Stocks are clinging to modest gains this afternoon despite tariff tensions, as Europe prepared its retaliatory levies to begin April 15, while China said an 84% tariff will begin Thursday on U.S. imports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) sit just above the flatline, looking to snap a four-day losing streak, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is also higher. The market's "fear gauge," also known as the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), is on track for its first loss in five sessions.

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

• Bear note drags Ford Motor stock to 3-year lows.
• Profit beat boosts struggling airline name.
• Plus, options traders swarm CCJ; gold stock roaring higher; and a struggling energy stock.

Uranium giant Cameco Corp (NYSE:CCJ) is sporting unusual options activity today, with 14,000 calls and 77,000 puts crossing the tape so far. This represents 6 times the average daily volume, and most popular is the weekly 4/25 37-strike put, with positions being opened at the September 30 put. While the catalyst is unclear, CCJ is up 0.1% at $36.72 at last glance. The $36 level has also moved in as a floor, capturing this week's pullbacks. Over the past 12 months, CCJ has shed 22.6%.

Gold mining name Anglogold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU) is one of the top stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, up 7.5% to trade at $35.64 at last check. Trade war tensions and a weakening U.S. dollar are pushing commodities higher today, with the security now eyeing its best day since July. So far in 2025, AU has added 55.3%.

One of the worst performers on the NYSE today is Bloom Energy Corp (NYSE:BE) stock, down 8.9% to trade at $15.51, after receiving a downgrade to "sell" from "neutral" at Redburn Atlantic. The firm also cut its price target to $10 from $14.50, citing concerns around growth and earnings. Now 20.5% lower for 2025, today's pullback has the shares contending with the 320-day moving average.

Big tech stock Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) was last seen up 4.2% to trade at $179.62, after an upgrade from Jefferies to "hold" from "underperform" due to the possibility a tariff exemption. The firm also lowered its price target to $167.88 from $202.33, however, amid global recession risks and a softer view on artificial intelligence (AI) growth. 

Mirroring the broader market, today's pop has AAPL looking to snap a dramatic four-day losing streak. The stock is down 28.7% this year, but still sports a 5.3% year-to-date lead.

Constellation Energy Corp (NASDAQ:CEG) was up 1% at $186.81 at last glance, after an upgrade from Citigroup to "buy" from "neutral." The firm cited a compelling risk/reward profile after the stock's recent slide, though it also slashed its price target to $232 from $334.

CEG is on track for its third-straight win after bouncing off $160. The stock hadn't traded at that level since August, when it staged a similar move. Despite today's rise, the equity still carries a 17.1% year-to-date deficit.

Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) stock is up 6.8% to trade at $38.32 at last check, after the company shared better-than-expected first-quarter earnings of 46 cents per share and met revenue expectations. The airline cut growth plans for the second half of 2025 and did not reaffirm its annual outlook, however, citing fewer bookings and global tariff tensions.

DAL is fresh off its worst weekly performance since March 2022, and carries a hefty 37.6% year-over-year deficit. Though shares are bouncing off their April 4, 52-week low of $34.73, they remain below the 20-day moving average, which has been acting as resistance since February.

Over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the equity's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.45 ranks in the 85th percentile of annual readings. This suggests options traders have been more bullish than usual.

Drilling down to today's options activity, 16,000 puts have already crossed the tape, which is double the volume typically seen at this point. The most active contract is the September 55 call, but new positions are currently being opened at the weekly 4/11 25-50 strike put.

Now looks like an excellent time to weigh in with options, as DAL has outperformed options traders' volatility expectations over the past 12 months. This is per its Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 98 out of 100.

Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F) is under pressure this morning, last seen down 2.7% to trade at $8.46 ahead of the open, as automaker stocks broadly retreat following the implementation of new U.S. tariffs targeting dozens of countries. Adding to the headwinds, Bernstein downgraded F to "underperform" from "market perform," citing weakening consumer confidence and the timing of the tariffs, which it believes could “significantly affects Ford.” 

On the charts, Ford stock is on track to breach the $8.50 level for the first time since January 2021, deepening its technical troubles. The equity is already nursing a 34.2% year-over-year deficit and has shed 10.8% in 2025 alone. With shares eyeing a third consecutive daily loss before the session even begins, bearish momentum appears firmly in control.

Wall Street sentiment isn’t offering much relief, either. Analysts remain overwhelmingly pessimistic on Ford stock, with 19 of 23 brokerages maintaining a “hold” or worse rating. Options traders are showing a similarly bearish stance at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). Ford stock's 50-day put/call volume ratio ranks in the 98th percentile of annual readings, pointing to a stronger-than-usual preference for long puts over calls.

Used car retailer CarMax Inc (NYSE:KMX) will report fourth-quarter results before the open on Thursday, April 10. Analysts expect earnings of 64 cents per share, representing 100% upside from the same quarter last year. In the coming weeks, traders will likely be eyeing retail reports for insight into the tariff landscape. 

At last look today, KMX was up 0.5% at $74.09, looking to snap a three-day losing streak that coincides with the broad-market wipeout. Year to date, the equity is down 9.3%. 

Looking back, KMX has a fairly optimistic post-earnings earnings history. The security finished higher after six of its last eight reports, including the last three, and averaged a 7% move over the last two years, regardless of direction. This time around, the options pits are pricing in a much bigger 14.5% swing. 

In the options pits, call traders have been targeting KMX at a faster-than-usual rate. The equity's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 3.16 over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranks higher than 98% of readings from the past year. However, in the event of a negative post-earnings move, an unwinding of this optimism could provide headwinds. 

Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) stock is up 8.4% at $55.27 at last check, following news that the company will sell its automotive ethernet business to Infineon Technologies for $2.5 billion in an all-cash traction.

Shares are today pacing for their biggest single-day percentage gain since December, but still carry a hefty 50.7% year-to-date deficit. The equity is bouncing off yesterday's 52-week low of $47.09 as it continues to contend with long-term overhead pressure from the 20-day moving average.

Over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio stands in the 92nd percentile of annual readings. This means options traders have been much more bearish than usual.

Drilling down to today's options activity, 25,000 puts have already crossed the tape, which is 5 times the volume typically seen at this point. The most popular contract is the weekly 5/2 55-strike put, but new positions are currently being opened at the September 45 put.

Stocks are staging a powerful comeback Tuesday, with both the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) on track to snap their three-day losing streaks as optimism builds around potential tariff negotiations. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is sharply higher as well, after President Trump touted productive talks with South Korea and signaled China’s eagerness to strike a deal.

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that roughly 70 countries have approached the U.S. to negotiate duties. In response, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has cooled off dramatically, slipping back below 40 earlier after yesterday topping 60.

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

• Breaking down Broadcom's buyback plan.
• Marvell Technology stock soars on massive sale.
• Plus, LEVI's post-earnings options activity; CVS on the rise; and RKT brushed off bull note.

Levi Strauss & Co (NYSE:LEVI) stock is attracting unusually high options volume following its latest earnings report. The apparel retailer posted earnings of 38 cents per share -- a 46% increase from the same period last year -- on revenue of $1.53 billion. So far today, 5,728 calls and 7,435 puts have exchanged hands, amounting to 15 times the average intraday volume. The April 13 put seeing the most action by far. LEVI is looking to rebound after yesterday slipping to its lowest level since October 2023. Last seen 0.5% higher at $13.57, the stock remains 24.2% lower year-to-date.

CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) stock is one of the SPX’s top performers today, last seen up 8.2% to trade  at $70.34. The security is riding sector-wide momentum after The Wall Street Journal reported the Trump administration has plans to hike reimbursement rates for Medicare-focused insurers next year by 5.06% -- more than double the 2.23% hike proposed in January. So far this year, CVS has added 53.9%.

Rocket Companies Inc (NYSE:RKT) stock is one of the worst performers on the SPX today, down 6.5% to trade at $13.71. The pullback comes despite a Barclays upgrade to "equal weight" from "underweight," as well as a price target hike to $14 from $10. These losses follow last week’s 18.2% gain, and RKT remains up 29.4% in 2025.

Bank stock Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) was last seen up 5.7% to trade at $74, after an upgrade from Morgan Stanley to "overweight" from "equal weight." The firm called it a defensive play amid recession fears, but also threw in a price-target cut to $76 from $91, while no fewer than three other analysts slashed their price objectives as well. 

This bull note comes less than a week after Citigroup upgraded SCHW to "buy," citing growth potential as the firm "shifts to offense." Of the 23 analysts in coverage, 18 carry a "buy" or better rating, while the 12-month consensus price target of $86.89 is a 17% premium to current levels. 

Like most market components, SCHW is fresh off a sharp pullback, yesterday hitting its lowest level since October. Today's pop has the equity reclaiming support at the $72 level, as well as the 320-day moving average. Plus, the shares have swung back to the positive side of their year-to-date breakeven.

When weighing in on Charles Schwab stock, options look like a decent way to go. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 87 out of 100 means it's outperformed options traders' volatility expectations over the past year. 

While stocks are off their 52-week lows today, the weight of additional tariffs on China -- and harsher retaliatory countermeasures -- has volatility at a fever pitch. Earlier today, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) toppled 60 on an intraday level and is heading for its highest close since April 2020. 

Whether you're a passive or active trader, its important to remember when stock prices and stock futures fall rapidly in a single session, exchanges implement halts in trading to allow a moment for cooler heads to prevail and avoid market crashes we’ve seen in the past on Wall Street.