The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record 52,900.07 after June payrolls missed expectations, signaling a cooling labor market. This weaker jobs report eased fears of further Federal Reserve rate hikes, boosting investor confidence and driving a rotation into reliable blue-chip stocks like Apple, McDonald's, and Walmart. The market now awaits second-quarter earnings reports to determine if the rally can continue or if the record high will act as resistance. Economic data and Fed commentary next week will also influence the market's direction.
In June, U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 57,000, falling short of the 114,000 expected, while the unemployment rate unexpectedly decreased to 4.2%. Labor force participation also declined to 61.5%. Memory chip stocks, including SK Hynix and Samsun...
On April 8, 2025, President Donald Trump made 327 stock purchases focused on major tech companies during a market sell-off triggered by his new tariff plan. The next day, he announced a partial rollback of these tariffs, causing the S&P 500 to surge ...
In the first half of 2026, the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) led sector gains with a 33% return despite a June pullback due to AI spending concerns and Fed rate hike fears. The Energy sector (XLE) rose 21%, driven by supply disruptions and...
A UBS survey of over 7,500 smartphone users reveals growing iPhone demand in the US and Europe, while interest in China drops to a record low of 15%. This decline in China is concerning as it represents about 20% of Apple's sales and may reflect broa...
UBS analyst David Vogt maintains a Hold rating on Apple stock with a 12-month target price of $296, reflecting mixed signals from a global smartphone user survey. While iPhone purchase intent rose in the U.S., UK, and Germany, demand softened in Chin...
