As We Approach The Open... 7/28/26 - by Neil Sethi

• European stock markets closed higher on Tuesday, July 25, 2026, driven by strong corporate earnings reports and a general lift in investor sentiment. • Market gains were supported by falling oil prices and optimism surrounding the potential resumption of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

• The Indian stock market rallied on July 29, 2026, with the Sensex jumping over 820 points and the Nifty 50 surpassing the 24,220 mark. • The surge was primarily driven by strong performance in the IT, consumer, and telecom sectors, supported by favorable global market cues.

• The Dow Jones and S&P 500 reached record highs, with the benchmark index closing up 0.2% despite a 1% drop in the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100. • JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts suggest the probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike is currently less than 30%, citing a lack of risk for an "upside explosion" in inflation.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average is seeking to extend a three-day winning streak amid mixed corporate earnings reports. • Ford Motor shares rose 4% after beating earnings expectations and raising its 2026 forecast, while Visa shares fell approximately 1% due to weak guidance.

• US stock markets showed mixed results on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones trading flat while the Nasdaq dropped over 1%. • The decline in the Nasdaq was primarily driven by heavy selling of semiconductor and chip stocks, a trend mirrored across global markets.

• US stock markets showed mixed performance, with the Dow Jones rallying on strong earnings while the Nasdaq declined due to a crash in semiconductor stocks like Micron, AMD, and Intel. • Gains in Coca-Cola, Walmart, and IBM helped offset losses in the tech sector as investors shifted focus toward stable earnings.

• Investors frequently prioritize prevailing market narratives over fundamental data, leading to a disconnect between stock prices and actual financial performance. • Current consensus estimates indicate that earnings growth for the "Magnificent Seven" tech giants will decelerate from roughly 40% in 2024 to approximately 19% by 2027.

• South Korean markets experienced a sharp decline overnight, with the Kospi falling over 10%, while tech giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics dropped nearly 15% and 13% respectively. • In contrast, U.S. markets showed resilience as Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose approximately 1% and S&P 500 futures remained flat.

• US stocks traded lower on Tuesday as global markets adopted a cautious stance toward AI chip stocks. • The decline is driven by investor concerns regarding excessive corporate spending on AI and increasing competition from China.

• ANZ (ASX:ANZ) shares are trading higher, though the cause is attributed to broader market sentiment and economic data rather than specific recent reports. • The text clarifies that financial results from May 2026 should not be directly linked to the price movements observed in July 2026.

• On July 28, Asian stock markets suffered a "Black Tuesday" crash, with South Korea's KOSPI plunging over 10% and triggering a circuit breaker. • Major semiconductor firms Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw shares tumble more than 12%, following a 2.23% drop in the U.S. Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.