The week kicked off on an upbeat note, with the Nasdaq notching a fresh record and the S&P 500 and Dow rising higher as traders leaned into a September rate cut.
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All eyes now shift to PPI (Wed) and CPI (Thu) to set the tone for next week’s Fed meeting. The market is leaning toward a rate cut—size still up for debate—while tech led again with Nvidia and Broadcom doing the heavy lifting.
Below were some of today’s big stars!
AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP) — S&P Add + AI Flywheel
AppLovin jumped after getting the call-up to the S&P 500 for the Sept. 22 rebalance.
That brings fresh attention (and fund flows) just as the story is hitting its stride: Axon 2.0 AI ad tools, stronger gaming monetization, and better margins. Scotiabank bumped its price target to $575 and highlighted e-commerce growth, profitability, and buybacks.
👉 Get the full story on AppLovin: AppLovin Stock Soars on S&P 500 Inclusion and Strategic Growth Prospects
Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD) — From Meme Era to the Major Leagues
Robinhood also got the S&P 500 nod and ripped to record highs. The inclusion caps a monster 12-month run powered by product expansion (including crypto), rising profitability expectations, and a steady stream of upgrades—Zacks has it at Strong Buy with 42% expected EPS growth this year.
Index inclusion adds demand and cements the platform alongside the benchmark’s heavyweights.
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👉 Get the full story on Robinhood: Robinhood Joins Elite Club: What’s Next?
Picard Medical (NASDAQ: PMI) — Hot IPO Tape, Small-Float Energy
Picard Medical popped about 19% on day one after pricing 4.25M shares at $4. Classic combo: small float, clean healthcare story, and a friendly tape for selective new issues. It’s another sign the IPO window isn’t shut—just picky.
👉 Get the full story on PMI: Picard Medical Skyrockets in Nasdaq Debut
QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) — Catalyst + Tape = Momentum
QuantumScape surged after a live demo with Volkswagen and Ducati showcased its solid-state batteries, re-igniting the bull case heading into B1 samples targeted for 2026. With a longer cash runway and the “Cobra” manufacturing process, the company put a real-world proof point behind a long-running EV battery story.
👉 Get the full story on QuantumScape: QuantumScape’s Surging Momentum: Key Insights This Week
What’s Driving Stocks This Week
- Macro backdrop: Nasdaq at new highs; traders are pricing a September cut with CPI/PPI as the final hurdle. A 25 bps cut is consensus; a 50 bps “catch-up” move is the wild card.
- Flows: S&P 500 nods for AppLovin and Robinhood set up sustained volume into the 9/22 rebalance. The Emcor Group (NYSE: EME) inclusion didn’t move the heavyweight construction stock much.
- Sector leadership: Chips led again—supportive for growth and AI-adjacent stories.
- Labor signal: Confidence in finding new work hit a survey low, underscoring the case for policy easing.
Big Picture
- APP and HOOD’s long-awaited S&P 500 additions show where the market’s attention is—growth names with real traction
- A solid debut for Picard Medical says the IPO window is opening in spots
- QuantumScape keeps running after a flashy demo with Volkswagen and Ducati
The next big test? This week’s inflation reports.
If the numbers cool off, the rally could spread wider. If they come in hot, expect money to stick with the strongest names and the clearest catalysts.
This is stock news, not investment advice. StocksToTrade News delivers real-time stock market updates tailored to highlight the key catalysts driving short-term price movements. Our coverage is designed for active traders and investors who thrive in fast-moving markets, with a focus on volatile sectors like penny stocks, AI stocks, Robinhood stocks and other momentum plays. From earnings reports and FDA approvals to mergers, new contracts, and unusual trading volume, we break down the events that can spark significant price action.
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