⚠️WAR Sparks Stock Surge! Plus Strong Earnings Outlook, Microsoft's Pivot and Sporting Royalty...
Unfolding tragedy in Israel and Palestine has led defense stocks to climb, but fertilizer stocks are also on the up. Find out why, along with news, stats and insights in this week's Investing Intel!
Market Snapshot (Past Week)
S&P500: $4,327.78 (+0.90%)
Dow Jones Industrial Average: $33,670.29 (+1.23%)
Nasdaq Composite: $13,407.23 (+0.61%)
Russell 2000: $1,719.71 (-1.07%)
S&P/TSX Composite Index: $19,462.86 (+2.01%)
PHLX Gold and Silver Sector: $114.35 (+5.22%)
The biggest investing stories from the last 7 days
This week has been packed with major news stories, including a tragic new conflict that is steering markets in expected, and unexpected ways. There’s also news of an uptick in earnings expectations, solid news from Microsoft and further details on a deal for a slice of one of the planet’s biggest sports teams. Here are some of our top headlines from the week:
Fertilizer Stocks Surge Amid Global Tensions
Geopolitical unrest, triggered initially by Russia's actions in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, has already disrupted global sources of potash and nitrogen. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict threatens to exacerbate this situation further.
Microsoft's Health Tech Push Opens New Investment Avenues
Microsoft's new healthcare tools could revolutionize the sector. Learn how these changes offer fresh investment opportunities in tech and healthcare stocks.
Wall Street Bullish on Earnings Outlook
Wall Street turns optimistic as earnings forecasts rise. Sectors like energy and technology take the lead, while the Federal Reserve's expected rate halt fuels market rebound.
Jim Ratcliffe Eyes Manchester United Stake (MANU) Stock
Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos Group, may soon acquire a 25% stake in Manchester United. This move could drastically change the club's valuation and provide new investment opportunities.
Investing Signals
📈Top 5 Gainers in the last 7 days
Golden Heaven Group Holdings GDHG 0.00%↑ - $13.34 (+93.33%) - This stock soared after it signed construction contracts for three new amusement parks in southern China. A rollercoaster week!
MicroAlgo Inc MLGO 0.00%↑ - $4.17 (+91.28%) - This stock has been extremely volatile over the last month, having initially climbed several weeks ago after unveiling new search algorithm software. The weeks since have seen it bounce back and forth.
Genetron Holdings Limited GTH 0.00%↑ - $1.19 (+48.73%) - This stock rocketed on the news that a group of its co-founders, fronted by its CEO Sizhen Wang, will be taking the company private for $1.36 per American Depository Share.
Shengfeng Development Limited SFWL 0.00%↑ - $15.16 (+40.11%) - This company’s share price increase came following strong first-half earnings, which showed strong revenue and gross profit growth.
Sharecare, Inc SHCR 0.00%↑ - $1.24 (+39.72%) - Sharecare climbed after a private equity outfit approached the business intending to buy up available shares.
Note: Figures from StockAnalysis.com - Settings: Market Cap > $100M, Stock Price > $1, Period last 7 Days. All prices are correct as of pre-market on 25 September.
📉Top 5 losers in the last 7 days
Agape ATP Corporation Common Stock ATPC 0.00%↑ - $1.60 (-80.00%) - This business has seen its share price fall rather dramatically following its IPO earlier this week, and it’s not the only new face to see an immediate share price decline.
Akero Therapeutics, Inc AKRO 0.00%↑ - $14.63 (-70.93%) - This pharma business’ share price plummeted after its one clinical candidate failed to meet its primary endpoint during trials.
Outset Medical, Inc OM 0.00%↑ - $3.39 (-66.13%) - An earnings update was largely responsible for this downturn, with investors reacting negatively to disappointing revenue and a poor outlook.
89bio, Inc ETNB 0.00%↑ - $7.62 (-52.46%) - This biotech outfit appears to have been hit by Akero’s aforementioned bad news, as the two companies are attempting to develop similar treatments for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd AGRI 0.00%↑ - $2.97 (-47.62%) - This stock declined severely following the announcement that a reverse stock split had been approved by its board.
Note: Figures from StockAnalysis.com - Settings: Market Cap > $100M, Stock Price > $1, Period last 7 Days. All prices are correct as of pre-market on 25 September.
Stocks Trending on Google Search
Google Search trends are a good indicator of investor trends and interests and a good indicator of stocks you should research to see why they are popular and whether this is a good investment for you.
Tempest Therapeutics
TPST 0.00%↑
Share Price: $3.64
Weekly Change: +1,307.58%
Google Search Interest: Breakout
This clinical-stage biopharma outfit has absolutely rocketed over the last week! It’s colossal price change and the huge interest surrounding it is thanks to positive signs from its liver cancer treatment candidate. The increase resulted in the company’s market cap temporarily soaring from below $5m to north of $100m.
Birkenstock
BIRK 0.00%↑
Share Price: $36.38
Weekly Change: -12.06%
Google Search Interest: +600%
Investors have gone sandal-mad after this footwear manufacturer’s IPO. However, this has not translated to share price growth, with the company instead suffering a fairly disappointing debut week on the public markets.
Activision Blizzard
ATVI 0.00%↑
Share Price: $94.42
Weekly Change: +0.27%
Google Search Interest: +450%
It’s finally here. Microsoft’s $69bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard is finally stumbling over the line following approval from regulators, potentially making it the biggest deal in gaming history. It also means that Microsoft now has its hands on a huge range of gaming IPs from immensely popular juggernauts like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, through to classics like Crash Bandicoot and Starcraft.
RTX Corp
RTX 0.00%↑
Share Price: $73.25
Weekly Change: +0.14%
Google Search Interest: +350%
This defense company, which was known as Raytheon until very recently, has secured a lucrative government contract worth more than $150m following a slightly disappointing second quarter. Like the next entry on our list, it’s also likely attracting attention from investors looking to take advantage of the emerging conflict in the Middle East.
Lockheed Martin
LMT 0.00%↑
Share Price: $441.06
Weekly Change: +2.58%
Google Search Interest: +300%
As already noted, Lockheed Martin has benefited from investors adapting their portfolios to fresh warfare between Israel and Palestine. Several defense stocks, including Lockheed and Northrop Grumman NOC 0.00%↑ , enjoyed their best one-day boost since 2020.
Alternate Investing Signals
r/WallStreetBets
Eli Lilly & Co - LLY 0.00%↑ - Mentions: 126
This pharmaceutical giant has provoked discussion, with users positively comparing the effectiveness of its Tirzepatide treatment to competition from Novo Nordisk.
JPMorgan - JPM 0.00%↑ - Mentions: 116
Banking giant JPMorgan was a hot topic later in the week. Some forum members expressed concern about the levels of debt the bank has taken on, though the discussion quickly devolved into well-worn conspiracy theories.
Lockheed Martin - LMT 0.00%↑ - Mentions: 105
This huge defense outfit appears to have become the default go-to for morally dubious investors looking to make money from fresh geopolitical chaos in the Middle East.
Top Reads
🪐Is space in danger of becoming a billionaires’ playground? The Guardian’s Adam Gabbat explores the issue here.
🫠Despite high hopes, the year in review is looking pretty disappointing for bonds. Bloomberg’s Anchalee Worrachate and Liz Capo McCormick have the full story.
🎮In a week which saw one of the biggest gaming acquisitions in history sneaking toward the finish line, someone is asking if iconic Japanese outfit Nintendo could be next. That somebody is Leo Lewis in The Financial Times.
🌍A fertilizer shortage is causing chaos in Africa. Find out how in this piece from The New York Times’s Peter S Goodman and Finbarr O’Reilly.
🌐Does the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas threaten globalization? Bryan Mena of CNN Business analyzes all here.
Meme of the Week
