Some Major Defense Stocks Under Selling Pressure Amid Trump Tweet

Shares of major defense contractors were in the red after a tweet from President-elect Donald Trump, who wants the United States to cancel a Boeing Co BA contract for delivering Air Force One planes.

Trump, Tweets And Stock Reactions

“Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” Trump tweeted.

Trump followed up by calling the plane “totally out of control” and “ridiculous.” He went on to say that he wanted Boeing to make money, “but not that much money.”

CNBC reported that Boeing won a contract back in January to begin work on a new fleet of Air Force One planes.

The tweet triggered selling pressure of defense stocks as investors feared that other contractors too could face similar backlash from Trump. That said, the stocks have somewhat recouped their initial losses.

At Last Check

• Boeing shares were down 0.09 percent at $152.02.
• General Dynamics Corporation GD were up 0.01 percent at $178.54.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation LMT shares were down 0.3 percent at $266.14.
• Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC were up 0.03 percent to $247.56.
• Raytheon Company RTN were up 0.11 percent at $149.23.

Image Credit: By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (Donald Trump plane) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons