August 1, 2025

On Thursday, July 31, the US Stock Market is expected to kick off positively, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures reaching record highs. Key players in the market are technology giants such as Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Nvidia, which are drawing significant attention from investors. According to premarket trading data, S&P 500 E-minis rose by 63.5 points, or 0.99%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis gained 315.5 points, or 1.34%, and Dow E-minis increased by 135 points, or 0.3%. This surge follows encouraging earnings reports from major firms, solidifying Wall Street's optimism. Meta Platforms experienced a notable gain, soaring 12.3% in premarket trading after the company projected third-quarter revenues significantly above estimates. This optimistic outlook is largely attributed to AI advancements enhancing their advertising revenues. Microsoft's stock also rose impressively, climbing 8.8%, following the announcement of its record capital spending outlook of $30 billion for the current quarter and unexpected sales growth in its Azure cloud services. Other major technology companies, including Amazon and Nvidia, also reported increases of 3.4% and 1.9%, respectively. Analysts are closely watching Microsoft's trajectory as it approaches a monumental $4 trillion market capitalization. The previous day, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones indices concluded lower due to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's remarks, which tempered expectations of an imminent interest rate cut in September. Market participants now assess a 62.8% likelihood that the Federal Reserve will maintain current rates during its September meeting. Powell emphasized that it remains prematurely optimistic to predict an easing of rates and noted that the current monetary policy isn't hampering economic growth. This statement follows stronger-than-anticipated GDP data for the second quarter, which raises questions about the need for rate adjustments. Investors are awaiting further economic data, including the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index for June, scheduled for release at 08:30 a.m. ET. The PCE is the Fed's favored inflation gauge and will be crucial in shaping monetary policy decisions moving forward. Additionally, traders are preparing for the upcoming jobs report and are monitoring trade relations as tariff deadlines loom. In trade news, European liquor may face a hefty 15% tariff starting August 1, pending negotiations. Simultaneously, President Trump announced a deal with South Korea, reducing the proposed import tariff to 15% from an earlier 25%. However, tensions linger as he has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on India, despite ongoing discussions between the two nations. In other stock movements, Applied Digital experienced a significant boost, rising 24.1% after exceeding quarterly revenue estimates, assisted by increased demand for AI-driven cloud infrastructure. This reflects broader trends as technology-related companies respond to burgeoning market demands related to advanced technology and digital infrastructure. Amidst all these dynamics in the stock market, several FAQs have arisen, with one common inquiry concerning the top three indexes in the US stock market: Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq. Another frequently asked question pertains to PCE data, which is essential for understanding consumer spending behavior. Overall, with the US Stock Market excited by robust tech performance and the anticipation of economic indicators, investors are hopeful for continued positive momentum as July draws to a close.

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Tags: Us stock market, Meta platforms, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Federal reserve, Tariffs, Trading,