Gas Prices, AI Winners and Deal Activity Drive a Mixed Market Narrative — Sentiment Sags as Earnings and M&A Reshape Flows

Today’s tape was a study in contrasts: strong earnings and AI-driven upside in pockets of tech and cyclicals lifted ETFs and futures, even as consumer sentiment hit a fresh record low and energy-driven inflation kept retail and big-ticket spending under pressure. M&A and tender-offer developments added defined near-term catalysts for select equities.