Pennsylvania jury finds Johnson & Johnson liable for cancer in latest talc trial | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]A Johnson & Johnson banner is displayed on the front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, in New York City, U.S., December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies- Summary- Trial was second over ovarian cancer since J&J's latest bankruptcy ...

Core Viewpoint - SpaceX is considering a dual-class share structure for its planned IPO this year, which could value the company at over $1.5 trillion [1]. Group 1: IPO Details - The dual-class share structure would allow for different voting rights, typically granting greater voting power to founders or early investors [1]. - SpaceX is in the process of adding members to its board of directors to oversee the IPO and expand Musk's space ambitions beyond its main rocket and satellite business [1]. - Ongoing deliberations may lead to changes in the details of the IPO [1]. Group 2: Elon Musk's Influence - Elon Musk has indicated that he needs to maintain a significant stake, approximately 25%, to exert sufficient voting influence, although Tesla does not currently have a dual-class voting structure [1].

Core Viewpoint - The SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (SPTM) has maintained a consistent dividend payout for 25 years, reflecting strong corporate profit growth and a focus on capital appreciation rather than high yield [1] Group 1: Dividend Performance - SPTM paid $0.933 in dividends for 2025, marking a 1.9% increase from $0.916 in 2024, showcasing the underlying growth in corporate profits across the U.S. market [1] - The fund has never cut its dividend in its 25-year history, maintaining uninterrupted quarterly payments even during market disruptions like in 2020 [1] Group 2: Fund Composition and Strategy - The ETF consists of 1,500 holdings, providing broad exposure to the U.S. market with an ultra-low expense ratio of 0.03% [1] - Major technology companies such as NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft account for 19% of the portfolio, emphasizing a growth-oriented strategy that prioritizes reinvestment over high yields [1] - Financial stability is supported by conservative payout practices from holdings like JPMorgan Chase, which retains most earnings while rewarding shareholders [1] Group 3: Total Return and Investment Perspective - SPTM achieved a return of 15.54% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500's 14.31%, and has increased by 85.59% over five years, highlighting the effectiveness of combining modest yield with capital appreciation [1] - Investors focused solely on high yield may overlook SPTM, but those recognizing the value of diversification across profitable, growing businesses will appreciate the fund's stability and growth potential [1]

Stock Market - The A-share market experienced a slight increase, with Wind All A rising by 0.46% and a trading volume of 2.16 trillion yuan, while the TMT and power equipment sectors led the gains [3][9] - The consumer sector continued to decline, with the CSI 1000 index up by 0.91%, CSI 500 index up by 1.17%, CSI 300 index up by 0.12%, and the SSE 50 index down by 0.28% [3][9] - Geopolitical risks, particularly the US-Iran situation and Japan's election results, are significant factors affecting the A-share market during the Spring Festival [3][10] - The correlation between A-share technology themes and US stocks has increased since November, indicating a global market linkage rather than isolated A-share sentiment [3][10] - The newly nominated Federal Reserve Chairman's monetary policy is more hawkish than market expectations, emphasizing a results-oriented approach rather than a predictive model [3][10] Bond Market - The 30-year bond futures contract fell by 0.03%, while the 10-year and 5-year contracts rose by 0.02%, and the 2-year contract remained stable [11] - The People's Bank of China conducted a 400 billion yuan 14-day and a 166.5 billion yuan 7-day reverse repurchase operation, resulting in a net injection of 448 billion yuan [11] - The interbank market saw a decline in the weighted rates for DR001 and DR007, down by 0.79 basis points to 1.362% and 1.31 basis points to 1.5257%, respectively [11][5] - The bond market's upward momentum is limited due to ongoing fiscal policies aimed at stabilizing growth, maintaining a fluctuating interest rate environment [5][11] Precious Metals - London spot precious metals saw a significant decline, influenced by geopolitical shifts, particularly Russia's potential return to the dollar settlement system [12] - Concerns over market liquidity were heightened following a drop in US stocks, leading to increased volatility in precious metals [12] - The current trend in precious metals remains unclear, with recommendations for light positions during the holiday period, focusing more on gold performance [12]

Upgrades - Fastly (FSLY) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform due to a "stellar" quarter driven by rising contribution from agentic AI traffic [2] - MercadoLibre (MELI) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral with a price target increase to $2,800 from $2,650, citing valuation after recent underperformance [2] - Analog Devices (ADI) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target increase to $375 from $315, highlighting strong correlation between sales growth and the Purchasing Managers' Index [3] - BorgWarner (BWA) upgraded to Buy from Hold with a price target increase to $82 from $46, noting a pivotal shift with the company's entrance into the AI data center market [3] - Shopify (SHOP) upgraded to Buy from Hold with an unchanged price target of $159, citing valuation and strong quarter performance [3] - Shopify also upgraded to Outperform from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $150 [3] Downgrades - Coinbase (COIN) downgraded to Sell from Buy with a price target of $120, as estimates are cut ahead of the Q4 report, modeling softness through the first half of 2026 [4] - Kraft Heinz (KHC) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral with a price target decrease to $22 from $24, despite a Q4 beat, due to below consensus growth and earnings outlooks for 2026 [4] - Icon (ICLR) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral with a price target decrease to $75 from $195, following an internal board investigation into accounting practices [4] - Inspire Medical (INSP) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight with a price target decrease to $70 from $145, citing uncertainty about physician reimbursement [4] - Humana (HUM) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform with a price target decrease to $189 from $322, indicating a balanced risk/reward setup in an uncertain reimbursement backdrop [4]

Core Insights - PZ Cussons reported a strong financial performance in the first half of the financial year 2026, with broad-based revenue growth and improved operating profit, leading to an increase in adjusted profit before tax to GBP 30 million from GBP 20 million [1][4] Financial Performance - Adjusted operating profit rose to GBP 36 million from GBP 27 million, with an adjusted operating margin improvement of 240 basis points [2] - Like-for-like revenue increased by 9.5% to GBP 269 million, up from GBP 249 million in the prior-year period [3] - The company raised full-year adjusted operating profit guidance to GBP 53 million to GBP 57 million, up from GBP 50 million to GBP 55 million [16] Regional Performance - Revenue in Africa increased to GBP 79 million, with like-for-like growth of 28%, driven by pricing and volume recovery [9] - In the UK, revenue growth was supported by strong performance in gifting, particularly from the Sanctuary Spa brand, which grew 30% during the Christmas period [7] - APAC revenue was GBP 88 million, reflecting a 5.2% like-for-like growth, while the Americas business achieved its third consecutive quarter of revenue growth [8] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - The balance sheet improved significantly, with net debt reduced to GBP 84 million, and leverage below 1x under new capital allocation guidelines [6][14] - Free cash flow for the half was GBP 23 million, with seasonal working capital outflows noted [13] Marketing and Strategic Initiatives - The company plans to increase marketing spend in the second half, the highest in 4-5 years, which is expected to impact profitability [5][18] - Management is focused on reducing sensitivity to foreign exchange fluctuations in Nigeria through recapitalization efforts [11] Dividend and Shareholder Returns - The interim dividend remains unchanged at GBP 0.05 per share, reflecting a cautious approach given the outlook for full-year earnings [17]

Company Overview - Robinhood's fourth quarter revenue missed expectations, leading to an almost 8% decline in after-hours trading [1] - The stock was already down about 40% from its all-time high in October, raising concerns about its performance during the current crypto downturn [4] Financial Performance - Key metrics showed deceleration, particularly in net deposit growth, which continued to decline into January [2] - Despite the topline miss, management's commentary on future business growth and transaction volumes was constructive, indicating a decent outlook [3] Crypto Market Impact - Crypto revenue has decreased from over 20% to an expected near 10% of total business, with a potential 50% haircut to current trading volumes during a crypto winter [6] - This scenario would only result in a manageable 10% hit to Robinhood's EBITDA [6] Business Diversification - Robinhood is better positioned during the current crypto downturn due to its diversified product lineup, including a significant increase in net interest income and new offerings like retirement accounts and banking products [9][10] - The company is evolving into a more comprehensive financial app, which enhances its resilience compared to previous downturns [8] Options Trading Growth - Options trading, which constitutes about 25% of Robinhood's revenue, is expected to see significant growth, potentially up to 40% due to increased penetration and new product offerings [12][14] - The options market is less cyclical, allowing for trading in both up and down markets, which supports long-term growth for Robinhood [13] Prediction Markets - Robinhood's entry into prediction markets is seen as a potential growth area, leveraging its strong distribution capabilities despite increasing competition [15] - The company has announced a partnership that enhances its control over economics and product innovation in this space [16]

Core Insights - Qianwen App has seen a significant increase in AI shopping order volume following the launch of its "Free Order Card" on February 6, 2023, indicating a growing user preference for AI-assisted shopping [1] - The app facilitated the purchase of 3 tons of blueberries and over 80,000 jin (approximately 40 tons) of Northeast rice in just one day, showcasing its rapid adoption in the market [1] - The "30 Billion New Year Free Order" campaign has gone viral on social media, with users sharing their experiences of purchasing various goods using the app, particularly in county-level markets [1] User Engagement - Users are increasingly engaging in bulk purchasing, with many collecting 21 Free Order Cards to maximize their shopping experience, leading to a substantial rise in multi-category orders [1] - Popular items include 110,000 boxes of Wangzai milk, 120,000 bars of Dove chocolate, and 100,000 packs of tissue paper sold in a single day, reflecting strong demand for everyday products [1] Operational Efficiency - The app allows users to place orders simply by stating their needs, such as "help me buy Xinjiang milk," with delivery times as fast as 30 minutes, enhancing user convenience [1] - The official reminders from Qianwen App emphasize that the Free Order Card can be used for a variety of products beyond just milk tea, improving the overall shopping experience during peak order times [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses five stocks and ETFs that may be attractive to investors seeking defensive positions amid ongoing market volatility, emphasizing sectors that historically perform well during downturns [1][30]. Group 1: Market Conditions - Lingering tariff concerns, a weakening U.S. dollar, and a significant correction in cryptocurrency markets have contributed to risk-off behavior among investors, with Bitcoin falling nearly 40% from last year's highs [2]. - The tech sector has been a major driver of market turbulence, with tech stocks, particularly software, facing challenges due to stretched valuations and heavy capital spending related to AI, leading to a nearly 22% decline in the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS: IGV) year-to-date [3][6]. Group 2: Defensive Sectors and ETFs - Defensive sectors such as healthcare and consumer staples are attracting capital as investors seek stability amid tech-led weakness and rising volatility [6][30]. - The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA: XLV) is highlighted for its defensive characteristics, offering exposure to essential healthcare services and a 1.6% dividend yield, with strong liquidity and institutional interest [7][9][11]. - The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA: XLP) provides exposure to companies producing everyday necessities, maintaining stable demand even during recessions, and has surged over 13% year-to-date [17][19]. Group 3: Individual Stocks - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is noted for its stability, with shares up almost 16% year-to-date and a diversified business model that ensures consistent demand across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products [13][15][16]. - Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is recognized for its defensive nature and strong performance, with a dividend yield of approximately 2.6% and a favorable analyst consensus rating, benefiting from consistent consumer demand for its products [20][23][24]. Group 4: Dividend-Focused Strategies - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEARCA: VYM) is presented as a strong option for investors seeking diversification and income, yielding 2.25% and outperforming the broader market with an 8% increase year-to-date [25][27][28]. - Dividend-focused strategies, including ETFs and individual stocks like JNJ and KO, are emphasized as effective ways to maintain equity exposure while providing downside protection during market volatility [30].

Group 1: Market Trends - Investors are shifting towards consumer staples as tech stocks face sell-offs and skepticism regarding AI capital expenditures [1][3][2] - The market is experiencing a rotation towards risk-off assets, with commodities and consumer staples becoming more attractive [3][2] Group 2: Company Performances - Proctor and Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) has seen a 13% increase in stock price over the last 30 days, driven by productivity savings and a technical breakout above the 200-day SMA [5][6] - Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (NASDAQ: REYN) reported a nearly 10% stock increase following Q4 2025 earnings, maintaining 21% adjusted EBITDA margins despite aluminum price increases [7][8] - Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) managed to limit revenue decline to nearly 10% YOY, with stock up over 15% since its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings release, aided by better-than-expected beer operating margins [10][11]