The U.S. equity markets marked another day of record highs, buoyed by solid economic data and positive corporate earnings. The S&P 500 advanced 0.5% to close at 6,297.36, setting a fresh all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.5% to finish at 44,484.49, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7% to 20,884.27, also hitting a new record. The Russell 2000, a benchmark for small-caps, increased 1.2% to 2,253.68, signaling broad-based market optimism.
Macroeconomic Reports
Macroeconomic developments painted a picture of moderate expansion. Retail sales figures showed a resilient consumer sector, with sales rebounding robustly in June despite ongoing tariff concerns. Initial jobless claims for the week ended July 12 declined to 221,000, reaching their lowest level in three months, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, consistent with the FOMC’s estimate of the natural rate. Inflation stayed just above the Fed’s 2% long-run goal, with the 12-month PCE reading at 2.3%, and is expected to tick higher in the coming months due to the cumulative impact of recently implemented tariffs.
Market Leaders and Major Stocks
NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA)
Nvidia extended its streak of record-breaking sessions, surging above $154 per share and driving its market capitalization close to $4 trillion. The rally continued as the company remains the unrivaled leader in AI chip infrastructure, benefiting from a wave of demand tied to artificial intelligence expansion. Analyst sentiment remains highly bullish, with Loop Capital raising its price target to $250, underscoring Nvidia’s dominance in the emerging $2 trillion AI semiconductor market by 2028.
Tesla Inc. (TSLA)
Tesla experienced another day of pronounced volatility, closing at 319.41, down .70%. While the company’s share price remains up over the month, it has declined approximately 21% year-to-date, impacted by softening vehicle deliveries and shifting political headwinds. The recently launched robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, and ongoing intrigue surrounding CEO Elon Musk’s relationship with public policy continue to drive market speculation. Despite robust activity, the company’s valuation reflects both considerable risk and high-growth expectations.
Meta Platforms (META)
Meta shares modestly declined on the day to $701.28 amid high trading volume, but they remain one of the top performers among the ‘Magnificent 7’ tech giants, up 15% over the past six months. The company’s strategic push into AI integrations across its platforms has fueled strong engagement and advertising revenue, positioning Meta as a formidable player in the AI-driven digital economy. Despite near-term economic uncertainty, recent rallies reflect investor confidence in the tech giant’s long-term growth.
McDonald’s Corporation (MCD)
McDonald’s shares have faced a mild decline over the past quarter, underperforming relative to the broader industry with shares now off 4%, but closed at 300.37, +.49% on the day. The company is ramping up its U.S. beverage strategy, leveraging insights from its CosMc’s initiative to stimulate customer traffic and increase average ticket size. Earnings estimates for 2025 have continued to rise, and the stock carries a robust analyst consensus, supported by expectations of accelerating earnings growth over the next two years.
Oracle Corporation (ORCL)
Oracle saw a strong rally, finishing up 3.09% to a new closing high of $248.75, just shy of entering the exclusive $700 billion market cap club. The advance followed a string of analyst upgrades, with the equity now up 19% over the past month and 79% over the past year. Optimism surrounds Oracle’s continued expansion in cloud infrastructure, with investor confidence further buoyed by positive sector sentiment and robust enterprise spending forecasts.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
Palantir set a fresh all-time high & closed at $153.99, +3.08%, punctuating its status as one of 2025’s most remarkable gainers. With the share price more than doubling this year and a technical buy rating, Palantir’s momentum is powered by stellar revenue and earnings growth from both government and commercial AI contracts. The stock’s growth-dependent valuation reflects the company’s outsized role in the AI and data analytics landscape.
Rio Tinto Group (RIO)
No significant developments or material news were reported today regarding Rio Tinto Group. The stock traded in line with commodity trends, influenced by global industrial demand and resource price fluctuations and closed at $60.03. +.52%.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) closed at $57.45, +9.16% and is now up +172.27% YTD.
Tariff Updates
Tariff-related uncertainty continue to cast a shadow over policy and market sentiment. The effects of the Trump administration’s tariffs have not yet significantly deterred consumer spending, as reflected in sustained retail sales data. However, Federal Reserve officials noted that tariffs are contributing to upward pressure on inflation ad are expected to impact price levels more acutely in the coming months, prompting ongoing scrutiny from policymakers.
Yield Curve and Interest Rates
The yield curve experienced notable fluctuations today. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond rose to 5.046%, while the 2-year Treasury yield saw a mild rebound following speculation about Federal Reserve leadership changes. The yield dynamics reflect market uncertainty over prospective monetary easing and the potential implications of Fed independence on investor risk sentiment.
FOMC Announcements
FOMC policymakers reaffirmed current policy rates, choosing to hold their stance steady in light of still-elevated inflation and resilient labor markets. With inflation remaining above the 2% target and tariffs contributing to current price dynamics, the committee signaled that it expects to keep rates elevated for the near future, with future policy shifts to be dictated by ongoing economic data and evolving employment conditions.
Commodities and Cryptocurrencies
Gold closed at $3,345.10/oz.
Silver advanced $38.44/oz.
Oil Prices fluctuated modestly, largely tracking global demand projections and Middle East tensions and closed at $67.62/bbl.
Bitcoin Ended the day stronger, maintaining heightened volatility amid ongoing regulatory developments closing at $119,696.60.
