All three benchmarks are lower midday
Stocks have pushed lower midday, as investors consider the Federal Reserve's next step in the wake of yesterday's consumer price index (CPI), which indicated an unexpectedly high surge in inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is marginally lower but holding on to a potential weekly gain, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) sit in the red, both eyeing weekly losses. Wall Street's "fear gauge," the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), is headed for its highest close of the month so far.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Why Yelp stock is jumping higher today.
- Options bulls blitz Cleveland-Cliffs stock after earnings.
- Plus, real estate stock breaks out; Bloom Energy cuts into deficit; and Goodyear weighed down by costs.
Zillow Group Inc (NASDAQ:Z) is seeing a surge in options activity, as the stock rises 15.2% at $56.20 after the real estate company's fourth-quarter results. So far, 49,000 calls and 40,000 puts have crossed the tape, volume that's 10 times what's typically seen at this point. Expiring today, the weekly 2/11 55-strike call is the most popular, with new positions being bought to open. No fewer than four analysts have chimed in with price-target cuts, while four have raised their price targets. Z is bouncing off its Jan. 28 low of $44.79 -- its lowest level since May of 2020 -- though the 50-day moving average remains as potential pressure.
One stock climbing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today is Bloom Energy Corp (NYSE:BE),up 15.6% to trade at $17.90. The alternative energy name reported a revenue beat, despite also announcing wider-than-expected fourth-quarter losses of 5 cents per share. No fewer than three analysts slashed their price targets after the news, though Susquehanna raised its own to $18 from $16. Year-to-date, the equity is still down 19.1%.
Meanwhile, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co (NASDAQ:GT) is falling despite the company's upbeat fourth-quarter report, which included the strongest revenue growth in 10 years, down 23.1% to trade at $16.71 at last glance. The stock is reversing its early-morning gains, potentially due to announcing steep raw material costs. Now trading at its lowest level since September, GT remains up 17.1% year-over-year.