Today At A Glance:

U.S. stocks closed higher on July 21, 2025, propelled by upbeat earnings from Verizon and Cleveland-Cliffs, and optimism over trade and dividend growth. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow all hit or neared record highs, with the Nasdaq rallying on strength in semiconductors and communication services. Block soared ~8% after being added to the S&P 500, while gold miners also rallied as gold prices climbed nearly 2%. Despite broad gains, small caps lagged and mixed performances were seen across energy and healthcare. Investors are now focused on upcoming earnings from the Magnificent Seven and the U.S.–EU tariff deadline on August 1.

Today’s Index Performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI): Opened around 44,560 and closed up ~0.5% near 44,700, gaining ~217 points.
• S&P 500 (^GSPC): Opened near 6,304, closed at approximately 6,336—up ~0.6% and reaching new record highs.
• Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC): Opened around 21,000, closed at about 21,048—gaining ~0.7% to touch record territory.

Gainers Of Note:

• Block (NYSE: XYZ): A payments firm added to the S&P 500, surged ~8% on inclusion news.
• Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF): Steelmaker jumped ~13.6% after beating earnings and citing benefits from tariffs.
• Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ): Telecom giant rose ~4.8% after topping earnings estimates and raising its annual guidance.

Losers Of Note:

• QuantumScape Corp. (NYSE: QS): A developer of solid-state lithium-metal batteries fell ~6.9% following a delay in its commercial production timeline, sparking concern about scalability and competition from legacy battery makers.
• Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR): A scientific instruments manufacturer slid ~5.1% after issuing weaker-than-expected guidance, citing cautious global biotech spending and supply chain cost pressures.
• Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR): An electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company declined ~7.8% amid analyst downgrades and investor concerns about FAA certification delays and cash burn ahead of commercial rollout.

Active Traders Of Note:

• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL): Tech giant traded heavy volume (~42M shares) as it contributed to intraday gains and index strength.
• Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE): Athletic apparel leader saw elevated trading (~10M shares) on a 2.5% gain.
• Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE: HD): Retail home improvement chain had high volume (~8M shares) amid a 1.4% price rise.

Looking Forward:

Earnings momentum from major corporations like Alphabet, Tesla, and Lockheed Martin may sustain market optimism into tomorrow. The upcoming U.S.–EU tariff deadline on August 1 could inject volatility, depending on negotiation progress. Additionally, investor attention will pivot to Federal Reserve commentary and the next tranche of economic data for clues on interest rate policy.

Note: The stock performance summaries are based on general trends observed over the past ten trading days and are not indicative of future results.

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