S&P 500 notches record-high close; GM slumps as tariffs bite

S&P 500 notches record-high close; GM slumps as tariffs bite

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Tue July 22, 2025 4:17 PM

It was a day of consolidating recent gains as all three indexes opened low, especially tech with the Nasdaq losing over 200 by 10 a.m., but then all three gradually recovering with the S&P barely closing flat but the Nasdaq all day in the red. The Dow industrials were in the black all day though quite flat all morning before gaining in the afternoon and closing up 3-digits. GM had a rotten day announcing a $1B write-off from tariffs and the aerospace and defense stocks also took big hits.  

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record high closes, lifted by Alphabet

S&P 500 and Nasdaq notch record high closes, lifted by Alphabet

By Noel Randewich and Nikhil Sharma

Mon July 21, 2025 4:29 PM

Stoked by an anticipated glowing report from Google (due Wednesday) and also more Magnificent Seven reports later this week, all the indexes shot way up throughout the day, the Dow up over 250 points, until about 2 pm when they all started plummeting to close at a near wash. But tech was still in positive territory which also meant the S&P and Nasdaq had still one more record close. For the year, the S&P is up 7%, the Nasdaq 9%. S&P Q2 earnings are expected to increase by 6.7% and the good news so far is that companies have met or beaten guidance.  

S&P, Nasdaq end on subdued note after brief dip on latest Trump tariff rumbling

S&P, Nasdaq end on subdued note after brief dip on latest Trump tariff rumbling

By David French

Fri July 18, 2025 4:56 PM

 

It was a pretty flat day from beginning to end for tech anyway as investors tried to grapple once again with the latest tariff threats. The Dow industrials went straight south though ending down 3-digits. This was the week that would either prove or disprove the harmful effects of the tariffs. But the week ended quite mixed with overall sentiment being that the markets have grown wary of the tariff debate.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh record highs as data, earnings point to consumer strength

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh record highs as data, earnings point to consumer strength

By David French

Thu July 17, 2025 4:37 PM

After two days of tepid economic and Q2 reports failed to inspire much confidence regarding inflation, today the reports turned very much positive with strong Q2 from companies like PepsiCo and with Netflix coming in with both barrels after the bell. There was also TSMC, the world’s largest AI chipmaker, with a record quarterly profit thus boosting not only the whole AI sector but also all of tech.

Wall Street ends up, after brief downward detour on Powell firing confusion

Wall Street ends up, after brief downward detour on Powell firing confusion

By David French

Wed July 16, 2025 4:43 PM

The day started as a near-disaster as all the indexes took a big dive right around 11 a.m., the Dow down nearly 300 points, but it only lasted about 30 minutes before a rebound began. The trigger was a brief leak of news reports that Trump was ready to fire Jerome Powell which created a momentary panic over losing the independence of the Fed and the subsequent damage that would do to the economy. No matter that that independence meant that Trump had no authority to do any such thing any more than he has the authority to fire Hakeem Jeffries. There was still a panic but after only ½ hour, Trump himself issued a statement that the reports were false and he had no such intention, though this did not stop him from continuing his attacks on Powell for not lowering rates fast enough.  

Nasdaq posts latest record close on Nvidia's China chip cheer

Nasdaq posts latest record close on Nvidia's China chip cheer

By David French

Tue July 15, 2025 4:00 PM

Some very good news from Nvidia that sent the Nasdaq to still another record close and had the index way up in the morning, but still not nearly good enough to offset the first of the week’s economic reports and Q2 which showed, contrary to hopes, that inflation was up and that tariffs were the reason, the first concrete evidence of the tariff effect. It sent all the indexes on a downward slope for the entire session with the Dow in substantial triple-digit losses and the Nasdaq losing almost all of its gains for the day.  

Wall Street ends with modest gains as investors await economic reports

Wall Street ends with modest gains as investors await economic reports

By David French

Mon July 14, 2025 4:00 PM

 

Once again, all the indexes started the day in the red but quickly began a rebound to spend most of the rest of the session in the black, even carving out modest gains all around by close. But it was mostly a day for holding close to the vest as the market continues to sidestep the latest tariff threats and stay on the fence awaiting an onslaught of new reports this week, not the least of which is the beginning of Q2 reporting. As today’s expert put it, “If anything is holding the market back, it’s the fact we’ve had a pretty good run since April.”  

S&P 500 recedes from record highs as tariffs sour sentiment

S&P 500 recedes from record highs as tariffs sour sentiment

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Fri July 11, 2025 4:00 PM

For the last few days, the market has been relatively complacent about tariffs. That all changed radically today with the announcement of still more tariffs with the trade war once again intensifying with Canada, the EU, Brazil and a number of other countries. Tariff and inflation anxiety is right back on the front page again. But no worries. When the Q2 reports start coming in next week, if they reveal as the market hopes that tariff impact has been minimal, and if the S&P earnings have increased by 5.7% as expected, then the bulls will start running again.  

Indexes rise, boosted by Nvidia record valuation, strong Delta forecast

Indexes rise, boosted by Nvidia record valuation, strong Delta forecast

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Thu July 10, 2025 6:15 PM

It was pretty much a shot straight up on all the indexes except for the Nasdaq which began the day heavily in the red but began a recovery around 10 a.m. and continued on the rise breaking even around 1 pm and gaining 19. But it was another handsome 3-digit gain on the Dow. Since both the S&P and Nasdaq had already registered new record highs, today was yet another record high for both. Major boosts today came from Delta which issued its yearly profit forecast which exceeded estimates and provided some more optimism.  

Wall Street rises as Fed minutes put rate cuts in focus, Nvidia hits $4 trillion milestone

Wall Street rises as Fed minutes put rate cuts in focus, Nvidia hits $4 trillion milestone

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Wed July 9, 2025 4:56 PM

Any objective reading of today’s market events would have to lead to the conclusion of very mixed signals. But today the market instead chose to focus on the positive signals and ignore the negative, thus pushing all the indexes into very respectable 3-digit gains. On the one hand, the Fed said that inflation is expected to get worse. On the other, the tariff impact is expected to be minor but, despite the headline reading “Fed Minutes Put Rate Cuts in Focus,” there really was no change.

Wall St stocks edge lower as investors look for tariff clarity

Wall St stocks edge lower as investors look for tariff clarity

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Tue July 8, 2025 4:37 PM

On this second day as the market continues to digest the Great Tariff Shock, the indexes took another dive and to say trading was choppy would be a vast understatement as all three were up and down a dozen times or more throughout the session. Tech fared considerably better than industrials with the Dow dropping 3-digits but really the only reason losses have not been much greater is because no one on Wall Street believes these tariffs are actually going to hold, as has been the trend. There will continue to be much volatility until investors get much wanted clarity on the trade negotiations. The Fed minutes come Wednesday which will be parsed for clarity on inflation and rate cuts. Volume remains below average at 17.03 billion vs 18.3 billion. 

DJ: 44,406.36  -422.17       NAS: 20,412.52  -188.59      S&P: 6,229.98  -49.37        7/7

DJ: 44,240.76  -165.60       NAS: 20,418.46  +5.95         S&P: 6,225.52  -4.46          7/8

Tue 7-8-25 4:37 pm Wall St stocks edge lower as investors look for tariff clarity | Reuters

Wall St knocked lower by tariff jitters; Musk's political plan hits Tesla

Wall St knocked lower by tariff jitters; Musk's political plan hits Tesla

By Sinéad Carew and Pranav Kashyap

Mon July 7, 2025 4:42 PM

On Thursday, trade wars and budget bill concerns all went on the back burner, way back on the burners, with the excitement over the terrific jobs report. In fact, on Thursday, the tariff issues were widely considered to be in the rearview mirror. So what a difference a day makes. Today, with the announcement of new hefty tariffs on Japan, South Korea and others, as well as Tesla taking a major dive with Musk forming the all-new “America Party” to further challenge Trump, all three indexes also took a major dive.  

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records on jobs data; Nvidia market cap nears $4 trillion

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records on jobs data; Nvidia market cap nears $4 trillion

By Sabrina Valle

Thu July 3, 2025 4:39 PM

Today was once again proof that, on Wall Street, nobody knows anything. It was just yesterday that the consensus was a strong desire for a weak jobs report as that would likely mean sooner rate cuts. Instead, it was a terrific jobs report with 33% more jobs than forecast and the unemployment rate falling more than expected. This was supposed to be a downer but instead triggered a big rally with investors quickly deciding to look past the rate cut issue and instead focus on the exuberant news of a healthy jobs market and healthy economy. Tariffs, budget bill, inflation, national debt and all other worrying issues also went on the backburner today.

S&P 500, Nasdaq close on record high on Vietnam trade deal, tech stocks

S&P 500, Nasdaq close on record high on Vietnam trade deal, tech stocks

By Sabrina Valle

Wed July 2, 2025 5:02 PM

After yesterday’s report showing job gains in May had been higher than previously reported, thus being one contributing factor boosting the market, this morning another report showed lower than expected new jobs in June, thus opening all three indexes in the red. However, news of a trade deal with Vietnam quickly reversed course and at least the trade-sensitive tech indexes saw a continuous rise all day. And, as usual, when tech goes up industrials go down and the Dow was in the red almost all day but landed comfortably flat by close.

Nasdaq, S&P 500 close lower, weighed by tech stocks, Dow ends up

Nasdaq, S&P 500 close lower, weighed by tech stocks, Dow ends up

By Sabrina Valle

Tue July 1, 2025 5:33 PM

For years now, there have been concerns that with a handful of tech companies that dominate the market, should they go south, could crash the market out. That was the sentiment today as both the Nasdaq and S&P pulled back substantially from their recent rallies. And as tech goes south so industrials go north as funds flow out of risky assets into safer havens and the Dow had another very big 3-digit day. Investors were playing a tug-of-war between the concentration in tech and optimism over expected stimulus from the new budget bill, but also weighing that against the enormous cost of the bill.