On Tuesday, U.S. stock markets experienced a surge, driven by a decline in Treasury yields. This shift was prompted by Wall Street's evaluation of the geopolitical implications of the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict.

The 10-year Treasury yield, a key indicator, dropped by 8 basis points to 4.694%. Investors sought refuge in this traditional safe-haven asset amid the ongoing conflict. These fluctuations in the bond market represent its initial response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which occurred while the market was closed for Columbus Day.

Furthermore, oil prices saw a reduction following a previous session of gains. West Texas Intermediate and Brent futures both declined by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively on Tuesday.

In the corporate world, PepsiCo experienced a 0.7% increase in its stock price. This boost came after the beverage and snack maker announced third-quarter results that exceeded expectations. Additionally, the company raised its earnings outlook.

As of 11:29 AM ET, the Dow was up 218.6914 points, or 0.6508%, at $33823.34. The Nasdaq Composite added 163.9346 points, or 1.0895%, at $15211.089. The S&P 500 rose 41.3496 points, or 0.9537%, at $4377.01. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 11 showed positive movement, with Consumer Cyclical leading the way with a 1.76% increase.

Top Movers: Under $10

SMX (Security Matters) Plc (SMX) is up 70.41% today to trade at the current level of $2.88. This comes after the company declared that it has signed an agreement with True Gold Consortium Pty Ltd, to acquire an additional 7.5% equity stake, thereby increasing the Company's common share holdings in privately held TrueGold to 51.9%.

Intrusion Inc (INTZ) zoomed 37.71% in today’s trade to $0.48 after announcing that it has been awarded a $5 million agreement with a large telecommunications provider to provide Intrusion Shield support for its data centers.

In current trading, PowerFleet Inc (PWFL) stock is at $2.51 after reporting a definitive agreement with MiX Telematics Limited to form one of the largest mobile asset Internet of Things (IoT) Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers in the world.

Nanostring Technologies Inc (NSTG) rose 26.02% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.51 after releasing preliminary financial and operational highlights for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

In the current trading session, BioXcel Therapeutics Inc (BTAI) jumped 26.64% to $3.47 over a previous close of $2.74..The company announced positive overall survival (OS) data from its Phase 2 trial of BXCL701, in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (SCNC).

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Advance Auto Parts Inc (AAP) is about to trade ex-dividend Thursday, meaning that investors who buy the stock after Thursday will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.25 per share. The company has fixed October 13 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on October 27. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.82 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, AAP has a trailing yield of 3.48% on the current stock price of $52.26.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends Thursday is Camden National Corp. (CAC), having a market capitalization of $411.91M. It will pay a dividend of $0.42 per share, the payment date of which is October 31. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 5.93%.

Shares of City Holding Co. (CHCO) will be the talk of stock market on Thursday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.72 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of $2.62 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that CHCO has a trailing yield of 2.82% on the current share price of $92.71.

Foot Locker Inc (FL) is also set to go ex-dividend Thursday. The next dividend payment from FL will amount to $0.4 per share. October 13 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for October 27. In the previous year, FL distributed a total of $1.13 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for FL stands at 5.31% based on the current stock price of $21.22.

Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) will be paying out a dividend of $0.29 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of October 13. Over the past 12 months, NWFL has paid out a total of $1.16 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, NWFL boasts an impressive trailing yield of 4.64% on the current share price of $25.00.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Celcuity Inc (CELC) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 28.85% short interest. The days to cover ratio, a measure of how long it would take for all the short positions to be covered based on average trading volume, is 32.7. This represents a change of 320000 shares, which corresponds to a +11.39% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $28.26 million. The average daily volume stands at 58.08K shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $199.47M.

The Biomea Fusion Inc with the symbol BMEA currently has a short interest of 28.76%. The short interest has changed by 380000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 13.5. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $105.41 million. On an average day, 478.65K shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $442.88M.

For the stock Cutera Inc (CUTR), the current short interest is at 26.18%. This represents a significant short interest change of -500000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage decrease of -8.74%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 6.9. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $22.97 million.

The stock IGMS has a current short interest of 27.12%. The short interest percentage has experienced decrease of -0.35% while there was a change of -20000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 21.3. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $28.97 million. Trading activity averages at 233.85K shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $292.44M.

EV Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Li Auto Inc ADR (LI) emerges as a high-quality stock in the EV industry, attaining an impressive score of 60.0. The stock's profitability, growth, financial strength, and Piotroski Score are strong. However, its value are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of performance, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Niu Technologies ADR (NIU) as a high-quality EV stock today, presenting a Score of 57.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of valuation, and profitability. The performance, growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Skyworks Solutions Inc. (SWKS) has the ST Score of 57.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, stock sentiment, and Piotroski Score but weak in growth. Value, performance, financial strength, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Toyota Motor Corporation ADR (TM) stock has the ST Score of 54.0 which implies that the EV company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability, and Piotroski Score, but its weaknesses are in its growth, and financial strength. However, it shows neutral outlook in value, performance, stock sentiment, and forecast.

BorgWarner Inc (BWA) currently has the ST Score of 55.0, which signifies a huge upward potential. The EV stock's strong points are its profitability, and Piotroski Score, while its weak points are its financial strength. The stock's value, performance, growth, stock sentiment, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.