Stocks Mixed After Upbeat Consumer Confidence Data

Rising Treasury yields are in focus this afternoon

Digital Content Manager

Mar 28, 2023 at 11:45 AM

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) managed to swing into positive territory this afternoon, though the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) are still sitting in the red. Consumer confidence rose to a better-than-expected 104.2 in March, even as concerns over the banking sector gripped investors. However, rising bond yields are pressuring stocks, with the 2-year U.S. Treasury note back above 4%.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

Upbeat drug trial data boosts biotech stock.
Paramount Global stock earned analyst praise.
Plus, options traders blast TAL; behind Biomea Fusion stock's surge; and short seller targets HRMY.

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TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) is seeing bullish options activity, with 34,000 calls and 1,442 puts traded so far today -- 21 times the intraday average volume. The May 8 call is the most popular contract, followed by the August 8 call, with new positions being opened at both. Last seen up 6.1% to trade at $6.26, the security is bouncing off a pullback to the $5.20 region, but has yet to conquer pressure from its 20-day moving average. TAL is down 11.6% in 2023, despite its 95.3% year-over-year lead.

TAL 20 Day

Biomea Fusion Inc (NASDAQ:BMEA) is near the top of the Nasdaq today, up 72.5% at $26.61 at last check. The company announced patients with type 2 diabetes had a glucose-lowering response in a mid-stage study of its experimental drug BMF-219. In turn, Piper Sandler raised its price target to $40 from $16. The shares earlier surged to an all-time high of $29.49, and have added a whopping 473.8% over the past 12 months.

Harmony Biosciences Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:HRMY) was last seen down 21% at $32.78. This bear gap comes after Scorpion Capital revealed its short position, adding it would soon file a citizen's petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to request the withdrawal of approval of daytime sleepiness treatment Wakix. Shares hit their lowest trading level since August 2021 earlier, and are down 41.1% year-to-date.

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