Evening Market Recap  

Sophia Reyes · July 30, 2025 9:24 PM

Market Snapshot for Monday July-30^th-2025

S&P 500 – 6,362.90 (-0.12%)

Dow Jones – 44,461.28 (-0.38%)

NASDAQ – 21,129.67 (+0.15%)

Market Performance

S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed Wednesday evening after strong earnings from tech heavyweights Microsoft and Meta Platforms. S&P 500 futures rose 0.7%, while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 89 points, or 0.2%.

During regular trading on Wednesday, the S&P 500 dipped after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated the central bank isn’t yet prepared to lower interest rates. The index slipped 0.12%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 171.71 points, or 0.38%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite managed to edge higher, posting a 0.15% gain.

Shares of “Magnificent Seven” members Microsoft and Meta jumped in after-hours trading, up about 8% and 11%, respectively. Microsoft reported annual Azure revenue topping $75 billion, while Meta delivered a better-than-expected Q3 sales forecast, beating Wall Street expectations.

Economic Takeaways –

• President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. has finalized a trade deal with South Korea, setting tariffs at 15%—a reduction from the 25% rate he had threatened in a letter to Seoul earlier this month. The news comes just ahead of Friday’s key tariff deadline.
• At its July meeting, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark overnight rate steady, though the decision wasn’t unanimous. Fed Governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller dissented, opposing the move to keep the key interest rate within the 25% to 4.50% range. When asked about possible changes in September, Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed has “made no decisions.”
• Preliminary GDP data showed the U.S. economy grew at a 3% annualized pace in Q2, rebounding from a 0.5% contraction in Q1. The swing was largely driven by a reversal in the import surge seen earlier in the year, as companies front-loaded shipments ahead of potential tariffs.
• S. companies increased hiring in July, adding 104,000 private-sector jobs, according to ADP Research, surpassing the median economist forecast of 76,000. However, labor demand remains weak. Friday’s official employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which includes government jobs, is expected to show slower job growth and a rise in unemployment.
• The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) popped 6% Tuesday from near its 2025 lows, possibly hinting at anxiety heading into earnings and data.
• The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed The euro rose 0.1% to $1.1420 The Japanese yen was little changed at 149.38 per dollar The offshore yuan was little changed at 7.2105 per dollar.

Gold –

• Spot gold rose 0.1% to $3,278.59 an ounce

Oil –

• West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.3% to $70.24 a barrel.

Crypto –

• Bitcoin rose 0.3% to $117,553.23 Ether rose 0.3% to $3,781.15.

Trump Unveils Trade Deal with South Korea, Tariffs Lowered to 15%

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the U.S. has finalized a “Full and Complete” trade agreement with South Korea, reducing blanket tariffs on Korean exports to 15%, down from the 25% rate he had previously threatened in a “tariff letter” to Seoul earlier this month. This includes lowering the 25% tariff on auto exports to the same 15% level.

Trump also claimed via a post on Truth Social that South Korea would contribute “$350 billion for investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President.”

The agreement comes shortly after the U.S. reached a similar trade deal with Japan.

However, there appears to be a discrepancy in how the two countries interpret the investment arrangement. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, in a Facebook post announcing that his country had “concluded tariff negotiations” with Washington, described the $350 billion as a fund designed to help Korean companies expand into the U.S. across key sectors such as shipbuilding, semiconductors, batteries, biotechnology, and energy, according to a CNBC translation of his remarks in Korean.

Lee added that $150 billion of the total would be earmarked specifically for “shipbuilding cooperation providing strong support for Korean companies entering the U.S. shipbuilding industry,” emphasizing the importance of achieving “mutually beneficial outcomes, not just pursue unilateral gains.”

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also commented on the deal, stating that “90% of the profits” from the $350 billion investment would benefit “the American people.” That echoes claims Trump made about Japan’s investment commitments earlier this month—a deal that has since been disputed by Tokyo.

Fed Holds Rates Steady Amid Internal Dissent and Continued Pressure from Trump

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.5% on Wednesday, marking the fifth consecutive meeting without a change. Two governors, Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller, dissented, favoring a rate cut. Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that no decision has been made for the September meeting, stating, “We have made no decisions about September.” Despite President Trump’s repeated calls for immediate cuts, Powell stressed the need for more data to assess the impact of tariffs on inflation and the economy. He reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to controlling inflation while balancing employment concerns. Tensions between the Fed and the White House continue, with ongoing scrutiny over the Fed’s operations and leadership.

Top Gainers

Several stocks experienced significant gains. Some of the top gainers included:

Wingstop, Inc. (WING) +26.86%

FTAI Aviation, Ltd. (FTAI) +26.56%

P3 Health Partners, Inc. (PII) +25.86%

Generac Holdings, Inc. (GNRC) +19.61%

Teradyne, Inc. (TER) +17.10%

Top Losers

The top US stock losers today, based on percentage change included:

Newegg Commerce, Inc. (NEGG) -19.97%

Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR) -15.41%

Silgan Holdings, Inc. (SLGN) -15.23%

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) -14.50%

Entegris, Inc. (ENTG) -14.46%

Notables

• Shares of Alignment Healthcare popped in after-hours trading after the health-care company posted second-quarter beats and solid guidance.
• Microsoft shares jumped 8% after the tech giant posted fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $3.65 per share, beating the $3.37 expected by analysts surveyed by LSEG.
• Meta Platforms rose 11% in extended trading after issuing a strong third-quarter revenue forecast of $47.5 billion to $50.5 billion, ahead of analysts’ expectations of $46.16 billion.
• Ford Motor (F) shares dipped 3% after hours following the company’s outlook for 2025 EBIT, which included a $2 billion net “tariff-related headwind,” reflecting a $3 billion gross impact partially offset by $1 billion in recovery efforts.
• Qualcomm reported fiscal third-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations. The company said it expected $2.85 per share at the midpoint of adjusted earnings on $10.7 billion in revenue at the midpoint in the fourth quarter.
• EBay Inc. (EBAY) shares jumped about 10% after the company projected sales that topped analysts’ estimates.
• Starbucks (SBUX) jumped after reporting better-than-expected quarterly revenue. However, challenges remain for the coffee giant, as same-store sales declined for a sixth straight quarter, reflecting ongoing pressure in key markets.
• Humana (HUM) surged after delivering strong second-quarter earnings that topped expectations. The health insurer also raised its 2025 outlook for both revenue and earnings, signaling confidence despite sector-wide cost concerns.
• Palo Alto Networks (PANW) fell following a CNBC report that the company plans to acquire CyberArk (CYBR) in a $25 billion deal, a potential consolidation move in the cybersecurity space.
• Visa (V) slipped despite beating analyst estimates on both revenue and earnings. The company noted that consumer spending “remains resilient” and maintained its full-year guidance, though investors appeared underwhelmed.
• Super Micro Computer (SMCI) rose, continuing its rally ahead of its highly anticipated earnings report next Tuesday.
• Mondelez International (MDLZ) dipped after topping Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the quarter. Despite the beat, the Oreo maker reaffirmed its outlook for a 10% decline in full-year adjusted earnings.
• Adidas shares fell in overseas trading after the company cited higher costs from U.S. tariffs, warning it may need to raise prices. Nike (NKE) slipped 0.7% in sympathy.
• Novo Nordisk (NVO) declined, extending its losses after cutting revenue guidance. The stock is now down over 20% this week. Eli Lilly (LLY), which fell 5% Tuesday amid obesity drug demand concerns, bounced modestly in early action today.
• Whirlpool (WHR) remained under pressure in pre-market trading, after plunging 13% Tuesday on disappointing quarterly results.
• United Parcel Service (UPS) edged higher ahead of the bell, recovering slightly after a 10% sell-off Tuesday sparked by weaker-than-expected earnings.

What to Watch Ahead

On Thursday, traders will closely monitor June’s personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect headline PCE to rise 2.5% year over year and 0.3% month over month. Weekly jobless claims are also scheduled for release.

Comcast, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna, CVS Health, Shake Shack, AbbVie, and Mastercard are set to report earnings before the market opens. Apple and Amazon will release their results later in the day.

Elsewhere in Asia, investors will be focused on a Bank of Japan rate decision.