Category Monthly Dividend

Apple (AAPL) stock was upgraded by KeyBanc after smartphones, computers, and other electronics were exempted from President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs.

The Trump administration’s updated guidance announced Friday “is probably the best case scenario” for Apple, KeyBanc analyst Brandon Nispel said. “With the worst case scenario of continuing ‘tit-for-tat’ trade war escalation likely no longer in play and the exception on smartphones from tariffs, we find it difficult to argue for further downside,” Nispel added. KeyBanc upgraded the iPhone maker’s stock to a neutral “sector weight” rating from “underweight.”

Citi analysts said they expect Apple’s stock to get a boost from the tech tariff exemptions, but warned Apple’s products “are not immune” to a weak macro environment. The bank kept its “outperform” rating for Apple, but lowered its sales estimates for iPhones, Macs, and Apple wearable devices, given its projection of a contraction in global gross domestic product this year under new tariffs. 

The tariff exemptions could also prove temporary, after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that the administration plans to impose new tariffs within a couple months.

Wedbush, which holds an “outperform” rating for Apple stock, said the exemption window “gives some flexibility and allows for China negotiations to hopefully take place in the coming months which could deescalate some tariff/trade war issues with Big Tech caught in the middle.”

Shares of Apple rose about 2% to close at $202.52 Monday, extending Friday’s gains. Still, they’ve lost nearly one-fifth of their value since the start of the year.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares surged Monday after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced it acquired the firm’s artificial intelligence-enabled military system.

NATO said Monday that on March 25, it “finalized the acquisition of the Palantir Maven Smart System NATO (MSS NATO) for employment within NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO), marking a significant advancement in the modernization of NATO’s warfighting capabilities.”

Financial terms were not disclosed. The agency said the procurement “was one of the most expeditious in NATO’s history, taking only six months from outlining the requirement to acquiring the system,” and that “it is expected that ACO will begin using the new system within the next 30 days.”

Palantir stock gained close to 5% Monday following the news. Shares have added about a fifth of their value in 2025 and soared more than 300% over the past 12 months.

UPDATE—April 14, 2025: This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent share price values.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares jumped nearly 5% Monday to extend last week’s recovery effort following news that NATO had acquired the analytics software provider’s AI-enabled military system.

The deal with Brussels-based NATO helps ease investor concerns that Europe may rely less on American defense contractors such as Palantir amid an uncertain trade outlook after the Trump administration earlier this month unveiled widespread “reciprocal” tariffs, which have since been temporarily paused.

Palantir shares have gained 22% since the start of the year through Monday’s close but have lost around a quarter of their value since hitting their record high in mid-February, amid uncertainty surrounding military spending with a federal push for government efficiency.

Below, we take a closer look at Palantir’s weekly chart and use technical analysis to identify key price levels worth watching out for.

Bullish Engulfing Pattern Signals Shift in Sentiment

Palantir shares lost as much as 47% from their record high set in February before the stock formed a bullish engulfing pattern last week to signal a positive shift in investors sentiment.

It’s worth pointing out that the pattern coincided with the relative strength index rallying from the 50 threshold, a level that has proven to be a solid turning point during the stock’s uptrend.

Let’s identify two key overhead areas on Palantir’s chart that investors may be watching and also point out important support levels worth monitoring during periods of weakness in the stock.

Key Overhead Areas to Watch

Palantir shares gained 4.6% to close at $92.62 on Monday.

Further upside from current levels could see the shares make a move to around $121. This area on the chart would likely attract significant attention near the stock’s all-time high (ATH) and may be seen as a suitable location for profit-taking opportunities.

A move above the ATH into price discovery mode could set the stage for a longer-term rally to around $300. We projected this bullish target by applying bars pattern analysis, which takes the stock’s trend higher from August to February and overlays it from this month’s low.

Interestingly, the prior trend analyzed followed a bullish engulfing pattern, potentially providing insight as to how a new move higher from a similar chart setup may play out. 

Important Support Levels Worth Monitoring

During retracements in the stock, it’s worth keeping an eye on the $66 level. Palantir bulls would likely look to defend this area near last week’s low and several comparable price points on the chart extending back to early November.

Finally, a breakdown below this important technical area could see Palantir shares revisit lower support around $45. Investors may look for entry points in this location near the upper range of a brief consolidation period that preceded last year’s post-election rally.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.

Shares of DaVita (DVA) lost ground Monday after the kidney disease treatment company revealed it had suffered a ransomware attack.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), DaVita said that on Saturday it “became aware of a ransomware incident that has encrypted certain elements of our network.”

The Denver-based dialysis services firm added that “the incident is impacting some of our operations, and while we have implemented interim measures to allow for the restoration of certain functions, we cannot estimate the duration or extent of the disruption at this time.”

DaVita said it has “activated our response protocols and implemented containment measures, including proactively isolating impacted systems. We are actively working to assess and remediate the incident with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity professionals and have notified law enforcement of the matter.”

Shares of DaVita fell 3% Monday. They are little changed in 2025 but up 16% over the past 12 months.

UPDATE—April 14, 2025: This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent share price values.

Apple (AAPL), Dell Technologies (DELL), and other tech stocks gained Monday, after President Donald Trump imposed a pause on import tariffs on many electronic goods.

Smartphones, computers, and semiconductors have been exempted from Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, according to updated guidance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Friday, although Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Sunday suggested the carve-out would be temporary.

JPMorgan analysts said the exemption would be “a big relief” for Apple, which makes most of its devices in China. They said they expect Apple “to significantly accelerate its diversification plans, including an initial focus on the assembly footprint.” India now makes up around 15% of iPhone production, with Vietnam representing “a significant manufacturing center for Airpods and Watch, while still ramping on iPads and Macs,” they said.

Apple shares added about 2% Monday, extending Friday’s gains. They have, however, lost nearly a fifth of their value so far this year.

Laptop maker Dell, which makes most of its products outside the U.S., saw its shares rise 4% Monday. JPMorgan analysts said in a separate note on retailer Best Buy (BBY), that they believe the pause in consumer electronics tariffs “is a clear indication of the importance of the products to the US consumer and the weight of large US companies” like Dell, Apple, and others.

Shares of several semiconductor firms, including Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Western Digital (WDC), and NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), gained as well. (Read Investopedia’s live coverage of today’s market action here.)

UPDATE—April 14, 2025: This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent share price values.

Below you’ll find featured rates available from our partners, followed by details from our ranking of the best CDs available nationwide.

Rates of 4.50% to 4.65% You Can Guarantee as Long as 2026

The nation’s leading CD rate held its ground today at 4.65%. INOVA Federal Credit Union and OMB both offer that APY for 7 months, locking in your return until this fall.

If you’d rather extend your rate lock until 2026, two top CDs pay 4.60%. Abound Credit Union offers that rate for a 10-month duration, while Vibrant Credit Union matches that APY for 13 months.

A total of 21 CDs pay at least 4.50%, with the longest term among these being 18 months. This CD is available from XCEL Federal Credit Union and will lock in your rate until October of next year.

Consumers say they’re worried about the economy’s direction, but those fears aren’t expected to appear in the March retail sales report.

Backed by high auto sales, consumers likely rushed to stores in March to avoid potential price increases spurred by tariffs. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswire and The Wall Street Journal expect March retail sales data to increase by 1.2% over the prior month. The report is scheduled to be released on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

“Consumers fretting over another spike in goods prices due to reciprocal and sectoral import tariffs implemented in April have been keen to speed up their planned goods purchases,” wrote Scott Anderson, chief U.S. economist at BMO Economics. 

Consumer spending is an important economic factor that has kept the country from recession in recent years. Economists have said a slowdown in spending could push the economy closer to a downturn.

Automobile Sales Seen as Driving March Growth

The spending surge would represent an improvement over the year’s slow start. February’s meager growth followed a “holiday hangover” plunge in January.  But while the overall numbers are expected to be good, the report’s details may not represent as much of an improvement as it appears. 

Automobile sales are expected to drive most of the sales growth, with early March data showing car sales reached their highest level since April 2021. Economists attributed this spike to car buyers looking to get ahead of U.S. tariffs of 25% on all imported cars.

Without the sales of automobiles and gasoline, BMO economists expect retail sales only grew by 0.2% in March.

Even with the car sales, March data isn’t expected to be enough to rescue retailers from poor first-quarter results, which is expected to be the softest for retail sales since 2020, Wells Fargo economists wrote.

“On balance, performance so far this year suggests consumer spending growth has stalled in the face of heightened uncertainty about tariffs and their impact on the outlook,” Wells Fargo wrote. 

Spending Slowdown May Be Coming

A recent spate of poor consumer sentiment surveys has economists projecting a slowdown in reports like retail sales and earnings, but it’s not likely to happen yet.

Consumer sentiment has declined for several months as President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies have raised concerns about higher inflation and created volatile market conditions. However, many tariffs didn’t go into effect until April and even then, may not have much effect on prices for some time.

“The deterioration in optimism is not a positive development for consumer spending, but we don’t expect it alone will drive households into hiding,” Wells Fargo economists Tim Quinlan and Shannon Grein.

Major U.S. equities indexes ticked higher to start the new trading week after the Trump administration announced smartphones, computers, and other electronics would be exempt from “reciprocal” tariffs, even as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that the carve-outs could be only temporary.

The S&P 500 and the Dow ended Monday’s session approximately 0.8% higher, while the Nasdaq gained 0.6%. 

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) posted the strongest daily gain of any S&P 500 stock, as shares added 6.9%. With Monday’s push higher, the stock clawed back a portion of the sharp decline posted late last week after the Food and Drug Administration said it would phase out animal testing requirements in the development of monoclonal antibodies and other treatments.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares surged 4.6% after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced it acquired an AI-based military system developed by the data analytics software firm. NATO said the procurement, “was one of the most expeditious in NATO’s history, taking only six months from outlining the requirement to acquiring the system.” 

Several stocks in the health care sector lost ground as health insurers gave back some of the gains posted last week after the government said payments to Medicare insurers next year would be higher than previously expected. Humana (HUM) shares, which have been under pressure over the past year amid downgrades to its Medicare offerings and soft membership additions, sank 3.5%, marking the weakest performance in the S&P 500. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares fell 2.1% ahead of its earnings report expected later this week.

DaVita (DVA), which provides dialysis services for patients with kidney disease, announced it had been affected by a ransomware attack. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the incident resulted in the encryption of certain elements in DaVita’s network and affected parts of its operations, but the health care company said it is taking measures to mitigate the issues. DaVita shares dropped 3% Monday.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) shares declined 2.4% after the carrier said its travel credits would expire 12 months from the purchase date of the original ticket for most flights, ending its policy of providing credits with no expiration date. The new policy marks the end of another longstanding perk for the airline, which moved toward a paid baggage model last month, raising concerns that more Southwest travelers could be required to gate-check their carry-on luggage.

The next time you withdraw more money than is in your checking account, it could cost you about $35, or $5: it’s all up to whether President Donald Trump signs a bill passed by lawmakers last week. 

The House of Representatives voted 217-211 last week to repeal a President Joe Biden-era rule created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which would have capped most bank overdraft fees at $5 starting in October. The measure, which passed the Senate last month, is now on the desk of Trump, who is expected to sign it into law, according to a report by the New York Times.

The overdraft fee limit was one of the bureau’s final rules created in the last days of the Biden administration. According to CFPB research, it would have saved consumers about $5 billion each year, or $225 for every household that paid overdraft fees.

Banks Cheer New Rule; Consumer Groups Are Displeased

The banking industry said the overdraft fee cap would have prompted banks to stop offering the service, while consumer groups said the regulation would have saved consumers billions.

Banks charge overdraft fees when customers attempt to withdraw more money from a checking account than they have. In such cases, banks can either deny the transaction or allow it to proceed but charge a fee, usually around $35, according to the bureau.

The Community Bankers Association, a trade group representing banks, argued overdraft services allowed customers to avoid more financially damaging alternatives when they were short on cash, such as payday loans or paying late fees on their bills. The group said the $5 limit would cause banks to stop offering the service altogether.

“We applaud the House for joining the Senate in voting to preserve consumer access to overdraft services by overturning the Biden-Chopra CFPB’s misguided rule to impose government price controls on this vital financial product,” CBA CEO Lindsey Johnson said in a statement.

Consumer groups said Congress’s rule helped banks that continue to charge overdraft fees at the expense of consumers, and noted many banks, including Capital One, Citibank, and Ally, have curtailed or eliminated their own overdraft fees in recent years.

“Republicans in Congress had a chance to put $5 billion back in the pockets of working people, including servicemembers, by dramatically cutting big bank overdraft fees,”  Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center, said in a statement. “Instead, they sided with Wells Fargo, Chase, and Navy Federal Credit Union, allowing them to use abusive overdraft fees to pad their profit margins.”

Congressional Move Is the Latest Reversal for CFPB

The demise of the overdraft fee limit is one of many sharp reversals in consumer protection policy since the change of presidential administration.

Under Trump, the White House has moved to dismantle the CFPB completely, firing employees en masse and shutting down its operations. The fate of the bureau is currently in the hands of judges as a lawsuit by the bureau’s employee union makes its way through the courts.

This weekend, an appeals court ruled that the Trump administration could not eliminate the agency, at least for the time being. However, it could fire workers deemed unnecessary to carry out the bureau’s responsibilities as defined by the 2010 law establishing the agency.