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The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was set for a hot start to the second quarter ahead of the latest data on weekly jobless claims.
Nasdaq futures were higher by 0.91% while S&P 500 futures were up 0.24% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were little changed.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSFT | MICROSOFT CORP. | 235.77 | +3.92 | +1.69% |
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In stocks, Microsoft Corp. won a $21.9 billion contract to supply the U.S. Army with augmented reality headsets for the next 10 years.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MU | MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC. | 88.21 | +1.67 | +1.93% |
| WDC | WESTERN DIGITAL CORP. | 66.75 | +1.29 | +1.97% |
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In deals, Micron Technology Inc. and Western Digital Corp. are each exploring deals for Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Kioxia Holdings Corp. that would value the company at about $30 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kioxia is also looking into a possible initial public offering, the report said.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD | ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC. | 78.50 | +2.50 | +3.29% |
| INTC | INTEL CORP. | 64.00 | +0.23 | +0.36% |
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The news lifted shares of other semiconductors, including Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Intel Corp.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | FORD MOTOR CO. | 12.29 | -0.18 | -1.44% |
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Elsewhere, Ford Motor Co. said it will cut production at seven North American plants due to the global chip shortage. The company will provide updated guidance on April 28.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JNJ | JOHNSON & JOHNSON | 164.62 | -0.50 | -0.30% |
| EBS | EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS | 92.91 | +2.61 | +2.89% |
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Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson shares slipped after a batch of its COVID-19 vaccine was discovered to have a problem in the manufacturing process overseen by Emergent BioSolutions Inc. The company did not reveal how many doses were ruined.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFE | PFIZER INC. | 36.23 | +0.12 | +0.33% |
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Pfizer Inc. announced its COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 91% effective against the South African variant. The drug manufacturer said it plans to seek full regulatory approval from U.S. regulators.
In commodities, West Texas Intermediate crude oil climbed $1.04 to $60.20 per barrel and gold ticked down $1.20 to $1,714.40 an ounce.
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Overseas markets were broadly higher.
Britain’s FTSE 100 was out front in Europe, trading up 0.52%, while Germany’s DAX 30 and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.29% and 0.21%, respectively.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index surged 1.97%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rallied 0.72% and China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.71%.
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