Inflation Watch and Tariff Uncertainty Loom, But These 5 Stocks Are on the Move

As we headed into Friday’s session, markets were flirting with near all-time highs.

The S&P 500 appears to be grinding higher despite the ongoing market volatility, as traders await the latest PCE inflation data, one of the Fed’s preferred gauges.

The NASDAQ also had a week of strong tech-led gains.

Behind the scenes, macro uncertainty continues to simmer.

The July 8 tariff deadline, from the dubbed “liberation day” by some, remains unresolved, with White House officials hinting that delays or extensions are still on the table.

At the same time, a strong rally in large-cap tech has helped mask pockets of volatility in the broader market.

Today, we’re tracking five companies making waves across the crypto, finance, telecom, mortgage, and mining sectors. Let’s dive into it.

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Riot Platforms | RIOT

Price: $10.53

RIOT surged over 5% Thursday and has now gained nearly 3% year-to-date as bitcoin prices stabilize and investor appetite for crypto-exposed equities returns.

The stock got an added boost this week from Needham, which raised its price target to $15, citing the company’s Corsicana site as a potential game-changer for high-performance computing (HPC).

The site’s proximity to Dallas and low-latency infrastructure could give RIOT a competitive edge in serving AI inference workloads, an area of growing demand.

While no major leases are expected until mid-2026, early interest suggests Corsicana could become a multi-year catalyst.

RIOT remains highly volatile, but for aggressive investors, it may be a speculative name to watch ahead of earnings later this summer.

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Huntington Bancshares | HBAN

Price: $16.61

Huntington rose 2.2% on Thursday and is up more than 2% year-to-date. The bank has quietly become a regional standout, thanks in part to its national expansion strategy.

Most recently, it entered Florida’s commercial banking scene with a new middle-market office in Fort Lauderdale, following similar moves in Texas and the Carolinas.

HBAN’s dividend yield of 3.8% and forward P/E of 12.8 give it appeal to both income and value investors.

Analysts are optimistic about the bank’s ability to grow earnings through strategic lending and capital markets offerings.

If the Fed stays on hold and lending stabilizes, HBAN could continue to outperform regional peers in the second half of 2025.

Nokia | NOK

Price: $5.17

Nokia slipped slightly on Thursday but remains up over 16% this year.

The telecom giant has been gaining institutional attention as a surprisingly solid pick under $10, with hedge fund ownership and a decent 2.7% dividend yield adding to the appeal.

The launch of its DAC Marketplace, a platform that bundles industrial edge solutions, devices, and services, signals that Nokia is focused on capturing share in digital transformation for enterprises.

While its growth is modest compared to higher-flying tech names, its consistent execution and low beta make it a potentially defensive pick heading into a volatile Q3.

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Rocket Companies | RKT

Price: $14.22

Rocket gained over 1% Thursday and remains one of the more interesting turnaround stories in fintech.

The company’s proposed $4 billion debt offering to acquire Redfin and Mr. Cooper Group underscores its ambition to diversify its revenue and gain more control over the home-buying process.

That said, the stock still trades below its 52-week high and faces margin pressure, as evidenced by its recent earnings, which showed a net loss.

Valuation is also a concern, as RKT sports a staggering 724x trailing P/E.

Still, long-term bulls argue that if integration proceeds smoothly and mortgage demand increases, Rocket could benefit from scale advantages in a fragmented housing market.

Hudbay Minerals | HBM

Price: $10.57

Hudbay soared 9% on Thursday, adding to a stellar 33% year-to-date rally.

The Canadian miner was recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), driven by improving earnings forecasts and bullish sentiment around copper demand.

With infrastructure spending and clean energy projects pushing base metal demand higher, Hudbay’s diversified portfolio and production growth outlook make it a rare inflation hedge that also offers growth potential.

Institutional investors are also beginning to take notice.

If earnings continue to surprise to the upside and commodity prices hold firm, HBM may have more room to run, especially as geopolitical risk drives renewed interest in North American mining assets.

Friday was a solid day for learning, and beneath the macro calm, stock-level stories are driving real opportunity.

Names like RIOT and HBM offer exposure to secular growth trends, like crypto infrastructure and clean energy, while HBAN and NOK provide value and defensiveness in uncertain times.

Rocket, meanwhile, may be carving a long-term path through bold M&A, despite near-term risks.

As always, diversification and selectivity are the most important factors.

With record highs in sight and tariffs looming, this is a market where disciplined positioning beats chasing headlines.