Stock Market Today: Live Updates 18.07.2026

• Bank of America (BofA) has released its "Street Calls of the Week," featuring analysis on the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a list of the strongest luxury brands for 2026. • The report highlights a specific bank facing challenges with weak economic activity, client churn, and expensive credit, which are limiting payment volumes and new loan growth.

• Evercore downgraded Sun Life Financial Inc. on Monday due to concerns over weak economic activity and client churn affecting payment volumes. • Analysts noted that high credit costs are slowing the issuance of new loans, while BofA's 2026 EPS estimates fall significantly short of management's guidance.

• Market expert Vinod Nair suggests that Indian equities are positioned to outperform global peers in the medium term due to resilient domestic demand and reasonable valuations. • The Nifty50 has shown strength by recovering quickly from geopolitical volatility in West Asia and crude price spikes, finding steady support between 23,900 and 24,100.

• DNB, Norway's largest bank, is seeing steady stock performance driven by strong earnings and increased net interest income. • The bank maintains solid capital ratios and liquidity, reinforcing its stability and dominant position within the Nordic financial sector.

• BNP Paribas stock is currently trading steady, supported by the French banking group's strong capital position, consistent earnings trends, and attractive dividend profile. • Investors are prioritizing the bank's scale and diversification, focusing specifically on profitability metrics and regulatory capital ratios to determine valuation.

• Intesa Sanpaolo's stock is trading steadily as investors focus on the Italian banking group's strong capital position and earnings power. • Market attention is centered on the bank's capital ratios, profit trends, and dividend capacity rather than short-term price fluctuations.

• Raymond James stock is trading steadily following quarterly results that revealed higher revenue and strong client asset flows. • Growth is primarily driven by the company's diversified business model, specifically its Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, and RJ Bank segments.

• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering investments of up to $175 million in AirTrunk’s data center expansion in Johor, Malaysia, and $200 million in the Union Bank of the Philippines' first sustainability bond. • Indonesian digital automotive platform Broom is seeking new funding, with several existing investors and a Singapore-based impact investor expected to participate.

• Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reported record financial results for the second quarter of 2026, driven by strong client activity across its investment management, wealth management, and institutional securities divisions. • Executives attributed the success to the firm's integrated business model and a favorable environment for mergers and acquisitions, fueled by normalized regulations and robust economic conditions.

• A total of 256 companies are scheduled to announce their Q1 FY27 earnings for the April-June quarter this week. • High-profile firms reporting include Infosys, Bajaj Auto, Nestlé India, UltraTech Cement, Adani Power, Paytm, and TVS Motor.

• IBM shares experienced a historic decline of approximately 25% on July 18, 2026. • Following the crash, market analysts issued a "Hold" rating for the company, reflecting a split in sentiment regarding its valuation.