Stocks Retreat as Middle East Hostilities Return
I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.US stocks retreated sharply, with the Dow Jones dropping over 800 points amid rising Middle East tensions and President Trump's threat to strike Iran. Oil prices surged 7%, adding pressure. The market also anticipates the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Individual stocks varied: VF Corp sank 17.6% on poor earnings, GE HealthCare rose 12.2% on strong results, while Lemonade fell 25.5% despite beating revenue estimates due to weak guidance.
Stocks are swimming in red ink today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is down more than 800 points, set to snap its three-day win streak with its worst single-session drop since June 10. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are also sharply lower, after President Donald Trump promised to "hit Iran hard" following a surprise attack from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Oil prices are another headwind, with front-month West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude last seen up 7%. All eyes will soon be on the Federal Reserve, with the central bank's interest rate decision coming at 2 p.m. ET, followed by dot plot rhetoric from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
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- Don't look now, but Ford Motor stock is in rally mode.
- Plus, bears blast retailer; GE Healthcare breaks out; and an insurance stock sinks.
VF Corp (NYSE:VFC) stock is getting blitzed by options bears today. Over 45,000 puts have changed hands so far, volume that's 31 times the average intraday amount and triple the number of calls traded. The March 2027 14-strike put is getting the most attention, while the September 20 call is seeing new positions sold to open. VFC is down 17.6% to trade at $15.03, after the Vans parent reported a steeper-than-expected second quarter loss. The stock has ceded its year-to-date breakeven level and now trades at its lowest point since late November, breaching a familiar floor at $16.
GE HealthCare Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:GEHC) stock is pushing past the broad market selloff today, last seen up 12.2% to trade at $71.86. The company reported a second-quarter earnings and revenue beat thanks to a record surge in orders. GEHC has broken out of a three-month consolidation pattern and is heading for its highest close since late April, but remains 13% lower on the year.
Lemonade Inc (NYSE:LMND) stock is near the bottom of the Nasdaq today, last seen down 25.5% to trade at $46.22. The insurance company posted a second-quarter loss that was in line with estimates, while revenue topped forecasts. However, the full-year guidance seems to have let down investors. Lemonade stock is now 34% lower in 2026, and trading at its lowest point since August 2025.