Stocks on the Move as S&P 500 Records Loom

Stocks are moving higher today, as Nvidia (NVDA) earnings anticipation reaches a fever pitch. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is up 98 points at last check, brushing off some NVDA pre-event jitters thanks to a sizable move from Salesforce (CRM). The S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) have both brushed off a brief dip in the red and were last seen cautiously higher, the former heading for a record close. 

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• Software stock up over 20% after earnings.
• What's ailing ANF, despite an earnings beat?
• Plus, OKTA options buzz; lithium stock upgraded; and PSKY's wild ride.

Okta Inc (NASDAQ:OKTA) stock is a target of options traders today. At last check, 42,000 calls have changed hands, volume that's 5 times the average intraday amount. The weekly 8/29 100-strike call is the most popular, while new positions are being bought to open at the weekly 8/29 90-strike put. OKTA is 3.5% higher to trade at $94.76, after the identity software company posted a second-quarter top-line beat and an optimistic Q3 forecast, putting the shares 20% higher in 2025. 

Albemarle Corp (NYSE:ALB) is one of the better stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, last seen up 3.8% to trade at $84.65, after UBS upgraded the lithium miner to "neutral" from "sell." While also hiking its price target to $89 from $62, the analyst in coverage was optimistic China supply issues buoying lithium prices. Thanks to a 36% quarterly gain, ALB is now battling its year-to-date breakeven level, an area that roughly coincides with a summer ceiling at $87.

Paramount Skydance Corp (NASDAQ:PSKY) stock is near the bottom of the Nasdaq today, down 4.5% to trade at $15.13, after Morgan Stanley trimmed its price target to $10 from $12. PSKY has been extremely volatile since its merger earlier this month, and is 44% higher year to date.