CNBC Business News Update - Markets Midday: Stocks Add To Week's Gains, Global Investors Flock Back To Stock Funds, Microsoft Offers EU Antitrust Solution 5-16-2025

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

The latest in business, financial, and market news and how it impacts your money, reported by CNBC's Peter Schacknow

I'm Peter Schack, now CNBC. Stocks are edging higher as a positive week and the stock market draws to a close. The Dow up 44 points at 42,367. The S&P 500 adding 13 points or a quarter percent. And the NASDAQ two-tenths of a percent higher or about 28 points. The S&P 500 is up for a fifth straight day and could post its highest close since February 28. Investors around the world are re-embracing stock markets, at least for now.

Global equity funds attracted more than $19.5 billion in inflows for the week ending this past Wednesday. That is the most in seven weeks. Among stocks on the move today, KAVA Group is down about 5 percent, despite better than expected earnings. That's due to a projected slowdown in growth, although the growth is still well into the double digits. CEO Brett Schulman says the restaurant chain is keeping an eye on value for a very uncertain consumer. Certainly we'd love to see some clarity on the tariff policies.

The consumer is looking for certainty, but it's all the more reason why we're investing in our guests and making sure that we're putting the best value proposition for them in a time where they're feeling all that pressure all around them. So we've underpriced inflation by 800 basis points over the last few years, when many brands have taken almost double CPI in price, really to be able to make our food accessible even when they're feeling those pressures around them. Microsoft is offering to sell its office product suite without the Microsoft Teams collaboration software.

In hopes of ending a European Union antitrust probe, it will also offer better interoperability to its rivals. The EU will now seek feedback on that offer. Peter Schacht now CNBC. Inside Wealth, an exclusive newsletter for a select audience. Inside Family Offices, how the wealthy become ultra wealthy. Robert Frank's high net worth perspective.

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