Tech Sector Keeping Wall Street Steady

Stocks are bouncing back today, for the most part. Tech stocks are resuming their run, with the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) last seen up over 200 points as the 10-year Treasury yield slips back below 4%. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) sit marginally higher, thought the latter has already dipped into the red this session.

Oil prices are finally taking a breather, with November-dated crude futures last seen down 4.3% at $73.84 per barrel. Investors are also unpacking better-than-expected trade deficit data, which contracted to 10% in August as exports hit a record high. 

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• China stocks pull back from last week's breakout.
• DocuSign gets the S&P 500 MidCap nod. 
• Plus, Robinhood bulls bet big; Palo Alto makes a deal; and an oil stock in the red. 

Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ:HOOD) is the target of options bulls today. At last check, over 109,000 calls have changed hands, volume that's four times the average intraday amount and nearly six times the number of puts traded. The weekly 10/11 25- and 26-strike calls are the most popular, with new positions being bought to open at the latter. The December 26 call is also popular today. Robinhood stock was last seen up 7.2% to trade at $25.01, and earlier hit a three-year high of $25.36, padding its 96% year-to-date lead. 

Palo Alto Networks Inc (NASDAQ:PANW) stock is up 4.6% to trade at $353.42, one of the better names on the SPX today, after the cybersecurity firm announced a collaboration with Tata Communications. Tata will help beef up the artificial intelligence (AI) components of Palo Alto Network's cloud-based network security systems. PANW is now up 20% in 2024. 

Valero Energy Corp (NYSE:VLO) is near the bottom of the SPX, last seen down 4.8% to trade at $137.15, with the oil & gas stock dinged by oil prices cooling off today. Up 5% year-to-date, Valero stock has carved a channel of lower lows since an April 5 record high of $184.79.