The Dow is off by more than 900 points
Stocks are sharply lower this afternoon, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) down more than 900 points and pacing for a fourth-straight loss. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is also risking a four-day skid, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) is eyeing its third drop in four sessions, as trade tensions and Fed uncertainty continue to weigh on sentiment.
The latest selloff comes after President Trump criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the weekend, demanding him to lower interest rates and noting the economy could slow otherwise. Amid swirling questions over the central bank's independence, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee noted tariffs could cause economic activity to fall off by summer.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
- Amazon.com stock lower on overdue bear note.
- Analysts blast Netflix stock after strong earnings.
- Plus, ASTS takes bearish spotlight; DFS pops on Capital One deal; and mounting analyst doubts ding TSLA.
AST SpaceMobile Inc (NASDAQ:ASTS) is seeing unusual put activity today, with more than 20,000 bearish bets traded -- 3 times the average intraday volume. The most active contract is the June 24 put, where new positions are being opened. ASTS was last seen 12.5% lower to trade at $20.47, pulling back below its year-to-date breakeven level after Zacks highlighted the satellite designer as its Bear of the Day.
Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) is one of the top SPX stocks today, last seen 1.4% higher at $161.88, after U.S. regulators approved Capital One’s (COF) $35.3 billion acquisition of the credit card giant. The deal will create the eighth-largest bank covered by government deposit insurance, with roughly $637.8 billion in combined assets -- or 2.2% of all U.S. insured deposits. The companies expect the deal to close on May 18. DFS is up 29.6% year over year, but remains down 6.2% in 2025.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is one of the worst-performing IXIC components this afternoon, last seen 6.9% lower at $224.70. Barclays cut its price target on the stock, citing “confusing” earnings visibility ahead of the company’s first-quarter report. Tesla stock is down 44.4% in 2025, with its 40-day moving average continuing to act as pressure after two failed rally attempts earlier this month.
