US stock markets were mostly unchanged on Monday after opening lower, as US Treasury yields continued to climb, reflecting investor bets that interest rates would remain high for longer. Global markets are feeling the impact of ongoing Middle East tensions, especially as the Israeli army prepares to invade the Gaza Strip.

The 10-year Treasury yield briefly surpassed 5% for the first time since 2007, after rising sharply in recent sessions, partly due to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments that he saw no evidence of monetary policy being too tight. This reignited investor concerns that an interest rate cut may not come for some time.

Earnings season heats up this week, but today's earnings calendar is relatively empty. On Tuesday, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, and other companies are scheduled to report earnings. So far, 73% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings that beat expectations, according to FactSet. That's lower than the five-year average of 77% for the corresponding period.

As of 11:37 AM ET, the Dow was up 38.9102 points, or 0.1175%, at $33166.19. The Nasdaq Composite added 96.7656 points, or 0.6646%, at $14657.643. The S&P 500 rose 16.5498 points, or 0.3918%, at $4240.71. Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, 11 showed positive movement, with Utilities leading the way with a 1.21% increase.

Top Movers: Under $10

INVO Bioscience Inc (INVO) is up 344.44% today to trade at the current level of $2.40. This comes after the company announced a definitive merger agreement with NAYA Biosciences to acquire NAYA Biosciences in an all-stock transaction.

Ault Alliance Inc (AULT) zoomed 20.53% in today’s trade to $0.17. The company declared preliminary third quarter revenue of over $52.5 million.

In current trading, Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc. (NM) stock is at $2.20 following news of a merger agreement with N Logistics Holdings Corporation. NLHC will acquire all remaining NM shares at $2.28 per share in cash.

Cel-Sci Corp. (CVM) rose 25.23% in the early hours of today's trading to move at $1.34 after announcing that it has finalized the selection criteria for the head and neck cancer target population to be treated with the Company’s immunotherapy drug Multikine.

In the current trading session, Farfetch Ltd (FTCH) jumped 14.24% to $1.80 over a previous close of $1.58 following the European Commission's unconditional clearance for the acquisition of a 47.5% stake in YOOX NET-A-PORTER in exchange for FARFETCH Class A ordinary shares to Richemont.

Ex-Dividends Stocks

Kaiser Aluminum Corp (KALU) 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 $0.77 per share. The company has fixed October 25 as the record date for the same and will pay the actual dividend on November 15. Last year, the company distributed a total of $3.11 to its shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, KALU has a trailing yield of 4.82% on the current stock price of $64.54.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends tomorrow is Lowe's Cos., Inc. (LOW), having a market capitalization of $110.17B. It will pay a dividend of $1.1 per share, the payment date of which is November 08. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 2.31%.

Shares of Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE) will be the talk of stock market on Tuesday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.1 per share.

Tomorrow, Lakeland Financial Corp. (LKFN) is also set to go ex-dividend tomorrow. The next dividend payment from LKFN will amount to $0.46 per share. October 25 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for November 06. In the previous year, LKFN distributed a total of $1.84 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for LKFN stands at 3.76% based on the current stock price of $48.88.

Telefonica Brasil S.A., ADR (VIV) will be paying out a dividend of $0.02 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of October 25. Over the past 12 months, VIV has paid out a total of $0.60 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, VIV boasts an impressive trailing yield of 6.61% on the current share price of $9.05.

Crypto Market Highlights

Most Shorted Stocks

Omeros Corporation (OMER) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 21.50% 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 29.8. This represents a change of 870000 shares, which corresponds to a +7.19% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $14.79 million. The average daily volume stands at 611.05K shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $71.97M.

The Sprouts Farmers Market Inc with the symbol SFM currently has a short interest of 20.63%. The short interest has changed by 120000 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 14.2. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $889.72 million. On an average day, 1.52M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $4.34B.

For the stock TPI Composites Inc (TPIC), the current short interest is at 20.39%. This represents a significant short interest change of 710000 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of +8.91%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 5.6. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $17.79 million.

The stock HELE has a current short interest of 20.42%. The short interest percentage has experienced decrease of -1.24% while there was a change of -60000 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 13.6. Trading activity averages at 319.66K shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $2.48B.

Upcoming IPOs

Inno Holdings Inc. (INHD) is all set for its debut on the NASDAQ exchange on Nov 1, 2023. They are offering shares in the price range of to $4.00 - $5.00. With a total of 2,500,000 shares available, the company aims to raise approximately $11.25M through this IPO.

Mach Natural Resources LP (MNR) will be entering the market with its IPO on October 25, on the NYSE exchange. They are offering shares in the price range of $19.00 to $21.00. They plan to offer 10,000,000 shares, targeting a deal size of $200.00M.

Globavend Holdings Limited (GVH) is also scheduled to make its debut on the NASDAQ exchange on October 26. They are offering shares in the price range of $4.00 to $5.00. The IPO includes 1,875,000 shares, aiming for a deal size of $8.44M.

Prospect Energy Holdings Corp. (AMGS) is set to join the NASDAQ on October 27. The shares will be offered at a fixed price of $10.00 per share. They are offering 7,500,000 shares, with an estimated deal size of $75.00M.