Stock Indexes Set Fresh Records on US-China Trade Optimism; Chipmaker Shares Surge

Robinhood Markets Stock Pops as It Brings Futures Trading to UK Market

9 minutes ago

Robinhood Markets (HOOD) was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 soon after markets opened Monday, with shares up 6%.

Shares popped after the company announced that it would be rolling out futures trading to eligible customers in the UK in coming weeks, with a $0.75 contract fee per trade. Customers will be able to trade on more than 40 CME Group (CME) futures products, including those on the S&P 500, oil, and gold.

“In the UK, futures trading has traditionally been seen as the preserve of institutional investors, with limited resources to help retail traders get started,” Robinhood UK president Jordan Sinclair said. “Today, we start changing that. We’re introducing futures trading in the UK with an intuitive mobile experience, smarter tools, education and insights and some of the lowest fees in the industry.”

 Robinhood shares have skyrocketed about 300% in 2025.

Carter’s Stock Drops on Weak Sales, Plan to Close Roughly 150 North American Stores

1 hr 2 min ago

Shares of Carter’s (CRI) sank 7% in premarket trading after the baby-apparel retailer reported weaker-than-expected third-quarter net sales and plans to close about 150 stores in North America.

The Atlanta-based firm reported sales of $757.8 million, down 0.1% year-over-year, when analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha expected a rise to $772.4 million. Adjusted earnings of $0.74 per share topped estimates of $0.63 per share.

CEO Douglas Palladini attributed the results in part to “elevated product costs, in part due to the impact of higher tariffs.”

Carter’s said it plans to shutter about 150 stores in North America over the next three years, up from its prior target of roughly 100 stores. “When considering sales transfer to nearby Carter’s stores and online and the elimination of fixed store expenses, the net impact of the closures is expected to be accretive to the Company’s profitability,” it said. The company also plans to lay off about 300 corporate positions, or 15%, by the end of this year.

Carter’s shares entered Monday down 40% this year.

Shares of US Rare-Earth Firms Sink Before Bell on Bessent Comments

2 hr 10 min ago

Shares of U.S. rare-earth producers dropped in premarket trading on comments by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that would delay export curbs of the minerals.

Critical Metals (CRML), USA Rare Earth (USAR), and MP Materials (MP) sank a respective 10%, 9%, and 6% before the bell after Bessent told ABC that “I believe they are going to delay that for a year while they re-examine it.”

The U.S. firms’ shares had soared earlier this month following Washington’s trade spat with Beijing. Rare-earth minerals are key to many high-tech industries, including chipmaking, and China is the top global producer. 

Entering Monday, shares of MP Materials, Critical Metals, and USA Rare Earth had skyrocketed about 350%, 120%, and 105%, respectively.

Stock Futures Rise on US-China Trade Optimism

2 hr 51 min ago

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6%.

S&P 500 futures advanced 0.9%.

Nasdaq 100 futures surged 1.3%.