Market Overview - Stocks opened modestly higher but enthusiasm faded due to a sell-off in AI heavyweights and concerns over a potential government shutdown [1] - At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.4% at 46,121, the S&P 500 was off 0.3% at 6,637, and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.3% lower at 22,497, although all three indexes are set to end the quarter and month with impressive gains [2] Sector Performance - The materials sector was the worst performer among the S&P 500 sectors, impacted by a 17% decline in Freeport McMoran (FCX) after the company cut its third-quarter sales guidance due to halted operations at its Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia [3] - The technology sector also closed in the red, with major AI stocks Nvidia (NVDA) down 0.8% and Oracle (ORCL) down 1.7% for the second consecutive day [6] Company Highlights - Micron Technology (MU) reported higher-than-expected earnings and revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter, with strong guidance for the first quarter. Analyst Quinn Bolton noted robust AI demand and tightening DRAM supply, reiterating a Buy rating and raising the price target to $200 from $150, indicating over 33% upside [7] - Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) shares rose 8.2% after announcing plans to increase AI spending, with CEO Eddie Wu stating a three-year, 380 billion yuan AI infrastructure initiative [9][10] - Lithium Americas (LAC) surged 95.8% after confirming reports of a potential 10% stake from the Trump administration, as the company renegotiates a $2.26 billion loan for its Thacker Pass mine, expected to be a major lithium source in North America [11][12] Economic Indicators - New home sales surged 20.5% from July to August, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 800,000, the highest in three years, attributed to lower mortgage rates and increased builder incentives [13]

Market Performance - U.S. equity markets experienced a subdued performance on September 24, 2025, following a pullback after a three-day record high streak, driven by profit-taking and concerns over inflation and interest rates [1][2][10] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell 0.2% to close at 46,292.78, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) dropped 1% to finish at 22,573.47, and the S&P 500 (SPX) declined 0.6% to settle at 6,656.92 [2] - On September 24, major indexes continued to decline, with the Nasdaq down approximately 0.4% and both the S&P 500 and DJIA declining around 0.3% [3] Sector Performance - Sector performance was mixed, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) advancing 1.7%, while Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY) and Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) both fell 0.9% on September 23 [4] - On September 24, the S&P 500 Materials sector was the worst performer, down 1.5%, and technology shares underperformed the broader market by falling 0.6% [4] Key Market Drivers - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's cautionary remarks regarding asset prices being "fairly highly valued" influenced market sentiment, leading to profit-taking [5] - Powell indicated a cautious approach to future rate cuts, balancing inflation risks and employment risks, with investors anticipating potentially two more rate cuts this year [5] Upcoming Market Events - Investors are awaiting the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index on September 26, 2025, with expectations of a 0.25% monthly rise for August and an annual increase of 3% [6] - The U.S. Department of Labor's monthly report for September, including non-agricultural jobs and unemployment rate data, is due on October 3, 2025 [7] Major Stock News - Nvidia (NVDA) shares dropped about 2.8% due to concerns over its $100 billion deal with OpenAI, contributing to the tech sector's underperformance [13] - Micron Technology (MU) reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter results but saw a 4% decline in shares on September 24 after a significant year-to-date gain [13] - Intel (INTC) shares surged approximately 5.5% following a $5 billion investment from Nvidia and a favorable forecast for expense reductions [13] - Lithium Americas (LAC) shares nearly doubled, rising between 87.6% and 91.5%, after reports of potential U.S. government investment in its lithium project [13] - Alibaba (BABA) stock rallied after announcing plans to increase AI spending beyond $50 billion [13] - Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) experienced a significant decline of 10.6% after revising third-quarter sales forecasts downward for copper and gold [13] - Homebuilders like Lennar (LEN), PulteGroup (PHM), and D.R. Horton (DHI) saw stock increases following stronger-than-expected U.S. new home sales in August [13]

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) shares are down more than 16% on Wednesday after a catastrophic mud rush incident at its Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia. The incident resulted in two confirmed fatalities and five missing workers, and forced the company to declare force majeure and suspend operations at one of the world’s largest copper mines. More News from Barchart Despite today’s decline, Freeport-McMoRan stock is up more than 30% versus its April low. www.barchart.com Significance of Grasberg Incident ...

Group 1 - U.S. stocks experienced a decline, with the Dow Jones index dropping over 150 points on Wednesday [1] - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. shares fell 16.4% to $37.94 after the company provided lower third-quarter sales guidance [1] - The company reported a tragic incident at the Grasberg Block Cave mine, resulting in two fatalities and five team members missing [1] Group 2 - Zhengye Biotechnology Holding Limited shares decreased by 28.2% to $5.02 [4] - YD Bio Ltd shares fell 15% to $17.91 [4] - Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. shares dropped 14.6% to $27.36 after failing to meet primary endpoints in a clinical trial [4] - Needham reduced the price target for Harmony Biosciences from $48 to $41 [4] - Cohu, Inc. shares declined 12.7% to $19.85 following an announcement of convertible senior notes offering [4] - Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares decreased by 12.7% to $29.69 [4] - BGM Group Ltd. shares fell 12.2% to $10.31 [4] - Worthington Enterprises, Inc. shares dipped 11.3% to $53.43 after reporting first-quarter results [4] - QMMM Holdings Limited shares decreased by 11% to $97.00 [4] - Astera Labs, Inc. shares fell 10.6% to $205.65 [4] - Sandisk Corporation shares dipped 8.2% to $97.68 [4]

Group 1: Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a decline, with the Dow Jones index dropping more than 150 points on Wednesday [1] Group 2: Company-Specific News - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. shares fell 16.4% to $37.94 after the company provided third-quarter sales guidance [1] - The company reported a tragic incident at the Grasberg Block Cave mine, resulting in the fatal injuries of two team members and five others remaining missing [1] - Zhengye Biotechnology Holding Limited shares decreased by 28.2% to $5.02 [4] - YD Bio Ltd shares fell 15% to $17.91 [4] - Harmony Biosciences Holdings, Inc. shares dropped 14.6% to $27.36 after its Phase 3 clinical trial for ZYN002 in Fragile X syndrome did not meet primary endpoints, leading Needham to lower its price target from $48 to $41 [4] - Cohu, Inc. shares declined 12.7% to $19.85 following the announcement of an offering of convertible senior notes [4] - Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares fell 12.7% to $29.69 [4] - BGM Group Ltd. shares decreased by 12.2% to $10.31 [4] - Worthington Enterprises, Inc. shares dipped 11.3% to $53.43 after reporting first-quarter results [4] - QMMM Holdings Limited shares fell 11% to $97.00 [4] - Astera Labs, Inc. shares declined 10.6% to $205.65 [4] - Sandisk Corporation shares dipped 8.2% to $97.68 [4]

Key TakeawaysFreeport-McMoRan (FCX) declared force majeure at its Grasberg mine in Indonesia following a fatal accident on September 8, leading to a significant cut in Q3 copper and gold sales guidance.The disruption at Grasberg, which accounts for approximately 3.2% of global mined copper, caused copper prices to surge by over 3% on the London Metal Exchange, reaching a 15-month high.The incident involved a mud flow that resulted in two confirmed fatalities and five workers still missing, prompting a halt ...

Wall Street traded lower on Wednesday, extending the previous day's risk-off mood sparked by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks.At midday in New York, all major indexes were in the red: the S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.5%, and the Russell 2000 fell 0.6%.FCX is taking a hit from negative sentiment. Get the inside scoop here.Investors bristled at Powell's comments that further rate cuts are not a given, underscoring a data-dependent stance, while also calling equity markets "fairly h ...

Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan's shares experienced a significant decline following the announcement of production setbacks due to a fatal accident at its Grasberg operations in Indonesia [1] Group 1: Company Impact - The company disclosed that the production issues are directly linked to the recent fatal accident, which has raised concerns about operational safety and efficiency [1] - The sharp decline in share price reflects investor reaction to the potential long-term impacts on production and profitability stemming from these setbacks [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The incident at Grasberg highlights ongoing challenges in the mining industry, particularly regarding safety protocols and operational risks in high-stakes environments [1] - The copper and gold mining sectors may face increased scrutiny and regulatory pressures as a result of such accidents, potentially affecting overall industry performance [1]

Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan Inc. is facing significant operational disruptions due to a mud rush incident at its Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia, which has resulted in fatalities and missing workers, leading to a reassessment of production outlook and financial implications [1][3][4]. Incident Overview - A mud rush on September 8 at the Grasberg mine resulted in the death of two workers, with five still unaccounted for. Search and recovery efforts are ongoing under the supervision of Indonesian authorities [1][2]. - Approximately 800,000 metric tons of wet material caused damage to the mine's infrastructure, halting development work and suspending operations in the Grasberg district [3]. Production Outlook - The mine is crucial for Freeport's copper and gold production, with third-quarter sales expected to decline by about 4% for copper and 6% for gold compared to previous guidance [4]. - Preliminary assessments indicate that 2026 production could be 35% lower than earlier estimates, with a phased restart anticipated in mid-2025 and full output not expected until 2027 [4]. Financial Implications - Freeport has declared force majeure with customers and is pursuing claims under property and business interruption insurance policies, which could cover up to $1 billion, with a cap of $700 million for underground incidents after a $500 million deductible [5]. Market Reaction - Following the incident update, Freeport's shares fell by 9.70%, reflecting investor concerns over lost output and the extended timeline for recovery [6][7].

Group 1 - Freeport-McMoRan declared force majeure on contracted supplies from its Grasberg Block Cave mine in Indonesia, leading to a significant increase in copper prices, with three-month futures trading above $10,496 per ton, up 2.74% for the day [1] - Following the declaration, Freeport's shares fell by as much as 10.4% in New York, while competitors such as Glencore PLC, Teck Resources, and Antofagasta saw their shares rise by 3%, 5%, and 7.4% respectively [2] - The Grasberg mine, the world's second-largest copper mine, halted production after a tragic accident on September 8, which resulted in the death of two workers and the ongoing search for five others [3] Group 2 - The Grasberg Block Cave ore body accounts for 50% of PT Freeport Indonesia's estimated proven and probable reserves as of December 31, 2024, and approximately 70% of the company's previously forecast copper and gold production through 2029 [4] - Freeport updated its third-quarter guidance, expecting consolidated sales to be about 4% lower for copper and approximately 6% lower for gold compared to previous estimates made in July [5] - In addition to Freeport's challenges, Hudbay Minerals Inc. announced the shutdown of operations at a mill at its Constancia mine site in Peru due to ongoing political protests, indicating broader disruptions in the copper industry [5]