Norway stocks lower at close of trade; Oslo OBX down 0.68%

Investing.com – Israel stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Insurance, Financials and Banking sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tel Aviv, the TA 35 added 1.00% to hit a new all time high.

The best performers of the session on the TA 35 were Tower Semiconductor Ltd (TASE:TSEM), which rose 3.81% or 1,500.00 points to trade at 40,820.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Migdal Insurance (TASE:MGDL) added 3.25% or 47.00 points to end at 1,491.00 and Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd (TASE:CLIS) was up 3.16% or 650.00 points to 21,250.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were ICL Israel Chemicals Ltd (TASE:ICL), which fell 2.39% or 39.00 points to trade at 1,590.00 at the close. Newmed Energy LP (TASE:NWMDp) declined 2.28% or 39.00 points to end at 1,671.00 and Melisron (TASE:MLSR) was down 2.14% or 860.00 points to 39,400.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange by 289 to 186 and 73 ended unchanged.

Shares in Tower Semiconductor Ltd (TASE:TSEM) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 3.81% or 1,500.00 to 40,820.00. Shares in ICL Israel Chemicals Ltd (TASE:ICL) fell to 52-week lows; falling 2.39% or 39.00 to 1,590.00. Shares in Migdal Insurance (TASE:MGDL) rose to all time highs; gaining 3.25% or 47.00 to 1,491.00. Shares in Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd (TASE:CLIS) rose to all time highs; up 3.16% or 650.00 to 21,250.00.

Crude oil for January delivery was down 0.81% or 0.47 to $57.78 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February fell 0.79% or 0.49 to hit $61.45 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.41% or 17.35 to trade at $4,218.85 a troy ounce.

USD/ILS was up 0.38% to 3.24, while EUR/ILS rose 0.47% to 3.77.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.10% at 99.10.

Investing.com -- Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) continues to struggle despite implementing two major restructuring programs, according to a newsletter released Wednesday by J Capital Research.

The activist research firm, which describes itself as a "short- and long-research shop publishing investigative reports on publicly traded companies," warned investors against the auto parts retailer, noting that AAP has managed to address liquidity constraints in 2025 by raising cash, extending debt maturities, selling assets, and streamlining operations.

However, J Capital suggested these measures have nearly exhausted the company’s options. The report highlighted AAP’s declining market share and poor performance compared to competitors, with sales decreasing despite the restructuring efforts.

The research firm pointed out that AAP’s effective debt might be higher than it appears, as most of its accounts payable represent debts to banks through supplier factoring. Net interest payments on its bonds are already high and expected to increase further, with J Capital suspecting the company may be paying elevated but hidden rates to finance inventory.

J Capital warned that if banks become less willing to extend supplier credit on competitive terms, AAP might face difficulties purchasing inventory, further compounding its problems.

The newsletter identified AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) and O’Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ:ORLY) as AAP’s main competitors, noting that while all three companies carry significant debt, AZO and ORLY have stronger debt servicing capabilities due to better profitability. J Capital concluded that AAP is "the one to avoid."

AAP stock remains relatively flat despite the cautious report.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Wednesday’s market has seen swings in various stocks based on news and other factors. Today, stocks like Pepsico and EchoStar are rallying, while stocks like Microsoft and AeroVironment are falling. Below are highlights of some of the biggest stock movers, from mega-caps to small caps.

Mega-Cap Movers ($200B+ Market Cap)

• Palantir Technologies Inc (PLTR); U.S. Navy partners with Palantir on $448 million ShipOS initiative: +2.42%
• Pepsico (PEP); Pepsico stock rating upgraded by JPMorgan on innovation and productivity: +2.42%
• Alibaba-exch (BABA); ByteDance, Alibaba keen to order Nvidia H200 chips after Trump green light - Reuters: +2.35%
• Microsoft Corp (MSFT): -2.35%

Large-Cap Stock Movers ($10B-$200B Market Cap)

• GE Vernova LLC (GEV); GE Vernova stock upgraded to Outperform by Oppenheimer on AI infrastructure potential: +11.38%
• EchoStar Corp (SATS); Morgan Stanley upgrades Echostar stock to Overweight on spectrum value: +5.62%
• Ally Financ (ALLY); Ally Financial announces $2 billion share repurchase program: +4.82%
• Bloom Energy Corp (BE): -7.43%
• Maplebear (CART): -6.6%
• GameStop Corp (GME): -5.74%
• Venture Global Inc (VG); Venture Global subsidiary closes $3 billion senior secured notes offering: -5.19%
• MercadoLibre (MELI): -4.66%
• AeroVironment (AVAV); AeroVironment shares slide 6% as Q2 earnings miss overshadows revenue beat: -10.69%
• Polestar Automotive Holding Plc (PSNY): -20.18%

Mid-Cap Stock Movers ($2B-$10B Market Cap)

• Braze (BRZE); Braze spikes 7% on strong Q3 revenue growth, upbeat FY guidance: +16.87%
• Warby Parker (WRBY): +11.06%
• Dynergy (DYN); Dyne Therapeutics prices upsized public offering at $18.44 per share: +10.39%
• Americold Realty Trust (COLD): +7.11%
• John Bean Technologies Corp (JBTM); JBT Marel stock rating upgraded by Jefferies on strong growth outlook: +6.42%
• Terns Pharmaceuticals (TERN); Terns Pharmaceuticals prices upsized $650 million public offering: +8.73%
• Olema Pharmaceuticals Inc (OLMA): +8.17%
• Wave Life Sciences Ltd (WVE); Wave Life Sciences prices public offering at $19 per share: -8.68%
• Nuscale Power (SMR): -5.92%
• Transocean Ltd (RIG): -5.84%

Small-Cap Stock Movers ($300M-$2B Market Cap)

• Photronics (PLAB); Photronics shares soar 15% as Q4 results beat expectations: +43.3%
• Dave & Busters Entertainment (PLAY); Dave & Buster’s shares lose 5% as on wider-than-expected Q3 loss, revenue miss: +16.94%
• Daktronics (DAKT); Daktronics shares soar 8% as Q2 earnings beat expectations: +14.41%
• Khosla Ventures Acquisition Co II (NXDR): +13.68%
• Junee (SUPX): +12.8%
• Destiny Tech100 (DXYZ): +10.56%
• DSW Inc (DBI): +9.17%
• Aimei Health Tech (AFJK): -48.59%
• Broadstone Acquisition (EVTL): -14.84%
• Pepco Holdings Inc-Exch (POM): -77.12%

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This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- Rheinmetall AG (ETR:RHMG) Chief Executive Officer Armin Papperger is making renewed efforts to acquire part of rival KNDS NV to create a European land defense champion, according to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Papperger has recently discussed investment options with German politicians and representatives of state-owned development bank KfW about bringing the two tankmakers closer together, the sources said.

The CEO is exploring several possibilities, including purchasing a significant stake in KNDS from the German family that currently owns 50% of the company. The other half of KNDS is owned by the French state. Rheinmetall has also expressed interest in acquiring KNDS’s German operations, which merged with France’s Nexter about a decade ago to form KNDS but have reportedly struggled with integration issues.

The German unit, formerly known as Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, currently makes up the majority of KNDS’s business, according to the sources.

Any potential investment by Rheinmetall in KNDS would likely face resistance from KNDS itself and the French government, which maintains decision-making authority in corporate and ownership matters, the sources added.

The proposed deal aims to consolidate Europe’s fragmented defense market through the combination of two major tankmakers. Rheinmetall AG stock is down 3.4% in European trading following the news, as investors discern the costs of such a deal.

Investing.com -- Boeing is entering 2026 with improving execution, accelerating production, and a multiyear free-cash-flow ramp that TD Cowen believes the market is still underestimating.

Analyst Gautam Khanna named Boeing one of the firm’s Best Ideas for 2026 in a note Wednesday, reiterating a Buy rating and a $240 price target.

TD Cowen said it favours Boeing because of its “ramping plane production cadence, FCF growth over the next 3+ years, associated de-leverage, & mixed investor sentiment that can improve.”

Khanna argued that aerospace original equipment remains “a rare, long-cycle, visible growth, industrial vertical,” supported by years of undersupply.

As demand eventually shifts away from the aftermarket toward new aircraft, TD Cowen believes Boeing is positioned to benefit.

The firm said Boeing’s execution “has turned the corner,” noting that performance on the 737 and 787 programmes now offers an “extended runway.”

TD Cowen models free cash flow of $2.8 billion in 2026, rising to $7.7 billion in 2027 and $11.7 billion in 2028, excluding Spirit AeroSystems following its December 8 closing.

Khanna said what the market may be missing is the “direction & magnitude of BA’s FCF growth potential,” calling the path to more than $11.5 billion in free cash flow by 2028 “believable” due to CEO Kelly Ortberg’s “operational reset.”

TD Cowen added that most cash outflows tied to Boeing Defense’s $3 billion in charges “should end in C26,” with deferred production balances implying materially higher free-cash-flow margins on the 787 and 737 by 2027.

Key catalysts are said to include rate hikes on the 737 and 787, certification milestones for the 777X and 737-7/10, and improving margins at Boeing Defense.

Investing.com -- Amazon likely delivered “robust” Black Friday and Cyber Monday performance in North America, setting the company up for a strong fourth quarter, according to HSBC.

Analyst Paul Rossington said he expects the peak shopping period to “support Q4 company guidance,” citing record U.S. e-commerce spending and Amazon’s broad operational advantages.

HSBC highlighted Adobe data showing U.S. online sales during Cyber Week rose 7.7% to a record $44.2 billion, with double-digit discounts boosting demand across major categories.

Rossington said HSBC anticipates Amazon “will have taken share during the peak trading season” thanks to “a strong campaign, extension of same-day / next-day delivery options, expansion into grocery and essential items, and logistics cost savings.”

He added that high-frequency U.S. consumer data and positive updates from peers such as Walmart and Dollar General offer further support.

Beyond retail, HSBC pointed to a renewed acceleration at Amazon Web Services. AWS growth reaccelerated to 20.2% year-on-year in Q3, and management indicated the pace was sustainable “for a while.”

The cloud unit’s order backlog climbed to about $200 billion, up 22% year-on-year, even before several large October deals were included.

HSBC said Amazon’s Q4 guidance “leaves upside risk,” noting the company has beaten the top end of its guidance range for 11 consecutive quarters.

The bank reiterated a Buy rating and $300 price target on Amazon shares, arguing the recent pullback now implies “32% upside.”