The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a decline on Thursday, with Wall Street closely watching a critical level for a widely observed bond yield while eagerly anticipating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments.

Powell's remarks at noon ET are expected to shed light on the future course of interest rates. Despite indications of improving inflation numbers, the persistent rise in Treasury yields has raised uncertainties about the central bank's monetary policy direction.

In other developments, Netflix shares experienced a significant surge of over 14% following their third-quarter earnings report, which exceeded expectations. The company benefited from robust ad-tier subscriptions. Moreover, AT&T saw a noteworthy increase of over 6% after surpassing third-quarter expectations. In contrast, investment firm Blackstone recorded a 4% decline due to an earnings report that fell short of expectations.

As of 11:49 AM ET, the Dow was up 9.1133 points, or 0.0271%, at $33674.19. The Nasdaq Composite added 37.3867 points, or 0.2508%, at $14946.646. The S&P 500 rose 2.9497 points, or 0.0684%, at $4317.55. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 7 showed positive movement, with Energy leading the way with a 0.58% increase.

Top Movers: Under $10

Spectral AI Inc (MDAI) is up 64.48% today to trade at the current level of $4.26. This comes after the announcement of UKCA approval for its DeepView SnapShot® Wound Imaging System in the United Kingdom and receiving a Class 1 medical device classification from the FDA in the United States.

G1 Therapeutics Inc (GTHX) zoomed 17.05% in today’s trade to $1.51 after COSELA® (trilaciclib) was recommended as a myeloid support agent in the revised ASCO guidelines for ES-SCLC patients receiving chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.

In current trading, Nano Dimension Ltd ADR (NNDM) stock is at $2.75 after receiving Israeli Court approval for Its $200 million repurchase plan.

PodcastOne Inc (PODC) rose 9.14% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $2.92.The company declared certain of its preliminary and unaudited results for the second quarter and first six months ended September 30, 2023.

In the current trading session, Mangoceuticals Inc (MGRX) jumped 11.62% to $0.76 over a previous close of $0.68 after providing update to shareholders on Q3 achievements and guidance on year end and near-term initiatives.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

APA Corporation (APA) is about to trade ex-dividend tomorrow, meaning that investors who buy the stock after tomorrow 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 23 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on November 22. Last year, the company distributed a total of $1.00 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, APA has a trailing yield of 2.31% on the current stock price of $43.38.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), having a market capitalization of $131.84B. It will pay a dividend of $1.3 per share, the payment date of which is November 20. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 1.91%.

Shares of Crestwood Equity Partners LP (CEQP) will be the talk of stock market on Friday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.0 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 CEQP has a trailing yield of 8.93% on the current share price of $29.34.

RMR Group Inc (RMR) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from RMR will amount to $0.4 per share. October 23 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for November 16. In the previous year, RMR distributed a total of $1.60 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for RMR stands at 6.68% based on the current stock price of $23.94.

Talaris Therapeutics Inc (TALS) will be paying out a dividend of $0.15 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of October 16. Over the past 12 months, TALS has paid out a total of $1.51 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, TALS boasts an impressive trailing yield of 54.97% on the current share price of $2.75.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Kohl's Corp. (KSS) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 22.63% 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 5.3. This represents a change of 1020000 shares, which corresponds to a +4.47% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $499.24 million. The average daily volume stands at 4.67M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $2.32B.

The Medical Properties Trust Inc with the symbol MPW currently has a short interest of 20.91%. The short interest has changed by -9900000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 9.8. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $598.07 million. On an average day, 13.23M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $2.86B.

For the stock Avidity Biosciences Inc (RNA), the current short interest is at 22.8%. This represents a significant short interest change of -339,181 shares. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 12.57. The daily trading volume hovers around 798.04K shares, with the company's market capitalization firmly positioned at $417.18 million.

The stock SPCE has a current short interest of 20.74%. The short interest percentage has experienced increase of +16.28% while there was a change of 10660000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 5.2. Trading activity averages at 13.82M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $631.48M.

Biotech Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Lisata Therapeutics Inc (LSTA) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Biotech industry, attaining an impressive score of 56.0. The stock's valuation, growth, financial strength, and stock sentiment are strong. However, its profitability, and Piotroski Score are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of performance, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies Veracyte Inc (VCYT) as a high-quality Biotech stock today, presenting a Score of 57.0. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, financial strength, and stock sentiment. However, it has weak value. The performance, growth, Piotroski Score, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, Krystal Biotech Inc (KRYS) has the ST Score of 56.0, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in financial strength, and stock sentiment but weak in value, and Piotroski Score. Profitability, performance, growth, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Spero Therapeutics Inc (SPRO) stock has the ST Score of 55.0 which implies that the Biotech company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its valuation, profitability, and growth, but its weaknesses are in its financial strength. However, it shows neutral outlook in performance, stock sentiment, Piotroski Score, and forecast.

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