S&P closes at record high as soft jobs report eases rate-hike concerns

S&P closes at record high as soft jobs report eases rate-hike concerns

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Shashwat Chauhan

Fri August 7, 2026  

Per today’s jobs report, the economy lost over 100,000 jobs, that is if you’re counting the 80,000 forecasted increase that didn’t happen and the 23,000 unexpected decrease that did. It was good news on the inflation front as providing more fodder to stall off a rate increase. The odds today of a September increase has fallen to 44% vs yesterday’s 55 vs last week’s 67. That’s a 35% decrease in a week.  

Stocks close lower as investors eye Mideast talks, earnings

Stocks close lower as investors eye Mideast talks, earnings

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Shashwat Chauhan

Thu August 6, 2026  

Peace hopes got muted today over the impending opening of the Strait of Hormuz but with the Iranian parliament considering banning the U.S. and its allies from using it. This combined with more AI jitters brought all three indexes down for a second day after a very vigorous 3-day rally. Oddly, two of the tech companies that fell today, Western Digital and Sandisk, actually turned in glowing Q2 and have been booming this year, Western up 400%, Sandisk 160%. 

Dow closes at record on Mideast optimism; SpaceX, AMD drag Nasdaq

Dow closes at record on Mideast optimism; SpaceX, AMD drag Nasdaq

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Johann M Cherian

Wed August 5, 2026  

After four straight days of big gains, a couple of disappointing Q2 AI reports, namely from SpaceX and AMD, brought both tech indexes down but progress in the peace talks concerning a deal between Oman and Iran brought oil down and shot the Dow up to yet another record. SpaceX and AMD actually had reasonably good reports with SpaceX actually doubling revenues. But their expenses were still more than their revenues raising the old doubts that these massive AI investments will pay off. 

Dow, S&P 500 close at record on AI-linked earnings, Mideast deal hopes

Dow, S&P 500 close at record on AI-linked earnings, Mideast deal hopes

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Johann M Cherian

Tue August 4, 2026  

Optimism over earnings and an end to the war shot all the indexes straight up again for the fourth straight day, today even more impressively than before with high 3-digit gains all around. The Dow reached a new record for the second straight day, the S&P its first new record since July 2^nd. Caterpillar provided the biggest boost to the Dow with increasing demand for its equipment in building AI centers. Palantir got an astonishing 29.5% boost and the chip index rose 6.6%. Crude dropped 5% on Qatari confirmations that peace talks were continuing.  

Wall Street rallies, Dow closes at record on Iran talks optimism

Wall Street rallies, Dow closes at record on Iran talks optimism

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Johann M Cherian

Mon August 3, 2026  

Optimism is back up front with all three indexes jumping straight up out the gate and staying up all day, all achieving very substantial 3-digit gains again, the Dow not only now handsomely recouping all its losses but reaching another record high. The good news is new hopes over Iran as fighting de-escalates and bringing crude prices down 5%.  With 304 of 500 S&P companies now reporting and 85.2% beating estimates, Q2 earnings growth now stands at 29.3%, but oddly down from Friday’s 48%.  

Wall Street ends higher as Amazon soothes AI jitters

Wall Street ends higher as Amazon soothes AI jitters

By Noel Randewich

Fri July 31, 2026  

Yesterday’s highly positive Microsoft report was the first big sign in a while that AI was paying off and investors were hoping that success would bleed through to other tech companies. Today Amazon came through with flying colors providing still another shining case that AI was indeed paying off. In fact, the company the market had been viewing as being “irresponsible” with its AI spending put everyone much more at ease about them and more at ease about AI in general. So for the second straight day, the indexes shot straight up with tech more than making up for the big selloff on Wednesday.  

Wall Street ends sharply higher, lifted by soaring Microsoft

Wall Street ends sharply higher, lifted by soaring Microsoft

By Noel Randewich

Thu July 30, 2026  

Microsoft made history today when due to its exuberant Q2 report, it enjoyed the biggest single day valuation growth in Wall Street history. Its report not only eased fears of the enormous AI spending but boosted the company’s value an extra $450 billion. But Apple, which has been more cost conscious on AI, today overtook Nvidia to once again become the world’s most valuable company with a market cap of almost $5 trillion. Most AI companies are considered “battleground stocks” and investors would like to see them move to “trusted AI winners” and hoping that’s what will now happen to Microsoft and that others will soon follow suit. Amazon and Apple will be reporting tomorrow.