Tesla robot axles, longshoremen and automation: I'm asking about a trend

On today's episode of Asking for a Trend, host Josh Lipton breaks down some of the biggest stories and topics from the trading day.

Tesla's (TSLA) highly anticipated robotaxi event takes place on Thursday, and Barron's co-editor Al Root points out five things investors want from the highly anticipated event. First there will be a physical unveiling of the robotaxis. Second, investors want to know more about security data. Next, Tesla will likely delve into its business model, discussing everything from licensing to the size of its robotaxi fleet. The fourth thing investors will look for is a launch date. Tesla could finally announce something additional. Root explains: “Many people believe that we will see the lower-priced so-called Model 2 maybe emerge in early 2025. And maybe an update on the robot called Optimist.”

Stocks (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC) closed lower on Monday, retreating from Friday's gains fueled by better-than-expected September jobs numbers. Josh Schafer, Senior Markets Reporter at Yahoo Finance, analyzes the day's key market trends, focusing on the rise in 10-year Treasury yields (^TNX) and the noticeable slowdown in interest rate-sensitive stocks.

Dock workers' strikes in the US have been temporarily paused, allowing negotiations to continue. Shital Thekdi, a professor at the University of Richmond's Robins School of Business, notes that the core of the port strike dialogue focuses on “efficiency and the use of automation in a way that can replace workers.” However, she emphasizes that other critical considerations also play a role, including extreme events, “atypical working conditions” and “generally unsafe working conditions”. “The potential is that AI and technology can actually help improve worker health and safety, which is incredibly important,” Thekdi tells Yahoo Finance.

Will good economic news finally become good news for stocks? Yahoo Finance host Julie Hyman discusses Citi's Economic Surprise Index and how positive data – in the form of inflation data and jobs numbers – could pull stock prices higher.

This article was written by Melanie Riehl