Ten companies–predominantly gold miners–led Wednesday’s rally on Wall Street, despite the latter’s main indices closing mixed.
The Dow Jones eked out a 0.25 percent gain, while the S&P’s main index inched up 0.16 percent. Nasdaq bucked counterparts, dipping by 0.06 percent.
In this article, we will look at the performance of the some of the gainers and explore the reasons behind their jump.
We considered only the stocks with at least $2 billion in market capitalization and $5 million in daily trading volume to come up with Wednesday’s top advancers.
A front loader and a white dump truck in a mine site. Photo by Ivan on Pexels
10. Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX)
Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) —a biotechnology company—saw its share price rise by 4.3 percent to $95.95 apiece on Wednesday as investors took heart from news that it would acquire Bolt Medical Inc. for $664 million.
According to Boston Scientific, it would pay $443 million upfront, while up to $221 million will be paid in milestones.
Prior to the ownership hike, Boston Scientific already owned more than 20 percent of Bolt Medical. Its acquisition will allow the company to enter the intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) market.
Bolt Medical is focused on the design and development of laser-based IVL catheters used in coronary and peripheral interventional procedures, particularly in patients with moderate to severe calcified arterial disease, an innovation that helped establish its name in 2019. According to the company, it currently employs around 250 employees.
9. Maplebear Inc. (CART)
Maplebear Inc. (CART), which operates grocery technology Instacart, registered a 4.45-percent increase in its share price on Wednesday to end at $44.82 apiece following news that it was joining the S&P MidCap 400 index.
Maplebear is set to replace Enovis Corp. which will then move to the S&P SmallCap 600.
The adjustments in the index will take effect on Tuesday, January 14.
In other news, Instacart also partnered with Ulta Beauty (ULTA) to offer same-day delivery from more than 1,400 Ulta locations across the United States. To celebrate the partnership’s launching, Ulta Beauty (ULTA) customers would be able to receive $10 off a minimum of $50 order until January 26.
8. New Gold Inc. (NGD)
New Gold Inc. (NGD), a Canadian mining company, saw its share prices grow for a second day on Wednesday, rising by 5.18 percent at $2.74 apiece as investor sentiment was buoyed by higher gold prices hitting a near four-week high.
According to analysts, investor sentiment was buoyed by incoming president Donald Trump’s criticism of the Federal Reserve, particularly because interest rates in the US were “far too high.”
Trump’s statement could spark lower interest rates under his administration.
With interest rates likely to be lower, the returns from bonds and other interest-yielding assets would look less appealing and may force investors to shift their funds into non-interest assets such as gold.
On Wednesday, spot gold rose by 0.3 percent to $2,657.38 per ounce, as of 02:15 p.m. ET, hitting its highest since December 13. Meanwhile, US gold futures settled 0.3 percent higher at $2,672.40.
New Gold (NGD) owns and operates the New Afton gold-silver-copper mine in British Columbia and the Rainy River gold-silver mine in Ontario, Canada.
7. Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC)
Share prices of Kinross Gold (KGC), a Canadian gold and silver mining company, rose for a second day on Wednesday, rallying by 4.85 percent to end at $10.38 apiece as investors took path from gold prices nearing a four-week high.
On Wednesday, spot gold rose by 0.3 percent to $2,657.38 per ounce, as of 02:15 p.m. ET, hitting its highest since December 13. Meanwhile, US gold futures settled 0.3 percent higher at $2,672.40.
Similar to its peers, investor sentiment for Kinross was buoyed by incoming president Donald Trump’s criticism of the Federal Reserve over interest rates being “far too high,” which could spark lower rates under his administration.
With interest rates likely to be lower, the returns from bonds and other interest-yielding assets would look less appealing and may force investors to shift their funds into non-interest assets such as gold.
6. Coeur Mining Inc. (CDE)
Coeur Mining (CDE) saw its share prices on Wednesday grow by 5.06 percent to finish at $6.44 apiece following higher gold prices that nearly hit a four-week high.
On Wednesday, spot gold rose by 0.3 percent to $2,657.38 per ounce, as of 02:15 p.m. ET, hitting its highest since December 13. Meanwhile, US gold futures settled 0.3 percent higher at $2,672.40.
Coeur Mining benefited from incoming president Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the Federal Reserve for interest rates being “far too high.”
Lower interest rates would look less appealing to investors and may force them to shift their funds into non-interest assets such as gold.
5. TAL Education Group (TAL)
TAL Education Group (TAL) saw its share prices grow by 5.42 percent to end at $9.53 apiece after its subsidiary Think Academy unveiled a new innovative AI-powered tablet called Thinkpal at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to TAL Education, the new product offers a “Genius Tutor,” an AI-powered system that transforms learning into an interactive and engaging experience.
Built on the Microsoft Azure OpenAI GPT-4o model, GeniusTutor provides real-time guidance and feedback, empowering students to conquer complex math problems through logic-driven, step-by-step explanations, master writing with interactive prompts and instant feedback that build confidence and creativity, and enhance vocabulary and reading skills with innovative tools like “Point-and-Discover.”
The Point-and-Discover feature allows children to point to words in a physical book, and be recognized by the tablet’s camera which will instantly provide explanations with guided reading exercises.
4. Roku Inc. (ROKU)
Shares of Roku Inc (ROKU) rose by 6.42 percent on Wednesday to finish at $83 apiece after booking 90 million streaming households in the first week of the month.
The update from the streaming platform came after announcements in October that it was no longer giving updates on its streaming household numbers and average revenue per user. As of October, the company had 85.5 million streaming households.
Roku Inc (ROKU) previously said that it would focus more on platform revenue and profitability, rather than the number of streaming households. But the company said it planned to announce key milestones, such as reaching 100 million streaming households.
According to Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood, Roku’s extensive scale sets the company apart in the streaming industry.
“Thanks to our laser focus on simplifying and enhancing the streamer’s journey, Roku is the preferred choice for millions of viewers,” he said.
3. Arcadium Lithium Plc (ALTM)
Arcadium Lithium Plc (ALTM) saw its share price jump by 8.16 percent on Wednesday to finish at $5.7 apiece following approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for its impending acquisition by mining giant Rio Tinto.
The transaction also obtained a merger control clearance or waivers in several jurisdictions such as Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The United Kingdom likewise granted investment screening approval.
The transaction, however, remains subject to investment screening approvals in Australia, Canada, and Italy as well as other customary closing conditions.
Arcadium Lithium (ALTM) said it expects the transaction to be completed by mid-2025.
2. Equinox Gold Corp. (EQX)
Equinox Gold (EQX) saw its share prices jump by 9.85 percent on Wednesday to close at $5.80 apiece after hitting record-breaking quarterly and annual gold production, coupled with higher gold prices.
According to the company, it was able to produce 213,960 ounces of gold in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 621,870 ounces for the full year. Its Greenstone mine, which it now fully controls, contributed 111,710 ounces in its first partial year of operations after achieving commercial production.
Equinox Gold (EQX) also said it ended the year with approximately $240 million in cash and equivalents and $105 million available to draw on its revolving credit facility, as well as another $100 million undrawn accordion feature.
During the fourth quarter, the company was able to slash its debt by $180 million with the payment of the final $40 million due to Orion Mine Finance for the purchase of its 40 percent interest in Greenstone and with the conversion to equity by the holders of $140 million in convertible notes.
1. eBay Inc. (EBAY)
eBay Inc (EBAY)’s share prices spiked by 9.86 percent on Wednesday to finish at $69.4 each–a 52-week high–after Meta Platforms (META) announced that some eBay listings would be included in the Facebook Marketplace soon.
Meta said it would launch a test program in the US, France, and Germany to view eBay listings on Facebook Marketplace and then complete their purchases on eBay.
The move to add eBay listings came after Meta’s nearly $825 million penalty in November by the European Commission, accusing the company of anti-competitive behaviors for linking Marketplace to Facebook.
“While we disagree with and continue to appeal the European Commission’s decision on Facebook Marketplace, we are working quickly and constructively to build a solution which addresses the points raised,” Meta said.
Adding eBay listings “could benefit people using both platforms” by increasing the reach of eBay listings and giving Marketplace customers more options, the company added.
While we acknowledge the potential of EBAY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EBAY but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
