Ahead of Market: 10 things that will decide stock market action on Thursday - The Economic Times

• Stanley Black & Decker's stock remains steady, supported by consistent demand for professional and consumer tools. • The company's performance is currently driven by its exposure to construction cycles and the implementation of ongoing efficiency initiatives.

• ASML is projected to report a profit increase for Q2, while IBM shares have experienced a significant plunge amid shifting market sentiment regarding AI and chip-making. • China's economic growth slowed to 4.3% in the first half of the year, missing economist expectations and highlighting a trend of domestic weakness despite strong exports.

• US stocks closed higher as investor sentiment was boosted by softer producer inflation data and strong early Q2 earnings reports. • Key financial firms BlackRock and Morgan Stanley beat earnings estimates, while PayPal saw a significant surge following reports of a buyout offer.

• The KOSPI index surged by over 6%, closing in the high 7,200s, while the KOSDAQ index also rebounded to close above 820. • This significant market rally was driven by a strong influx of capital from both foreign and institutional investors.

• The KOSPI index surged 404.76 points (5.90%) to reach 7,260.59 by 9:11 a.m. on the 15th, briefly recapturing the 7,200 level shortly after the market opened. • A market trigger was activated just six minutes after the opening bell due to a rapid surge in the price of index futures.

• On July 15, the KOSPI surged 6.24%, triggering a buy-side circuit breaker and a temporary program trading halt due to the rapid market climb. • The rally was led by semiconductor stocks, with SK Hynix jumping nearly 9%, while Samsung Electronics and Kioxia both rose by approximately 6%.

• US and South Korean tech stocks faced significant volatility and declines as US Treasury yields surged beyond 4.6%. • J.P. Morgan Asset Management reports that TSMC has achieved record-high revenue, asserting that the current demand for AI is not a bubble.

• Mehul Kothari, DVP of Technical Research at Anand Rathi Shares, has issued stock buy recommendations for July 15, 2026. • The top-picked stocks identified for investors include Route Mobile, Tata Power, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.

• The Sensex and Nifty 50 indices recovered from a sharp decline on Tuesday to close higher on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. • Gains were primarily driven by strong performance in bank stocks and the Bank Nifty index, though benchmark indices retreated slightly from their intraday highs.

• China's GDP growth in the second quarter slowed to its lowest pace in three and a half years, missing market expectations. • The year-on-year growth rate marks the slowest expansion since the fourth quarter of 2022.

• The World Bank recently upgraded the income status of four Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, while India remains categorized in the lower-middle-income group. • Despite being the world's fastest-growing major economy, India has failed to move up, highlighting a disconnect between its aggregate GDP growth and the actual rise in per capita income.