Macro Fears, Short Sellers, and Big Money Moves

Bears Target AI and Travel

Short sellers made aggressive moves this week. Cerebras Systems saw its SI % of FF jump from 6.25% to 25.6% — a three-fold rise in seven days. The AI chip maker is clearly drawing skeptics. Rental car names are hurting too. Avis Budget sits at 45.8% SI % FF, up 6.2 points. Hertz is close behind at 44.5%. Both signal deep market doubt about travel sector margins.

Oil Drives Options Activity

Crude oil put options are surging. Trump signalled a US-Iran deal is close, pushing oil to a three-month low. Traders are piling into USO near-term puts through late June. Gold is also sliding. GLD options stretch out to September 2026, reflecting sustained bearish bets. Bullion is on track for its worst quarter in nearly a decade.

Insiders: Big Exits, Big Buys

Silver Lake Group filed this week to show it sold $389 million in Dell shares between June 2–4. That is a major private equity exit. On the buy side, analysts lifted targets for Darden Restaurants and Gilead Sciences. General Mills faced cuts. Consumer staples remain under pressure from private-label competition.

Geopolitics Add to the Mix

China pushed back today against a US move to list major Chinese firms as military companies. Boeing and BYD were among names caught in the crossfire. The dispute adds another layer of uncertainty for global investors navigating already-fragile trade relations.

Earnings Week Ahead

CarMax, Kroger, and Progressive all report next week. Progressive's May auto insurance data on Monday will be a key read on inflation trends.