Market Performance Overview
Major indices continued their rally today.
- The S&P 500 climbed 0.4%. It set another record at 6,388.64.
- The Nasdaq rose 0.24%. It reached 21,108.32.
- The Dow Jones also gained 0.47%. It closed at 44,901.92.
- Small-cap stocks showed mixed performance. The Russell 2000 was up 0.40% at 2,261.07.
- The VIX volatility index kept falling. It dropped 3% to 14.93. This signals increasing market stability.
- The Dollar Index rose 0.31% to 97.68. However, it had a weak week overall. The Japanese Yen stood at 146.96.
- Gold prices continued to fall. They dropped 1% to $3,338.50 per troy ounce.
- International crude oil prices declined. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 1.45% to $65 a barrel.
- The 10-year US Treasury yield dipped. It fell 2.4 basis points to 4.384%.
- The cryptocurrency market saw a correction. Bitcoin fell nearly 2%. It is now around $116,000. Ethereum also declined 2%. Ripple was down 4%. Solana fell about 2%.
Macroeconomic and Political Landscape
President Trump visited the Federal Reserve. This was a rare event. It raised questions about the Fed’s independence. Trump also reiterated calls for lower interest rates. He suggested a 3% rate cut is needed. This would significantly aid fiscal stability.
Trump signed three AI-related executive orders. These aim to boost AI infrastructure. They also expand tech exports.
He confirmed trade talks with the EU and UK. Negotiations for the EU are ongoing this weekend. The EU seeks a 15% tariff rate. It has a 100 billion euro “counter-card” if talks fail.
Durable goods orders for June were mixed. Overall, they fell 9.3% month-over-month. This was largely due to aircraft orders. Core capital goods orders declined 0.7%. This indicates potential slowdowns in corporate investment.
Mortgage rates saw a slight drop. The 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.74%. However, it remains high. Existing home sales were lower than expected. This signals continued housing market softness.
Big Tech and AI Trends
Most big tech stocks were up. Nvidia rose 1.73%. It continues to lead the market. Amazon also showed strength. It gained 1.73%. Alphabet (GOOGL) closed higher. It rose 0.46% after positive earnings. Microsoft (MSFT) gained 0.99%. AMD was up over 2%.
Intel (INTC) continued to struggle. It remains in a loss-making structure. The CEO admitted to “reckless” investments. New fab projects are halted or delayed. Layoffs are planned by year-end.
Meta Platforms (META) is lobbying app stores. They seek responsibility for child age verification. Samsung is reportedly negotiating AI partnerships. It is talking with OpenAI and Perplexity.
Focus on Tesla
Tesla (TSLA) showed a positive movement today. It closed at $316.06. This was up $10.76 (3.52%) on July 25. This gain occurred despite earlier internal reporting. Donald Trump commented on Tesla’s situation. He clarified his stance on Elon Musk’s company. He stated he does not wish its demise.
Elon Musk himself provided a cautious outlook. He mentioned “several more difficult quarters” ahead. Musk emphasized Tesla’s increasing focus on AI and robotics. He suggested full self-driving will be key. Its economic benefits will emerge next year. However, analysts note current policy impacts. Reduced carbon credit sales and lower deliveries affect results
Key Sector and Company News
Banking and insurance sectors generally performed well.
- Healthcare stocks recovered through the day. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) initially dipped. It admitted to a DOJ investigation. However, it recovered later.
- Sentinell (CI) saw high volatility. Its stock rose 6% after hours. This was despite a Q2 loss. The CEO’s recovery plan boosted confidence.
- Newmont (NEM) climbed nearly 7%. This followed strong Q2 earnings. High gold prices aided revenue and profit.
- Hims & Hers (HIMS) saw its stock fall. This was due to Congressional scrutiny. Lawmakers are targeting illegal compounded weight-loss drugs. Eli Lilly (LLY), a key player, rose 0.9%.
- LVMH (LVMUY) reported weak Q2 results. Revenue declined 4%. Its fashion and leather goods segment dropped 9%. The CEO is actively engaging with US officials. He aims to mitigate tariff impacts.
- A merger between Skydance and Paramount Global (PARA) was approved. The FCC gave its consent. This is a significant media industry event.
Looking Ahead: Economic Data and Earnings
The upcoming week is packed with events. It marks the last week of July.
Monday: US Treasury auctions for 2-year and 5-year notes. Earnings from Waste Management, Cadence Design, Nucor.
Tuesday: Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index. JOLTS Job Openings report. Key earnings: UnitedHealth Group, Spotify, SoFi, PayPal, Visa, Starbucks.
Wednesday: Eurozone GDP data. Revised US Q2 GDP. ADP Private Employment Report. FOMC Press Conference (major event). Earnings: Altria, GE Healthcare, Vertiv, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Qualcomm, ARM.
Thursday: Weekly jobless claims. After-market earnings: Apple, Amazon.
Friday: US Non-Farm Payrolls report.
Important Notice
This content is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Stock market investing involves significant risks. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should conduct their own research. You should consult a qualified professional advisor.