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Dow Jones Fut (Mar'23)

Stock market today: Live updates

by Priya Shah – Business Editor August 6, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Markets Eye Gains as Earnings Season Delivers Mixed Signals

Futures Point Upward After Previous Session’s Losses

Wall Street investors are anticipating a brighter start to trading Wednesday, with stock futures indicating positive movement. This follows a challenging session that saw major indices end in the red, as market participants digest a new wave of corporate financial reports.

Corporate Giants Show Divergent Fortunes

Futures contracts for the S&P 500 showed a modest gain of 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 118 points, a 0.3% increase. The Nasdaq 100 futures also nudged higher by approximately 0.1%.

Among the early standout performers, McDonald’s shares surged 3%. The fast-food giant’s second-quarter earnings surpassed analyst expectations on both revenue and profit, further bolstered by same-store sales growth that represented the chain’s strongest performance in nearly two years.

Arista Networks also experienced a significant boost, with its stock rallying 11% following the release of a report that exceeded projections.

Conversely, Snap’s stock plummeted 18% after its quarterly revenue fell slightly short of anticipated figures. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also saw its shares drop around 6% after its adjusted earnings per share missed analyst consensus.

Previous Day Recap: Tech Stocks Dragged Down Indices

These pre-market movements come after a difficult trading day Tuesday. The S&P 500 concluded its session lower, marking its fifth down day in the past six. Similarly, the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its sixth consecutive negative session.

Technology stocks were particularly weak, contributing to a nearly 0.7% decline in the Nasdaq Composite. However, smaller capitalization stocks managed to outperform, with the Russell 2000 index posting a 0.6% gain.

“We just need some digestion,” said Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Wealth. “Markets don’t move in a straight line. … But, overall, I still think the underlying trend is positive.”

Analysts suggest the market is in a period of adjustment. For instance, the S&P 500 has seen a notable increase in volatility, with the VIX index, a key measure of expected volatility, averaging 17.5 in the past month, compared to an average of 13.2 in the preceding month, according to Cboe Global Markets data (Cboe 2025).

Traders at work on the New York Stock Exchange floor during afternoon trading on August 1, 2025.

August 6, 2025 0 comments

Business

Stock market today: Live updates

by Priya Shah – Business Editor August 5, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Markets Waver as Tariffs Loom, Economic Data Dims Outlook

S&P 500 Retreats Amid Stagflation Fears and Trade Tensions

Equities faced downward pressure Tuesday as investors grappled with discouraging economic indicators and renewed threats of tariffs, heightening anxieties about the health of the U.S. economy.

Economic Headwinds Bite

The S&P 500 index slipped 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a 0.5% decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average remained relatively unchanged. This pullback follows a volatile week, which saw the Dow experience a significant drop on Friday after a weaker-than-anticipated jobs report suggested a cooling labor market. The index had, however, recouped those losses with a substantial surge on Monday.

Adding to market concerns, the ISM Services index reported flatlining activity in July. This development amplified worries of stagflation—a scenario characterized by stagnant economic growth alongside high inflation and unemployment. As services constitute roughly 70% of the U.S. economy, a deceleration in this sector signals potential future challenges.

S&P 500, 1-day

Tariff Threats Re-emerge

Market sentiment was further dampened by comments from President Donald Trump to CNBC, indicating impending tariffs on semiconductor chips and pharmaceuticals. “We’re going to be announcing on semiconductors and chips, which is a separate category, because we want them made in the United States,” Trump stated, promising a new plan “within the next week or so.” This signals a potential escalation in trade policy.

Company-Specific Moves

Defense technology firm Palantir emerged as a standout performer, with its shares climbing 7% after announcing its revenue had surpassed $1 billion for the first time. In contrast, industrial giant Caterpillar experienced an earnings miss, leading to an initial dip in its stock, though it later traded marginally higher. Eaton’s shares fell 6% following what was described as disappointing financial guidance.

“Today we’re seeing the market pull back a little bit, [but] equities have been on a nice run. We’re probably due for a period of consolidation, some backing and filling, so to speak. Clearly, valuations are elevated. This is not a cheap market.”

—Terry Sandven, Chief Equity Strategist at U.S. Bank Asset Management

Despite current market volatility, Terry Sandven of U.S. Bank Asset Management noted that favorable conditions persist. He highlighted benign inflation, the prospect of lower interest rates, and rising corporate earnings as supportive factors for a “risk-on bias.”

The S&P 500 currently trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 20.5, which is above its 5-year historical average of around 18.2, suggesting elevated valuations in the broader market (FactSet, August 2025).

Traders operate on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during trading on August 5, 2025, in New York City.

August 5, 2025 0 comments

Business

Stock market today: Live updates

by Priya Shah – Business Editor August 1, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Stocks Slide as Trump Tariffs Bite, Tech Earnings Mix

Market Futures Dip Ahead of Key Jobs Data Release

Stock market futures showed significant weakness Friday as investors grappled with updated tariff rates announced by President Trump, alongside mixed earnings reports from major technology firms. All eyes are now on the forthcoming July jobs report for further economic indicators.

Tariff Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump unveiled revised duties, with tariffs ranging from 10% to a substantial 41%. A new 40% levy will target goods transshipped to evade existing tariffs, according to the White House. For Canada, a key U.S. trading partner, import duties have been raised to 35% from 25%.

“Investors have been wrapping tariffs in a ‘better than feared, we finally have clarity’ patina of optimism for weeks, but that perspective is wearing thin as reality sets in – tariffs will have stagflationary implications for the economy as they slowly seep into the data over the course of many months. We continue to think this issue is more negative than the consensus appreciates.”

—Adam Crisafulli, Vital Knowledge

Big Tech’s Divergent Fortunes

Shares of Amazon experienced a sharp decline, plummeting over 7% after the e-commerce titan issued conservative operating income guidance for the current quarter. Conversely, Apple saw its stock climb 2%, buoyed by better-than-expected earnings and revenue figures.

Jobs Report Looms

Markets are also anticipating the July jobs report, scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists project a cooling labor market, with an estimated 100,000 new payroll additions and an unemployment rate expected to tick up to 4.2%.

A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 30, 2025. (Jeenah Moon | Reuters)

Previous Session and Monthly Performance

The previous trading session was largely uninspiring, with the S&P 500 marking its third consecutive day of losses. Despite strong earnings from Microsoft and Meta Platforms, the broader market failed to gain momentum. The tech-driven rally that pushed both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to intraday records ultimately faded.

US stocks finished lower Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping over 100 points as investors reacted to President Trump’s updated tariff rates and digested some big tech earnings. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also ended in the red.

— Reuters (@Reuters) 17224731200000000000

“The S&P 500 forecast remains bullish for now, but the path forward looks uncertain. On one hand, Big Tech is delivering in spades, feeding into the [artificial intelligence] gold rush and lifting equity markets to record highs. On the other, geopolitical tensions, valuation concerns and monetary policy uncertainty are threatening to pull the rug from under this rally.”

—Fawad Razaqzada, City Index

Despite recent headwinds, major indices concluded July on a positive note. The S&P 500 rose 2.2% for the month, while the Nasdaq saw a 3.7% gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a modest increase of less than 0.1%.

For the current week, the S&P 500 is tracking for an 0.8% loss. The Dow is down 1.7% week-to-date, and the Nasdaq is hovering near flat with a gain of less than 0.1%.

August 1, 2025 0 comments

Business

Stock market today: Live updates

by Priya Shah – Business Editor July 31, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Tech Giants Fuel Market Optimism

Microsoft and Meta Earnings Drive Futures Higher

Futures for major U.S. stock indices showed gains Thursday morning, buoyed by strong financial results from technology behemoths Microsoft and Meta Platforms. This positive momentum follows a mixed trading session on Wednesday.

Tech Titans Surge on Strong Earnings

S&P 500 futures climbed 0.9%, while Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 1.31%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a 0.29% increase. These upticks were largely attributed to the impressive quarterly earnings posted by Microsoft and Meta.

Microsoft saw its shares jump approximately 8% in extended trading after reporting that annual revenue from its Azure cloud service surpassed $75 billion. Meta experienced an even larger surge, climbing about 11%, driven by an optimistic third-quarter sales forecast that exceeded market expectations.

A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 30, 2025. | Reuters

Trade Deal Eases Tariff Concerns

Adding to the market’s positive sentiment, President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with South Korea on Wednesday evening, establishing tariffs at 15%. This rate is lower than the 25% previously threatened, providing some relief ahead of Friday’s significant tariff deadline.

Fed Signals No Imminent Rate Cuts

In contrast to the buoyant futures market, Wednesday’s regular trading session saw the S&P 500 close down 0.12%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.38%. The Nasdaq Composite managed a slight gain of 0.15%. These declines followed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell‘s remarks indicating that the central bank is not yet ready to reduce interest rates.

While the Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate at 4.25% to 4.50% following its July meeting, notable dissent was registered by governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller. When questioned about a potential September policy shift, Powell stated that the Fed “made no decisions.”

Investment analyst Ross Mayfield of Baird suggested that Wednesday’s market dip was understandable given the current “stretched” valuations. He noted that with much positive news already priced in, even minor hawkish comments from the Federal Open Market Committee presser could significantly influence market sentiment, which has recently returned to a bullish tone, prompting a need for consolidation.

Key Economic Data on Watch

Traders will closely monitor Thursday’s release of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for June, the Fed’s favored inflation indicator. Economists anticipate a 2.5% year-over-year increase and a 0.3% monthly rise for the headline PCE. Weekly jobless claims data will also be released.

Earnings Season Heats Up

Several prominent companies are scheduled to report their earnings before the market opens on Thursday, including Comcast, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna, CVS Health, Shake Shack, AbbVie, and Mastercard. Investors will also be awaiting results from Apple and Amazon later in the afternoon.

July 31, 2025 0 comments

Business

S&P 500 Rises Amid Trade Deal Hopes, Ahead of Key Week

by Priya Shah – Business Editor July 28, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Here’s a breakdown of the key details from the provided text:

Trade agreement with the EU:

Agreement Reached: The US has reached an agreement with the European Union to lower tariffs.
New Tariff Rate: Tariffs will be lowered to 15%.
previous Threat: The president had previously threatened 30% tariffs on most imported goods from the EU.
Global Baseline Tariff: For countries that haven’t renegotiated, the global baseline tariff will likely be between 15% to 20%.

Market Sentiment and Upcoming Week:

Bullish Sentiment with Hesitation: While market sentiment is “increasingly bullish,” there’s some hesitation about buying stocks at record highs due to the upcoming busy week.
Busy Week Ahead: This week is described as one of the “busiest weeks of the entire year” for Wall Street.

Key Events This Week:

Earnings Reports:
Major tech companies will release their quarterly results. “Splendid Seven” companies reporting include:
Meta Platforms and Microsoft (Wednesday)
Amazon and Apple (Thursday)
Investors will be looking for comments on AI spending.
Federal Reserve Meeting:
The Fed will hold its two-day policy meeting, concluding on wednesday.
interest Rates: The Fed is expected to keep its key short-term interest rate at the current target range of 4.25%-4.5%.
Rate Cut Clues: Investors will be seeking clues about potential rate cuts in September.
Economic Data:
Wednesday: First estimate of second-quarter economic growth (real GDP). Economists expect a 2.3% annualized pace.
Thursday: June Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index (Fed’s preferred inflation measure).
Core inflation expected to hold steady at 2.7%.
Headline inflation expected to rise to 2.5%. Jobs Data:
Tuesday: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Wednesday: ADP private payrolls report.
Thursday: Initial jobless claims.
Friday: July jobs report.
Economy expected to add 102,000 jobs (down from 147,000 in June).
Unemployment rate expected to rise slightly to 4.2% (from 4.1%).

Analyst Quotes:

Adam Crisafulli (Vital Knowledge): Highlights hesitation to chase stocks at record highs due to the busy week.
Jay Woods (Freedom Capital Markets): Describes the week as one “traders dream of and also fear,” with many “adventures” and questions about what will be the biggest headline (FOMC decision vs. Fed Chair press conference).

July 28, 2025 0 comments

Business

Stock Futures Rise as S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit Record Highs

by Priya Shah – Business Editor July 25, 2025

written by Priya Shah – Business Editor

Market Poised for Weekly Gains Despite Thursday Dip; Earnings and Trade deals Fuel Rally

Major U.S. stock averages are on track to close the week with positive momentum,even after experiencing losses on Thursday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the nasdaq Composite are both anticipating an approximate 1% weekly advance, while the S&P 500 has seen a rise of about 1.1% week to date.

This upward trend, which has propelled the market to all-time highs, has been significantly bolstered by a robust earnings season. Notably,Alphabet (GOOGL) delivered a better-than-expected earnings report,contributing to the positive sentiment. So far, approximately 83% of the 155 S&P 500 companies that have reported their results have surpassed Wall Street’s expectations.

Keith buchanan, senior portfolio manager at Globalt Investments, commented on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” that for the rally to sustain its upward trajectory, it needs to broaden its base or demonstrate more consistent performance across the wider market.

Recent trade agreements have also played a crucial role in driving the market to new peaks. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced a substantial trade deal with Japan, which includes reciprocal tariffs of 15%. Additionally, the U.S. and Indonesia have reached an agreement on the framework of a trade accord. Investors are now closely monitoring for any further trade announcements ahead of the Trump governance’s August 1 tariff deadline.

Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to convene next week. Policymakers are widely anticipated to maintain the current target range for interest rates, which stands between 4.25% and 4.5%.

President Trump, who has previously advocated for lower interest rates and has been vocal in his pressure on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, engaged in a public exchange with powell regarding renovation costs during a historic visit to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters on Thursday. During the visit, Trump presented a cost figure for renovations that Powell publicly corrected as inaccurate.

Following the tour of the renovations, President Trump appeared to moderate his stance on the Fed chief, stating that he was not planning to dismiss him, a prospect that had previously caused market concern. Trump remarked, “To do that is a big move, and I just don’t think its necessary. And I believe that he’s going to do the right thing.”

July 25, 2025 0 comments

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