BUSINESS

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 115.01 points, or 0.23%, to close at 49,711.98 on Thursday, extending its recent winning streak as robust corporate earnings and sustained enthusiasm for artificial intelligence continued to support investor sentiment on Wall Street. The blue-chip index has now advanced for four consecutive sessions, reclaiming ground lost during earlier volatility tied to geopolitical developments and interest rate uncertainty.

NEW YORK — Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) stands as a compelling buy for long-term, income-focused investors in 2026, with Wall Street analysts issuing a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating amid resilient cash flows, a robust dividend and disciplined capital allocation despite volatile oil prices and the energy transition.

NEW YORK — Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) remains one of the strongest buy recommendations in the semiconductor sector in 2026, with Wall Street analysts maintaining a consensus "Strong Buy" rating as explosive demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and other AI-related chips continues to fuel record-breaking revenue and profit growth.

NEW YORK — Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) stands out as one of the strongest buy opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector in 2026, with Wall Street analysts maintaining overwhelmingly bullish ratings as blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound continue driving explosive revenue growth and margin expansion.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) remains a standout buy recommendation for investors in 2026, with Wall Street analysts issuing a near-unanimous "Strong Buy" consensus amid robust e-commerce growth, consistent market share gains and resilient consumer spending at the nation's largest retailer. The stock's defensive qualities, expanding high-margin businesses and steady execution under CEO Doug McMillon make it attractive even as broader markets grapple with economic uncertainty.

OMAHA, Neb. — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.B) stands out as a compelling buy for patient, long-term investors in 2026, even as the conglomerate navigates the transition to new CEO Greg Abel and faces questions about deploying its massive cash reserves amid elevated market valuations. With a fortress balance sheet, diversified operating businesses and a proven ability to compound capital over decades, Berkshire continues to appeal to value-oriented investors seeking stability in an uncertain economic environment.

NEW YORK — Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) remains a compelling buy for investors in 2026, with Wall Street analysts issuing overwhelmingly bullish ratings amid explosive growth in its artificial intelligence semiconductor business and strong execution across its diversified portfolio.

NEW YORK — Amazon.com Inc. shares are drawing strong buy recommendations from Wall Street analysts in mid-2026, with the consensus pointing to significant upside as the company's cloud computing arm delivers its fastest growth in 15 quarters and artificial intelligence investments begin showing returns amid robust e-commerce performance.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Fluence Energy Inc. shares skyrocketed nearly 40% on Thursday, closing at $18.97 after surging as high as $20.29 intraday, as investors cheered the energy storage company's record order backlog and new deals with hyperscale data center operators even after a significant revenue miss in its fiscal second-quarter results.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 tumbled 154.2 points, or 1.74%, to close at 8,723.9 on Thursday, snapping a recent rebound and underscoring persistent investor caution amid renewed Middle East tensions, higher-for-longer interest rates and a wave of disappointing corporate updates from major resource and financial names.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares fell more than 3% in morning trading Thursday, trading around $24.41 after closing at $25.17 the previous session, as investors continued to digest skepticism surrounding the video game retailer's ambitious $56 billion unsolicited takeover proposal for eBay.

TULSA, Okla. — AAON Inc. shares skyrocketed more than 50% in morning trading Thursday after the commercial HVAC manufacturer delivered blockbuster first-quarter results fueled by explosive demand for data center cooling solutions, shattering revenue forecasts and prompting a sharply higher full-year outlook.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped modestly Thursday, closing at 49,828.33, down 82.26 points or 0.16%, as Wall Street took a breather after surging to fresh records the previous session on hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace agreement.

NEW YORK — Apple Inc. shares have delivered solid gains in 2026, trading near $287-$290 in early May after a blockbuster fiscal second-quarter earnings beat that showcased robust iPhone demand and record Services growth, prompting most Wall Street analysts to maintain a Buy rating and view the stock as a core long-term holding despite valuation concerns.

NEW YORK — Advanced Micro Devices Inc. shares have surged dramatically in 2026, trading near $400 after a blockbuster first-quarter earnings beat that sent the stock up more than 15% in a single session, prompting fresh debate on whether investors should buy, hold or consider taking profits amid the ongoing AI boom.

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NEW YORK — Bitcoin's trajectory in 2026 remains a hotly debated topic on trading floors and among retail investors, but the prevailing Wall Street view leans heavily toward buying the leading cryptocurrency at current levels near $80,000.

NEW YORK — Gold prices tumbled more than 2% on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, with spot gold hitting $4,527.26 per ounce, down $102.63 or 2.22% from the previous close, extending a broader correction from record highs set earlier this year amid shifting macroeconomic forces and profit-taking.

NEW YORK — Axsome Therapeutics Inc. shares jumped more than 13.8 percent to $231.93 in early trading Monday, May 4, 2026, extending gains after the company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for expanded use of its drug AUVELITY to treat agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease and reported solid first-quarter financial results.

NEW YORK — Apple Inc. shares declined 1.65 percent to $275.51 in early trading Monday, May 4, 2026, as investors rotated out of high-valuation technology stocks amid broader market caution and questions over artificial intelligence spending returns.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares remain on a wild ride as the video game retailer's surprise $56 billion unsolicited bid to acquire eBay Inc. continues to fuel intense speculation about whether investors should buy or sell the meme-stock favorite in the midst of what could become one of the most transformative deals in retail history. With shares trading near $25.44 in early Monday trading after an initial surge and subsequent pullback, Wall Street is sharply divided on the long-term merits of holding GME amid the high-stakes takeover drama.

NEW YORK — Celcuity Inc. shares surged more than 13.8 percent to $143 in early trading Monday, May 4, 2026, after the clinical-stage oncology company announced that its Phase 3 VIKTORIA-1 trial met the primary endpoint with clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival for patients with PIK3CA-mutant advanced breast cancer.

NEW YORK — Global Business Travel Group Inc. (NYSE: GBTG) shares skyrocketed more than 57 percent to $9.31 in early trading Monday, May 4, 2026, after the company announced it had agreed to be acquired by Long Lake Management, a startup backed by prominent venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners, in a deal valued at approximately $6.3 billion.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares fell sharply in early trading Monday, dropping 4.07 percent to $25.44 as the initial excitement surrounding the company's surprise $56 billion bid to acquire eBay Inc. gave way to profit-taking and fresh questions about the ambitious deal's feasibility.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 184.38 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 49,314.89 on Monday, May 4, 2026, as investors digested mixed corporate earnings and rotated out of high-flying technology shares amid concerns over elevated valuations and interest rate uncertainty.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. dropped a bombshell Sunday evening with an unsolicited $56 billion offer to acquire eBay Inc., igniting one of the most dramatic corporate takeover battles in recent retail history. The surprise move by activist CEO Ryan Cohen has sent both companies' stocks soaring and raised questions about strategy, financing and the future of e-commerce. Here are 10 key things everyone should know about the bold proposal that could reshape online retail.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. has made an unsolicited $56 billion offer to acquire eBay Inc. in a bold cash-and-stock deal that would combine the video game retailer with the iconic online marketplace and create what CEO Ryan Cohen calls a "legit competitor" to Amazon. The surprise proposal, revealed Sunday evening, values eBay at $125 per share — a roughly 20 percent premium to its recent closing price — and marks one of the most audacious takeover attempts in recent retail history.