The greenback slumped this week as traders unwound bullish bets. Almost every major currency gained against the dollar this month amid hopes for an end to the Iran conflict. The FT reports that oil markets have lost a billion barrels due to the war, according to Vitol's boss. Energy traders warn of unprecedented hits to global energy supplies.
American Airlines slashed its 2026 earnings guidance dramatically. The company lowered its adjusted EPS forecast from $1.70-$2.70 to -$0.40-$1.10, well below estimates. This sharp reversal signals continued pressure on the airline sector.
On the upside, Roper Technologies raised its full-year guidance. The company lifted its adjusted EPS outlook from $21.30-$21.55 to $21.80-$22.05, beating the $21.47 consensus. Keurig Dr Pepper affirmed its low-double-digit constant currency EPS growth target for 2026.
Analyst activity remained brisk. Texas Instruments received an upgrade to Buy from Hold at B of A Securities. Analyst Vivek Arya raised his price target to $320 from $235. Lam Research drew positive attention from Needham, which initiated coverage with a Buy rating and $300 target. Conversely, was downgraded to Sell from Hold at Morgan Stanley.
Short interest data reveals extreme crowding in small caps. LifeVantage tops the short score rankings with 44.6% SI of free float and a 94.7 ORTEX score. Lucky Strike Entertainment follows with 17.9% SI and a cost to borrow of 24.7%. MicroVision shows 22.4% SI with over 21 days to cover.
Biotechs dominate the heavily shorted list. ARS Pharmaceuticals stands out with 63.2% SI of FF, though low cost to borrow at 2.5% suggests shares remain available. Cardiff Oncology and Greenwich LifeSciences both carry SI above 23%.
Mobileye announced Q1 results and a $250 million buyback program. The Intel subsidiary also updated its full-year outlook. Hasbro reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 sales guidance of $4.84-$4.94 billion, in line with the $4.90 billion estimate.
UK pension funds face mounting pressure to sell private assets. The industry regulator wrote to 58 schemes warning about exposure to hard-to-sell investments. Private credit markets show strain as borrowing costs edge higher, with bond investors and banks seeking greater premiums before lending.
This is not financial advice. Data may contain inaccuracies.
ORTEX Market Intelligence content is generated by AI from a snapshot of ORTEX's proprietary data. Content is informational only and does not constitute investment advice.
