Midday Fly By: SoftBank buying DigitalBridge, Verisk drops AccuLynx deal

The major averages were broadly lower near noon to begin the final trading week of the year, as markets settle back into holiday mode after a strong rally that pushed the S&P 500 and Dow to record highs last week. Traders are wrestling with profit-taking in major tech and AI-linked names even as the broader benchmark indexes remain close to all-time peaks. Precious metals have pulled back, contributing to cautious positioning among risk assets, while energy and select cyclical names show pockets of relative strength.

Looking to commodities, gold was sharply lower, retreating from record highs but still around the $4,350 mark. Conversely, oil prices were rising as the commodity reaches for $60 a barrel.

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with this Midday Fly By.

STOCK NEWS:

• SoftBank (SFTBY) (DBRG) for $16 per share in cash
• Lululemon (LULU) founder Chip Wilson announced the nomination of three independent director candidates
• Coupang (CPNG) announced a 1.69T KRW compensation plan over data breach
• Verisk (VRSK) has terminated its definitive agreement to acquire AccuLynx

WALL STREET CALLS:

• Amicus (FOLD) downgraded to Market Perform at Leerink after takeover deal
• Palisade Bio (PALI) initiated with an Overweight at Piper Sandler
• Turn Therapeutics (TTRX) initiated with a Buy at D. Boral Capital
• Northland started 1stDibs (DIBS) at Market Perform, awaits “more robust growth”

AROUND THE WEB:

• While consistently the number 2 warehouse-club company in the U.S., Walmart-owned (WMT) Sam’s Club has been able to beat out Costco (COST) in China, WSJ reports
• Novo Nordisk (NVO) has cut the listing prices by half for its obesity drug Wegovy in some Chinese provinces as the company prepares for copycats to flood the market, Bloomberg says
• Hyundai (HYMTF) is not in a position to repurchase its manufacturing plant in Russia due to the war in Ukraine, Reuters says
• Airbus (EADSY) is producing aircraft at a rapid pace in the final days of the year as the company works to achieve its recently cut annual aircraft delivery goal, Bloomberg reports
• KKR (KKR) has received first negotiation rights to take Yomeishu Seizo private, with plans to finalize terms in January 2026, Bloomberg reports

MOVERS:

• Eightco (ORBS) increase after its board of directors approved a share buyback program for up to $125M
• Autolus (AUTL) gains in New York after Needham named the stock as its top pick for 2026
• Energy Fuels (UUUU) higher after providing an update on its uranium business
• Ultragenyx (RARE) lower after announcing its Phase 3 Orbit and Cosmic studies for setrusumab missed its primary endpoints

INDEXES:

Near midday, the Dow was down 0.48%, or 232.82, to 48,478.15, the Nasdaq was down 0.63%, or 148.10, to 23,444.99, and the S&P 500 was down 0.43%, or 30.10, to 6,899.84.