In the early hours of Monday, October 23, U.S. equities experienced a slight dip, with S&P 500 futures down by 0.36%. This decline comes amid a backdrop of bond yields remaining at 16-year highs, specifically the 10-year Treasury yield, which sits just below 5%. Despite these fluctuations, experts suggest that concerns regarding the current economic climate may be somewhat exaggerated.
Disney’s India operations close to a deal with reliance industries
Walt Disney (DIS) is reportedly nearing a cash-and-stock agreement to sell its operations in India to Reliance Industries (RLNIY), led by Asia’s wealthiest tycoon, Mukesh Ambani. This development marks a significant step in the reshaping of Disney’s global portfolio.
Piper Sandler maintains a bullish outlook on tech giant Microsoft (MSFT) and recommends that large-cap growth investors increase their positions in anticipation of the upcoming general release of Microsoft’s artificial-intelligence assistant, M365 Copilot, on November 1. The company is set to report its quarterly results after the market closes on Tuesday.
In contrast, Piper Sandler downgrades its stance on Salesforce (CRM), shifting from overweight to neutral and lowering the price target to $232 per share from $268. This move reflects changing sentiments towards the customer relationship management software company.
Mizuho has raised its price target on UnitedHealth Group (UNH) to $584 per share, up from $549, while maintaining a buy rating. The firm notes adjustments in growth estimates and price targets within the cloud applications and analytics sector, suggesting that consensus growth expectations may have been overly optimistic.
Cybersecurity firm Okta faces data breach fallout
Several Wall Street firms have reduced their price targets on cybersecurity company Okta (OKTA) following a recent data breach that saw client files accessed by hackers. This incident has led to a significant decline in Okta’s share price.
Bernstein has lowered its price target on Boeing (BA) to $270 per share, down from $274, despite maintaining an outperform rating on the stock. The move comes in response to new delivery delays as Boeing prepares to announce its quarterly results later this week.
William Blair has initiated coverage of Celsius Holdings (CELH) with an outperform rating and no specified price target. The company is recognized for its attractive position in the food and beverage industry, sparking curiosity about its potential as a significant growth story.
Apple’s foray into generative AI
Apple (AAPL) has revealed plans to integrate generative AI technology across all its devices. This announcement comes as the tech giant acknowledges the growing importance of AI in its product offerings and the need to catch up with industry trends.
Following Morgan Stanley’s mixed third-quarter earnings report last week, Wall Street has witnessed weaker forward earnings revisions and price reactions for the financial institution. Investors expressed disappointment over the bank’s wealth management division and continued struggles in investment banking.
