Euronext Q2 Earnings Surpass Forecasts Amid Diversification Strategy

• The U.S. economy grew at a rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, falling short of expectations due to a decline in inventories and federal government spending. • Core inflation for June was reported at 3.3%, maintaining a primary focus for Federal Reserve policymakers as labor market indicators have stabilized.

• European stock markets closed broadly higher on Thursday, driven primarily by positive corporate earnings updates, although the UK market underperformed compared to its peers. • Gains occurred despite escalating tensions between Iran and the US in the Middle East, which have sparked investor anxiety regarding global economic stability.

• The U.S. economy slowed in the second quarter of 2026, expanding at an annual rate of 1.5 percent. • This deceleration is attributed to an ongoing war with Iran, which has severely disrupted global supply chains, energy markets, and pricing.

• European stock indexes are currently balancing strong corporate earnings reports against market volatility caused by the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran. • Key financial gains include a 2% rise for Societe Generale following record quarterly profits and a 2.6% increase for Spain’s BBVA after reporting higher second-quarter net profits.

• South Korea and Taiwan have dropped to tenth and seventh place, respectively, in global stock market capitalization rankings following a significant selloff. • The decline was triggered by investor concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of capital expenditure within the artificial intelligence sector.

• The KOSPI index plummeted 16% over two days and approximately 33% within a single month, leaving South Korean retail investors in a state of "despair." • The market crash was directly triggered by the earnings announcement from SK hynix (000660.KS), which sparked a broader sell-off.

• South Korea’s KOSPI index surged 17% to reach 6,549 points, recovering from a massive three-day selloff that saw the market tumble by nearly 17%. • The initial crash was triggered by heavy selling in semiconductor stocks due to growing fears of increased competition from Chinese memory chipmakers.

• Asian markets trended higher on Friday, led by a massive 14.38% surge in South Korea's Kospi and a 5.04% jump in Japan's Nikkei 225. • The rally was primarily driven by a strong tech sector following positive Microsoft earnings reports on Wall Street.

• Japanese and South Korean stock markets experienced a sharp rebound on July 31, with the Nikkei 225 rising 4.10% and the KOSPI surging 13%. • Major tech players led the rally, as SK Hynix jumped over 27% and Samsung gained more than 22% following positive U.S. earnings from AI-related giants.

• Asian stocks showed mixed stability on Thursday following a volatile week characterized by an AI-driven sell-off and uncertainty regarding US Federal Reserve interest rate policies. • South Korea's Kospi rallied 3.55% (up 201.22 points) and Taiwan's benchmark rose 1.66%, while Japan's Nikkei climbed 1.43% to 62,315.56.

• Asian stock markets experienced choppy trading and struggled for direction on Thursday, July 30, 2026, following a week of significant volatility. • The instability was primarily driven by investor jitters surrounding the artificial intelligence sector and uncertainty regarding future monetary policy.