12:10 PM EDT, 06/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 were both up after midday trading Friday as shares of Nvidia (NVDA) slipped for a second straight day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down nearly 0.1%.

In company news, Boeing ( BA ) is close to buying back its former subsidiary, Spirit AeroSystems (SPR), Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Boeing ( BA ) started discussions to reacquire Spirit earlier this year in order to stabilize its supply chain. Airbus, Boeing's ( BA ) chief rival, threatened to block any deal that involved Boeing ( BA ) building parts for its newest models, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Airbus is set to acquire Spirit's unit in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that makes wings for its smallest A220 model, as well as facilities in Kinston, North Carolina, and Saint-Nazaire, France, that supply critical components for the advanced A350 widebody, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the discussions. Airbus is also closing in on a deal for a facility in Preswick, Scotland, that makes components for the A320 model, the people reportedly told Bloomberg. Shares of Boeing ( BA ) were up 0.1% after noon, while those of Spirit were up 6.1%.

Amazon.com (AMZN) is planning to introduce a conversational artificial intelligence version of its Alexa services called "Remarkable Alexa," with a premium version priced between $5 and $10 per month, Reuters reported Friday, citing people with direct knowledge of the company's plans. The paid version could handle complex tasks like composing and sending emails and ordering food from Uber Eats, according to the report. Amazon shares were up nearly 1%.

Lockheed Martin (LMT) subsidiaries and senior executives were sanctioned by China over arms sales made to Taiwan, China's foreign ministry said in a Friday statement. China will freeze immovable, movable and other assets within its territory belonging to Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories and Lockheed Martin Ventures, the statement said. It will also freeze the movable, immovable and other properties in China of Chief Executive James Taiclet, Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John and Chief Financial Officer Jesus Malave, according to the statement. Lockheed shares were up 0.3%.

American Express (AXP) agreed to acquire Tock, a restaurant reservation software platform, from Squarespace (SQSP) for $400 million, the companies said Friday. American Express also said it will acquire Rooam, a contactless payment solutions company used by restaurants. Financial terms of that deal were not disclosed. Shares of American Express were down 0.6%, while those of Squarespace were up 0.2%.

KKR & Co (KKR) said Friday it agreed to acquire Superstruct Entertainment, a company that owns and operates music festivals in Europe and Australia, for 1.3 billion British pounds ($1.64 billion), the Financial Times reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares of KKR were down 2.4%.

American Airlines Group (AAL) is suspending training for new pilots through the end of the year, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing an emailed statement from the company. Classes for new hires have been canceled for September, October and November, while there is no training scheduled for December, Bloomberg reported, citing the emailed statement. Pilots with conditional job offers will be given new dates in 2025, according to the report. American Airlines shares were fractionally lower.

US District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla on Thursday dismissed all claims in a lawsuit between Capital One Financial (COF) and Walmart (WMT) over the companies' credit card partnership. In 2018, Walmart and Capital One entered into a contract for the latter to issue Walmart-branded credit cards in the US. In its lawsuit, originally filed in April 2023, Walmart claimed that Capital One failed to meet several service requirements, giving Walmart the right to terminate the contract. However, Capital One denied Walmart's right to terminate the contract, leading Walmart to pursue legal action. Walmart shares were up 0.4%, while those of Capital One were down 2%.

Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) said on Friday it has entered into agreements to sell $750 million of 12.625% first-lien senior secured notes due 2029, up from the previously announced $500 million. The company also said it has agreed to sell $250 million of 8.000% exchangeable senior second-lien secured payment-in-kind notes due 2029. The offerings are slated to be completed by June 28, Hertz said. Shares of the company were up 8.8%.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) said on Friday it has completed its acquisition of biotechnology company Proteologix for $850 million in cash with the potential for an additional milestone payment. Johnson & Johnson said the deal will be accounted for as a business combination and will not have an impact on its previously stated 2024 adjusted earnings guidance. Shares of the company were up 0.2%.

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