Mega-deals fuel record M&A as boards dream big on takeovers

• The Nasdaq and S&P 500 rose on July 21, 2026, driven by strong corporate earnings reports that lifted overall market sentiment. • Key corporate drivers included General Motors beating second-quarter expectations and Nvidia disclosing a strategic stake in Nebius.

• Goldman Sachs has launched a new private markets platform designed to expand investment offerings for its affluent client base. • The initiative responds to growing investor demand for exposure to high-growth startups and privately held companies.

• U.S. stock markets, including the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, traded mixed as investors adopted a cautious stance. • Market sentiment was negatively impacted by weakness in the chip sector, offsetting gains in other areas.

• European stock markets rose on Tuesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600, Germany’s DAX, and Italy’s FTSE MIB gaining 0.6%, 0.6%, and 0.8% respectively. • Investors are monitoring diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran alongside threats from Yemen's Houthi movement, which announced a new naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.

• South Korea's stock market is experiencing a significant boom driven by surging global demand for AI semiconductor chips, corporate reforms, and the growth of leveraged ETFs. • Historical data from 2014 to 2024 shows Korea's market capitalization averaged 93% of GDP, remaining well below the OECD average due to a bank-centered financial system.

• Europe’s STOXX 600 index closed at a two-week high, reflecting a positive trend across major European equity markets. • The index's growth was significantly bolstered by a surge in shares for Randstad, a global human resources consulting firm.

• Major U.S. stock indexes showed mixed performance, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.10% while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.09% and 0.29%, respectively. • Market volatility is centered around anticipation for Alphabet Inc's upcoming earnings report, which often serves as a bellwether for the tech sector and AI growth.

• European shares saw a slight increase on Tuesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index rising 0.1% to reach 640.61 points. • Market sentiment was bolstered by falling oil prices, which were driven by reports of mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.

• European banks reported stronger Q2 earnings driven by higher interest rates, increased loan growth, and M&A-related trading revenue. • Major financial institutions, including UniCredit and Santander, are scheduled to release their specific results on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, followed by BNP Paribas on Thursday.

• The FTSE 100 index rose as a rally in oil prices provided a significant boost to energy sector shares. • Food manufacturer Greencore reported third-quarter profits that exceeded expectations, leading the company to raise its full-year earnings guidance.

• U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued a temporary restraining order on Monday to pause the acquisition of Warner Bros. by Paramount's owners. • The ruling disrupts the owners' timeline, as they had intended to finalize the deal to buy their Hollywood rival within the current week.

• Major U.S. stock indexes showed mixed results on a key tech earnings day, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 gaining while the Nasdaq Composite declined. • Market volatility coincided with a surge in oil prices and 10-year Treasury yields, which reached their highest levels in two months.