4:07pm: Stocks stall
Stocks were little changed at Monday’s closing bell as investors held off making any big moves until Fed chair Jerome Powell’s comments at the Jackson Hole symposium later this week.
The Dow Jones was down 0.1% at 44,912 points, while the S&P 500 closed just below the flatline at 6,449 points. The Nasdaq added 6 points at 21,629 points.
3:33pm: Proactive news headlines
- Pantheon Resources shares gained more than 20% in Monday's exchanges after it reported that its Dubhe-1 appraisal well on Alaska's North Slope exceeded pre-drill expectations in the primary SMD-B target.
- C3 Metals announced that it has obtained all regulatory approvals required to begin exploration drilling at its 100%-owned Khaleesi copper-gold project in Peru.
- GoviEx Uranium has announced a reverse takeover of Tombador Iron, paving the way for an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listing and a strengthened cash position of up to A$24.4 million.
- Zynex, a medical technology company specializing in non-invasive devices for pain management, rehabilitation, and patient monitoring, announced the arrival of Steven Dyson as its new CEO, along with the appointment of several senior leaders.
- NanoViricides said on Monday that its experimental broad-spectrum antiviral drug NV-387, now advancing into Phase II clinical trials, may help lower the risk of metastatic cancer returning in patients following viral infections.
- Ocean Power Technologies announced it has opened a new office at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) headquarters in Washington, DC, expanding its US presence and strengthening ties with the uncrewed systems industry.
- Empire Metals shares soared in Monday's trade after the firm told investors it has outlined a large, high-grade titanium dioxide zone at the Thomas prospect, part of its Pitfield Project in Western Australia, where it has seen some of the strongest grades to date.
- Sonoro Gold announced that it has received final acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange for its surface rights lease agreement covering the Cerro Caliche gold project located in Sonora, Mexico.
- Happy Creek Minerals said on Monday it had closed an over-subscribed C$3.75 million private placement, with institutional investors including funds managed by Waratah Capital Advisors taking part.
- Thor Explorations told investors it has unearthed high-grade gold intersects from a deep diamond drilling program at the Segilola gold mine in Nigeria.
- American Rare Earths, through its subsidiary Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc., has begun construction of a test mine at the Cowboy State Mine, part of the Halleck Creek deposit in Wyoming.
2:25pm: Stocks on the move
The Trump administration is reportedly in talks to acquire a roughly 10% stake in Intel, a holding worth about $10 billion that would make the U.S. government its largest shareholder.
Soho House has agreed to a $2.7 billion deal to go private, with investors led by MCR Hotels CEO Tyler Morse acquiring shares not held by certain major shareholders.
Novo Nordisk said U.S. patients can now access its diabetes drug Ozempic for $499 a month through multiple platforms, broadening availability to those without insurance.
C3 Metals has secured all regulatory approvals needed to begin exploration drilling at its 100%-owned Khaleesi copper-gold project in Peru.
Zynex appointed Steven Dyson as its new CEO and announced additional senior leadership hires following a planned transition with board chairman Thomas Sandgaard.
1:30pm: Intel faces US stake
The Trump administration is reportedly in discussions to acquire a roughly 10% stake in Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC, ETR:INL), a move that could make the US government the chipmaker’s largest shareholder, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.
A 10% holding in the American semiconductor giant would be worth around $10 billion.
The discussions involve converting funds allocated under the CHIPS Act into equity in Intel, according to the report.
Shares of Intel fell more than 4% on Monday afternoon, reaching $23.59.
12:55pm: Soho House going private
Soho House (NYSE:SHCO) has agreed to a $2.7 billion deal to return to private ownership, four years after the global network of private members’ clubs went public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Under the terms of the agreement, a group of investors led by US-based MCR Hotels and its chairman and CEO Tyler Morse will acquire outstanding shares not held by certain major shareholders.
The chain is known for catering to creative professionals and celebrity clientele, with annual membership fees reaching up to £2,920 for access across all properties.
Shares of Soho House surged almost 16% on the announcement.
12:15pm: Core PCE expected rise
Next week’s economic calendar will offer fresh insights into the U.S. economy, with UBS highlighting several key data points.
“The Q2 advance quarterly services survey next week could offer an update on the service sector's contribution to Q2 GDP growth,” UBS analysts noted.
Investors will also watch the July FOMC meeting minutes for discussions between members who favored a rate cut and those who voted to keep policy unchanged.
In the following week, July durable goods orders, along with trade and inventory data, may influence expectations for the second Q2 GDP release, which currently looks likely to see little revision. Core PCE prices for July are expected to have risen 0.28%.
11:10am: Housing market index edges down
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) housing market index fell to 32 in August, below expectations of 34.
The latest monthly data is a slight decline from July’s 33, reflecting ongoing caution among homebuilders.
10:30am: Week ahead
US markets are bracing for a week that could set the tone for the final stretch of summer, with investors weighing a mix of Federal Reserve signals, geopolitical developments, and corporate earnings.
Attention is squarely on the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium, where Chair Jerome Powell is expected to outline the case for a September rate cut following weaker US data.
While the official theme is labor markets, investors are focused on any hints of the Fed’s policy direction.
“In the US, indices hover near record highs as markets expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates at its September meeting — potentially even by 50bp under political pressure from the White House,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. “While the official theme is labour markets, investors will scrutinize any hint of September policy direction, especially after last week’s mixed inflation data.”
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9:50am: Muted start
US stocks barely budged in early trading Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average inching up 21 points to 44,967, while the S&P 500 was unchanged at 6,450 and the Nasdaq slipped 11 points to 21,612. The Russell 2000 added just 1 point.
Traders are already looking past the muted open to the main event of the week: the Jackson Hole Symposium in Wyoming. “All eyes, though, will be on Wyoming as we progress through the week, and the Jackson Hole Symposium gets underway,” said Michael Brown, senior research analyst at Pepperstone. “Not only will participants be focused on whether Fed Chair Powell leans into the possibility of a September rate cut, but remarks from BoE Governor Bailey, and ECB President Lagarde, among others, will also be closely watched.”
On the data front, flash PMIs are due, though they may only reinforce the picture of a still-struggling global manufacturing sector propped up by services.
Corporate earnings will add another layer, with retail giants Home Depot, Target, and Walmart set to report, offering fresh insight into how tariffs are affecting the sector.
In premarket action, solar stocks extended last week’s surge after the Trump administration clarified tax-credit eligibility rules that proved less restrictive than feared. Sunrun has now soared 38% since Friday, while SolarEdge has jumped 19% and both First Solar and Enphase Energy are up more than 10%.
Pharma is also in focus, with US-listed shares of Novo Nordisk climbing after a boost for its flagship weight-loss drug Wegovy. Reports suggest Novo may hold off on raising prices for next year’s pill-based versions of its injections, a move that comes as President Trump pressures drugmakers to cut prices.
8:45am: Geopolitics, Fed in focus
Stock futures leaned lower early Monday as investors braced for a week where geopolitics could set the tone.
S&P 500 futures slipped about 0.1%, Dow futures hovered near flat, and contracts on the Nasdaq 100 edged down nearly 0.2%.
The cautious start comes after the major indexes notched a second straight winning week, with traders now weighing both international risks and central bank signals.
The big story today is Washington, where Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders are sitting down with Donald Trump just days after his summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Investors are watching closely for any movement on a peace plan — and what it could mean for US foreign policy, defense spending, and global markets.
According to reports, Putin’s proposal involves Kyiv ceding the rest of the Donbas region, recognizing Russia’s claim over Crimea, and ruling out NATO membership in exchange for a freeze on fighting in parts of southern Ukraine and the return of some occupied territory. Trump has pushed Zelenskyy to accept a deal, while Zelenskyy has insisted that any agreement must be “lasting,” not just another prelude to conflict.
That geopolitical backdrop adds another layer of uncertainty ahead of a Fed speech later this week, which could clarify how policymakers see the path for interest rates after recent signs of cooling inflation.
On the economic front, Monday’s calendar is light, with the home builder confidence index due at 10 AM ET.
Palo Alto reports after the bell Monday.