Stock Market Today, Oct. 9: AT&T Slides on SpaceX Spectrum Deal Threat
AT&T declined 9.81% to $22.17 on volume of 140.3 million shares, about 182% above its three-month average. The article notes that before SpaceX acquired this spectrum, investors perceived the three carriers as an oligopoly, and that SpaceX could become America’s fourth wireless carrier. The Motley Fool
SpaceX's $8 billion 800 MHz buy sends Crown Castle, American Tower and SBA shares soaring on a tenant that hasn't signed a lease
SpaceX agreed to acquire up to 14 MHz of paired 800 MHz spectrum from Grain Management, which The Wall Street Journal reported at approximately $8 billion in cash, pending FCC approval. Bernstein cautioned that “buying spectrum is not a commitment to build.” Wireless Estimator
Humana (HUM) Shares Surge Nearly 12% on Medicare Advantage Star Rating Upgrade
Humana closed at $431.87 on October 9. The article states that 95% of its Medicare Advantage members will be enrolled in plans rated four stars or higher for 2027, with 42% in 4.5-star plans. GuruFocus
Why Moderna Stock Surged Today
Moderna gained $28.00 (+14.21%) to close at $225.00. The article attributes the move to reports that the NIH plans to begin a campaign in December to fast-track cancer treatment research, and notes that Moderna and Merck announced results showing their mRNA cancer therapy increased the time before cancer returned or spread in patients with high-risk melanoma. The Motley Fool
| Asset | Close | Chg | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500^GSPC | 7,811.54 | +46.18 | +0.59% |
| Nasdaq Composite^IXIC | 27,366.17 | +172.83 | +0.64% |
| Dow Jones^DJI | 51,654.95 | +423.31 | +0.83% |
| CBOE Volatility Index^VIX | 14.84 | -0.57 | -3.70% |
| U.S. Dollar IndexDXY · 4:00 PM ET | 102.23 | +0.13 | +0.13% |
| Brent CrudeICE Dec '26 · 2:30 PM ET settle | $104.43 | +$0.15 | +0.14% |
| GoldCOMEX Dec '26 · 1:30 PM ET | $4,216.10 | +$60.60 | +1.46% |
| Tenor | Close | Chg | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-MonthT-bill | 4.13% | -1bp | -0.24% |
| 3-MonthT-bill | 4.25% | +2bp | +0.47% |
| 6-MonthT-bill | 4.32% | +2bp | +0.47% |
| 1-YearT-note | 4.47% | +3bp | +0.68% |
| 2-YearT-note | 4.80% | +5bp | +1.05% |
| 5-YearT-note | 5.02% | +3bp | +0.60% |
| 10-YearT-note | 5.24% | +2bp | +0.38% |
| 30-YearT-bond | 5.60% | 0bp | 0.00% |
Equities closed the week on a firm footing, with the S&P 500 up 0.59% at 7,811.54 and the VIX slipping below 15 to 14.84. The more informative action was beneath the index, where SpaceX’s agreement to acquire spectrum from Grain Management repriced two corners of the market in opposite directions. The national carriers sold off hard (T-Mobile -13.27%, AT&T -10.82%, Verizon -10.14%), weighing on Communication Services (-1.51%), while the tower operators rallied (Crown Castle +15.60%, American Tower +9.30%, SBA Communications +7.34%) on the prospect of a new tenant, helping Real Estate (+1.86%) finish as the top sector. Per Wireless Estimator, Bernstein cautioned that buying spectrum is not a commitment to build, so the tower move prices an option rather than a signed lease.
Health Care (+1.58%) was the other leader, with Humana (+11.56%) rising on its improved 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings and Moderna (+14.21%) on cancer-research news. Rates were less forgiving than equities: yields rose across the curve out to five years, led by the 2-year at 4.80% (+5bp), while the 10-year edged up 2bp to 5.24% and the 30-year held at 5.60%, a modest flattening of the 2s10s spread. Gold gained 1.46% to $4,216.10 (1:30 PM ET print) even as the dollar firmed (DXY 102.23), and Brent was little changed at $104.43.
The coming week shifts to inflation and earnings. Major bank earnings begin Tuesday, per TheStreet, and September CPI arrives Wednesday at 8:30 AM ET, followed by the 2:00 PM ET Beige Book. With front-end yields already moving higher, the print will be read closely. Retail sales and the Producer Price Index follow on Thursday, and industrial production on Friday at 9:15 AM ET.