Vicor Surges on Raised Revenue Guide, Paramount Skydance Gains After Warner Bros. Discovery Settlement | MarketReader Minute
Global equity markets rise on strong U.S. tech performance and positive UK economic data, while investors await key U.S.-China summit.
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Below are AI-generated insights on today's premarket moves, powered by MarketReader technology.

Tuesday, September 22
Noteworthy macro moves today: Hang Seng 50 Index (China) +1.5%. IBEX 35 Index (Spain) +2.0%. Noteworthy US mega-cap moves today: Tencent Holdings Ltd (TCEHY) +3.3%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSM) -1.8%. Alphabet Inc (GOOGM) +1.4%.
Global equity indices are trading higher, with notable gains across regions despite the closure of cash markets in Japan for Respect for the Aged Day. U.S. stocks are benefiting from a positive sentiment following Monday's strong performance, where the Nasdaq surged to a record high amid optimism surrounding AI-driven earnings growth and lower Treasury yields.
In the United Kingdom, two significant economic data releases occurred today: the CBI Industrial Trends Orders showed an improvement to -9 in September from -25 in August, beating expectations of -34. Additionally, public sector net borrowing was reported at £-18.3 billion for August, exceeding forecasts of £-15.7 billion and marking one of the highest borrowings for that month on record.
The market is also focused on upcoming geopolitical events, particularly the anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. Analysts suggest that while no major breakthroughs are expected from this meeting, any progress towards extending trade agreements could positively influence market sentiment.
Asian markets are reflecting a generally positive tone as well, with significant movements noted in tech stocks following Wall Street's rally. The Hang Seng Index rose by 1.5%, while other regional indices also posted gains amid easing concerns over inflation due to falling oil prices.

United States Oil Fund LP (USO) [-2.4%]
Concerns over oil supply have intensified following Saudi Arabia's decision to restart its east-west oil pipeline, as reported early Tuesday. This development coincided with a report indicating that Iran may reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. eases military pressure. Amid these geopolitical tensions, WTI crude prices fell significantly, marking a notable decline and extending a streak of six consecutive sessions that have finished lower. In pre-market trading, the United States Oil Fund LP is also experiencing a decline, reflecting the broader downward trend in crude oil markets.
State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) [+1.2%]
Costco Wholesale Corp is expected to announce its Q4 earnings soon, contributing to gains in key holdings such as Monster Beverage Corp, Coca-Cola Co, and Kimberly-Clark Corp. The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF is advancing in pre-market hours. The broader U.S. stock markets are also showing strength, with the Dow rising significantly and NASDAQ reaching a record high, driven by lower Treasury yields and easing inflation concerns amid declining oil prices.
iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ) [-1.1%]
The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF is declining in pre-market trading, driven by notable drops in key holdings including Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras, Vale SA, and Aura Minerals Inc. The declines in Petrobras and Vale followed a downward trend in the integrated oil and gas sector amid a strengthening U.S. dollar and geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices. Aura Minerals also fell as gold prices dropped, influenced by signals from Federal Reserve policymakers regarding potential rate hikes. The fund's performance reflects these macroeconomic factors impacting commodity prices. Overall, the asset is trading lower, having reached its lowest cumulative return for the day.

SOFI | +7.0% | +1.6B
SoFi Technologies Inc | Financials
SoFi Technologies Inc has launched stablecoin settlement using SoFiUSD on Mastercard’s global payments network, migrating its entire $25 billion card program to utilize stablecoin for transaction settlements. This initiative aims to enhance settlement and liquidity management for card issuers and merchants while promoting the adoption of bank-issued stablecoins in payments. The transactions are now live on the blockchain, marking a significant step in integrating traditional financial systems with blockchain technology. In pre-market hours, SoFi's stock is trading higher since Monday's close, recovering from an earlier low during the session.
VICR | +9.3% | +1.0B
Vicor Corp | Industrials
Vicor Corporation's stock is advancing sharply in pre-market trading following the company's announcement of an increase in its Q3 2026 revenue guidance from nearly 10% to over 20%. This revision is driven by royalties from a non-exclusive license to its Vertical Power Delivery technology, with projected revenues around $172 million, surpassing the FactSet consensus of $158.20 million. Additionally, Needham reiterated a Buy rating on Vicor, maintaining a price target of $320, further enhancing positive investor sentiment. The company has gained significantly year-to-date.
GRAB | +5.3% | +0.7B
Grab Holdings Ltd | Industrials
Grab Holdings Ltd saw a notable pre-market rise following CEO Anthony Tan's disclosure of purchasing 10.4 million shares for approximately $29.9 million on September 21, as detailed in a regulatory filing. This marks Tan's first open market purchase since the company's IPO, reversing a trend of net selling. The acquisition, which significantly increased his stake in the company, has been positively received by market participants. Additionally, Grab's President & COO Alexander Hungate also bought shares worth about $867k at the same average price. Social media commentary highlights this insider buying as a strong signal of confidence in Grab amidst broader market challenges. In pre-market trading, the stock is advancing sharply since Monday's close.
GME | +4.0% | +0.4B
GameStop Corp | Consumer Discretionary
GameStop Corp's stock is advancing in pre-market trading, driven by notable insider buying activity. Director Alain Attal purchased 17.5k shares at approximately $22.97 each on September 21. This follows a significant acquisition by CEO Ryan Cohen, who acquired 1.15 million shares for about $26.4 million on the same day, raising his total holdings to over 40 million shares. Such substantial insider transactions often indicate confidence in the company's future prospects. Both purchases were disclosed in filings made public today. Earlier in the session, shares pulled back from a session high, but the overall trend remains positive as the market prepares to open.
PSKY | +2.8% | +0.3B
Paramount Skydance Corp | Communication Services
Paramount Skydance Corp's shares are advancing in pre-market trading following an upgrade from Morgan Stanley, which maintained an Overweight rating and raised its price target to $11.50. Additionally, Citizens has noted that the company settled an antitrust lawsuit with several states, allowing its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to proceed. This settlement requires Paramount to invest $1.5 billion in domestic film production and produce a specified number of films annually over the next five years. The positive developments come after the company faced significant legal challenges regarding the merger.
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