Pfizer (PFE) shares are higher this morning following a Wall Street Journal report that activist investment firm Starboard Value has taken a $1 billion stake in the pharmaceutical company. Starboard has reportedly approached two former executives to help with their efforts. US stocks (^DJI,^GSPC, ^IXIC) are under pressure despite Friday's rally driven by the better-than-expected September jobs report. Oil prices (CL=F, BZ=F) continue to gain amid concerns about escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with Monday marking one year since the October 7th attack on Israel. Yahoo Finance trending tickers include Arcadium Lithium (ALTM), GE Vernova (GEV), and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

Key guests include:
9:00 a.m. ET - Stephen Biggar, Argus Research Director of Financial Services Research
9:30 a.m. ET - Kathryn Rooney Vera, StoneX Chief Market Strategist
9:50 a.m. ET - Ronald Jewsikow, Guggenheim Securities Director – Automotive Equity
10:15 a.m. ET - Michael Froman, Council on Foreign Relations President & Former U.S. Trade Representative for the Obama administration
10:45 a.m. ET - Steve Kron, Goldman Sachs Director Americas Equity Research