KeyCorp, Nvidia, Starbucks, Albemarle, and More

U.S. equities were mixed Monday afternoon as the market awaited a plethora of new economic data, including key reports on July consumer and wholesale inflation. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose, but the Dow was lower.

KeyCorp (KEY) shares jumped as the Bank of Nova Scotia agreed to pay $2.8 billion to take a 14.9% stake in the regional bank. Starbucks (SBUX) shares gained on a report that hedge fund Starboard Value has taken a stake in the world’s biggest coffee chain, and wants changes made to boost the share price. Nvidia (NVDA) climbed after Bank of America said the artificial intelligence chipmaker would be a good play as the semiconductor sector bounces back later this year. 

Albemarle (ALB) was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 as the world’s biggest lithium producer struggles with tumbling lithium prices and China’s grip on the metal needed for batteries that power EVs and more. Shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE) tumbled as the parent of Hawaiian Electric said the company may not be able to continue as a viable operation because it hasn’t found a funding source to pay for a legal settlement over the huge wildfires in Maui last year. Kraft Heinz (KHC) shares fell as Goldman Sachs analysts initiated coverage with a Sell rating, warning that the maker of ketchup and other food products faces significant challenges ahead.

Oil and gold futures rose. The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note declined. The U.S. dollar was rose against a basket of leading currencies. Bitcoin was lower over the past 24 hours, trading below $60,000.