Thursday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market in the next trading session

The S&P 500 ended Wednesday near the flatline, but the broad market index remains in striking distance of its record. Here’s what CNBC is watching Thursday.

2 expensive mistakes most retirees make — and how to avoid them April 17, 2026
“We call them ‘King Tut’ subjects — they’re buried with their gold.”
Robert Powell
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to exit company, saying it’s so strong it doesn’t need him anymore April 17, 2026
The announcement came as Netflix reported first-quarter profits that shattered expectations, which it attributed in large part to faster-than-forecast subscriber growth, a recent price increase and the $2.8 billion breakup fee it received when its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery collapsed.
Lukas I. Alpert
Mutual insurance companies are paying record-breaking dividends to their customers this year. Is using one right for you? April 16, 2026
While most carriers pocket your premiums, mutual-insurance companies are owned by their customers.
Genna Contino
With the largest industrial IPO since 1999, this air-quality giant’s stock opens with a bang April 16, 2026
Madison Air raises $2.2 billion in the largest IPO this year, and the largest from the industrial sector since 1999.
Tomi Kilgore
Pepsi says price cuts and wellness push are bringing back customers — and the stock surges April 16, 2026
PepsiCo shares rallied Thursday after the beverage and snack giant indicated that new products and recent price cuts had brought back wary customers, while noting that it hadn’t taken much of a hit yet from the Iran war.
Bill Peters
Jury finds that Live Nation is an illegal monopoly, but a breakup with Ticketmaster is unlikely, analysts say April 16, 2026
Some analysts say the most likely outcome for Live Nation would be more damages and penalties. Shares of the concert-ticketing giant rose on Thursday after falling a day earlier.
Bill Peters
AMD has ‘indispensable assets’ — powering the stock toward its best run in two decades April 16, 2026
AMD’s business of selling server CPUs has renewed shine in the eyes of investors.
Hannah Pedone
Microsoft’s stock sees its best four-day stretch in six years — with an extreme bounce April 16, 2026
The extent of Microsoft’s recent stock gains, relative to what the options market was pricing, is something that “should only happen about one out of every hundred weeks,” analyst says.
Hannah Pedone
‘Felony charges are pending’: My mother set up a trust for my sibling who stole $100,000 from a bank. Can the trust be seized? April 16, 2026
“Mom established a trust for one sibling who was not trustworthy. I am the trustee of my sibling’s trust.”
Quentin Fottrell
‘We keep our finances separate’: My boyfriend is in his 50s with no retirement savings — how worried should I be? April 16, 2026
“He built our home over the last three years. We are both on the title and carry no mortgage.”
Quentin Fottrell