Moderna leads S&P 500 on Monday after flu vaccine data
Moderna saw its stock increase by approximately 7% on Monday, aligning with the S&P 500 index, following the release of data regarding two of its influenza vaccine candidates at the IDWeek 2025 conference held in Atlanta.
The company, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, stated that its mRNA-based influenza vaccine, mRNA-1010, is marked as “safe and effective” for adults aged 50 and above. Additionally, the results from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial involving mRNA-1018, aimed at preventing pandemic H5N1 influenza among healthy adults 18 years and older, indicated “no safety concerns, was well tolerated, and showed swift and sustained immune responses” across all dosage levels.
Even with the gains today, Moderna’s stock has experienced a significant decline, losing about a third of its value this year.
Apple’s iPhone 17 sales ‘far exceed’ previous lineup in US and China, report shows
Apple’s stock appreciated on Monday after reports indicated a robust demand for the new iPhone 17 series in the U.S. and China, which are the major markets for Apple’s phone sales.
The iPhone 17 outperformed the iPhone 16 by 14% in its first ten days in these countries, as reported by Counterpoint Research.
Apple’s share price jumped nearly 3% with this news, contributing to an increase in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Counterpoint also highlighted that the base model of the iPhone 17 had a strong sales performance in China, while the iPhone 17 Max saw high demand in the U.S.
Senior analyst Mengmeng Zhang highlighted the “great value” in the base model’s performance, pointing out improvements like a better chip, enhanced display, increased storage, and an upgraded selfie camera, all at a price similar to last year’s iPhone 16. Sales of the base iPhone 17 model were nearly double those of the iPhone 16 during the same timeframe in China.
In the U.S., sales of the iPhone 17 Pro Max surged as many who purchased Apple phones during the pandemic sought upgrades, also aided by significant subsidies from major carriers, according to Counterpoint.
Amazon Web Services outage causes widespread disruption – what you need to know
Companies utilizing Amazon Web Services are getting back on track after an outage on Monday disrupted operations across various sectors.
Affected businesses included the trading platform Coinbase Global, social media site Snapchat, and major airlines like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Amazon confirmed the issue at 3:51 a.m. ET, declaring by 6:35 a.m. ET that the problems had been “fully mitigated,” and most AWS services resumed normal operations. However, the company continued to address any subtle lingering disruptions.
By 8:40 a.m. ET, Downdetector reported nearly 2,000 outages related to AWS.
Although Amazon’s shares dropped in premarket trading, they slightly rebounded by nearly 1% after the market closed, while the S&P 500 initially rose 14% in value, only to see a decline of about 2% in 2025.
US rare earth stocks soar as Prime Minister William Blair begins coverage with ‘outperform’
Analysts at William Blair are projecting substantial potential growth for U.S. rare earth stocks.
They initiated coverage on this stock along with four others in the sector with an “outperform” rating, stating in a client note: “While many rare earth stocks have taken unexpected hits recently, we believe there’s significant upside potential ahead.”
William Blair also mentioned recent investments announced by the Trump administration in companies like MP Materials, Lithium Americas, and Trilogy Metals, suggesting that significant financial support and direct government investments in rare earth companies might trigger another noteworthy rally in some stocks.
This sector has surged over 140% year-to-date as of Monday, with gains clocking in at 7%.
President Trump aims to correct soaring drug prices, but experts say his move could have serious side effects.
The Trump administration has taken several steps to lower drug prices, but experts express concerns about the effectiveness of these new measures.
The latest initiative in President Trump’s campaign to reduce drug prices was announced last month—involving an agreement with Pfizer, the global manufacturer known for products like the coronavirus vaccine and Viagra.
This deal could influence future agreements with other large pharmaceutical companies, allowing Pfizer to sell its products to Medicaid at rates similar to those seen in other developed nations. Additionally, the company plans to provide discounted drugs directly to consumers through a website slated to launch in 2026, with the understanding that it would be exempt from the potential tariffs President Trump has threatened on drug imports.
This agreement seems to target longstanding grievances from President Trump and U.S. consumer advocates about the much higher list prices of numerous drugs in the United States compared to European countries. In some instances, treatments available in the U.S. for exorbitant prices are significantly cheaper or even free in Europe. For instance, in 2021, a single dose of the arthritis medication Humira cost U.S. patients $3,000, while a generic alternative was accessible in Germany for just $10, as indicated in reports.
Americans are already enjoying their holiday shopping. Will they be able to find the deal they want?
It seems that Americans are not planning to reduce their holiday budgets this year. However, they’re likely to spend more time hunting for deals and may end up buying smaller items than expected.
Analysts indicate that consumers are expected to adopt a cautious mindset this holiday season, similar to what they’ve done for much of 2025 due to higher prices stemming from tariffs. Money-saving shoppers are already looking into sales well ahead of Black Friday, although many of them are hesitating to make purchases.
A recent National Retail Federation study echoes these sentiments. Americans are likely to shop in the resale market, search for bargains, and minimize their purchases. It’s predicted that, on average, they will spend about 1.3% less on gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items in November and December compared to last year.
“This holiday season will definitely feel different from what we’re used to, from a consumer and brand perspective,” noted Andrew Weber, who analyzes U.S. transactions on Amazon for a marketing and digital services firm. “Buying behavior may not align with expectations.”
Stock futures rise to start the week
Stock futures associated with the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a slight increase of 0.1%.
In addition, S&P 500 futures went up by 0.2%.
Meanwhile, Nasdaq 100 futures showed a rise of 0.3%.
