Investopedia Markets News (all except PF)

• Dick’s shares tumbled Tuesday after the sporting goods retailer reported disappointing results and lowered its full-year outlook.
• The company said its Foot Locker business was impacted by “challenging conditions.”

Dick’s said its Foot Locker business was impacted by “challenging conditions” in the second quarter. It slashed its full-year outlook, and investors are dropping the stock.

Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) were down nearly 20% in recent trading, after the retailer posted second-quarter results that missed Wall Street analysts’ estimates and lowered its full-year sales projections.

The Pittsburgh-based company reported adjusted earnings of $3.53 per share on net sales of $5.59 billion for the second quarter. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had expected $3.77 per share and $5.64 billion, respectively.
Comparable sales rose 2.1% year-over-year, well below the 3.4% consensus projection. Pro-forma Foot Locker comparable sales fell 3.6%, when a 0.2% decline was expected.

Dick’s said it now expects between a 2% decline to flat comparable sales from its Foot Locker business for the year, down from a prior projection of 1.5% to 3% growth. The company also lowered its operating income outlook for Foot Locker and its namesake businesses, as well as its guidance for net sales and profit.

“This environment had a more significant impact on the Foot Locker Business given its greater exposure to legacy footwear silhouettes and greater dependence on footwear launch and retro product,” Executive Chair Ed Stack said in a release. “Not only were there fewer launches in the second quarter, but those launches performed below both industry and our expectations. As a result, we are taking a more cautious view of the balance of the year.”

With Tuesday’s slide, Dick’s shares have lost nearly a third of their value this year.

News of the day for Aug. 25, 2026

Stock futures are pointing higher after tech losses dragged the S&P 500 and Nasdaq lower yesterday; bitcoin is extending its recent rally; investors can look forward to an update on consumer confidence; shares of Dick’s are sliding after the retailer lowered its outlook; and Intuit is set to release its latest results after the closing bell. Here’s what you need to know today.

Stock futures are on the rise this morning after a mixed start to the week for the major indexes. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were recently up 0.5%, while tech-heavy Nasdaq futures rose 1%. Memory and other AI-related stocks climbed, in what could point to a rebound from yesterday’s losses. The Dow finished higher yesterday, while a slide in AI-related stocks dragged the S&P 500 and Nasdaq lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note slipped to 4.67% this morning from 4.70% at yesterday’s close. WTI oil futures were down nearly 4% at around $82 per barrel, while gold futures hovered around $4,700 an ounce after hitting a fresh three-month high this morning. The price of bitcoin was at $79,200 after climbing above $81,000 overnight (more on that below).

Bitcoin has been on a tear lately. The price of the world’s largest cryptocurrency briefly topped $81,000 overnight, a level it hadn’t reached since May, before slipping below $80,000 recently. Bitcoin has gained roughly 25% since the start of last week, boosted by encouraging comments from President Donald Trump and a spate of small regulatory wins last week. In what could be taken as a promising sign for a sustained rally, Investopedia’s Crystal Kim reports that bitcoin ETFs last week saw five straight days of inflows totaling nearly $2 billion, according to Farside Investors.

The Conference Board is set to release its latest report on consumer confidence this morning at 10 a.m. ET. The report is expected to show confidence continued its slide in August, after edging lower in July amid worries about inflation as the war in Iran drags on. Investors can also look forward to the latest report on the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, tomorrow.

Dick’s (DKS) shares are plunging in premarket trading after the sporting goods retailer posted quarterly sales that missed analysts’ estimates and lowered its outlook. Dick’s said it now expects net sales of $21.9 billion to $22.2 billion for the year, down from $22.1 billion to $22.4 billion previously. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.53 on revenue of $5.59 billion for the second quarter, below analysts’ estimates. Dick’s said it was “impacted by challenging conditions in the athletic footwear marketplace” as it works to turn around sales at Footlocker, which it acquired last year. Dick’s shares were down 16% in recent premarket trading, on track to hit their lowest level since early 2024.

TurboTax and QuickBooks parent Intuit (INTU) is slated to publish its fiscal fourth-quarter results after the closing bell. Intuit shares have lost nearly half their value since the year began, making the stock one of the worst performers in the S&P 500 for 2026. Though the tax software company beat expectations last quarter and announced plans to shrink its workforce, the stock has slumped amid a broader pullback in software stocks driven by worries about AI disruption. Intuit is expected to report adjusted earnings per share of $3.58 on $4.27 billion in revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter, per Visible Alpha. Shares of Intuit were little changed in premarket trading.

• The latest wave of tariffs would impose a 50% import tax on a range of products from Canada.
• Lifeboats, dog collars, gold necklaces, and coin collections are all subject to the new taxes, which cover 5% of imports from Canada by dollar value.
• A new 50% tariff on vehicles could hit in January, further pushing up car prices.

The latest round of tariffs is hitting, and it could affect your cash—and your dough.

Dough used for baking is one of hundreds of products imported from Canada that will be subject to a new 50% tariffs. On Saturday, a sweeping set of tariffs on products from Canada went into effect after trade talks between the U.S. and Canada collapsed.

The latest wave of tariffs affects a sprawling array of products from Canada, including whiskey (like Crown Royal), down jackets (such as Canada Goose), hockey sticks and numerous other items. President Donald Trump also responded to potential Canadian retaliatory tariffs on Monday by threatening to raise the existing 25% auto tariff to 50%. So far, the affected imports total 5% of the products the U.S. brings in from its Northern neighbor by dollar value.

The tariffs cover an estimated $20 billion worth of imports, which is not enough to move the needle for the U.S. economy, but does introduce a fresh dose of uncertainty about policy between the U.S. and one of its largest trading partners.

Despite the low percentage of trade by value, the tariffs are so sprawling they could end up affecting a vast number of items in every room of a typical suburban house. Here’s how:

The latest wave of tariffs could have a significant financial impact on the garage, especially if the threatened 50% auto tariff goes into effect in January.

The new tariff could push up prices for imported and domestic cars, since it would cover auto parts, and many U.S.-based manufacturers import parts from Canada.

The new tariffs would sting for auto buyers already facing tariff-related price increases. The last round of tariffs pushed up sticker prices by 10.4% in March 2026 compared to March 2025, according to Kelly Blue Book.

And don’t think you can escape the tariffs by going to sea either, as maritime vessels (i.e., boats and ships), including lifeboats, and even buoys, face the new 50% tax.

Many clothing items, including jackets and leather articles of all kinds, such as belts, gloves, and bags, are affected by the new tariffs.

The tariff excludes reptile leather, however, so don’t expect to pay more for alligator-skin luggage. Sports equipment will also face higher tariffs, including sticks for both field and ice hockey, fishing rods, and other athletic and recreational gear.

The administration has said tariffs are intended to hit Canada back for provinces’ bans on U.S. alcohol. So it’s no surprise that most Canadian booze is affected by the new 50% import tax. That includes whiskey, wine, beer, vermouth, vodka, tequila, and brandy.

Canadian dairy products are also targeted, with milk being high on the list. Other miscellaneous kitchen items subject to tariffs include molasses, essential oils, dough, plastic dishes and utensils, and vinyl floor tiles.

Wooden furniture from Canada is hit by the new tariff, potentially reaching every room in the house.

Drawings, paintings and other artwork are also included, along with smartphones, video game consoles, other electronic devices, Christmas ornaments, vacuum cleaners, baby gates, and lamps.

Toilet paper is the big one here, along with some other odds and ends like tongue depressors. Some plant- and animal-based ingredients used in pharmaceutical products that could end up in the medicine cabinet are also subject to the tariffs.

Back-to-school shopping takes a big hit from the tariffs, which affect all kinds of office products. This includes writing paper, notebooks, envelopes, memo pads, and plastic office supplies.

And if you collect coins, beware that collections or “pieces of numismatic interest” under 100 years old are subject to the new tax.

Not even your dog is safe from tariffs. Leashes, collars, muzzles, harnesses, “and similar dog equipment,” and even bones are subject to the tax.

Gardening and construction projects could take a hit, with tariffs covering tulip bulbs, orchids, cement, fence posts, boards, particle board, bricks, chainsaw blades, and other tools and materials.

Bedsheets are covered by the new tariffs, as are gold necklaces and other jewelry, along with the safe or strongbox for storing them.

The good news for household budgets is that because the categories hit by the new tariffs are relatively small compared to the total universe of consumer products, economists don’t expect them to push up inflation by very much.

Plus, retailers are unlikely to pass along big price hikes right away, if the past is any guide, John Mercer, managing director of retail research at Coresight, told Investopedia in an email.

Many importers received refunds from Trump’s previous round of tariffs last year, which were deemed illegal by the Supreme Court and could use those funds to absorb some of the tariff costs.

However, the new import taxes do push things in the wrong direction.

“Some brands and retailers have been continuing to note cost uplifts from existing tariffs, so these new tariffs will join those existing pressures,” he said.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech may clarify his vision for interest rate policy.
• Warsh’s less-is-more communication strategy has created uncertainty, impacting bond markets and investor confidence.

As the marquee event in economics approaches, investors are wondering whether they’ll get morsels of clarity from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh—or whether he’ll remain tight-lipped about the Fed outlook.

Warsh will speak at 10 a.m. ET on Friday at the Kansas City Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference, giving him a chance to hit the reset button with markets if he chooses. 

The Fed’s new chair has adopted a less-is-more communication style, giving the Fed more flexibility to pivot on interest rates in an uncertain environment. Investors, however, are still getting used to less guidance on how the Fed may react to incoming data.

It was one of several reasons behind last week’s wobbles in bond markets, though analysts don’t think Warsh will suddenly start giving markets the guidance they’ve been missing.  

“Any clarification of his reaction function would allow Warsh to calm investors, though we view a full change in tack as unlikely,” wrote TD Securities analysts led by Oscar Munoz, adding that “we believe the risk of disappointment is high.”

Warsh’s comments could influence Treasury yields and expectations for the Fed’s next moves. Greater clarity could help investors navigate an unusually uncertain rate outlook.

The three-day Fed conference, set to kick off Thursday in Grand Teton National Park, will mostly consist of dense debates over the economy among central bankers and top academics. But Warsh’s keynote speech will be the main focus for markets.

It comes after a tricky week in bond markets, where investors lend money to governments and corporations—last week, investors started charging borrowers more. The yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond hit its highest level since 2007 last week.

There were several reasons: high and rising global government debt; inflation risks as the war in Iran drags on; a surge in data center borrowing; and bets that artificial intelligence may make the economy more productive.

Another culprit was market uncertainty, as the debate over what might prompt the Warsh-led Fed to raise or lower interest rates continued. 

“We’re all still trying to figure him out,” said Cal Spranger, a fixed-income specialist at Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers in Seattle.

At the very least, analysts expect Warsh to attempt a bit of cleanup after a press conference in late July left markets a little confused.

Warsh came into the job “talking tough on inflation and saying all the right things,” Spranger said. That led bond investors to believe he’d pull the trigger on rate hikes this year if needed, which helps bonds, since their fixed interest payments won’t be eroded by inflation. 

But then Warsh was rather noncommittal at his July press conference, making investors doubt his inflation-fighting resolve.

Friday’s speech offers “a timely opportunity for the Fed’s new leader to clarify his vision for the central bank,” wrote Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank’s chief U.S. economist.

He’s unlikely to give markets clear hints on what the Fed may do with interest rates this year, he wrote. Even so, there may still be scope for a speech that “cleans up some missteps in recent communications,” Luzzetti wrote. One lingering but basic question: Does Warsh think rate hikes are the right medicine to combat inflation?

Even a “simple affirmation” that the Fed would be willing to hike rates if needed would reassure markets, wrote Marc Giannoni, chief U.S. economist at Barclays.

“Without a credible plan on how to lower inflation, markets could lose patience and worry that the FOMC may not be willing to adjust policy rates when warranted,” Giannoni wrote. 

Jackson Hole speeches have, at times, been the venue for big policy pronouncements from Fed chairs. Warsh’s predecessor, Jerome Powell, previewed ongoing rate hikes from the Federal Reserve in 2022.

More often, the conference gives Fed chairs a chance to outline the major questions they’re watching in the economy.

For Warsh, he may share early updates from the five expert task forces he’s set up to study topics such as the economic impacts of AI, inflation dynamics and the Fed’s balance sheet.

It may also include a clearer view of why he thinks the less-is-more communications strategy will ultimately help the economy.

In Warsh’s view, markets should rely less on what Fed officials have to say about the economy—and more on hard economic data such as jobs and inflation reports. After years of relying on the Fed’s steering, markets are finally “learning to play the ball, not the referee,” Warsh said last month.

Barclays’ Giannoni wrote, however, that a lack of communication may prompt markets to misunderstand the Fed and make markets more volatile. That could ultimately drive up interest rates, Giannoni wrote.

“We think it is useful for central banks to explain their reaction function,” Giannoni wrote. “In our view, such information helps market participants, businesses, and households form beliefs about the future without misunderstanding the central bank’s intention.”

Others are taking the hazier Fed in stride.

Lance Roberts, chief investment strategist at RIA Advisors, agreed with Warsh’s view that the Fed should pull back its guidance so that “markets can function on their own.” 

“It’s going to take a little bit of time for the market to adjust to the lack of guidance, but I think they’re going to get through that fine,” Roberts said.

And at the very least, the bond market is starting to trade based on the economic data and not reading Fed speeches, he argued. 

“Bond traders, for the first time in 15 years, are having to go back to work for a change,” he said.

Episode 309 of The Investopedia Express podcast with Caleb Silver (Aug. 24, 2026)

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / PlayerFM

The national debt topped $40 trillion, and with more spending on the way, the U.S. government is forced to eat a lot of its own cooking by buying back Treasuries. At what point does the math stop “mathing” in this yield curve control experiment? Jon Erlichman drops in with some good, bad, and unbelievable market statistics, along with astounding compounding revelations that will keep us investing forever. Plus, all eyes on Nvidia this week as the chip giant reports results and tries to assuage investors that all this spending isn’t just circular, it’s sustainable.

• Bitcoin ETFs saw five consecutive days of inflows totaling nearly $2 billion last week.
• Bitcoin’s price has stabilized around $79,000 following small regulatory wins in the U.S.

Bitcoin is finally starting to get some attention from investors again. 

The price of the world’s largest cryptocurrency is hanging out at around $79,000, a level it has sustained since Friday following a spate of small regulatory wins last week. Both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are working on ways for industry startups to operate in the U.S. legally.

Sentiment appeared to shift last week as bitcoin ETFs saw five straight days of inflows totaling nearly $2 billion, according to Farside Investors. Year to date, they’re still in the red, with about $2.8 billion in net outflows.

Citi’s Alex Saunders said in a report Thursday that “ETF flows remain the key catalyst to watch” and the “most-important driver of price action.” 

Investors have pulled money from the dozen-odd spot bitcoin funds since bitcoin prices reached a peak of over $126,000 in October and then were cut in half in the ensuing months.

“Flows have stalled since the October 2025 liquidations, and their resumption is critical for a sustained rally,” Saunders wrote.

Crypto-linked stocks, which finished last week strong, are mixed to start the week. Coinbase Global (COIN) and Strategy (MSTR) are gaining 1% and 4.5%, respectively. Robinhood (HOOD) is down less than 1%.

• Nearly all S&P 500 companies have reported strong second-quarter earnings, with profits up 50% year-over-year.
• Nvidia, the world’s most valuable chipmaker, is expected to report over $92 billion in quarterly revenue.
• Investors are watching Nvidia’s results for signs of continued growth in AI infrastructure spending.

Investor attention will undoubtedly focus this week on the latest quarterly results from Nvidia. In the meantime, second-quarter numbers have already come in strong. 

Nearly all of the companies in the S&P 500—467 of them, or 94%, according to a Monday note from Oppenheimer—have already reported, with profits rising nearly 50% year-over-year on 14% revenue growth. 

The earnings growth has been broad-based, with only one of the index’s 11 sectors, healthcare, down year-over-year, according to Oppenheimer. (Healthcare is one of five sectors where not all the results are in the books yet.)

Eighteen more companies are expected to report this week, Oppenheimer said. The big one is Nvidia (NVDA), which is set to report Wednesday after the bell. The chip giant, the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, is expected to report more than $92 billion in quarterly revenue.

Investors tend to have high expectations for Nvidia’s earnings, with the company beating earnings-per-share and revenue expectations in 18 and 19 of the past 20 quarters, respectively, according to Freedom Capital Markets Chief Market Strategist Jay Woods. 

“Investors will want another beat-and-raise quarter, but more importantly, confirmation that the massive AI infrastructure spending cycle remains alive and well,” Woods wrote in comments Monday. 

• Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report could test investor confidence in the AI sector.
• Concerns about the sustainability of AI spending have weighed on Nvidia and other AI-related stocks lately.

The AI trade has hit a few stumbling blocks lately, with the sector facing a key test from Nvidia’s earnings later this week. 

The AI chipmaker, widely seen as a bellwether for the AI trade, is set to give investors an update on its financials after the closing bell Wednesday. With expectations running high ahead of the event, anything less than robust results could add to the pressure that’s held the sector back in recent weeks, Wall Street analysts have warned. 

Shares of Nvidia (NVDA), which were down 2% in early trading Monday, are up about 13% for the year but more than 10% off their May highs as worries about an AI bubble and the sustainability of spending on America’s AI buildout have weighed on support for the stock, along with others closely tied to the AI boom.  

Shares of hard drive maker Sandisk (SNDK), the S&P 500’s biggest gainer for the year so far, were down nearly 10% recently, leading the day’s declines in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Nvidia-backed Lumentum (LITE) and Nebius (NBIS) also lost ground, along with Micron Technology (MU), Seagate Technology (STX) and Western Digital (WDC). 

“A simple beat may not be enough. Investors will want another beat-and-raise quarter, but more importantly, confirmation that the massive AI infrastructure spending cycle remains alive and well,” Freedom Capital Markets Chief Market Strategist Jay Woods wrote in a note Monday.

• Marvell is due to report earnings Thursday afternoon, with options pricing suggesting traders see the stock swinging up to 10% by the end of the week.
• Sales and profits are expected to have grown in the quarter on strong demand for AI-related hardware.

Marvell Technology is scheduled to post earnings after the closing bell on Thursday, with traders expecting a big move from the chip designer’s stock.

Marvell (MRVL) shares are seen swinging up to 10% in either direction by the end of the week, based on recent options pricing. A move of that size from Friday’s close could see the stock rally close to $261, or slip below $214, giving up some of its gains this year.

While Marvell’s stock has pulled back from its June highs, it remains one of the top performers in the S&P 500 for this year, with shares up nearly 180% in 2026. Strong demand for AI chips and high-profile deals have helped boost the stock, including a custom chip deal with Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) announced earlier this month.

Results from Marvell and Nvidia this week could give investors more insights into the durability of demand for AI chips.

UBS analysts told clients that they expect another strong quarter from Marvell, with the potential for a raised full-year sales forecast. They called Marvell “one of the more attractive ways to participate in the custom silicon, optical connectivity, and AI infrastructure buildout themes,” though they trimmed their price target to $300 from $340, given a recent pullback in compute-related stocks.

Marvell is projected to report second-quarter sales of $2.71 billion, growth of 35% year-over-year, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Adjusted earnings are seen growing to 93 cents per share from 67 cents the same time last year.

Analysts are widely bullish on the outlook for Marvell. Of the 13 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha, 11 consider the stock a “buy,” compared to two neutral ratings. Their mean price target of $271 would imply just over 14% upside from Friday’s close.

News of the day for August 24, 2026

Stock futures are pointing lower to start the week; memory and other AI-related stocks are leading the decline this morning; Nvidia’s quarterly results and a key inflation reading will be in focus later this week; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to speak about Iran sanctions later today; and Alibaba shares are sliding after a $10 billion share sale in Hong Kong to fund its AI ambitions. Here’s what you need to know today.

Stock futures are losing ground this morning ahead of what’s set to be a busy week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were recently down 0.2%, while tech-heavy Nasdaq futures fell 0.5%. Memory stocks and others tied to the AI trade were leading the decline (more on that below). All three of the major indexes closed higher Friday but posted losses for the week as bond yields climbed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note ticked lower to 4.71% this morning. WTI oil futures dropped 2% to around $85 per barrel, while gold futures rose 0.7% to $4,715 an ounce, their highest level since May. The price of bitcoin hovered around $78,200, after reaching a three-month high above $79,400 on Friday.

AI-related stocks are falling the hardest ahead of the open, amid worries about whether some of the sector’s favorites still have room to rise, and how sentiment could be impacted by results from Nvidia (NVDA) due later in the week. Shares of hard drive maker Sandisk (SNDK), the S&P 500’s biggest gainer for the year, were down 5% in recent premarket trading. Nvidia-backed Lumentum (LITE) and Nebius (NBIS) were also losing ground, along with Micron Technology (MU), Seagate Technology (STX) and Western Digital (WDC).

There’s a lot riding on the latest earnings report from Nvidia, which is due after the closing bell Wednesday. Widely seen as a bellwether for the AI trade, anything less than strong results from the chipmaker could rattle confidence in a wide range of stocks tied to America’s AI buildout. Shares of Nvidia were little changed in premarket trading. Also set for release Wednesday is an update on the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s favored measure of inflation. The July PCE data will factor into the Fed’s decision next month on interest rates, amid concern among officials that inflation remains too high. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is scheduled to speak Friday, at the central bank’s annual symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to hold a press conference at 2 p.m ET, where he’s expected to announce a new package of sanctions on Iran as the war with the U.S. drags on. Bessent told CNBC the move would mark the greatest campaign of “coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.”

U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba (BABA) fell in premarket trading, after the Chinese e-commerce and cloud giant raised 80 billion Hong Kong dollars ($10.2 billion) in a secondary share sale to fund its AI goals. The move comes amid intensifying competition in the space, with leading American firms such as Amazon (AMZN) and Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL) pledging hundreds of billions of dollars in capital expenditures this year to fund their AI buildout. Alibaba shares were down 2% recently.