US stocks edged higher Friday as investors weighed rising bond yields, oil prices, inflation concerns, and geopolitical developments. As of 11:20 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.30%, the S&P 500 rose 0.20%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.25%. 

The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.18%, its highest level since the global financial crisis, highlighting renewed pressure in bond markets. WTI crude fell to $92 per barrel, while Brent traded near $98, with US gasoline prices approaching $4.50 a gallon. 

Meanwhile, markets awaited the University of Michigan’s consumer-sentiment reading, while US-China discussions ended with limited policy changes and an agreement to maintain the trade status quo.

Top Movers: Under $10 

Marygold Companies Inc (MGLD) is up 94.02% today to trade at the current level of $1.94. This comes after Madison Dearborn Partners agreed to acquire The Marygold Companies in an all-cash deal, taking the company private.

Apimeds Pharmaceuticals US Inc (APUS) zoomed 34.00% in today’s trade to $6.59 after announcing a 12-month technology services agreement to power AQUAEChain with its MindChain infrastructure.

In current trading, INLIF Ltd (INLF) stock is at $5.16 after reporting first half of fiscal year 2026 financial results.

Jaguar Health Inc (JAGX) rose 29.89% in the early hours of today's trading to move to $9.17 following the filing of an 8-K form with the SEC.

In the current trading session, Firefly Neuroscience Inc (AIFF) jumped 35.29% to $1.61 over a previous close of $1.19 after partnering with NeuroSigma to expand access to the first FDA-cleared, non-drug treatment for pediatric ADHD.

Ex-Dividend Stocks

Great Southern Bancorp Inc (GSBC) is about to trade ex-dividend Monday, meaning that investors who buy the stock after Monday will not be eligible for the next dividend payment. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.43 per share. It set September 28 as the record date and will pay the dividend on October 14. Last year, the company distributed $1.72 per share to shareholders. Based on last year's worth of payments, GSBC has a trailing yield of 2.18% on the current stock price of $78.83.

Another stock that is shelling out dividends on Monday is Independent Bank Corp (INDB), having a market capitalization of $3.80B. It will pay a dividend of $0.64 per share, with a payment date of which is October 09. Currently, the stock is trading at a trailing dividend yield of 3.07%.

Shares of Isabella Bank Corp (ISBA) will be the talk of the stock market on Monday as the stock will turn ex-dividend. The company's next dividend payment will be $0.28 per share, and in the last 12 months, it paid a total of $1.12 per share. Last year's total dividend payments show that ISBA has a trailing yield of 2.99% on the current share price of $37.4.

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc (KDP) is also set to go ex-dividend on Monday. The next dividend payment from KDP will amount to $0.23 per share. September 28 has been designated as the record date for this dividend, with the actual payout scheduled for October 09. In the previous year, KDP distributed a total of $0.92 to its valued shareholders. Considering the cumulative dividend payments from last year, the trailing yield for KDP stands at 2.98% based on the current stock price of $30.88.

Prospect Capital Corp (PSEC) will be paying out a dividend of $0.04 per share to shareholders holding their shares as of the close of the business hours on the record date of October 28. Over the past 12 months, PSEC has paid out a total of $0.50 per share in dividends. Based on the total dividends paid out last year, PSEC boasts an impressive trailing yield of 22.94% on the current share price of $2.18.

Crypto Market Highlights

• Federal Reserve proposes new capital, redemption and regulatory requirements for stablecoin issuers under its supervision.

• Bitget confirms unauthorized transfers worth about $351.6 million and temporarily suspends withdrawals amid a security breach investigation.

• DoubleZero launches a dedicated Hyperliquid market-data feed, giving professional traders fiber-based access to the full order book.

• Sequans Communications sells its remaining 314 BTC, ending its Bitcoin treasury strategy after holding over 3,200 BTC.

• Solana Foundation appoints Rachel Conlan as chief strategy officer and Jamal Raees as general manager of payments.

Most Shorted Stocks

AST SpaceMobile Inc (ASTS) was one of the most shorted stocks as of latest short interest figures, with 21.20% short interest. The days to cover ratio, a measure of how long it would take for all the short positions to be covered based on average trading volume, is 6.9. This represents a change of 1120720 shares, which corresponds to a 1.75% increase in short interest. The total value of the shares held short is estimated to be around $3.98 billion. The average daily volume stands at 13.32M shares, and the market capitalization of the company is $23.76B.

The NCR Voyix Corp with the symbol VYX currently has a short interest of 21.53%. The short interest has changed by 144816 shares. The days to cover ratio stands at 10.1. The estimated value of the shares held short is approximately $209.15 million. On an average day, 2.54M shares are traded, with the company's market capitalization totaling $976.16M.

For the stock Flowers Foods Inc (FLO), the current short interest is at 23.63%. This represents a significant short interest change of 1447473 shares, corresponding to a short interest percentage increase of 3.21%. The days needed to cover the short positions amount to 5.6. The approximate worth of the shares held short is $270.1 million.

With the symbol ASST, the stock currently has a short interest of 28.80%. The short interest change is 4180931 shares, compared with a short interest percentage change of 21.16%. It would take approximately 2.4 days to cover all the short positions. The shares short value is estimated to be around $1.39 billion. The company boasts an average daily volume of 6.33M shares, contributing to a market capitalization of $2.92B.

The stock GLUE has a current short interest of 24.13%. The short interest percentage has experienced an increase of 6.58% while there was a change of 1190204 shares in short interest. The ratio indicating the time required to cover short positions is 17.1. The calculated worth of the shorted shares amounts to around $280.63 million. Trading activity averages at 1.42M shares per day, while the company's market capitalization stands at $999.88M.

Energy Stocks to Watch

According to our ST Score evaluation, Tenaris SA ADR (TS) emerges as a high-quality stock in the Energy industry, attaining an impressive score of 59. The stock's profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score are strong. However, its growth are weak. Additionally, it is neutral in terms of performance, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Our ST Score also classifies HF Sinclair Corp (DINO) as a high-quality Energy stock today, presenting a Score of 58. The stock has strong fundamentals in terms of profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score. The performance, growth, stock sentiment, and forecast are neutral.

Another stock in the category, First Solar Inc (FSLR) has the ST Score of 57, which means that the stock carries the potential for higher returns. The stock is strong in profitability, financial strength, and Piotroski Score but weak in growth. Performance, stock sentiment, and forecast suggest a neutral outlook.

Sasol Ltd ADR (SSL) stock has the ST Score of 52, which implies that the Energy company has a high probability of beating the market. The stock's strengths lie in its profitability and Piotroski Score. However, it shows a neutral outlook in performance, growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and forecast.

Par Pacific Holdings Inc (PARR) currently has the ST Score of 61, which signifies a huge upward potential. The Energy stock's strong points are its profitability, performance, and Piotroski Score. The stock's growth, financial strength, stock sentiment, and forecast indicate a neutral outlook.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading. Good luck out there!

Best Regards,

Stocks Telegraph Team