Market-Digest

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,543.64 +60.93 +0.81% NASDAQ 26,206.89 +336.24 +1.30% DOW 52,487.41 +139.02 +0.27% Russell 2000 2,992.54 +36.15 +1.22% VIX 15.84 -1.04 -6.16% Risk appetite firmed up despite a noisy geopolitical backdrop. Tech led — the NASDAQ tacked on 1.3% on semiconductor strength — while the VIX slid back below 16, a sign the market is shrugging off Middle East headlines for now. Breaking News & Macro Events Trump Announces 50% Tariffs on Brazil — USTR / Bloomberg The administration announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports effective August 1, alongside new tariff rates on 14 countries — including Japan and South Korea — that take effect the same day following the July 9 deadline reset. Trade policy is back at the top of the risk stack heading into August, with the potential to reignite input-cost and supply-chain pressure across industrials and consumer names. ...

Backfill for the first trading session after the July 4th long weekend (markets were closed July 3–5). Changes are vs. the prior close of July 2. Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,537.43 +54.19 +0.72% NASDAQ 26,121.16 +288.49 +1.12% DOW 53,055.91 +155.84 +0.29% Russell 2000 3,009.54 +13.43 +0.45% VIX 15.57 -0.58 -3.59% Stocks came back from the holiday in risk-on mode: the Nasdaq led as the AI/semiconductor trade reasserted itself after late-June weakness, the Dow topped 53,000, and the VIX slipped below 16. ...

Catch-up digest for the last trading session before the July 4th holiday break. Markets were closed Friday, July 3 (Independence Day observed) and the weekend. Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,483.24 +0.01 +0.00% NASDAQ 25,832.67 -207.36 -0.80% DOW 52,900.07 +594.83 +1.14% Russell 2000 2,996.11 -16.48 -0.55% VIX 15.81 -0.33 -2.04% A textbook divergence: the Dow closed at a record high on rotation into value and defensives, while the Nasdaq slid on a broad semiconductor selloff. The S&P 500 finished essentially flat as the two forces offset. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,499.36 +58.93 +0.79% NASDAQ 26,213.72 +393.57 +1.52% DOW 52,319.20 +136.46 +0.26% Russell 2000 3,024.37 +13.95 +0.46% VIX 16.45 -1.20 -6.80% A broad risk-on session capped one of the strongest quarters in years, led by megacap tech and semiconductors as geopolitical risk eased. Breaking News & Macro Events US-Iran Hostilities Cease, Strait of Hormuz Reopened — TheStreet The US and Iran agreed to halt hostilities and restore safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, removing a major overhang. The relief sparked a tech and semiconductor rally and helped push the VIX down nearly 7% to 16.45. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,440.43 +86.41 +1.18% NASDAQ 25,820.14 +522.53 +2.07% DOW 52,182.74 +306.63 +0.59% Russell 2000 3,010.42 +0.33 +0.01% VIX 17.65 -0.73 -3.97% A risk-on session led by mega-cap tech: the NASDAQ jumped 2.07% and the Dow closed above 52,000 for the first time, lifted in part by Alphabet’s debut in the index. Breadth was thin, though — the Russell 2000 finished essentially flat, and the VIX slid below 18. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,354.02 -3.47 -0.05% NASDAQ 25,297.62 -60.99 -0.24% DOW 51,876.11 -44.51 -0.09% Russell 2000 3,010.08 +2.23 +0.07% VIX 18.41 -0.49 -2.59% Breaking News & Macro Events Fed holds rates, drops easing bias under new chair Warsh — CNBC Kevin Warsh’s first FOMC meeting as chair ended with rates held at 3.50%–3.75%, but the statement scrapped its bias toward cuts and the updated dot plot erased a 2026 cut, pushing easing out to 2027–2028. Nine officials now pencil in at least one hike, with markets pricing potential tightening as early as October. A hawkish Fed reset is the single biggest weight on the AI-momentum trade right now. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,357.49 -0.73 -0.01% NASDAQ 25,358.60 -118.03 -0.46% DOW 51,920.62 +71.72 +0.14% Russell 2000 3,007.86 +21.23 +0.71% VIX 18.89 +0.24 +1.29% A split tape: mega-cap tech dragged the Nasdaq to its fourth straight loss while the Dow and small-cap Russell 2000 pushed higher — a rotation day, not a risk-off day. Breaking News & Macro Events Fed Holds at 3.5%–3.75%, Removes 2026 Cut Guidance — Federal Reserve The FOMC left the funds rate unchanged at its June meeting and stripped out earlier guidance for a 2026 cut, pushing reductions into 2027–2028 as Iran-conflict-driven inflation lingers. Traders are now pricing in a possible hike as early as October — a meaningful hawkish repricing that keeps the front end of the curve elevated. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,358.22 -7.24 -0.10% NASDAQ 25,476.63 -110.41 -0.43% DOW 51,848.90 +182.06 +0.35% Russell 2000 2,986.63 +11.15 +0.37% VIX 18.63 -0.85 -4.36% A split tape: the Dow and small-caps edged higher while the S&P and Nasdaq slipped, as money rotated out of richly-valued and speculative growth. The VIX eased 4.4% to 18.63, suggesting the bid for protection cooled even as the most leveraged corners of the market took heavy losses. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,365.46 -107.33 -1.44% NASDAQ 25,587.04 -579.56 -2.21% DOW 51,666.84 -45.87 -0.09% Russell 2000 2,975.48 -28.92 -0.96% VIX 19.49 +2.21 +12.79% Breaking News & Macro Events Hawkish Fed Repricing Triggers Risk-Off Selloff — TheStreet / BofA A Bank of America research note floating up to three Fed rate hikes in 2026 hit a market already on edge. The Fed held at 3.5%–3.75% on June 17 (its fourth consecutive hold) but dropped its prior cut bias, with median projections now pointing to 3.8% year-end versus 3.4% in March. The VIX jumped nearly 13% to 19.49 as the rate outlook turned decisively hawkish. ...

Market Snapshot Index Close Change % Change S&P 500 7,472.79 -27.79 -0.37% NASDAQ 26,166.60 -351.33 -1.32% DOW 51,712.71 +148.01 +0.29% Russell 2000 3,004.40 +24.64 +0.83% VIX 17.28 +0.50 +2.98% A split tape: the Dow and small caps closed green while the Nasdaq sank 1.3% as megacap tech sold off hard. The VIX ticked up but stayed subdued below 18. Breaking News & Macro Events Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Hike Later in 2026 — CNBC The FOMC held the funds rate at 3.50–3.75% at its June 17 meeting, but new Chair Kevin Warsh removed the easing bias from the statement and the Fed’s PCE inflation projection was revised sharply higher to 3.6% from 2.7%. Median projections now point to a 3.8% funds rate by year-end — implying the next move could be a hike, not a cut. Treasury yields firmed in response, with the 10-year back near 4.51%. ...