On Wednesday, U.S. equity markets advanced significantly, spurred by encouraging progress in international trade relations. President Donald Trump's announcement to delay planned tariff implementations on European Union nations, linked to trade discussions surrounding Greenland, provided a boost to investor sentiment.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.2% to close at 49,077.23 points, while the S&P 500 rose 1.16% finishing at 6,875.62. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 1.18%, settling at 23,224.82.
Several stocks garnered notable investor and retail trader interest throughout the session. Among them, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC), Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA), The Metals Company Inc. (NASDAQ: TMC), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) stood out for their price movements and recent corporate developments.
Intel Corporation (INTC)
Intel shares advanced 11.72% to close at $54.25, touching an intraday peak of $54.41 and a low of $50.15. This rally brought the stock close to its 52-week high of $54.41. Post-market trading saw further gains of 1.2%, pushing shares to $54.92.
Investor focus centers on Intel's forthcoming fourth-quarter earnings, slated for release after Thursday's market close. Analysts project earnings per share (EPS) of 8 cents on revenue estimated at $13.38 billion. This follows a previous quarter in which Intel surpassed expectations by reporting $13.65 billion in revenue and 23 cents in EPS.
Moderna Inc. (MRNA)
The biotechnology firm experienced a substantial 15.84% increase in share price, ending the day at $49.81 and reaching a 52-week high of $50 during intraday trading. Shares hit a low of $43.34 earlier in the session and extended gains by 4.4% to reach $52 in after-hours trading.
The surge was primarily fueled by positive results from a recent cancer therapy study conducted jointly with Merck & Co. The study evaluated the addition of Moderna’s intismeran autogene vaccine to Merck’s KEYTRUDA treatment. Findings revealed a significant reduction in the risk of melanoma recurrence or death, with durable improvements in recurrence-free survival observed among patients receiving the combination therapy.
The Metals Company Inc. (TMC)
TMC’s stock closed 13.31% higher at $8.17, touching an intraday high of $8.25 and a low of $7.25. After-hours trading added an additional 9.4% gain, elevating the price to $8.94.
The company's announcement welcoming a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rule modernizing the permitting process for deep seabed mining resonated positively with investors. The revised regulation aligns closely with TMC's strategic progression from exploration toward commercial-scale production. Its aim is to facilitate a more efficient and responsible permitting pathway for operators in the sector.
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)
Contrary to the upward trends seen in other large-cap names, Microsoft shares fell 2.29%, closing at $444.11 with an intraday range between $438.68 and $452.69. The stock remains noticeably below its 52-week high of $555.45.
CEO Satya Nadella recently underscored the imperative that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies should deliver concrete societal benefits to sustain public trust. He stressed the necessity for AI’s energy usage to be justified by measurable advancements, particularly in critical areas like healthcare and education. This cautious stance may have influenced market reaction.
Lucid Group Inc. (LCID)
The luxury electric vehicle manufacturer climbed 17.88% to close at $11.47, with intraday highs of $11.65 and lows of $9.93.
Lucid revealed plans to expand its manufacturing partnership in Saudi Arabia through collaboration with Rockwell Automation. This initiative involves deploying advanced manufacturing solutions at Lucid’s plant located in King Abdullah Economic City, providing enhanced transparency and operational control over production lines. The development bolsters Lucid’s production capabilities and future growth outlook.
Additional Market Insights
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings identified Intel as exhibiting a mix of value in the 52nd percentile and strong momentum at the 96th percentile. The stock also aligns positively across short, medium, and long-term price trends, signaling robust technical footing.
These dynamics contributed to a broader market movement today, driven by enhanced trade cooperation signals and sector-specific developments that influenced investor positioning.