Equities stall as early enthusiasm ebbs; Amazon, Apple earnings due

Equities stall as early enthusiasm ebbs; Amazon, Apple earnings due

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Thu July 31, 2025 4:27 PM

Yesterday’s very late surge did indeed continue this morning with all the indexes going into the green. Even the Dow being so heavily in the red yesterday managed to reach break-even today, but the tech indexes surged dramatically this morning, the Nasdaq gaining over 300 points, before all the indexes began a steady decline to all close in the red, the Dow down 3-digits again. So what happened? Even though there were a lot of positive Q2 reports today, there were more negative ones, especially in the AI sector where a lot of companies suddenly appear to be suffering.  

Equities retreat as Powell dampens Fed Sept cut hopes

Equities retreat as Powell dampens Fed Sept cut hopes

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Wed July 30, 2025 4:31 PM

There was a lot of positive news today with the Fed reporting that the economy remained on good footing, two of the four remaining Mag 7’s put in good Q2 with the other two coming tomorrow, solid Q2 from a number of consumer firms pointed to shopper resilience, private payrolls came in way above forecasts, and Q2 GDP, after being negative in Q1, went right back to last year’s 3% level. But today, none of that mattered. Instead all eyes were on Powell when he announced this afternoon that it was too soon to comment on a September rate cut and that current policy, though modestly restrictive, was not holding the economy back.  That is exactly not what the market wanted to hear.  

Equities close lower as earnings weigh; Fed statement on tap

Equities close lower as earnings weigh; Fed statement on tap

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Tue July 29, 2025 4:23 PM

A few major Q2 reports came in on the downside today and the whole market slid with the three indexes spending almost all day in the red, the Dow down 3-digits. UPS sinking over 10% after once again declining to report forecasts sent a challenging message of how badly the continuously changing trade policy is messing with the company and, by extension, the economy as a whole. Earnings are mixed and there hasn’t been enough positive economic data to move the needle with the Fed.  

S&P, Nasdaq again close at record highs, trade choppy

S&P, Nasdaq again close at record highs, trade choppy

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Mon July 28, 2025 4:32 PM

Yesterday’s newly announced trade deal with the EU should have sent the markets soaring today but instead it was greeted with cautious optimism with erratic trading in which both the S&P and Dow spent most of the afternoon in losses. As today’s expert put it, “It’s feel-good in the sense that it doesn’t represent Armageddon, if the draconian tariffs went into place. But it’s much too soon to pass judgment on the long term effects on how it will play out, It’s better than the alternative, to be sure so I hope they continue.” It also didn’t help that certain EU member nations are against the deal, with France at the front of the line denouncing it as a “submission.”  

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records; Deckers soars on UGG demand

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records; Deckers soars on UGG demand

By Noel Randewich

Fri July 25, 2025 4:22 PM

Based on continued optimism over completing trade deals, especially now with the EU as they plan to meet with Trump on Sunday for more talks. This lead more movement straight up, especially on the Dow where 2/3 of yesterday’s losses were recovered, but also modest gains on both the S&P and Nasdaq, thus putting both once again at record levels. All three indexes posted very respectable gains for the week from 1% to 1.5% with the S&P hitting a new record each day, something that hasn’t happened on any index for nearly four years.  

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

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

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Thu July 24, 2025 4:29 PM

A very strong Q2 report from Google, attributed again to AI, boosted all of tech and especially the other Magnificent Seven. Both indexes were up most of the day, the Nasdaq up around 100 as late as 3:30 p.m. but then both it and the S&P fell suddenly in the final half hour but still closing with modest gains. Besides the good Q2 reports and renewed optimism about trade agreements, unemployment claims came in lower than expected once again clarifying the resilience of the labor market.  

S&P 500 and Nasdaq rally to record highs on optimism about trade deals

S&P 500 and Nasdaq rally to record highs on optimism about trade deals

By Noel Randewich and Nikhil Sharma

Wed July 23, 2025 4:17 PM

Yesterday the mood on The Street was dimmed by a lack of confidence in trade deals what with India going sour and the EU planning counterstrikes. Today all that changed radically 180 with a trade deal announced with Japan and greatly increasing confidence of a similar deal coming soon with the EU. It was a shot straight up on all three indexes with the Dow and Nasdaq into very impressive 3-digit gains and both the Nasdaq and S&P reaching still new records.