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Wednesday, June 25

The U.S. stock markets are experiencing a period of consolidation following significant gains earlier in the week, driven by optimism surrounding a ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced by President Trump. The Nasdaq 100 reached record highs while the S&P 500 is close to its all-time peak; however, futures indicate little movement as investors await further economic data releases today.

In terms of macroeconomic indicators, recent reports show mixed signals regarding consumer confidence and housing market activity in the United States. Consumer confidence fell unexpectedly yesterday to 93 from an anticipated increase, which may influence future spending patterns and monetary policy decisions at the Federal Reserve (Fed).

Central bank policies remain pivotal amid these developments: Fed Chair Jerome Powell has reiterated that there is no immediate need for rate cuts despite pressure from political figures like Trump advocating for easing measures due to concerns over tariffs impacting inflation. Meanwhile, Japan’s Bank of Japan maintains a cautious stance with discussions around potential rate hikes tempered by uncertainties related to global trade dynamics influenced primarily by U.S.-China relations.

iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) [-0.8%, -7.6M]
The iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) has seen a daily return decrease of approximately 0.8%. This decline occurs amid a recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which has eased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and positively influenced global market sentiment. Notably, among EWG's holdings, SAP has contributed negatively to performance, while Deutsche Bank and Fresenius Medical Care also posted declines. In addition, the EUR/USD exchange rate has dropped slightly, which may be influencing EWG's movement given the historical correlation with European equities.

VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) [+0.6%]
The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) has seen a daily return increase of 0.67%. This uptick coincides with a broader rally in global equity markets following a ceasefire announcement between Israel and Iran, positively affecting technology stocks, particularly in the semiconductor sector. Notably, shares of Intel Corp rose significantly, reflecting the overall positive sentiment within the industry. Among the ETF's holdings, Nvidia (NVDA), Broadcom (AVGO), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Marvell Technology (MRVL) were key contributors to its performance, each registering gains that enhanced the ETF's overall return.

FDX | -4.8% | -2.6B
FedEx Corp | Air Freight & Logistics
FedEx Corp reported its fourth-quarter earnings on June 24, 2025, achieving an adjusted EPS of 6.07, surpassing analyst expectations of 5.87, with revenue reaching 22.2 billion, exceeding estimates of 21.84 billion. Despite this performance, the company projected first-quarter adjusted EPS between 3.40 and 4.00, below the consensus estimate of 4.15, and anticipated flat to 2% revenue growth. FedEx cited challenges in demand due to increased customer concerns and softened volume linked to tariff announcements. Following the earnings release, FedEx shares fell by 4.7% in after-hours trading, reflecting a cautious outlook amid ongoing uncertainties in the business environment.

GIS | -3.1% | -918.6M
General Mills Inc | Packaged Foods & Meats
General Mills reported a significant drop in Q4 profits, with net earnings attributable to the company at $294 million, down from $557.5 million the previous year. Q4 revenue reached $4.56 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $4.6 billion. For fiscal 2026, the company anticipates adjusted EPS to decline by 10% to 15% from $4.21, with organic net sales expected to fluctuate between a decrease of 1% and an increase of 1%. The firm indicated that divestitures and foreign currency exchange would likely reduce full-year net sales growth by approximately 4%. Additionally, General Mills plans to finalize the sale of its U.S. Yogurt business by the end of June 2025. Social media discussions noted a 3% decrease in organic net sales, which was worse than the estimated decline of 2.45%.

HOOD | +3.5% | +2.6B
Robinhood Markets Inc | Investment Banking & Brokerage
Robinhood Markets Inc. has announced enhancements to its platform, including the launch of a Crypto Deposit Match Program, which was reported approximately 12 hours and 50 minutes ago. This news coincided with a notable increase in its stock price, which surged at that time. Additionally, Cathie Wood's ARK ETF has purchased shares of Robinhood, reflecting institutional interest. Social media discussions revealed that Robinhood is reportedly back at all-time highs, with double the quarterly revenue and significant crypto deposits estimated around $4.4 million. These developments suggest increased trading activity and potential growth in customer engagement. The CEO, Vlad Tenev, remarked on the merging of traditional finance and crypto, hinting at strategic future directions for the company.

BB | +7.7% | +212.2M
BlackBerry Ltd | Systems Software
BlackBerry Ltd reported its first quarter fiscal year 2026 results on June 24, 2025, achieving an adjusted EPS of $0.02, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.00. Revenue for the quarter reached $121.7 million, exceeding expectations of $112.188 million. The company anticipates Q2 adjusted EPS in the range of $0.00 to $0.01 and revenue between $115 million and $125 million. BlackBerry reaffirmed its fiscal year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance at $0.08 to $0.10 and raised its revenue outlook to between $508 million and $538 million. Additionally, discussions on social media highlighted the company's selection by the German government for their Secure Communications platform, amidst rising concerns over data privacy. Following the earnings announcement, BlackBerry's stock price experienced a notable increase, reflecting the positive reception of its financial performance and guidance.

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