S&P 500 Ends Q1 Down Amid Geopolitics and Oil Surge

• Robinhood (HOOD) shares rose 4.72% to $113.78, driven by bullish investor sentiment and news of global expansion. • The surge follows the rollout of a blockchain platform, tokenized equities, and the acquisition of WonderFi, alongside a product unveiling event in London.

• European stocks and gold prices surged, with the FTSE 100 rising 174 points to 10,652, reaching a three-month high following disappointing US jobs data. • Halma continued its aggressive expansion by acquiring Dutch hospital software firm Itemedical for €23 million and Sweden's Naslund Medical for $45 million.

• Europe's new digital Entry-Exit System (EES) for non-EU travelers is experiencing significant technical glitches and bottlenecks. • The system is causing long queues and passenger frustration during the onset of the peak summer holiday season.

• Eurostat reported on July 2, 2026, that the EU27 real GDP index rose to 123.947 in 2025, up from 122.115 in 2024. • Nominal GDP for the region increased from approximately €16.22 trillion in 2024 to €16.9 trillion in 2025.

• European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde defended the decision to raise interest rates despite evidence of easing inflation. • The move aims to ensure price stability across the eurozone by preventing inflation from becoming entrenched in the economy.

• Tesla experienced a 25% surge in sales during the second quarter, driven primarily by a recovery in the European market. • The growth was fueled by strategic price cuts, which helped offset declining sales figures within the United States.

• The FTSE 100 rallied as signals of dovish interest rate policies offset a decline in oil prices. • Currys reported an 18% increase in annual profit, noting solid sales growth across the UK and Nordics at the start of the new financial year.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) reaffirmed its primary mandate to maintain price stability and preserve the purchasing power of the euro. • The ECB reported that the financial sector remains robust, noting that banks are well-capitalized with no current risks of significant financial instability.

• The FTSE 100 Index surged 174.53 points (+1.67%) to close at 10,652.87 on Thursday, July 2, 2026. • The rebound was driven by a wave of bargain hunting and sector rotation, which significantly lifted sentiment across the London market.

• S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) shares have declined 19.2% over the last six months, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 9.3% gain, with the stock currently trading at $414.07. • The company provides critical financial infrastructure, including credit ratings, market intelligence, and financial indices, to assist businesses and investors in decision-making.

• Most U.S. shares climbed on Thursday, contributing to a strong weekly performance despite mixed results across major indexes. • Market gains were driven by a jobs report showing 57,000 payroll additions last month, significantly lower than the 100,000 expected by economists.

• Most U.S. stocks climbed toward the end of a strong week, though declines in the tech sector left overall market indexes mixed. • The rally was driven by a new report suggesting the Federal Reserve may face less pressure to increase interest rates.