Data

• Wall Street experienced a mixed and slightly downward trend as of 11:11 a.m. EDT, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 0.20% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 42.74 points. • The S&P 500 remained nearly flat, gaining 0.03%, while crude oil prices saw a significant surge. • This market volatility occurs as investors cautiously await the release of critical inflation data, which typically influences Federal Reserve interest rate decisions.

• Asian and European stock markets opened with mixed results as investors weighed geopolitical risks in the Middle East against hopes for US Federal Reserve rate cuts. • Key gains were seen in Japan's Nikkei, Taiwan's Taiex (up 1.6%), and Hong Kong's Hang Seng (up 1.1%), while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.3%. • Market volatility is being driven by rising oil prices and the anticipation of upcoming US inflation data, which will likely influence future monetary policy.

• European stocks have paused near record highs as investors shift focus toward Middle East tensions and upcoming economic data. • LSEG estimates indicate that second-quarter STOXX 600 earnings are expected to rise by nearly 21%, a significant increase from the 12.5% forecast in early May. • Individual stock movements were mixed, with Plus500 rising 2.1% on strong half-year core profits, while Vistry plummeted 12.2% following reports that Allianz is cutting supplier credit cover by up to 70%.

• European shares remained steady on Monday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 holding at 660.12 points. • Market stability follows a record-high close on Friday, where the benchmark climbed 1.7% driven by strong corporate earnings and expectations of lower U.S. borrowing costs. • Investors are currently balancing risks associated with the Strait of Hormuz, which has kept oil prices elevated, against a packed upcoming calendar of economic data.

• European stocks remained steady on Monday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 holding at 660.12 points following a record-high close on Friday. • Market stability comes as investors balance elevated oil prices driven by uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz against a packed upcoming economic data calendar. • The recent 1.7% weekly climb was fueled by strong corporate earnings and expectations of lower U.S. borrowing costs following soft employment data.

• President Trump and his top aides remain bullish on the expansion of data centers despite growing national blowback and voter anxiety regarding the facilities. • In a shift from a previously hands-off approach, the White House recently prepared a plan to monitor specific AI models to prevent the creation of security vulnerabilities. • The new monitoring framework was developed in coordination with major industry leaders, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

• AI, big data, and cybersecurity emerged as the dominant global tech hiring themes during the second quarter of 2026, according to GlobalData. • While overall job postings saw a slight decline, the automotive and technology sectors remained resilient, and the Netherlands experienced a rise in hiring due to stable economic growth and increased public spending. • Job postings in the US and UK recorded only modest growth, as noted by GlobalData Business Fundamentals Analyst Sherla Sriprada.