Rivian Slumps on $1.7 Billion Offering, Fiserv Climbs on Debit-Network Sale Talks | MarketReader Minute

Global equity markets show mixed performance as U.S. trade deficit widens sharply to $77.6 billion, while Canada posts a surprising trade surplus amid rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions.

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Tuesday, July 07

Noteworthy macro moves today: Nasdaq 100 Index (US) -1.2%. Noteworthy US mega-cap moves today: Broadcom Inc (AVGO) -2.6%. Eli Lilly and Co (LLY) +2.1%. Visa Inc (V) -1.9%.

Global equity indices are trading generally flat, with mixed performance across regions. In the U.S., the Nasdaq 100 Index is down by 1.2%, while the Dow and Russell 2000 are higher, indicating a divergence in market sentiment, particularly within technology stocks following a significant pullback in shares of Samsung Electronics.

In economic news, the U.S. trade deficit widened sharply to $77.6 billion in May from a revised $54.6 billion in April, as imports surged by 3.3% to $395.3 billion while exports fell by 3.2% to $317.68 billion, reflecting ongoing challenges in international trade dynamics amid rising import reliance.

Canada reported a trade surplus of C$4.24 billion for May, exceeding expectations and marking its third consecutive positive balance in trade as exports rose by 0.9% to a record high of C$77.1 billion despite a slight decline in imports.

In Europe, mixed trading continues with the DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 lower amid concerns over Middle East tensions following missile strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which have contributed to rising oil prices and increased bond yields.

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) [-3.8%]
The South Korean stock market, represented by the KOSPI index, has declined significantly, falling 6.3% amid concerns over high valuations in AI-linked technology stocks and geopolitical tensions following missile strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This downturn is likely contributing to the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF's current decline of 3.82%. Notably, while Samsung reported strong second-quarter profits, its shares fell sharply due to investor skepticism regarding future earnings sustainability amidst rising capital expenditures and competitive pressures in the tech sector. In pre-market hours, the ETF is trading lower, reflecting broader negative sentiment and a challenging performance backdrop, with prices near the lower end of its one-month trading range.

VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) [-3.5%]
Asian stock markets faced significant declines today, particularly in South Korea, where the KOSPI index dropped nearly 5%. This was driven by concerns regarding the sustainability of AI chip stocks amid rising capital expenditures. Additionally, tensions in the Middle East, following Iranian missile strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, have led to increased oil prices and affected global financial markets due to fears of potential energy supply disruptions. As a result, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF is trading lower in pre-market hours, reflecting a decline of approximately 3.5% since Monday's close. Notably, major holdings such as NVIDIA and Applied Materials contributed negatively to the ETF's performance, with returns of -1.65% and -6.52%, respectively.

ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO) [-2.7%]
Pre-market trading for ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF has seen a notable decline, reflecting broader market trends. Asian stock markets have experienced significant drops, particularly in the tech sector, with the Nikkei falling 2.12% and Seoul's Kospi index dropping nearly 5%. This weakness in technology could adversely affect ROBO, which focuses on robotics and automation companies. Additionally, geopolitical tensions have escalated, further impacting global financial markets. Among ROBO's holdings, several companies reported substantial declines, with TER down 5.44% and FANUY down 7.13%. The Nasdaq 100 Index also declined by 1.21%, indicating a correlation with ROBO's movement, which is lower since Monday's close.

AMD | -4.2% | -35.8B
Advanced Micro Devices Inc | Information Technology

Advanced Micro Devices Inc is experiencing a decline in pre-market trading, influenced by significant downward movement in the broader Semiconductors sub-sector. Notably, AMD's shares have been affected by a recent put option transaction that realized substantial gains, indicating bearish sentiment among some investors. Additionally, competitive pressures are mounting as Nvidia has denied delays in its AI server platform, which may intensify competition for AMD in that market. The Nasdaq 100 Index's decline further aligns with AMD's lower price movement, reflecting a broader market trend. Despite these challenges, AMD has made strategic moves, including a partnership with Turing Inc. to advance in self-driving technology, which could enhance its position in the growing autonomous vehicle sector.

NET | +3.1% | +2.7B
Cloudflare Inc | Information Technology

Scotiabank upgraded Cloudflare Inc from Sector Perform to Sector Outperform and raised its price target to $300 from $225, citing increased adoption of the company's Workers platform for AI-powered application development. This upgrade has positively influenced pre-market trading, where Cloudflare shares are gaining. The stock's upward momentum is also supported by a broader interest in artificial intelligence stocks amid fluctuating U.S. stock futures. Earlier in the session, shares peaked with a notable gain before pulling back slightly.

RIVN | -11.2% | -2.0B
Rivian Automotive Inc | Consumer Discretionary

Rivian Automotive Inc's stock is sharply lower in pre-market trading following the announcement of a public offering of 75 million shares, with an additional 11.25 million shares available to underwriters. The offering aims to raise approximately $1.7 billion for general corporate purposes, raising concerns about potential stock dilution among investors. This news overshadowed Rivian's positive preliminary delivery figures, where it reported exceeding its own vehicle delivery guidance. Despite projecting Q2 revenue between $1.55 billion and $1.65 billion, the market reaction has been negative, with shares reportedly dropping significantly. The company is set to report its second-quarter financial results on July 30.

FISV | +5.2% | +1.7B
Fiserv Inc | Financials

Fiserv shares have risen in pre-market trading following reports that major banks, including JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and PNC, are in discussions to acquire a debit card network owned by the company. The Wall Street Journal noted that this potential acquisition could allow the banks to bypass federal debit-card fee caps. A Reuters report confirmed that Fiserv is exploring the sale of this network, which includes the STAR and Accel networks that process debit transactions. This interest follows Capital One's recent acquisition of Discover, which provided it control over its own card network. However, some banks are reportedly cautious due to potential backlash from lawmakers, regulators, and merchants.

KC | +3.3% | +1.2B
Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd | Information Technology

Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd with an Overweight rating and a price target of $15, which is likely contributing to positive investor sentiment as the stock trades higher in pre-market hours. The firm reiterated its bullish stance in a subsequent report, further solidifying its outlook on the company. Analysts described Kingsoft Cloud as a "pure and elastic AI cloud play," highlighting it as a preferred name within the Greater China IT sector. This positive assessment appears to be driving demand, resulting in a notable increase in pre-market trading activity.

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