Noon Market Summary: Dow Falls 0.4% as WTI Crude Surges 2.1%; UL Solutions and Omnicom Lead Gainers

The U.S. market delivered a mixed performance at noon, with energy and materials sectors surging while tech and financials lagged. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) dipped 0.4% to $49,463.50, the S&P 500 (SPX) declined 0.27% to $6,862.98, and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) fell 0.22% to $22,704.77. Commodities saw sharp swings: WTI crude oil futures jumped 2.1% to $66.43, gold edged up 0.38% to $5,028.7, while copper dropped 0.84% to $5.8135. Energy stocks led the charge, rising 1.29%, while consumer discretionary and healthcare sectors fell 0.64% and 0.71%, respectively. The market remains cautiously optimistic about energy demand but wary of tech sector volatility and geopolitical trade tensions.

Hot Stocks

Energy & Materials Leaders:

• UL Solutions (ULS): +13.06%
• Deere (DE): +11.16%
• Occidental Petroleum (OXY): +8.62%
• Tenaris (TS): +9.16%
• Coeur Mining (CDE): +7.41%

Tech & Financials Movers:

• Microsoft (MSFT): +0.42%
• Tesla (TSLA): +0.14%
• Meta (META): -0.01%
• Nvidia (NVDA): -0.11%
• Aegon (AEG): -7.12%

Mega Gainers (Non-Mag 7):

• Knorex (KNRX): +195.29%
• Battalion Oil (BATL): +58.69%
• Allied Gaming (AGAE): +39.82%
• Interactive Strength (TRNR): +36.54%

Macro & Corporate News

1. U.S. Trade Deficit Widens to $901.5B in 2025

The U.S. trade deficit hit $901.5 billion in 2025, a 0.2% decline from 2024 but still the largest since 1960. The December deficit rose to $70.3 billion, driven by a 3.6% surge in imports. Trump’s 10% import tariffs failed to curb the gap, with deficits against China ($202.1B) and Mexico ($196.9B) remaining significant. Analysts warn the data could pressure the Fed to delay rate cuts, as trade imbalances weigh on GDP growth.

2. Visa Acquires Prisma and Newpay to Expand Argentina Presence

Visa announced a deal to acquire payment platforms Prisma and Newpay from Advent International, aiming to boost digital payment infrastructure in Argentina. The $4.2 billion acquisition, expected to close in Q1 2026, will accelerate adoption of tokenization and biometric authentication. The move signals confidence in Latin America’s fintech growth, though regulatory hurdles and currency volatility remain risks.

3. OpenAI Finalizes $100B Funding Round Valued at $850B

OpenAI is nearing completion of a $100 billion funding round, led by Amazon ($50B), SoftBank ($30B), and Microsoft. The round values the AI firm at over $850 billion, doubling its previous record. The funding will support infrastructure costs and an accelerated IPO timeline, positioning OpenAI to compete with Anthropic in the race to go public. The deal underscores investor optimism about AI’s long-term profitability despite current unprofitability.

4. Anthropic’s Market Exposure Frustrates Traders

Traders expressed frustration over the lack of direct public market exposure to Anthropic, unlike competitors like OpenAI and Gemini. Anthropic’s reliance on AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure complicates tracking its market impact. While OpenAI-linked stocks surged 40% and Alphabet shares rose 190%, investors remain “itchy” for a clear Anthropic proxy, highlighting the fragmented nature of AI sector investing.

5. Trump Administration Warns Colleges Over Student Loan Defaults

The Trump administration issued warnings to colleges with low student loan repayment rates, as 10 million borrowers approach default. The Education Department paused collections but emphasized accountability for institutions. Critics argue policy changes and staff cuts have worsened borrower challenges. The notice targets systemic repayment issues in federal loan programs, potentially impacting college enrollments and financial aid policies.

6. Airbus Slows A320 Production Over Engine Shortages

Airbus announced a slowdown in A320 jet production due to Pratt & Whitney engine shortages, triggering a dispute clause in its contract. The company now forecasts 870 deliveries in 2026, below analyst expectations. CEO Guillaume Faury cited Pratt’s failure to meet contractual commitments and quality issues with geared turbine technology. The move highlights supply chain fragility in the post-pandemic aviation sector.