in 2016 and continues to own roughly a fifth of the business. According to Reuters, the jump in Unitree’s valuation means Wang’s personal stake is now worth more than $12 billion on paper, a significant increase to his net worth driven entirely by the market’s reaction to the company’s public debut.

Unitree’s stock market listing coincided with the opening of the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Wednesday, an event that brings together hundreds of companies, the vast majority of them Chinese, to unveil new products and showcase recent technical advances across the robotics industry. The timing of the listing alongside the high-profile conference likely amplified investor attention on the sector more broadly, contributing to the intensity of demand for Unitree shares.

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Unitree’s rapid rise has not been without controversy or geopolitical friction. Last month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission moved to ban imports of future models of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots, citing national security concerns, a decision widely understood to be aimed primarily at Chinese manufacturers such as Unitree given the country’s dominant position in the global humanoid robotics supply chain. Separately, the Pentagon added Unitree to a list of Chinese companies it has identified as contributors to China’s defense industrial base earlier this summer, a designation Unitree has pushed back against, with the company previously stating that its robots are intended for civilian use rather than military applications.

Despite the friction with U.S. regulators, Unitree has continued to attract substantial backing from major Chinese technology companies, with both Tencent and Alibaba among the firm’s corporate investors, underscoring the strategic importance domestic Chinese technology giants have placed on securing early positions within the country’s rapidly developing robotics ecosystem.

Unitree’s stock market debut adds to a broader wave of attention on China’s robotics sector this year, as the country has increasingly positioned humanoid and quadruped robots as a strategic priority within its broader technology development agenda, alongside ongoing investment in artificial intelligence more generally. The intense investor demand seen in Wednesday’s listing suggests that enthusiasm extends well beyond government-level strategic interest and into broad-based public market appetite for exposure to companies at the forefront of the robotics industry.

With several additional Chinese humanoid robotics companies reportedly preparing their own initial public offerings in the coming months, market analysts are likely to closely watch how sustained investor interest proves to be following Wednesday’s dramatic debut, both as a signal of confidence in Unitree specifically and as a broader indicator of how receptive Chinese capital markets may prove to be toward the wave of robotics-focused listings expected to follow in the sector over the remainder of the year.

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Morgan Stanley upgrades Merck stock rating on drug pipeline strength

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Who is eligible for State Farm’s $5B auto insurance dividend?

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Who is eligible for State Farm’s $5B auto insurance dividend?

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance recently began distributing a record $5 billion dividend to qualifying auto insurance customers, marking the largest payout of its kind in the company’s more than 100-year history.

Millions of customers have already received payments, with additional distributions on the way, State Farm said in a July 31 news release. 

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The dividend is being paid to eligible customers covering more than 49 million State Farm Mutual auto vehicles nationwide.  

“Because the distribution covers more than 49 million auto vehicles, the payment process will take several months to be completed nationwide,” the company said.

COSTCO PLOTS MAJOR EXPANSION INTO SENIOR HEALTHCARE WITH MEDICARE PARTNERSHIP

A State Farm logo sign

Millions of customers have already received payments. (Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Each customer’s payment is calculated as a percentage of the premium paid for each qualifying policy in 2025.

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The percentage varies by state and ranges from 4% to 10%, according to State Farm.

State Farm previously told USA Today that customers who had an active personal auto insurance policy in 2025 are eligible for the payment.

MAJOR PBMS TO BOOST PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE TRANSPARENCY THROUGH TRUMPRX

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The dividend is being paid to eligible customers covering more than 49 million State Farm Mutual auto vehicles nationwide. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The company said qualifying customers will be notified about a pending payment either by email or through a letter in the mail.

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Customers with an email address on file will get instructions to choose how they want to be paid. 

Those without an email address on file will receive a check by mail.

The insurer did not specify an exact date for when the payments would be completed.

OBAMACARE EXCHANGE FLAW EXPOSED AMERICANS TO UNEXPECTED HEALTH PLAN SWITCHES, WATCHDOG FINDS

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The company said qualifying customers will be notified about a pending payment either by email or through a letter in the mail. (Christoph Dernbach / Getty Images)

State Farm initially unveiled plans for the $5 billion dividend in February.

“This dividend is possible due to State Farm Mutual’s financial strength and a stronger than expected underwriting performance, which has been reported industry wide,” State Farm said at the time.

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FOX Business reached out to State Farm for comment.

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PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad 2026 Q2 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (OTCMKTS:PECGF) 2026-08-19

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

This article was written by

Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team

Continue Reading

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