Southwest Airlines surged 7.3% after announcing stronger-than-expected Q4 revenue guidance, while Circle Internet Group climbed 9.8% on renewed investor confidence in stablecoin adoption. Halliburton rose 5.1% following a major U.S. energy contract win.
- Southwest Airlines (LUV) rose 7.3% on Q4 revenue guidance of $5.1 billion
- Circle Internet Group (CI) gained 9.8% after signing a stablecoin integration deal
- Halliburton (HAL) climbed 5.1% on a $1.2 billion U.S. government geothermal contract
- Priceline Group (PCLN) advanced 4.3% amid strong holiday travel bookings
- Meta Platforms (META) dropped 3.7% due to EU privacy regulation concerns
- USDC transaction volume rose 34% over last quarter, per company data
Southwest Airlines (LUV) posted a 7.3% rally in midday trading after updating its fourth-quarter revenue forecast to $5.1 billion, exceeding analyst expectations by 6.2%. The increase reflects higher passenger demand and improved load factors, particularly on domestic routes. The company also reported a 12% rise in year-over-year booking volumes for the holiday travel season. Circle Internet Group (CI) jumped 9.8% after the digital asset firm confirmed a new partnership with a U.S.-based financial institution to integrate its USD Coin (USDC) into retail payment platforms. The move signals growing institutional confidence in regulated stablecoins, with Circle reporting a 34% quarterly increase in USDC transaction volume over the last 90 days. Halliburton (HAL) advanced 5.1% after securing a $1.2 billion contract from the U.S. Department of Energy to support geothermal drilling operations in Nevada and Utah. The project is expected to begin in Q2 2026 and could expand into additional federal initiatives, contributing to Halliburton’s projected 18% growth in energy services revenue for 2026. Other notable movers included a 4.3% gain in Priceline Group (PCLN) as e-commerce travel bookings rose 17% in December, and a 3.7% decline in Meta Platforms (META) following a regulatory filing about potential privacy rule changes in the European Union.