Seana Smith

    Host

    Seana Smith co-hosts Yahoo Finance’s closing bell coverage from 3-5 p.m. ET. Previously, she anchored ‘The Ticker’ and ‘Midday Movers’ on Yahoo Finance, and spent time reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Before joining Yahoo Finance, Seana worked as a writer and producer at Fox Business. Seana holds a master’s degree in economics and a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in business from Lehigh University

  • Consumer sentiment drops, Tesla's Supercharger, Zeekr IPO: Catalysts

    The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index reported that preliminary data for the month of May fell below estimates, a six-month low of 67.4, which could complicate the Federal Reserve's mission to drive inflation down to 2%. Artificial intelligence developer OpenAI is reportedly developing an AI-powered search engine that could rival Alphabet's Google (GOOGL, GOOG), and it could drop as early as Monday, May 13 according to Reuters. Path Trading Partners Co-Founder and Chief Market Strategist Bob Iaccino joins Catalysts to detail how Fed interest rate cuts and asset inflation could fuel a jump in gold futures (GC=F). Gartner Vice President and Team Manager of Automotives, Transportation, and Cross Manufacturing Mike Ramsey also sits down to explain the future of Tesla's (TSLA) Supercharger network and the EV maker's plans for its full self-driving autonomous vehicles down the line. Other notable guests this hour include Santander US CEO Tim Wennes (SAN) and Gen Digital CEO Vincent Pilette (GEN). This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Making sense of Tesla's Supercharger, autonomous strategies

    Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has big plans to expand the EV maker's Supercharger network by investing over $500 million into the project, according to a recent post on X. The irony lies in the fact that Tesla laid off a bulk of its Supercharger development team at the end of April. Gartner Vice President and Team Manager of Automotives, Transportation, and Cross Manufacturing Mike Ramsey sits down with Catalysts to discuss Tesla's charging network strategy, calling the layoffs a "cost optimization effort as they try to get their operations in line" "But, the investment in the network actually makes a lot of sense, and might be a real benefit to them in the long term as a new source of revenue," Ramsey tells Yahoo Finance. Ramsey goes on to comment on Tesla's full self-driving capabilities in its vehicles; Tesla's Autopilot function is currently undergoing a probe by Department of Justice (DOJ) officials. "What they're charging customers for is a partially automated system that is more like a convenience feature. It is not a self-driving vehicle, like something that Waymo is offering in the southeast United States and in San Francisco," Ramsey states. "So when Tesla talks about this service improving and rolling out, they are not really playing in the same field as many of the, I would say, fully autonomous robocab-type providers are playing. That said, their system keeps getting better and better and they can make money selling it because it's a nice feature and that people like to have, and... Tesla has promised that in August they're going to unveil their new robocab that can... essentially be a full self-driving vehicle. My expectation is that vehicle will not be the same thing that you and I can buy..." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Target cutting back on Pride Month merchandise after backlash

    Target (TGT) is planning to pull back on its promotion and sale of LGBTQ+-themed merchandise in its stores for Pride Month this year, according to Bloomberg reports. The retailer faced major backlash last year, which led to hostile confrontations for shoppers and workers alike. This all affected Target's sales and showed. up in its earnings. Catalysts Co-Hosts Madison Mills and Seana Smith comment on Target's decision ahead of June's Pride Month. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Is corporate America sitting out the 2024 presidential election?

    As the 2024 presidential election nears, more corporate leaders are choosing not to comment on hot-button issues. Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Rick Newman joins Catalysts to explain why Corporate America may be choosing to sit this election out. While Biden and Trump have vastly different policies, corporations historically have played both sides in elections. "They will give more or less equally to both parties because they want to make sure they have friends in high places no matter who wins," Newman explains, anticipating corporate donations to be "robust" during this election year. As the war in Gaza escalates, Newman says companies "just can't win by taking a stand, so they just want to be as neutral as possible." He adds that corporate borrowing is rising as companies expect more volatility in the closing months of the election season. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • How Gen Digital handles modern identity theft

    In the age of AI, the potential for exploitation of this technology for digital theft is a concern. Gen Digital (GEN) aims to help protect against data theft. The company's fourth quarter report revealed better-than-expected earnings, showing a growing demand for its services. Gen Digital CEO Vincent Pilette joins Catalysts to discuss the company's recent performance and explain how Gen can help with the growing complications in keeping data secure. Pilette outlines the current landscape of identity theft: "You can have your personal data stolen from somewhere else than you own devices and a year later being posted in the dark web, being bought by bad actors. And suddenly you wake up and you have credit cards and mortgages taken on your name and your identity being stolen, and you don't realize it. So we've evolved our portfolio to be uniquely centric around the user and protecting your data from not only just device security, overall security, but also identity protection and restoration services, giving consumers the ability to also understand their data and their privacy features they want to have in the dark web all the way to the ability to manage your own reputation online." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Novavax-Sanofi vaccine deal, Yelp and Sweetgreen earnings: Morning Brief

    On today's episode of The Morning Brief, Hosts Seana Smith and Brad Smith break down some of the biggest news affecting the market (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC). President Biden is reportedly set to release a new wave of tariffs targeting China in critical sectors, including electric vehicles, semiconductors, and solar equipment. Novavax (NVAX) shares skyrocket following the announcement of a $1.2 billion deal with Sanofi (SNY) to commercialize its combined COVID-19 and flu shot. Restaurant and business review platform Yelp (YELP) misses first-quarter earnings estimates as US consumer spending remains relatively weak. Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) sales jumped nearly 60% year-over-year as the artificial intelligence race heats up and demand for chips rises. Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives joins Yahoo Finance to discuss "the fourth Industrial Revolution" in AI and Apple's (AAPL) position among other Big Tech competitors. Sweetgreen (SG) shares soar after topping first-quarter revenue expectations and raising its full-year guidance. CEO Jonathan Neman joins to discuss the company's plans moving forward. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • Ford CFO John Lawler to be succeeded by former Lucid exec.

    Former Lucid (LCID) Chief Financial Officer Sherry House will succeed Ford (F) CFO John Lawler in his role in early 2025. Yahoo Finance Senior Autos Reporter Pras Subramanian explains Lawler's gradual move into vice chairman at Ford and how his new position could aid Ford in expanding its international business. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Chinese EV maker Zeekr pricing IPO at $21 ahead of NYSE debut

    Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr (ZK) made its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange today. The company is the first major Chinese EV maker to go public since XPeng Motors (XPEV) and Li Auto (LI) in 2020. Zeekr is set to sell 21 million shares priced at $21. The company is expected to be a top competitor to Tesla (TSLA), as its CEO Andy An pointed to a narrowing sales gap between the two EV makers. The company has also recently announced plans to expand to Europe and Latin America this year. Catalysts Anchors Seana Smith and Madison Mills break down Zeekr's future as the Biden Administration is reportedly set to release new tariffs targeting the China's electric vehicles sector. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • Gold could go 4.8% higher on asset inflation, Fed: Strategist

    Gold (GC=F) has seen quite the run in 2024 and is set for its best week since early April. The commodity is often viewed as a hedge bet against inflation, but could all that change if the Federal Reserve decides to cut interest rates? Path Trading Partners Co-Founder and Chief Market Strategist Bob Iaccino joins Catalysts to discuss the momentum behind gold futures and what it means for both the Fed and gold traders Iaccino speculates on gold's future movements: "If inflation is picking up again, which I believe it is, gold will rally as a function of asset inflation." He continues: "When you look at asset inflation that comes with it, those of us that own assets like gold, we benefit from that. So my target for gold is about 4.8% higher from here. Very specific: $2,491 [per ounce]. If you get to $24,91, the speculator will probably push it to $2,500 just because they like those numbers." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Moderna: FDA postpones RSV vaccine approval

    Moderna (MRNA) has announced a setback in the anticipated approval of its RSV vaccine. The biopharmaceutical company says that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has postponed the decision to approve the vaccine until the end of May due to administrative constraints. Yahoo Finance's health reporter Anjalee Khemlani breaks down the details. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • What May consumer sentiment signals for the Fed: Strategist

    The May University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment reading scored 67.4, a six-month low and far beneath an expected 76.2. Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu wrote that consumers express "worries that inflation, unemployment, and interest rates may all be moving in an unfavorable direction in the year ahead." Head of Americas Equities at Janus Henderson Investors Marc Pinto joins Catalysts to give insight into the Consumer Sentiment numbers and what the data signals about the strength of the consumer. When asked if the Fed cares about consumers' reaction to current inflation, Pinto states, "No, they clearly want it, below 3% and is close to two as possible. I think they're obviously tracking all the different metrics. I think wage inflation, from our vantage point, is one of the most important ones... Obviously, there are parts of inflation that are out of control of the Fed, whether it's energy prices or housing prices, those are more driven by externalities and cyclical factors. But the Fed is trying to manage the mandate between keeping inflation in check, but also keeping the economy on solid footing." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Taiwan Semiconductor sales jump nearly 60% YoY on AI demand

    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) shares are rising after the company reported that its sales jumped nearly 60% year over year. Yahoo Finance Tech Editor Dan Howley joins The Morning Brief to discuss the company's position in the AI chip race. The rising demand for chips built for artificial intelligence largely drove Taiwan Semiconductor's sales last quarter. The company also produces smartphone chips, but AI chips took the lead as demand slumped. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • Apple is catching up with the AI revolution: Dan Ives

    As Big Tech companies reported earnings, they also revealed a massive wave of planned spending on AI projects and infrastructure. Some companies like Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Meta (META), and Microsoft (MSFT) have pulled ahead, while others, like Apple (AAPL), have faced mounting challenges. Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives joins The Morning Brief to discuss what he calls "the fourth industrial revolution" in AI and Apple's advances on the front. Ives states that Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference will be paramount for Apple: "I think it's probably the most important event for Apple that we've seen potentially in a decade because this is going to be [CEO Tim] Cook laying out the AI strategy on the services side for developers, what I believe is really the start of an AI app store in terms of how that's going to morph and then its proprietary AI technology in iPhone 16, which will launch in September." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino

  • Sweetgreen stock soars on 26% jump in Q1 revenue

    Shares of Sweetgreen (SG) are soaring on Friday, following the company's first quarter results, which beat revenue expectations. Sweetgreen also raised its full-year guidance, further boosting the stock in today's trade. Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman joins the Morning Brief to discuss the company's plans moving forward. Neman commends the company's "very strong quarter," attributing the success to the consumer's resilience. However, on the operations front, the company grappled with a loss; Neman remains optimistic, stating, "There's a lot of leverage in the business." He hopes the company can overcome this loss and capitalize on the current momentum. Neman also shares insights into the company's improvements and expansions, including new product offerings and the implementation of advanced technology to enhance productivity and efficiency across locations. Additionally, he outlines Sweetgreen's plans for achieving profitability. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • Consumer sentiment falls for May amid inflation woes: UMich

    The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index fell below preliminary estimates for May, sharing a print of 67.4 against expectations for 76.2 Catalysts' Seana Smith and Madison Mills examine the data and how it is being represented in consumer responses to prolonged inflation. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Yelp stock reacts to weak Q2 guidance, consumer trends

    Restaurant and business review platform Yelp (YELP) missed first-quarter estimates on the top and bottom lines, despite reporting a 7% rise in revenue year-over-year. The stock is ticking down on its weak second-quarter forecast. Morning Brief Co-Hosts Seana Smith and Brad Smith comment on what Yelp's performance indicates about US consumer spending. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Novavax shares skyrocket on $1.2 billion Sanofi vaccine deal

    Novavax (NVAX) shares are skyrocketing after announcing a $1.2 billion deal with Sanofi (SNY) to commercialize a combined COVID-19 and flu shot. Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Khemlani joins The Morning Brief to report more on the story. The Novavax-Sanofi deal also includes co-commercialization of the COVID-19 vaccine currently on the market. Novavax will be entitled to an additional $200 million for any new vaccines involving its adjuvant. Sanofi will receive a minority stake of less than 5% in Novavax and will invest $70 million. Shares of Novavax jumped more than 120% following the news. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Melanie Riehl

  • Stocks open higher, Dow and utilities sector rally further

    The market averages (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC) open Friday's session higher as all three of the US indexes seek to close the week out in the green. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is roaring to continue its rally to an eight day win streak. Yahoo Finance Senior Markets Reporter Jared Blikre joins Morning Brief Anchors Seana Smith and Brad Smith in their analysis of sector leaders, including gains seen in utilities (XLU). For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • Biden to unveil China tariffs targeting EVs, semiconductors

    President Biden is reportedly set to release a new wave of tariffs targeting China in critical sectors, including electric vehicles, semiconductors, and solar equipment. Yahoo Finance's Rick Newman and Pras Subramanian break down the details of this decision, providing insights into the objectives behind these tariffs and their potential implications for EV automakers. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • SoundHound AI stock jumps after raising 2024 revenue outlook

    Shares of SoundHound AI (SOUN) are jumping Friday morning in pre-market trading as the company boosted its full-year revenue outlook for 2024. The artificial intelligence voice and speech recognition developer posted first-quarter revenue $11.6 million, a growth of 73% while closing the quarter with $226 Million in cash. Morning Brief Anchors Brad Smith and Seana Smith break down the latest development for SoundHound AI and analyst commentary around the AI stock. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino