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Stock market today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 step higher as Netflix jumps after earnings beat

Karen Friar and Hamza Shaban
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US stocks rose on Friday, with tech in the lead as investors welcomed Netflix's (NFLX) across-the-board earnings beat in the wait for the next batch of corporate results.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) moved up roughly 0.6%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) added about 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose just above the flatline after hitting a fresh record closing high.

The major stock gauges are all on track for a sixth weekly win in a row after a strong showing by big banks to kick off earnings season.

Netflix's results late Thursday relieved some worries that Big Tech names might struggle in the third quarter as they did in the last. The streaming giant's profit surged to outstrip Wall Street estimates, while revenue and subscriber growth also came in stronger than expected. Its shares jumped around 10% in afternoon trading.

At the same time, a rebound in Chinese stock markets propelled gains in US-listed shares of Alibaba (BABA), JD.com, (JD) and PDD (PDD). The rally came amid revived optimism for more stimulus to help China's economy.

In commodities, gold (GC=F) prices hit a new record, topping $2,700 an ounce for the first time. Concerns about the Middle East conflict and uncertainty about the outcome of the US presidential election prompted a shift to less-risky assets.

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  • Hamza Shaban

    Tesla 'Full Self-Driving' autos face new investigation after fatal crash

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dealt a potential setback to Tesla’s (TSLA) autonomous ambitions with a new investigation into the company’s full self-driving (FSD) technology.

    NHTSA said it had opened an investigation into Tesla’s FSD software over reports of four crashes where FSD software was engaged in an “area of reduced roadway visibility conditions.” NHTSA said reduced roadway visibility was due to conditions like sun glare, fog, or airborne dust, reports Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian.

    Shares of the electric vehicle company were flat Friday afternoon.

    NHTSA said in one incident a pedestrian was struck and killed and in another an injury occurred when FSD was engaged in reduced visibility conditions. NHTSA’s preliminary investigation would look into whether FSD’s controls could detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility conditions and if any other similar crashes occurred with FSD engaged, among other inquiries.

    NHTSA said the investigation would cover 2.4 million Tesla EVs, which would be every vehicle with the ability to engage FSD in the US.

    Read more about the new into Tesla's vehicles here.

  • Hamza Shaban

    Stocks trending in afternoon trading

    Here are some of the stocks leading Yahoo Finance’s trending tickers page during afternoon trading on Friday:

    American Express (AXP): Shares of the financial services company close to 3% Friday afternoon even after reporting better than expected third quarter profit and lifting its full year guidance on strong consumer spending. But investors still pulled back after revenue came in slightly lower than analyst forecasts and as investors pushed the stock to a record high during the prior session on Thursday.

    Coinbase (COIN): The digital asset platform rose more than 5% Friday afternoon, continuing to ride the momentum of Bitcoin (BTC-USD)'s recent surge. The most popular and valuable cryptocurrency has risen close to 10% for the week, approaching the $70,000 level. Coinbase is set to report third quarter earnings at the end of the month.

    Netflix (NFLX): Shares of the streaming platform rose more than 9% Friday following a strong third-quarter earnings report, exceeding analysts’ expectations on both revenue and profits, driven largely by an expansion in its advertising business.

    CVS (CVS): The pharmacy chain fell more 6% Friday morning following news that the pharmacy chain will replace its CEO Karen Lynch with another company executive, David Joyner. CVS also said in a release Friday that it expects adjusted third-quarter earnings per share of $1.05 to $1.10, lower than the $1.70 forecast by Wall Street analysts, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

  • Hamza Shaban

    Stocks rise in afternoon trading

    Stock pointed upwards on Friday, as Netflix's muscular quarterly report provided optimism ahead of the next major wave of mega-cap earnings.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) moved up roughly 0.5%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) added about 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose just above the flatline after hitting a fresh record closing high.

    All three gauges are set to post wins for the week, with the Nasdaq and the S&P up about 0.7%, and the Dow leading the way with an anticipated 0.9% gain.

    In commodities, gold (GC=F) prices hit a new record, topping $2,700 an ounce for the first time. Concerns about a widening Middle East conflict and uncertainty about the outcome of the US presidential election prompted a shift to less-risky assets.

  • Laura Bratton

    Apple stock rises after report shows China iPhone sales increasing 20%

    Apple stock jumped as much as 1.7% following an industry report showing a surge in China iPhone sales.

    Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note to investors Friday, citing data from Counterpoint Technology Market Research, that China iPhone sales rose 20% since Sept. 20 — when Apple launched its iPhone 16 and its Chinese rival Huawei released a new smartphone model. Apple's strong sales were led by its iPhone 15 models in particular, with sales of those phones jumping 44% year over year.

    "This industry analysis is consistent with our recent Asia trip and supply chain checks that we believe China sales for iPhone 16 will show a strong rebound over the next year with the beginning of this AI driven super cycle led by iPhone 16," said Ives. "We believe 20% of the world's population will ultimately access AI through an Apple device over the coming years."

    Apple iPhone sales in China have fallen behind Chinese rival Huawei this year. And analysts have voiced concerns that its initial iPhone 16 sales were weak, though recent data has eased those fears.

  • Hamza Shaban

    Netflix stock surges after subscriber growth beats estimates

    Netflix (NFLX) stock climbed more than 10% Friday after the streaming giant beat third quarter EPS and revenue estimates and projected sales for the current quarter that came in ahead of Wall Street's expectations.

    The growth came as the streamer continued to lean on revenue initiatives like its crackdown on password sharing and ad-supported tier, in addition to last year's price hikes on certain subscription plans, reports Yahoo Finance's Allie Canal.

    Subscribers also came in strong with another 5 million-plus subscribers added on the heels of breakout programming like "The Perfect Couple" and "Nobody Wants This."

    Subscriber additions of 5.07 million beat expectations of 4.5 million and follows the 8.05 million net additions the streamer added in the second quarter. The company had added 8.8 million paying users in Q3 2023.

    Investors have praised the company's foray into sports and live events. Meanwhile, its ad tier continues to gain traction, accounting for over 50% of sign-ups in the countries where it's offered during the third quarter.

    Read more about Netflix's strong quarterly report here.

  • Single-family housing starts ramped up in September as mortgage rates fall

    Single-family housing starts gained in September from the previous month amid lower mortgage rates.

    The measure rose 2.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.027 million units, the strongest pace in five months, according to new data from the Census Bureau.

    The increase came as mortgage rates slid steadily last month, pushing the average 30-year fixed loan to its lowest level since early February 2023. The Fed cut its benchmark rate by half a percentage point in September.

    Lower rates likely encouraged builders to file more building permits during the month. Contract permits for single-family dwellings rose to a pace of 970,000, a 0.3% gain from August’s revised figure of 967,000 units.

    October’s data could reveal a different story, given that mortgage rates have ticked back up.

    “While single-family home building increased in September, higher mortgage interest rates in October are likely to place a damper on growth in next month’s data,” NAHB’s chief economist Robert Dietz wrote in a note after the release.

    Overall, housing starts eased in September, pressured by a drop in multifamily construction. Housing starts slipped 0.5% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.354 million units.

  • Hamza Shaban

    Stocks trending in morning trading

    Here are some of the stocks leading Yahoo Finance’s trending tickers page during morning trading on Friday:

    Netflix (NFLX): Shares of the streaming platform rose more than 10% Friday following a strong third quarter earnings report, exceeding analysts’ expectations on both revenue and profits, driven largely by an expansion in its advertising business.

    CVS (CVS): The pharmacy chain fell more 8% Friday morning following news that it will replace its CEO Karen Lynch with another company executive, David Joyner. CVS also said in a release Friday that it expects adjusted third quarter earnings per share of $1.05 to $1.10, lower than the $1.70 forecast by Wall Street analysts, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

    Apple (AAPL): The tech giant rose 1% on news of healthy sales in China, which grew by 20% in the first three weeks of the iPhone 16 going on the market, according to Counterpoint Research data.

    Moderna (MRNA): Shares of the pharmaceutical company fell more than 1% following reports that rival GlaxoSmithKline (GLAXO.NS) is suing for US patent infringement over COVID vaccines.

  • Laura Bratton

    CVS stock plunges as chain replaces CEO Karen Lynch

    CVS (CVS) stock fell more than 6% following news that the pharmacy chain will replace its CEO Karen Lynch with another company executive, David Joyner.

    Shares are down nearly 20% this year as the company has been under pressure from Glenview Capital Management, a hedge fund pushing for changes, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news of Joyner's appointment. CVS has been reportedly reviewing strategic options that could include a breakup.

    David Joyner, the EVP of CVS Health and president of the chain's pharmacy health services business, CVS Caremark, replaced Lynch as of Thursday, CVS said. Lynch had been CEO since 2021. In an interview with the Journal, Joyner said the company would move forward intact.

    CVS said in a release Friday that it expects adjusted third quarter earnings per share of $1.05 to $1.10, lower than the $1.70 forecast by Wall Street analysts, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. CVS said investors should no longer rely on its previous full-year 2024 earnings guidance — which it has already repeatedly lowered — given "continued elevated medical cost pressures in the Health Care Benefits segment."

  • Hamza Shaban

    Stocks rise after strong Netlfix earnings

    The final trading session of the week started with mostly positive results as investors welcomed Netflix's (NFLX) across-the-board earnings beat, which could serve as a preview for the megacap tech giants reporting next week.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) moved up roughly 0.5%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) added 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about 0.1% after hitting a fresh record closing high.

    The major stock gauges are all on track for a sixth consecutive weekly win after a strong showing by big banks to kick off earnings season.

  • Jenny McCall

    Good morning. Here's what's happening today.

    Earnings: Ally Financial (ALLY), American Express (AXP), Comerica (CMA), Procter & Gamble (PG)

    Economic data: Housing starts and Building permits (September)

    Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning:

    The one big bank that had a challenging week

    CVS stock slumps as CEO Lynch exits, Joyner steps in

    Gold tops $2,700 for first time amid record-setting run

    Netflix stock jumps after Q3 results beat across the board

    How Netflix sees price hikes after its earnings beat

    Robotaxi flop rattles Tesla's premium valuation

    Apple iPhone 16 sales soar 20% in China debut

    Buffett sells more BofA shares as buybacks push stake over 10%

    Oil edges up with Mideast in focus after Hamas leader's death

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