Wall St Week Ahead Black Friday puts focus on consumer spending for rocky markets

• Holiday shopping season to give read on health of consumer
• Wavering stock market could weigh on shopping
• Delayed US retail sales report due on Tuesday

With U.S. stocks in the midst of a grim month, investors will look in the coming week for signs of strength in the U.S. consumer with Black Friday putting the spotlight on the holiday shopping season.
The rally in stocks has stalled in November, with the benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX), declining more than 4% so far during the month. Strong quarterly results from semiconductor giant Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O), failed on Thursday to calm markets, which have been rattled by concerns about elevated valuations and questions about returns on massive corporate investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

No recession risk for US economy as a whole after $11 billion shutdown hit, Bessent says

• Bessent says inflation due to services economy, not tariffs
• Treasury secretary says Republicans should end filibuster in event of another shutdown
• Bessent says administration working to lower prices where it can

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said the 43-day government shutdown caused an $11 billion permanent hit to the U.S. economy, but he was optimistic about growth prospects next year given easing interest rates and tax cuts.

Shipping giant CMA CGM resumes Russia trade with food cargo

French-based CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping line, has resumed limited services to Russia, notably to transport food, three years after withdrawing from the country following its invasion of Ukraine, the company said.

Like other Western firms, CMA CGM halted its activities in Russia, stopping its shipping services and also divesting stakes held in port terminals.

Babcock’s frigate contract bids heading ‘in right direction’ as profit jumps

• Half-year underlying operating profit up 19%
• Raises interim dividend 25%
• CEO says bids for Sweden, Denmark and Indonesia frigates
• Bids going ‘in right direction’
• Shares close 1.8% higher

British engineering company Babcock (BAB.L), said its bids for building frigates for Sweden, Denmark and Indonesia were going in the “right direction”, after it reported a 19% jump in first-half profit and forecast further growth this year.
In a statement late on Friday, the British government said it had reached a 4 billion pound ($5.24 billion) deal with Indonesia, led by Babcock, to jointly develop maritime capability for the Southeast Asian country’s navy and more than 1,000 vessels for its fishing fleets

Major analyst and enterprise forecasts on the AI market

Technology executives and analysts expect artificial intelligence to generate hundreds of billions of dollars in value, yet forecasts for the market diverge significantly based on the underlying assumptions and metrics employed.

Here are some of the major estimates provided by tech and analyst firms on the addressable market for AI, software and infrastructure spending:

Technology executives and analysts expect artificial intelligence to generate hundreds of billions of dollars in value, yet forecasts for the market diverge significantly based on the underlying assumptions and metrics employed.

Here are some of the major estimates provided by tech and analyst firms on the addressable market for AI, software and infrastructure spending:

Disney, Tesla among market cap stock movers on Thursday

Thursday’s market has seen swings in various stocks based on news and other factors. Today, stocks like Disney (DIS) and Tesla (TSLA) are experiencing significant declines. Below are highlights of some of the biggest stock movers, from mega-caps to small caps.

Mega-Cap Movers ($200 billion USD and higher)

S&P 500 as investors rotate ahead of expected government reopening

S&P 500 edged higher Wednesday as investors rotated out of tech and into blue-chip names ahead of the confirmation of a deal to end the longest-ever federal government shutdown.

At 12:43 AM ET (17:43 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 414 points, or 0.9%, the S&P 500 rose 0.1%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.3%.

AMD, Palantir among market cap stock movers on Wednesday

Wednesday’s market has seen swings in various stocks based on news and other factors. Today, stocks like Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) are rallying, while others like Palantir Technologies (PLTR) are experiencing declines. Below are highlights of some of the biggest stock movers, from mega-caps to small caps.

Mega-Cap Movers ($200 billion USD or higher):

• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD); AMD aims to expand data center, AI leadership with 35% revenue CAGR: +7.35%
• AbbVie Inc (ABBV): +3.78%
• United Health Group (UNH): +3.91%
• Goldman Sachs Group (GS): +2.88%
• Cisco Sys Inc (CSCO): +2.69%
• Eli Lilly And Co (LLY): +2.48%
• Oracle Corp (ORCL): -3.67%
• Facebook Inc (META): -2.26%
• Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR): -4.71%

S&P 500 cuts some losses, but Nvidia slip keeps gains in check

The S&P 500 climbed Tuesday, as investors weighed up the likely end to the long-running government shutdown, though gains were held back by slip in Nvidia and other AI-related stocks. 

At 1:52 p.m. ET (18:52 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 530 points, or 1.1%, while S&P 500 index gained 0.2%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 0.3%.