Today At A Glance:

U.S. stock markets closed higher today, extending strong weekly gains as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both reached record closing highs. Optimism over potential U.S.–EU trade progress—despite only a “50‑50” chance—and expectations of a Fed interest rate hold supported investor sentiment. Trade optimism was reinforced by recent deals with Japan and the Philippines, even as negotiations with Canada and Mexico remain unresolved. Strong earnings from companies like Deckers and Newmont helped offset declines in Intel and GM, lending broad market support. With nearly 80% of S&P 500 companies beating Q2 estimates, the market closed the week on a positive note.

Today’s Index Performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI): Opened near 44,757 and closed at 44,901.92, a gain of +0.5%. AP News
• S&P 500 (^GSPC): Opened around 6,370 and closed at 6,388.64, up +0.4%, marking its fifth straight record close. Reuters+1AP News+1
• Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC): Opened approximately 21,059.94 and closed at 21,108.32, up +0.2%, also a new high. Reuters

Gainers Of Note:

• Deckers Outdoor (NASDAQ: DECK) – Maker of UGG boots and Hoka sneakers; shares surged ~11–12% after reporting better-than-expected earnings driven by strong international demand.
• Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) – Gold mining giant; climbed on strong Q2 earnings and rising bullion prices, reflecting investor interest in defensive assets.
• Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) – Media entertainment company; rose ~2% following regulatory approval of its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.

Losers Of Note:

• Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) – Semiconductor chipmaker; tumbled ~8.5–9% after announcing significant job cuts and projecting steeper losses.
• General Motors (NYSE: GM) – Auto manufacturer; posted a weekly decline amid concerns about waning EV subsidies and tariff-related pressures.
• Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) – Electric vehicle leader; slid following CEO warnings of “rough quarters” ahead due to declining EV credits and production timeline delays.

Active Traders Of Note:

• Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) – Trading spiked as markets reacted to regulatory approval and progress on its Skydance merger deal.
• Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) – Media and entertainment conglomerate; saw elevated trading volume following reports of ongoing cost-cutting initiatives and speculation about a possible streaming platform restructure.
• Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID) – Electric vehicle manufacturer; experienced a surge in volume as investors reacted to mixed Q2 delivery updates and continued Saudi investment interest.

Looking Forward:

The record-setting momentum in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq underscores strong investor confidence fueled by trade optimism and favorable earnings. While markets have shrugged off headwinds from legacy tech and industrial laggards like Intel and GM, caution remains ahead of the Fed meeting and the August 1 tariff deadline. With earnings from megacaps such as Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft expected next week, investors may see the next leg of market direction unfold in tech leadership.

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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