Stocks rose higher Friday, reversing some losses from Monday's dramatic selloff as market participants look ahead towards a busy week of economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added over 50 points, while the S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite each advanced about 0.5%.
Here's how the market settled to close out the week:
S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPY): +0.47% or +24.85 points to 5,344.16
Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DIA): +0.13% or +51.05 points to 39,497.54
Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: QQQ): +0.51% or +85.28 points to 16,745.30
On the Earnings Front:
Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) announced it is cutting 15% of its U.S. workforce, impacting about 2,000 positions, as part of a broader efficiency plan as it prepares to merge with Skydance Media. The company has identified $500 million in cost savings, including the layoffs, as part of $2 billion in synergies related to its merger with Skydance, which it agreed to last month.
This announcement followed the company's unexpected second-quarter profit of $26 million for its streaming division after losing $424 million a year ago. However, Paramount also took a $6 billion one-time impairment charge in relation to the decline in cable networks, similarly to Warner Bros. Discovery's (NASDAQ: WBD) $9.1 billion write-down disclosed on Wednesday.
Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) posted better-than-expected second-quarter results on Friday, but cautioned that travel demand is "softening" in its current quarter. This is the second time the company has cut its full-year guidance in response to waning demand this year.
The travel booking company slashed its full-year gross bookings growth forecast to the low end of its previous guidance range to 4%, CFO Julie Whalen told analyst during the company's earnings call. Expedia also calls for 6% growth in annual revenue and third-quarter gross bookings and revenue to increase between 3% to 5%.
"In July, we have seen a more challenging macro environment and a softening in travel demand," CEO Ariane Gorin said in a statement. "We are therefore adjusted our expectations for the rest of the year."
Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO) shares rose Friday after the video game maker reiterated its full-year bookings and earnings outlook despite its fiscal first-quarter revenue coming in slightly below analyst estimates. The company expects booking to be between $1.42 billion and $1.47 billion in the second quarter.
Take-Two said it expects net bookings to grow in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, building on the momentum of about 40 titles in its development pipeline through fiscal 2027.
Looking Ahead:
Next week hosts another round of economic readings including July's consumer price index (CPI), U.S. retail sales, and housing market data, as well as August's preliminary consumer sentiment reading.