Stocks are higher to start the holiday-shortened week, as traders assess U.S. President Donald Trump’s first-day actions. Trump said he was considering 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting Feb. 1 due to border policies, but stopped short of authorizing new levies on his first day back in office -- a move many investors see as a sign that his tariff plan may be less severe than expected.

At last glance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is up 384 points, heading for its fifth win in six sessions. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) are also modestly higher, while the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) heads for a third-straight loss.

Put traders are targeting pharmacy giant Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (Nasdaq: WBA) after the U.S. Justice Department sued the company for its role in exacerbating the U.S. opioid epidemic. Already today, 31,000 bearish bets have been placed, which is 5 times the average intraday volume. Most popular is the January 16, 2026 10-strike put, while new positions are opening at the next most active contract, the 10 put from this January's standard expiration. On the charts, WBA is pulling back to its early January, post-earnings bull gap, though its 160-day moving average is keeping today's price action in check. Year over year, Walgreens Boots Alliance stock is down 51%.

Space stocks are taking flight as investors bet on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's influence over the second Trump administration. Rocket Lab USA Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB) is one of the best stocks on the Nasdaq this afternoon, up 20.4% at $28.89 at last glance. The stock is now up 107% in 2025, and boasts a 458.4% year-over-year lead to boot.

U.S.-listed shares of China-based New Oriental Education & Tech Grp (NYSE: EDU) shares are some of the worst on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, last seen 23.2% lower to trade at $46.76. The provider of private educational services reported mixed fiscal second-quarter financial results, which are weighing on the equity. Over the last nine months, EDU has shaved off 47.4%.

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