U.S. stocks couldn't quite agree on a direction Friday, with the Dow Jones sliding around 200 points while tech stocks marched higher. The Dow traded down 0.44% to 47,249.55, but the NASDAQ rose 0.59% to 23,004.91. The S&P 500 split the difference, gaining 0.27% to 6,755.73.

Sector Performance

Utilities shares eked out a 0.1% gain on Friday, while communication services stocks took the biggest hit, falling 1% to lead the laggards.

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Spire Inc (SR) shares dropped more than 2% after delivering a disappointing quarterly report. The company posted losses of 47 cents per share, missing analyst expectations of 42 cents in losses. Revenue also came up short at $334.1 million versus the consensus estimate of $422.1 million.

Big Movers Higher

Cidara Therapeutics Inc (CDTX) absolutely exploded, jumping 105% to $217.18 after Merck agreed to acquire the company for $221.50 per share in a $9.2 billion cash deal. That's the kind of premium that makes biotech investors dream at night.

Scholar Rock Holding Corp (SRRK) shares surged 28% to $38.50 following the company's announcement of a $200 million equity offering.

Amaze Holdings Inc (AMZE) climbed 61% to $0.61 after reporting third-quarter financial results.

Notable Declines

TSS Inc (TSSI) got hammered, dropping 41% to $9.05 after reporting a year-over-year decrease in third-quarter financial results.

Gauzy Ltd (GAUZ) shares fell 30% to $2.81. The company disclosed it won't be releasing its third-quarter 2025 financial results on November 14 as previously planned, which never inspires confidence.

enVVeno Medical Corp (NVNO) tumbled 39% to $0.40 after receiving an unfavorable appeal decision from the FDA for the VenoValve.

Commodities Roundup

Oil traded up 1.9% to $59.81, but precious metals took a beating. Gold fell 2.2% to $4,103.20, while silver got hit even harder, down 5% to $50.52. Copper declined 1.1% to $5.049.

International Markets

European markets closed broadly lower. The eurozone's STOXX 600 fell 1.54%, while Spain's IBEX 35 Index dropped 1.93%. London's FTSE 100 declined 1.57%, Germany's DAX 40 slipped 1.34%, and France's CAC 40 dipped 1.29%.

Asian markets mostly followed suit on Friday. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.77%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.85%, and China's Shanghai Composite declined 0.97%. India's BSE Sensex bucked the trend, rising 0.10%.

Economic Data

The Baker Hughes oil rig count is scheduled for release today, providing insight into energy sector drilling activity.