HABesen/iStock via Getty Images
Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
DOJ investigates multibillion-dollar oil shorts ahead of Iran news. (0:15) McDonald’s tops global comps sales, helped by value meals. (1:22) Amazon expands same-day delivery access for oral Ozempic treatment. (2:19)
This is an abridged transcript of the podcast:
Federal officials are examining at least four trades where traders collectively wagered more than $2.6B that oil prices would fall—shortly before they, in fact, did.
The timeline of suspicious activity includes:
March 23: $500M bet placed 15 minutes before U.S. President Donald Trump announced a delay to threatened strikes on Iran’s power grid.
April 7: $960M bet placed hours ahead of a temporary ceasefire announcement.
April 17: $760M bet placed 20 minutes before Iran’s Foreign Minister announced the Strait of Hormuz was open.
April 21: $430M in bets placed 15 minutes before Trump extended the ceasefire.
Data obtained from the London Stock Exchange Group did not show the identities behind these trades or prove insider trading occurred, ABC said, adding neither the DOJ nor CFTC had comment.
The news comes shortly after a large crude-oil short position placed yesterday drew scrutiny after market analysts flagged unusual trading activity ahead of major diplomatic news.
Among active stocks, McDonald's (MCD) reported solid Q1 results thanks to value offering and the intro of the high-margin Big Arch. Global comparable sales rose 3.8% to top the +3.7% consensus.
CEO Chris Kempczinski said the fast-food giant’s “value leadership, breakthrough marketing, and menu innovation continue to serve up what customers want.”
Whirlpool (WHR) is tumbling after missing on the Q1 top and bottom lines. Full-year revenue guidance was light and its EPS forecast of $3-$3.50 was sharply below consensus of $4.73.
And shares of quantum computing company IonQ (IONQ) are under pressure, despite Q1 results and outlook beating estimates, in looks like a good-but-not-good-enough reaction. The stock has risen about 85% in the past month.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore, who as an Equal Weight on the stock, says “it's difficult to discern what's driving the strength given a broader portfolio and typical conservatism but trends are clearly healthy overall. Technology milestones are also progressing well, and we are encouraged by the progress.”
In other news of note, Amazon (AMZN) announced that Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) newly launched oral diabetes therapy, the Ozempic pill, will be available for same-day delivery through its pharmacy division and dispensed at its One Medical locations via in-office kiosks.
Novo launched the Ozempic pill earlier this week, having rebranded its previous oral GLP-1 therapy, Rybelsus.
Amazon said regardless of Prime membership, patients will be able to access the once-daily therapy through same-day delivery, which is available in nearly 3,000 U.S. cities and towns. The company plans to expand the same-day service to nearly 4,500 cities and towns by the end of 2026.
And in the Wall Street Research Corner, Capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda told Seeking Alpha that the markets are “pricing in the best-case scenario when it comes to the war,” which “could prove to be a fatal conceit.”
He warned that if geopolitical tensions intensify and energy prices remain elevated, U.S. equities could enter a bear market, falling 20%–25% over the next six to 12 months.
The main driver of this recent rally is Wall Street’s “remarkable earnings growth,” while the Fed has taken a back seat in sentiment, he added.
Q1 earnings growth of 27% has significantly outpaced the 13% consensus estimate heading into the reporting season.
Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。