U.S. stocks exhibited mixed trading on Tuesday as markets resumed operations following a three-day holiday weekend. Early trading showed the S&P 500 remained nearly unchanged, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by one point, approximately 0.1%. In contrast, the Nasdaq composite was down by 0.1%.
Significant Movements in Stock Prices
Several key companies saw notable stock price fluctuations:
- General Mills experienced a decline of 5.4%, attributing the drop to decreased consumer confidence. The firm lowered its 2026 profit forecasts, suggesting steeper declines than previously anticipated.
- Genuine Parts reported a steep fall of 10.9% after revealing weaker-than-expected profits and revenues. The company plans to split into two publicly traded entities by early 2027.
- Warner Bros. Discovery rose by 2.8% amid buyout discussions with Paramount. Paramount Skydance’s stock increased by 6.7%, while Netflix saw a modest gain of 0.9%.
Market Analysis and Economic Sentiment
Current market sentiment reflects the challenges faced by U.S. households, including inflation, a slow job market recovery, and tariff-related concerns, as indicated by various consumer confidence surveys. Chris Larkin from E-Trade noted that while the market is near record highs, recent sell-offs may obscure overall investor sentiment.
The bond market remained stable, with the 10-year Treasury yield slightly rising to 4.05% from 4.04%.
International Market Overview
In international trading, European markets showed modest gains following a quiet session in Asia, where most markets were closed due to Lunar New Year celebrations. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index slipped by 0.4%, primarily influenced by weak economic data and a 5.1% drop in SoftBank Group shares.
This decline follows significant gains for SoftBank after the ruling party’s victory in Japan’s February 8 general elections, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
