Stocks Pare Gains As Ceasefire Tensions Return

Though investors bought into peace deal optimism this morning, that good will has since faded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) pared a 200-point gain and now sits in the red, with the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) joining the blue-chip benchmark lower. The Russell 3000 (RUT) is still standing tall, after the small--cap index nabbed an intraday record high earlier.

President Donald Trump noted the U.S. is ready to resume bombing Iran if a deal is not reached before the ceasefire's expiration later today, and that he does not want to extend the truce. Oil prices have picked up, with Brent crude last seen 2.8% higher. Elsewhere, Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh is facing his Senate confirmation hearing today, while retail sales in March rose 1.7%, past the 1.5% estimates.

Peabody Energy Corp (BTU) stock is getting attention from options traders today. At last look, 6,601 puts have changed hands, volume that's four times the average intraday amount and almost six times the number of calls exchanged. The May 25 put is creating the buzz, with new positions bought to open. The clean coal stock is up 2.2% to trade at $26.27, but is down 11.6% on the year.

Crowdstrike Holdings Inc (CRWD) stock is one of the better names on the Nasdaq midday, up 4.6% to trade at $453.01 at last glance, after a Keybanc upgrade to "overweight" from "sector weight." The analyst in coverage also set a $525 price target, citing Anthropic's Mythos rollout and strong AI cybersecurity demand. Up 25.2% in the last 12 months, CrowdStrike stock is today running out of steam at its year-to-date breakeven level, which coincides its 200-day moving average.

Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC) stock is near the bottom of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, down 6.2% to trade at $615.69 at last check. While the defense contractor announced a top-line win for the first quarter and also reaffirmed its fiscal year outlook, overinflated expectations may be fueling today's bear gap. NOC is up 8% on the year, but has taken a more than 20% haircut off its March 3 all-time high of $774.