Palantir, Micron Technology, Centene, Ball, and More

Major U.S. equities indexes climbed Monday afternoon amid optimism Congress could soon agree on a spending plan to end the record U.S. government shutdown. The S&P 500 was up close to 1%, and the Nasdaq rose over 1%. The Dow was higher as well.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) was the best-performing stock in the S&P 500, as the provider of software for government agencies stands to benefit from the end of the shutdown.

Shares of Micron Technology (MU) also took off following positive comments from Mizuho Securities, which said the chipmaker could get a boost from higher demand and pricing.

Eli Lilly (LLY) shares climbed after the drugmaker struck a partnership with Insilico Medicine to use artificial intelligence to discover new medicines.

Shares of Centene (CNC) and rival health insurance providers slumped after President Trump suggested federal health care money should circumvent insurers and go directly to people.

Metsera (MTSR) shares plunged after Novo Nordisk (NVO) didn’t raise its bid to purchase the biopharmaceutical firm that’s developing diabetes and weight-loss drugs, allowing Pfizer (PFE) to complete its $10 billion acquisition. Shares of Pfizer dropped as well.

Ball (BALL) shares fell as the maker of consumer packaging products announced CEO Daniel Fisher is stepping down, to be replaced by Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer Ronald Lewis.

Oil futures ticked lower, while gold prices advanced. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note gained. The U.S. dollar was up on the euro, pound, and yen. Most major cryptocurrencies traded in the green.