While investors obsess over record highs in the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100, one sector quietly crushed them both last quarter, and real money <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-aerospace-defense-stocks">is pouring in fast.</a>



In the first half of 2025, the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>) surged 25%, marking the fund's best half-year performance since inception. That's a 20 percentage point outperformance over the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) and 17 points above the tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Stocks Crushed Tech In Last Quarter's Rally</h3>



But the blowout mainly occurred in the second quarter. The ITA ETF surged 23.2% between April and June, its best quarter ever, outpacing the Nasdaq 100's sharpest rally since early 2023 by five percentage points.



Crucially, this isn't just momentum chasing. Investors have committed capital, with ITA notching 10 straight weeks of inflows through July 10—the longest stretch since early 2023.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Best Defense Stocks In 2025</h3>



Among ITA's top holdings, nine of the top 10 are firmly in the green for the year as of July 10, with only Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) trailing. Here&#8217;s a look at how the biggest names are performing:



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Weight in ITA ETF</th><th>Return YTD</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>General Electric Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</td><td>20.00%</td><td>+50.59%</td></tr><tr><td>RTX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td><td>14.70%</td><td>+27.61%</td></tr><tr><td>The Boeing Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</td><td>9.22%</td><td>+28.02%</td></tr><tr><td>General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</td><td>4.66%</td><td>+15.67%</td></tr><tr><td>TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDG#NYSE">TDG</a>)</td><td>4.63%</td><td>+20.45%</td></tr><tr><td>Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWM#NYSE">HWM</a>)</td><td>4.55%</td><td>+66.11%</td></tr><tr><td>L3Harris Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LHX#NYSE">LHX</a>)</td><td>4.51%</td><td>+24.48%</td></tr><tr><td>Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td><td>4.47%</td><td>+9.24%</td></tr><tr><td>Axon Enterprise Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXON#NASDAQ">AXON</a>)</td><td>4.40%</td><td>+35.59%</td></tr><tr><td>Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td><td>4.39%</td><td>-3.34%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Why Is The Defense Sector Booming?



This rally in defense stocks isn&#8217;t just about earnings—it's about Washington policy, global geopolitical risks, and budget flows.



Following years of underinvestment, Trump's return to the White House has kicked off a rearmament cycle.



On July 4, Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act", unlocking $156.2 billion in targeted defense funding—the Pentagon's biggest budget infusion in over a decade.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Inside The New Defense Bill?</h3>



The funding, detailed in Title II of the act, includes:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>$29.2 billion for shipbuilding</li>



<li>$24.4 billion for integrated air and missile defense – the "Golden Dome" initiative</li>



<li>$25.4 billion for munitions and supply chain resilience</li>



<li>$16.0 billion for low-cost weapons scaling</li>



<li>$8.6 billion for air superiority projects</li>



<li>$10.8 billion for nuclear force upgrades</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense Stocks Wall Street Is Watching Now</h3>



In a note shared earlier this week, Goldman Sachs analyst Noah Poponak flagged four defense contractors as top beneficiaries of the Pentagon&#8217;s defense spending:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HII#NYSE">HII</a>): Backed by over $5 billion in industrial supply chain funding. Already awarded a $1.3 billion workforce grant.</li>



<li>L3Harris Technologies Inc.: Poised to win missile propulsion and satellite contracts tied to the Golden Dome program.</li>



<li>Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>): Builds low-cost drones and propulsion systems, a core focus in the Pentagon's push for affordable mass-produced systems. Shares of KTOS have already rallied over 70% year-to-date, marking the best performance in the ITA ETF. </li>



<li>AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVAV#NASDAQ">AVAV</a>): Developer of Switchblade tactical drones, a likely beneficiary of $1.4 billion in small unmanned aerial systems funding.</li>
</ul>



Read now: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/07/46306953/emerging-markets-etfs-inflows-iemg-vwo-2025">Wall Street Is On Fire—So Why Is This Wall Of Cash Moving Abroad?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/07/46306953/emerging-markets-etfs-inflows-iemg-vwo-2025"> </a>

Specialty ETFs

Tech

ETFs

AVAV

AXON

KTOS

Forget Tech—Trump Just Made Defense The Hottest Trade On Wall Street

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) shares rose in premarket trading Thursday after the Atlanta-based carrier posted stronger-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/n46338489/delta-air-lines-announces-june-quarter-2025-financial-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-quarter results</a> and reinstated its full-year 2025 guidance.



Operating revenue for the quarter was $16.65 billion, flat from a year ago but above the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">consensus estimate</a> of $16.18 billion. Adjusted operating revenue rose 1% year over year to $15.51 billion.



Delta credited its June-quarter revenue, a 1% year-over-year increase, to continued strength in high-margin segments. Premium cabin sales rose 5%, loyalty revenue climbed 8%, American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) remuneration increased 10% to $2 billion, while adjusted unit revenue declined 3% amid 4% capacity growth.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46204250/airline-stocks-face-flat-q2-but-1-thing-could-lift-them" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Airline Stocks Face Flat Q2—But 1 Thing Could Lift Them</a>



Adjusted earnings per share were $2.10, down 11% from the year-ago period but topping expectations of $2.05. The airline&#8217;s adjusted average fuel price fell to $2.26 per gallon, compared with $2.64 last year.



Passenger revenue surged 26% to $13.88 billion, while cargo revenue rose 7% to $212 million. Other revenue declined 2% to $2.57 billion.



Delta reported adjusted operating income of $2.05 billion, down from $2.27 billion a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin narrowed to 13.2% from 14.7%.



Adjusted operating cash flow totaled $1.84 billion, a 25% decline year over year, while free cash flow stood at $733 million.



As of the end of the June quarter, Delta reported adjusted net debt of $16.32 billion, down $1.7 billion from the end of 2024. Total liquidity was $6.4 billion, including $3.1 billion in undrawn revolver capacity.



The passenger load factor declined to 86% from 87% a year ago. Air traffic liability stood at $8.9 billion.



During the quarter, Delta announced new or expanded partnerships with WestJet, LATAM, IndiGo, and Virgin Atlantic, strengthening its global network and international connectivity.



&#8220;As we look to the second half of our centennial year, we remain focused on executing our strategic priorities and managing the levers within our control to deliver strong earnings and cash flow.&nbsp; Reflecting our confidence in the business, we are restoring financial&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;with an expectation for earnings per share of&nbsp;$5.25&nbsp;to&nbsp;$6.25&nbsp;and free cash flow of&nbsp;$3&nbsp;to&nbsp;$4 billion, consistent with our long-term free cash flow targets,&#8221; commented Ed Bastian, Delta&#8217;s chief executive officer.



Delta President Glen Hauenstein noted, &#8220;Through the quarter, demand trends stabilized at levels that are flat to last year and we continued to see resilience in our diverse, high-margin revenue streams.&#8221;



In June, DAL <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/06/n46013647/delta-air-lines-declares-quarterly-dividend" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> a 25% increase to its quarterly dividend, raising it to $0.1875 per share. The payout is set for Aug. 21 to shareholders of record as of July 31.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Outlook</h2>



Delta reinstated its full-year 2025 guidance, projecting earnings per share of $5.25 to $6.25, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.42. The airline also expects free cash flow of $3 billion to $4 billion.



&#8220;For the September quarter, we expect total revenue to be flat to up 4% compared to the prior year, with unit revenue trends expected to improve through the second half of the year as we continue to adjust capacity and the industry further rationalizes supply,&#8221; commented Glen Hauenstein, Delta&#8217;s president.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Third-Quarter 2025 Outlook</h2>



Delta forecasts total revenue to rise 0% to 4% year over year, with an operating margin between 9% and 11%. Adjusted earnings per share are projected to range from $1.25 to $1.75, versus a consensus estimate of $1.34.



Delta expects the September quarter to deliver its strongest non-fuel unit cost performance of the year, with costs projected to remain flat or decline slightly compared to 2024.



Price Action: DAL shares were trading higher by 12.03% to $56.76 premarket at last check Thursday.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46336395/senate-confirms-trump-pick-bryan-bedford-as-faa-chief-even-as-chuck-schumer-warns-he-will-prioritize-profits-over-passenger-safety" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Senate Confirms Trump Pick Bryan Bedford As FAA Chief Even As Chuck Schumer Warns He Will Prioritize &#8216;Profits Over Passenger Safety&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo by Angel DiBilio via Shutterstock

Earnings

News

Guidance

Movers

Delta Air Lines CEO Confident In Stronger 2025 As Demand Holds Steady

Tech's<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech"> Big Three </a>just hit a mind-bending milestone: Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) are now worth a combined $10.87 trillion &#8211; more than triple their $3.49 trillion combined value just five years ago.



Together, they now account for roughly one-quarter of the S&amp;P 500. The question echoing through Wall Street: Is this the top, or just a rest stop?



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46262055/greed-mode-on-why-tesla-nvidia-palantir-and-bitcoin-plays-could-rip">Greed Mode On: Why Tesla, Nvidia, Palantir And Bitcoin Plays Could Rip</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Three Giants, Three Very Different Growth Stories</h2>



Nvidia is the undeniable rocket. With revenue up over 70% year-over-year (as of the last reported <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NVDA/income-statement">quarter</a>) and margins expanding alongside AI demand, it has grown into a profit machine almost overnight. A forward P/E around 38, per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0710">Benzinga Pro</a>, may sound steep until you see that earnings are expected to double again. It's pricey, but with growth like this, bulls still say it's justified.



Microsoft is the quiet killer. Its Azure cloud engine continues to hum, with double-digit top-line growth (13%+ as of the last reported quarter) and margins exceeding 40%. Its forward P/E sits around 33, which may look tame next to Nvidia. Microsoft's balance sheet is pristine, its capital return program generous, and it is embedding AI across its software empire without the volatility.



Then there's Apple. Still wildly profitable (operating profits around 30% consistently), still buying back shares like clockwork—but growth has stalled. iPhone sales are slowing, and while services revenue is strong, it&#8217;s not enough to reignite major earnings momentum. With a P/E over 27 and no breakout product in sight, Apple looks more like a luxury defensive play than a growth engine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Peak Tech—Or Just Tech's Peak Trio?</h2>



Are we in bubble territory? Not necessarily. 



But these three stocks alone have added over $7 trillion in value since 2019, without a crash or correction in sight. Investors should ask: Is the next leg higher driven by real growth, or just momentum?



For now, the crown stays on—but it may be getting heavy.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46315651/nvidia-broadcom-avgo-stock-ai">Nvidia Is The Star―But Broadcom Is The AI Boom&#8217;s Best-Kept Secret</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Trading Ideas

AAPL

MSFT

NVDA

Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple Smash $10 Trillion—Is This Peak Tech?

Benzinga readers think Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk should focus on his companies instead of launching a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46210411/musk-third-party-odds-hit-47-can-the-tesla-chief-do-what-no-one-has-since-1853">new political party.</a>



What Happened: Musk is considering launching <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46265725/elon-musk-announces-formation-of-america-party-emerges-in-wake-of-donald-trumps-historic-spending-bill">the America Party, </a>which could provide a third-party option in races for House of Representatives and Senate seats in the 2026 midterms and could even provide a challenge in the 2028 presidential election to the two main parties.



Musk has become increasingly involved in politics in recent years, making large donations to support Donald Trump&#8216;s 2024 presidential campaign and securing a role in the White House&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year.



Benzinga recently asked readers if this should be Musk's focus going forward.



"Elon Musk is wading deeper into politics. Should he stay focused on Tesla and SpaceX — or keep speaking out?" Benzinga asked



The results were:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stay focused on his companies: 74%</li>



<li>Do both – he can multitask: 21%</li>



<li>Keep speaking out: 5%</li>
</ul>



A large majority of readers polled said Musk should stay focused on his companies. Musk is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and is also involved with several other companies, including Neuralink and X. With the recent announcement that X CEO Linda Yaccarino <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/07/46329375/x-ceo-yaccarino-splits-with-elon-musk-after-two-years-says-best-is-yet-to-come-for-social-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is stepping down,</a> Musk&#8217;s time commitment to the social media platform may increase.



Are you buying when the CEOs of the Magnificent 7 are selling?



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stay in the know with our Insider Trades page — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/">see when leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang are offloading their own shares.</a></li>
</ul>



Why It's Important: Musk is the wealthiest person in the world and has a considerable influence as the most followed person on X. His push into politics could change the future of the current two-party system in America, but also could take time away from other key focuses for the billionaire.



Musk has been instrumental in transforming the electric vehicle, clean energy and space sectors for the better, and without his strong commitment to these ideals and the companies involved, technology could face a setback.



Wedbush analyst Dan Ives recently said Tesla's Board needs to "act now" and put rules in place for Musk to manage his time in politics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46300946/musk-vs-trump-soap-opera-must-end-tesla-analyst-shares-3-key-steps">and at Tesla.</a>



&#8220;Tesla is heading into one of the most important stages of its growth cycle with the autonomous and robotics future now on the doorstep and cannot have Musk spending more and more time creating a political party which will require countless time, energy, and political capital,&#8221; Ives said, adding that this &#8220;soap opera must end.&#8221;



Ives said Tesla investors want Musk to remain as CEO for at least five more years and to focus on the company's autonomous and robotics future. The analyst called Nvidia and Tesla the best physical AI companies in the world, with autonomous vehicles worth around a $1 trillion potential in Tesla's valuation.



TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock closed at $295.88 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $182.00 to $488.54. Tesla stock is down 22% year-to-date in 2025 and could fall further if Musk spends more time away from the EV giant.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46285761/can-elon-musk-run-for-president-or-even-be-speaker-of-the-house">Can Elon Musk Run For President — Or Even Be Speaker Of The House?</a></li>
</ul>



The study was conducted by Benzinga from July 7, 2025, through July 8, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 55 adults.



Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

TSLA

Musk's Politics Or Tesla's Future? 74% Say The Choice Is Clear

U.S. stock futures declined on Thursday after ending higher on Wednesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were trading lower.



President Donald Trump imposed<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46334793/trump-sends-lula-a-letter-imposing-50-tariffs-calls-bolsonaro-trial-a-witch-hunt-brazils-president-hits-back-will-not-accept-any-form-of-tutelage"> 50% tariffs on Brazil</a>, escalating the trade tensions between the two nations. This was followed by a slew of letters posted on his Truth Social account to Japan, South Korea, and other countries, with a deadline of making a deal by Aug. 1.



Trump also urged the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 3%, while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46336115/as-trump-calls-for-3-percentage-point-rate-cut-too-late-jerome-powell-to-resign-june-fed-minutes-sh">June&#8217;s Fed minutes</a> were awash with words &#8220;uncertain&#8221; and &#8220;uncertainty,&#8221; over the tariffs.



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.35% and the two-year bond was at 3.85%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool&#8217;s</a> projections show markets pricing a 93.3% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its July meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.23%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.17%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.16%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.15%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were lower in premarket on Thursday. The SPY was down 0.13% at $623.24, while the QQQ declined 0.086% to $555.77, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Information technology, utilities, and communication services stocks led the gains on Wednesday, driving U.S. stocks higher.



Investors largely overlooked fresh trade uncertainty, encouraged by the White House&#8217;s delay of new tariffs to Aug. 1st and renewed hopes for negotiations.



In contrast, energy and consumer staples stocks bucked the broader market trend, ending the session in the red.



Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) once again dominated headlines, reaching a staggering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/07/46328569/wall-street-today-tariffs-nvidia-4-trillion">$4 trillion market capitalization</a> and cementing its position as the world&#8217;s most valuable company. It plans to introduce a new AI chip specifically for the Chinese market as early as September.



On the economic data front, U.S. wholesale inventories saw a 0.3% month-over-month decline in May, falling to $905.5 billion, which was consistent with preliminary estimates and followed a 0.1% increase in the prior month.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.94%</td><td>20,611.34</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.61%</td><td>6,263.26</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.49%</td><td>44,458.30</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1.07%</td><td>2,252.49</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



The senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo, Scott Wren, highlighted that the resurfaced tariff negotiations after a 90-day pause have again started to impact global stock and bond markets.



He said that &#8220;Some potentially serious trade frictions were just around the corner, ready to rear their ugly heads and impact global stock and bond markets.&#8221;



Wren highlighted that the first 90-day pause of largely reciprocal tariffs with a number of important trading partners was due to expire today, July 9. But as the financial markets woke up and got ready to go on Monday morning, the headlines hit the newswires that the pause was being pushed back to Aug. 1, and letters were going out to various trading partners encouraging them to come to an agreement with the U.S. by this new date.



&#8220;The upcoming expiration of the 90-day tariff pause on Aug. 12 with China are just a big reminder that we are still in the early stages of hammering out what U.S. trade relationships with our largest global trade partners will be,&#8221; he said.



Granted, the magnitude of implementation has been uneven and inconsistent in recent months, Wren said that &#8220;U.S. consumers have yet to see the full effect of tariffs at this point.&#8221;



&#8220;Consumers are in many cases buying goods that were inventoried by sellers prior to the application of tariffs. Once those inventories are depleted and are replaced with goods that are subject to tariffs, we would expect to see goods inflation increase into the end of this year and in the early months of 2026,&#8221; he said.



Wren added that &#8220;Rising inflation is likely to increase market worries as market consensus calls for two rate cuts in 2025.&#8221;



Meanwhile, talking about inflation, Louis Navellier of Navellier &amp; Associates stated that &#8220;I am expecting favorable inflation reports and for retail sales to have picked up a bit from May's slow pace.&#8221;



&#8220;Economic activity appears to be picking up, so both business and consumer sentiment should be rising,&#8221; he added.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Thursday:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Initial jobless claims data for the week ended July 5 will all be out by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>St Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem will speak at 10:00 a.m., and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly will speak at 2:30 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) rose 0.71% in premarket on Thursday after scaling a record market capitalization of over $4 trillion on Wednesday.</li>



<li>WK Kellogg Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLG#NYSE">KLG</a>) zoomed 52.86% on a report that Ferrero is nearing an agreement to buy the breakfast food company for about $3 billion.</li>



<li>Klotho Neurosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLTO#NASDAQ">KLTO</a>) surged 54.74% as the company was granted FDA Orphan Drug designation for KLTO-202 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.</li>



<li>Creative Medical Technology Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELZ#NASDAQ">CELZ</a>) tumbled 27% as it received a notice of allowance for a U.S. patent titled "Treatment Of Heart Failure And/Or Post Infarct Pathological Remodeling By Ex Vivo Reprogrammed Immune Cells."</li>



<li>Methode Electronics Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEI#NYSE">MEI</a>) dropped 14.29% after the company reported a fourth-quarter adjusted EPS miss.</li>



<li>AZZ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZZ#NYSE">AZZ</a>) was 0.60% higher after posting better-than-expected earnings for its first quarter, while sales missed estimates. The company raised its FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance from $5.50-$6.10 to $5.75-$6.25.</li>



<li>Kraft Heinz Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>) was up 0.53% after it agreed to sell its infant and specialty food business in Italy to NewPrinces S.p.A.</li>



<li>Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>) was up 0.79% as analysts expect it to report earnings of 58 cents per share on revenue of $2.83 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) was 0.24% lower as it is expected to report earnings before the market opens. Analysts estimate earnings of $2.05 per share on revenue of $15.45 billion.</li>



<li>Helen of Troy Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HELE#NASDAQ">HELE</a>) advanced 1.29% as analysts expect it to report earnings of 90 cents per share on revenue of $398.20 million before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.53% to hover around $68.01 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 0.35% to hover around $3,325.28 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.16% at the 97.3950 level.



Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday, except India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex and Japan's Nikkei 225 indices. Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Australia's ASX 200, and China&#8217;s CSI 300 indices rose. European markets were higher in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46336115/as-trump-calls-for-3-percentage-point-rate-cut-too-late-jerome-powell-to-resign-june-fed-minutes-sh">As Trump Calls For 3-Percentage Point Rate Cut, &#8216;Too Late&#8217; Jerome Powell To Resign, June Fed Minutes Show &#8216;Uncertainty&#8217; Reigns Supreme</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

Equities

CELZ

HELE

KLTO

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower A Day After Nasdaq Hits Record High: Nvidia, Kellogg, Klotho In Focus

Analysts from LightShed Partners have suggested that&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) should consider a change in leadership to prioritize product innovation, particularly in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence (AI).



What Happened: In a note on Wednesday, the LightShed analysts proposed that Apple might benefit from a new CEO, as reported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/should-apple-replace-tim-cook-as-ceo-these-analysts-want-a-dramatic-change-d1e067dd">MarketWatch</a>. The suggestion comes in the wake of the impending departure of Apple&#8217;s Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams.



Check out the current price of <a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/aapl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AAPL stock here</a>.



The analysts acknowledge Cook&#8217;s operational expertise but argue that Apple now needs a leader who is more focused on product development. The company &#8220;needs a product-focused CEO,&#8221;&nbsp;states analysts.



They also express doubts about Apple&#8217;s ability to achieve a &#8220;supercycle&#8221; of upgrades and note the company&#8217;s struggles&nbsp;to keep pace in the&nbsp;field of artificial intelligence.



They warned, &#8220;AI&nbsp;will reshape industries across the&nbsp;global economy, and Apple risks&nbsp;becoming one of its casualties.&#8221;



According to Piecyk and Galone, Apple&#8217;s recent attempts to enhance its Siri personal assistant have been disappointing. They also caution that Apple&#8217;s failure to keep up with the AI race could significantly impact the company&#8217;s long-term growth potential.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46309766/most-crypto-apps-assume-youre-online-this-one-works-where-the-internet-doesnt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blockchain Beyond The Smartphone: How This One Reaches The Unconnected &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Why It Matters: This call for a change in Apple&#8217;s leadership follows a series of significant developments within the company. Just a day before the analysts&#8217; note, Apple announced the upcoming retirement of its COO,&nbsp;Jeff Williams, who was once&nbsp;tipped as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46311533/jeff-williams-once-tipped-as-tim-cooks-successor-to-retire-from-apple">potential successor</a>&nbsp;to Tim Cook. 



This news came amid criticism from the White House trade advisor,&nbsp;Peter Navarro, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46313502/peter-navarro-slams-apple-ceo-tim-cook-over-slow-production-shift-out-of-china-despite-buying-time-since-trumps-first-term-longest-running-soap-opera-in-silicon-valley">expressed dissatisfaction</a> with Cook&#8217;s&nbsp;reluctance to move Apple&#8217;s production&nbsp;out of China.



These events have sparked discussions about Apple&#8217;s future, with some industry experts, like&nbsp;Dan Ives, urging the company to make strategic moves, such as acquiring&nbsp;Perplexity AI for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46216283/dan-ives-urges-apple-to-make-a-move-saying-that-perplexity-acquisition-is-a-no-brainer-its-a-matter-of-when-and-not-if">its search engine</a>. Amid these debates, the suggestion for a new CEO adds another layer to the ongoing discussions about Apple&#8217;s direction and leadership.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="153" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10041352/image-109.png" alt="" class="wp-image-979608" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10041352/image-109.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10041352/image-109-300x60.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



Apple offers poor Momentum and Value, while scoring well on the Quality metric as per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga's Proprietary Edge Rankings.&nbsp;</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46336365/apples-data-center-chief-joins-openai-as-sam-altman-jony-ive-team-up-in-6-4-billion-io-deal">Apple&#8217;s Data Center Chief Joins OpenAI As Sam Altman, Jony Ive Team Up In $6.4 Billion &#8216;io&#8217; Deal</a> </li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple Needs 'Product-Focused CEO,' Say Analysts As Tim Cook Faces Heat Over AI Failures And Innovation Slump

As the minutes of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s June meeting were released on Wednesday, the word &#8220;uncertainty&#8221; reigned supreme amid the ongoing tariff turmoil and President Donald Trump&#8216;s call to cut rates by 3 percentage points.



What Happened: The words &#8220;uncertain&#8221; and &#8220;uncertainty&#8221; appeared 28 times in the June 17-18 meeting minutes, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell mentioned the two words 19 times, as highlighted by Ed Yardeni from Yardeni Research.



&#8220;Most of the uncertainty faced by Fed officials has to do with Trump&#8217;s Tariff Turmoil (TTT). Collectively, they are leaning toward lowering the federal funds rate. But they are in no hurry to do so since they are worried that TTT might still boost inflation,&#8221; he said.



Meanwhile, the chief economist at LPL Financial, Jeffrey Roach, said that the key takeaways from the Federal Open Market Committee&#8217;s June 18 policy meeting suggested &#8220;The FOMC is comfortable remaining in wait-and-see mode. Despite headwinds, the economy continues to trudge along, giving policymakers time to assess the projected impact from tariffs.&#8221;



This comes amid Trump&#8217;s call for slashing the interest rates by 3%, highlighting that Powell was "Too Late" and it &#8220;is costing the U.S. 360 Billion Dollars a Point, PER YEAR, in refinancing costs.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114823635614745836"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="678" height="205" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10020019/Trump-truth-social-fed.png" alt="" class="wp-image-979391" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10020019/Trump-truth-social-fed.png 678w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10020019/Trump-truth-social-fed-300x91.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px" /></a></figure>



Trump has hinted at announcing Powell&#8217;s replacement and called for his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46237506/trump-says-jerome-powell-should-resign-immediately-after-fhfa-director-alleges-fed-chair-lied-about-2-5-billion-renovation-plan">resignation</a> on multiple occasions because of the Fed&#8217;s &#8220;wait-and-see&#8221; stance.



On Wednesday, Trump also imposed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46334793/trump-sends-lula-a-letter-imposing-50-tariffs-calls-bolsonaro-trial-a-witch-hunt-brazils-president-hits-back-will-not-accept-any-form-of-tutelage">50% tariffs on Brazil</a>, escalating the trade tensions between the two nations. This was followed by a slew of letters posted on his Truth Social account to Japan, South Korea and other countries, with a deadline of making a deal by Aug. 1.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46313514/warren-buffetts-quiet-dividend-play-9-high-yield-stocks-held-by-a-berkshire-subsidiary">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Quiet Dividend Play: 9 High-Yield Stocks Held By A Berkshire Subsidiary</a>



Why It Matters: According to the Fed Minutes takeaways, the FOMC members were also concerned about stagflation risks if inflation proved persistent while employment weakened.



&#8220;Surprisingly, members thought the uncertainty about inflation and the economic outlook had decreased. Yet, committee members wanted to take a careful approach in adjusting monetary policy,&#8221; said Roach.



The FOMC members also acknowledged that lower and moderate-income households were switching to lower-cost items, and these households could be disproportionately affected by tariff-related price increases.



Roach added that at LPL, they expect next week's inflation data to show a reacceleration, giving the Fed more reason to keep rates elevated. &#8220;We don't expect inflation readings will improve until later this year,&#8221; he added.



Price Action: U.S. stocks climbed Wednesday, buoyed by Nvidia Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares soaring to an unprecedented $4 trillion market capitalization and a fresh all-time high, pushing the Nasdaq to close at a record high.



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended higher on Wednesday. The SPY was up 0.60% at $624.06, while the QQQ advanced 0.71% to $556.25, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/hedge-funds/25/07/46290114/bill-ackman-bets-over-60-of-pershing-squares-portfolio-in-these-4-stocks-uber-hhh-and-more">Bill Ackman Bets Over 60% Of Pershing Square&#8217;s Portfolio In These 4 Stocks: UBER, HHH And More</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Domenico Fornas / Shutterstock.com

Economics

As Trump Calls For 3-Percentage Point Rate Cut, 'Too Late' Jerome Powell To Resign, June Fed Minutes Show 'Uncertainty' Reigns Supreme

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index moved to the &#8220;Extreme Greed&#8221; zone on Wednesday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 200 points during the session as investors shrugged off fresh trade uncertainty after the White House delayed the start of new tariffs to Aug. 1, raising hopes for new rounds of negotiations.



Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) grabbed headlines once again, with its market capitalization hitting $4 trillion, solidifying its lead as the world&#8217;s most valuable company. According to the Financial Times, Nvidia is planning to launch a new AI chip designed specifically for China as soon as September.



On the economic data front, U.S. wholesale inventories declined by 0.3% month-over-month to $905.5 billion in May in line with the preliminary estimate and compared to a 0.1% increase in the previous month.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with information technology, utilities and communication services stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday. However, energy and consumer staples stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by 218 points to 44,458.30 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.61% to 6,263.26, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.94% to 20,611.34 during Wednesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>), Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) and Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HELE#NASDAQ">HELE</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 75, the index moved to the &#8220;Extreme Greed&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 74.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46316741/top-3-risk-off-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-in-q3">Top 3 Risk Off Stocks That May Rocket Higher In Q3</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

S&P 500 Surges Amid Rise In Nvidia Shares: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear & Greed Index Moves To 'Extreme Greed' Zone

Leading cryptocurrencies rallied on Wednesday&nbsp;on soaring institutional interest, Nvidia Corp.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) $4 trillion push.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 9:05 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+1.83%</td><td>$110,964.87</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+5.53%</td><td>$2,758.68</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+4.84%</td><td>$0.1790</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin hit a new all-time high above $112,000 late afternoon before easing to the early $111,000s overnight. The apex cryptocurrency's trading volume rose by over 38% in the last 24 hours.



Institutional appetite grew, with Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recording more than $75 million in net inflows as of July 9, <a href="https://sosovalue.com/assets/etf/Total_Crypto_Spot_ETF_Fund_Flow?page=usBTC">according </a>to SoSo Value.



Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, raced to an intraday high of $2,794, with trading volume surging by 68%.



The rally wiped out nearly $448 million in bearish shorts over the last 24 hours.



Bitcoin's open interest jumped 6.46% in the last 24 hours, signaling high speculative interest in the leading digital asset.&nbsp;



The "Greed" sentiment strengthened in the market, according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24 Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 9:05 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>dogwifhat (WIF)</td><td>+12.08%</td><td>$0.9453</td></tr><tr><td>SPX6900 (SPX)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+10.98%</td><td>$1.51</td></tr><tr><td>Stellar (XLM)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+9.95%</td><td>$0.2858 </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization surged to $3.46 trillion, following a 2.58% jump in the last 24 hours.



Stocks rallied on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average spiked 217.54 points, or 0.49%, to end at 44,458.30. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.61% to end at 6,263.26. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.95% to close at a record high of 20,611.34.



Artificial intelligence darling Nvidia spurred the rally, closing 1.77% higher and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46321541/nvidia-hits-4-trillion-market-cap-stock-surges-to-all-time-high">exceeding the historic $4 trillion market capitalization milestone</a>.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Blockchain analytics firm Santiment stated that Bitcoin's breakout followed panic selling by retailers who were dropping out due to "boredom or disbelief."



"History has shown that this is a prime sign of a potential breakout, as crypto markets typically move the opposite direction of the crowd&#8217;s expectations," Santiment remarked.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f973; Bitcoin has officially made a new all-time high, achieving a market value of $112,152 just 30 minutes ago. Unsurprisingly, many retailers had been dropping out due to boredom or disbelief over the past few days. &#x1f433; History has shown that this is a prime sign of a potential… <a href="https://t.co/r1IQWqZcG3">pic.twitter.com/r1IQWqZcG3</a>&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1943043967903224239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Seasoned trader Peter Brandt spotted an expanding inverted triangle pattern in Bitcoin's daily price movement, suggesting a higher risk of "mortality" or pattern failure.



An inverted triangle pattern, or descending triangle, is a bearish chart formation characterized by a horizontal support line and a descending resistance line.



"Nevertheless, I am long BTC. A decline below $107,000 would suggest morphology," he added.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">There is nothing special about this chart. An expanding inverted triangle has a higher rate of morphing or mortality than a pattern such a horizontal pennant. Nevertheless I am long BTC. A decline below 107000 would suggest morphology <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://t.co/TsfmT4mQud">pic.twitter.com/TsfmT4mQud</a>&mdash; Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterLBrandt/status/1943085280363209130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo: Antonio Gravante On Shutterstock.com



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46317095/bitcoin-miners-rake-in-55k-daily-despite-heat-driven-hashrate-dip-heres-their-secret">Bitcoin Miners Rake In $55K Daily Despite Heat-Driven Hashrate Dip — Here&#8217;s Their Secret</a></li>
</ul>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li></li>
</ol>

Markets

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin Breaks $112,000, Ethereum, Dogecoin Surge Amid Growing Institutional Interest, Nvidia-Driven Tech Rally: Experienced Trader Peter Brandt Says, 'I Am Long BTC'

Tensions are flaring between the United States and Brazil following President Donald Trump&#8217;s threats of sweeping 50% tariffs on imports from the South American nation. 



What Happened: On Wednesday, Trump wrote a letter telling Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro was &#8220;a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY,&#8221; while accusing the nation of &#8220;insidious attacks on Free Elections,&#8221; which prompted the punitive trade measure. 



The letter further accused Brazil's Supreme Court of issuing &#8220;hundreds of SECRET and UNLAWFUL Censorship Orders to U.S. Social Media platforms,&#8221; threatening free speech and violating trade norms.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46313013/trumps-tariff-letters-spark-high-level-of-uncertainity-and-volatility-says-economist-mohamed-el-erian">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Letters Spark &#8216;High Level Of Uncertainity And Volatility,&#8217; Says Economist Mohamed El-Erian</a>



Trump also argues that Brazil's trade practices have resulted in &#8220;unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States,&#8221; calling it a major threat to the economy, as well as national security.



As a result, Trump says in the letter that, effective August 1, all Brazilian goods would face a 50% tariff, with additional duties on goods routed through third countries. He also ordered the U.S. Trade Representative to launch a Section 301 investigation into Brazil's digital trade practices and market access barriers.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="680" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09214231/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-7.12.17-AM-1024x680.png" alt="" class="wp-image-979115" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09214231/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-7.12.17-AM-1024x680.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09214231/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-7.12.17-AM-300x199.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09214231/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-7.12.17-AM-768x510.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09214231/Screenshot-2025-07-10-at-7.12.17-AM.png 1186w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Screenshot from Donald Trump&#8217;s Truth Social Account



Lula has since pushed back, stating that his country &#8220;will not accept any form of tutelage&#8221; and defended the ongoing legal proceedings against Bolsonaro as a matter of judicial sovereignty.



Defending Brazil's regulatory actions, Lula says that &#8220;Brazilian society rejects hateful content, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and speeches against human rights and democratic freedom.&#8221; He also adds that &#8220;freedom of expression must not be confused with aggression or violent practices.&#8221;



He also challenged Trump&#8217;s claims on trade, stating that &#8220;Statistics from the U.S. government itself show a surplus of $410 billion in the trade of goods and services with Brazil over the past 15 years.&#8221; He says, any unilateral tariff hikes &#8220;will be addressed in accordance with Brazil's Economic Reciprocity Law.&#8221;



Lula concluded by establishing &#8220;sovereignty, respect, and the unwavering defense of the interests of the Brazilian people&#8221; as what guides his nation&#8217;s relationship with the world.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In light of the public statement made by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media on the afternoon of Wednesday (9), it is important to highlight the following: Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage. The judicial…&mdash; Lula (@LulaOficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/LulaOficial/status/1943094466903957505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: This comes just days after Trump threatened an &#8220;additional 10% tariff&#8221; on any country <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46267477/trump-threatens-10-additional-tariff-on-all-brics-aligned-nations-says-tariff-letters-drop-at-noon-monday">that aligns itself</a> with the BRICS, an intergovernmental organization of which Brazil is one of the founding members. 



Former Trump ally, Elon Musk and his social media platform, X, have repeatedly tangled with Brazil&#8217;s top court in recent years. Last year, a judge called for an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40664929/brazil-judge-bans-x-after-months-long-feud-threatens-fines-of-nearly-9k-per-day-on-users-who-try-to">outright ban on X</a>, threatening daily fines for anyone who tried to circumvent the order.



The court then gave Musk 24 hours to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40623911/brazilian-supreme-court-tells-elon-musk-to-appoint-legal-representative-for-x-in-24-hours-or-face-su">appoint a legal representative</a> in Brazil or face a nationwide suspension of X, following the latter&#8217;s defiance of an earlier court order. 



Early this year, X was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43872696/elon-musks-x-hit-with-1-42-million-fine-from-brazil-judge-he-once-labeled-dictator">hit by a $1.42 million fine</a> by the nation&#8217;s Supreme Court for not complying with judicial orders, by Justice&nbsp;Alexandre de Moraes, who Musk had labelled a &#8220;dictator.&#8221;



Photo Courtesy: Joey Sussman on Shutterstock.com



Read More: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46267477/trump-threatens-10-additional-tariff-on-all-brics-aligned-nations-says-tariff-letters-drop-at-noon-monday">Copper Rallies To Record Highs After Trump&#8217;s 50% Tariff Bombshell: What&#8217;s Moving Markets Tuesday?</a></li>
</ul>

Government

Latin America

Macro Economic Events

Global

Trump Sends Lula A Letter Imposing 50% Tariffs, Calls Bolsonaro Trial A 'Witch Hunt' — Brazil's President Hits Back: 'Will Not Accept Any Form Of Tutelage'

On Wednesday, the Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made a significant move by purchasing a substantial number of shares in Tempus AI Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>) and selling shares of Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>). The trades were executed through the ARKG and ARKK ETFs.



The Tempus AI Trade saw Ark Invest acquiring a combined total of 150,563 shares of Tempus across ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) and ARK Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#BATS">ARKK</a>). The ARKG ETF added 19,582 shares, while the ARKK ETF purchased 130,981 shares. Tempus AI&#8217;s first-quarter financial results were impressive; the company reported revenue of $255.74 million, surpassing the estimated $248.13 million figure. Additionally, Tempus AI&#8217;s adjusted loss per share was narrower than expected, signaling a positive outlook for the AI-focused precision medicine company. The total value of the shares acquired by Ark Invest is $8.8 million based on the stock&#8217;s closing price of $58.41 on Wednesday.



The Block Trade involved Ark Invest selling 96,503 shares of the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)-focused company through its ARKK ETF. The trade was valued at $6.6 million. Block shares ended the day at $69.01. Notably, Bitcoin, the apex cryptocurrency, hovered near all-time highs of $111,148.02 at the time of writing.



This decision comes amid recent developments at Block, where CEO Jack Dorsey unveiled a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46272105/jack-dorsey-unveils-bitchat-a-decentralized-bluetooth-powered-server-free-messaging-service">new decentralized messaging service</a> called Bitchat. The service, which operates over Bluetooth, represents Block&#8217;s ongoing efforts to innovate and expand its technological offerings.



Other Key Trades:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sold 5,627 shares of Veeva Systems Inc (VEEV) through the ARKG ETF.</li>



<li>Sold 50,823 shares of Roku Inc (ROKU) through the ARKK ETF.</li>
</ul>



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46312778/scott-bessent-never-made-time-for-japans-trade-negotiator-says-economist-yet-the-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scott Bessent Never &#8216;Made Time&#8217; For Japan&#8217;s Trade Negotiator, Says Economist, Yet The US Ally Got Hit With Trump Tariffs — How Should Tokyo Make Sense Of This?</a></li>
</ul>



Photo Courtesy: ChrisStock82 on Shutterstock.com



This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

ARKG

ARKK

Cathie Wood Dumps Jack Dorsey's Block As Bitcoin Flirts With All-Time Highs, Bets $8.8 million On Tempus AI

Wall Street's biggest banks have rallied hard in 2025, outpacing the S&amp;P 500 with an average 18% year-to-date gain, but as second-quarter earnings roll in starting July 15, analysts warn the easy gain may <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">already be priced in.</a>



In a note shared Wednesday, Bank of America analyst Ebrahim H. Poonawala said this earnings season may represent a &#8220;breather&#8221; for the group.



While structural tailwinds remain strong, especially for names like Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) and Wells Fargo &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), the absence of fresh catalysts in the second half could slow the pace of gains unless earnings surprises deliver.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Bank</th><th>YTD return as of July 9, 2025</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) </td><td>22.94%</td></tr><tr><td>Citigroup Inc.</td><td>22.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</td><td>13.84</td></tr><tr><td>Wells Fargo &amp; Company</td><td>17.44</td></tr><tr><td>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td><td>19.86</td></tr><tr><td>Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td><td>7.83</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">JPMorgan Sets The Bar—But It's Already High</h3>



According to Poonawala, JPMorgan is expected to post earnings per share of $4.48 for the second quarter, slightly above consensus.



 Net interest income is expected at $11.96 billion, up 3.4% quarter over quarter, with FY25 guidance revised higher to $95.2 billion. 



CFO Jeremy Barnum said 2025 net interest income might "end up a little better, maybe by $1 billion," reflecting fewer expected Fed cuts. But with JPMorgan stock already up sharply by 19% year to date, the market is wondering if the near-term upside is limited.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Citi And Wells Fargo: Underdogs With Upside?</h3>



Citigroup could be one of the most interesting stories this quarter. While its second-quarter EPS estimate was trimmed to $1.62 by Bank of America, focus will be on whether its multi-year restructuring plan is finally bearing fruit.



Citigroup's trading revenues, adjusted for a $400 million gain from the sale of Visa shares, are expected to grow more than 17% year over year. The bank reaffirmed full-year revenue guidance of $83.1 billion to $84.1 billion.



Wells Fargo &amp; Co. is entering its first full quarter without the Fed-imposed asset cap. Second-quarter EPS is estimated at $1.42, with full-year net interest income projected at $48.5 billion, representing 1.1% year-over-year growth.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Capital Markets Slowdown A Drag On Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs?</h3>



Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs face tougher comps. Morgan Stanley's second-quarter EPS was cut to $1.96 due to higher provisions and lower net interest income. Still, the bank is seen as stable, supported by strong equity trading and its high-performing wealth management arm, which contributes around 40% of earnings.



Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, is forecast to post an EPS of $9.74, slightly above the consensus.



Strength in trading (+7% YoY) and improving M&amp;A activity are offsetting weaker asset management results. The bank has a $40 billion buyback program and increased dividends to $4.00 per share, reflecting confidence in future performance.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BNY Mellon and Northern Trust: M&amp;A Buzz Builds</h3>



M&amp;A chatter is swirling around The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>) and Northern Trust Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NASDAQ">NTRS</a>). BNY's Q2 EPS was raised to $1.80, as deposit strength lifts full-year NII growth to 6.8% year over year. 



Northern Trust is expected to deliver $2.08 in second-quarter EPS, driven by a strong wealth management business (accounting for 50% of profits) and deposit inflows.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/07/46306953/emerging-markets-etfs-inflows-iemg-vwo-2025">Wall Street Is On Fire—So Why Is This Wall Of Cash Moving Abroad? </a></li>
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Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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Big Bank Stocks Soared In 2025—But This Earnings Season Could Shake Things Up

Wall Street rose on Wednesday as investors shrugged off fresh trade uncertainty after the White House delayed the start of new tariffs to Aug. 1, raising hopes for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">new rounds of negotiations.</a>



This came just a day after President Donald Trump floated sweeping tariffs, including a 50% tariff on copper and a potential 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals, though the latter may include a grace period.



The Russell 2000 led the charge, rising 0.7% to 2,244, as small-cap stocks continued to rebound. 



The Nasdaq 100 gained 0.5%, climbing to 22,815, supported by strength in megacap tech names. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) grabbed headlines once again, with its market capitalization hitting $4 trillion, solidifying its lead as the world's most valuable company. According to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/e496f80f-1789-46b3-9275-a3f54344047e">Financial Times</a>, Nvidia is planning to launch a new AI chip designed specifically for China as soon as September. 



The S&amp;P 500 added 0.4%, trading at 6,250, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average inched 0.3% higher. 



Sector performance was mixed, with utilities outperforming while consumer staples lagged.



In the bond market, Treasury yields fell 5 basis points ahead of a key 10-year auction later in the day. The U.S. dollar index held steady, ahead of the Federal Reserve's minutes from the June FOMC meeting, released on Wednesday afternoon.



Oil prices climbed for a third consecutive session, rising to $69 per barrel, while gold held flat at $3,325. In crypto, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) advanced 0.9% to $109,235, trading just 2.5% below its all-time highs set in May.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices </td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,244.10</td><td>0.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>22,815.57</td><td>0.5%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,250.79</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,388.59</td><td>0.3%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 1:20 p.m. ET </figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) rose 0.4% to $572.28.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) inched 0.3% higher to $443.81.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.4% to $554.81.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.7% to $222.70.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Utilities&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up 0.8%; the&nbsp;Consumer Staples&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLP#NYSE">XLP</a>) lagged, down 1%.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) climbed nearly 5% after delivering 60 aircraft in June, a 27% increase from a year ago. The monthly total included sales to Chinese customers, appearing for the first time in months—a potential sign of recovery for the planemaker.</li>



<li>AES Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) jumped 17% following a Bloomberg report that the renewable energy company is considering strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, as large investment firms express interest in a takeover.</li>



<li>Verona Pharma (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRNA#NASDAQ">VRNA</a>) soared 21% to $104.80 after Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) announced a $10 billion deal to acquire the biotech firm, which specializes in treatments for lung diseases.</li>
</ul>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46314139/polymarket-bettors-see-50-chance-of-fed-september-rate-cuts-as-trump-turns-up-heat-on-powell">Polymarket Bettors See 50% Chance Of Fed September Rate Cuts As Trump Turns Up Heat On Powell </a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

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Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Federal Reserve

VRNA

Nvidia's $4 Trillion Milestone Lifts Wall Street: What's Moving Markets Wednesday?

In just the first few days of July, we've seen more market-shaking headlines than we usually get over the span of a full quarter. Congress <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46255065/trumps-3-3-trillion-bill-passes-will-vulnerable-americans-pay-the-price">officially passed</a> President Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill' last week. In response, Elon Musk <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46265725/elon-musk-announces-formation-of-america-party-emerges-in-wake-of-donald-trumps-historic-spending-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> a new third political party and Trump pushed the expiration of the 90-day tariff freeze to August 1, while announcing a slew of new tariffs.



Meanwhile, gold hit three all-time highs (a triple top), oil is up around 35% from its year-to-date low of $62, and Bitcoin is inching toward new record highs after closing the week at $109,000. 



So today, I want to break down the biggest moves in the market – including a "wildcard" no one's talking about – and why they matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trade This Week's Market Volatility Like A Former Hedge Fund Pro</h2>



Markets are spiking and geopolitical tension is rising, but Chris Capre's Trading Waves system thrives in moments like this. His recent trades hit +87.5% on PANW, +66% on NVDA, and +115% on SOXL using this fast-moving, volatility-focused strategy. Get full access FREE <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/7-day-free-trial-chris-capre-trading-waves/?utm_campaign=7daytrial&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RDweb070925">HERE</a> for 7 days and see how to trade this week's market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Politics, Tariffs And A Fresh Round Of Market Volatility</h2>



President Trump signed his ‘Big Beautiful Bill' (officially called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act") into law on Friday during a White House Independence Day celebration. It wasn't a surprise, of course – he said he wanted to do just that. What really grabbed attention, though, was the tariff twist. Remember that 90-day freeze on tariffs is set to expire this Thursday? That's been pushed back to August 1 as the administration continues to work on deals.



The markets took the news in stride, at least at first. Stocks opened higher, with tech leading the charge; bond yields dipped as traders priced in the idea that Trump might kick the can down the road again. But don't be fooled, volatility's still in the air because this delay doesn't erase the threat – it just pushes it further out.



And that's not all. 



Elon Musk, who's been one of the loudest critics of Trump's budget bill, filed to launch his own political party, &#8220;America First,&#8221; in response to its passage. Add this to the mix of trade wars and political threats, and the markets are having to price in a fresh round of uncertainty. We saw that on Monday when the Dow dropped more than 300 points to start the day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gold's Seasonal Slide And Oil's Short-Lived Momentum</h2>



SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) hit all-time highs in April, May and June &#8211; a textbook triple top. Now it's started to back off a bit, sitting around 305 as I'm writing. But the trend still looks solid.



We've got a nice gap between the 50- and 200-day moving averages (MAs), so momentum's still there for now. That said, gold tends to trade lower in August. Additionally, volatility has been declining since its last peak, which suggests to me that gold may be losing momentum in a matter of weeks.



Meanwhile, nature's black gold (oil) is surging right now. We've gone from year-to-date (YTD) lows of $62 to YTD highs of around $84. That's a huge move, but there are signs that it's running out of gas. Prices have already pulled back a little, and the seasonal pattern that's been fueling this rally is about to end.



In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see oil completely lose steam – even roll over – by next Friday. So, if you're looking to make a move, keep in mind that the window's closing fast.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tech's Rebound Watchlist And The Mag 7's Turning Point</h2>



The Magnificent (MAG) 7 stocks – Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) – are showing signs of a rebound.



A great example of this is the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#BATS">MAGS</a>), which has just posted a textbook V-shaped recovery, bouncing off its April low of around $39 and climbing back toward its January high of nearly $56.50. Even better? Its chart just showed a bullish golden cross, where the 50-day MA crossed above the 200-day MA &#8211; a strong indication that momentum could be turning.



Now, MAGs are still trailing behind the S&amp;P and Dow – it's the caboose. But if this rally keeps rolling, MAGs could catch up fast, possibly even leapfrogging them to the front of the train. And if the biggest names in tech start firing again, it's a signal the broader market could be setting up for another breakout.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tesla's Uncertainty Factor And The Risk Beneath The Rally</h2>



The real wildcard of the markets right now? Tesla.



We've seen the stock hit YTD highs near $426 earlier this year, then tank below $221 and then bounce again. This hasn't happened once or twice – it's happened multiple times. At the moment, it's sitting around $295, but a new tweet by Musk could change that in a heartbeat.



Seasonality isn't giving us much to work with right now, either. There's no bullish or bearish edge we can lean on for July or August. Although we saw a bullish crossover recently, I'm not convinced it will hold, given the constant chaos surrounding the stock.



Volatility is low, Fibonacci levels are signaling a bearish trend, and the overall trend is sideways.



But the unknown factor here is Elon himself. His move to launch a third political party is doing more than just rattling headlines – it's stirring sentiment. Shareholders didn't sign up for this kind of drama or political spotlight. And with what seems to be bridges burned on both sides of the aisle, Tesla's getting dragged even deeper into the mess.



That kind of risk is exactly why Tesla is such a wild card in this market. If it breaks lower, it could drag the rest of the Mag 7 with it. And if it stabilizes, it might be the last piece needed for tech to start firing on all cylinders again.



Ultimately, we're looking at the perfect storm of uncertainty and opportunity right now. So, while the headlines can be distracting, remember that the charts and the patterns are where the real story is told.



Editorial content from our expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

AMZN

GOOG

MAGS

3 Big Surprises Just Hit The Markets – Here's How I'm Trading Them

While President Donald Trump ramps up his global tariff campaign, sending warning letters to 14 countries, the U.S. junk bond market is behaving as if <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds">none of it matters.</a>



High-yield credit spreads—a closely watched barometer of risk in lower-quality corporate debt—have dropped to 286 basis points over comparable Treasuries, near year-to-date lows. 



That's a sharp retreat from early April, when spreads blew out to over 460 basis points in response to Trump's initial tariff salvo.



Despite new threats targeting key trading partners, credit investors appear convinced that the U.S. economy will weather the trade storm. 



Yet, the composure of high-yield spreads may be dangerously misleading. When credit markets fail to price in macro risks, they create stress no one sees until it&#8217;s too late—and that&#8217;s the time bomb. Should trade tensions lead to macroeconomic turbulence, junk debt could reprice abruptly and violently, sending shockwaves across the whole financial system and fueling the threat of a broader crisis.



&#8220;On the surface, the credit markets appear calm.&nbsp;Credit spreads are low, the demand for these bonds is healthy and default rates overall remain relatively low. Under the hood, however, some stress signals are starting to show,&#8221; said analyst Michael Gayed, CFA in an email comment. 



&#8220;The extra&nbsp;yield&nbsp;investors demand above and beyond the risk-free rate, go back to pre-Liberation Day levels,&#8221; he added.



Chart: Junk Bond Spread Has Completely Wiped Out Tariff-Related Risks



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="529" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09112306/image-73-1-1024x529.png" alt="" class="wp-image-978631" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09112306/image-73-1-1024x529.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09112306/image-73-1-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09112306/image-73-1-768x397.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09112306/image-73-1-1536x794.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/09112306/image-73-1-2048x1059.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Calm Credit Market May Be Overlooking An Economic Fallout</h3>



On prediction platform Kalshi, the probability of a U.S. recession this year sits at just 19%, barely above the 17% low reached in January. On May 1, it had surged to as high as 61%. 



The drop in junk bond spreads suggests markets are pricing in minimal risk of recession, earnings deterioration or funding stress in the corporate sector.



Since April lows, the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYG#NYSE">HYG</a>) has rallied almost 5%, while a broader measure of risk-free 



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/RECSSNBER-25/markets/RECSSNBER-25?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="242px" style="border:0"></iframe>



Earlier this week, the White House sent formal tariff warning letters to 14 countries—mostly in Asia—including Japan and South Korea. Absent bilateral trade deals, those nations face new "reciprocal" tariffs between 25% and 40%, starting Aug. 1.



Trump also warned the European Union that a similar letter would be sent within days, threatening tariffs as high as 200% on pharmaceuticals and 50% on copper imports.



In a note Wednesday, Goldman Sachs economist Elsie Peng said the Trump administration has already implemented a "range of tariff increases at both the country and sector levels," with further actions expected. Goldman estimates the effective U.S. tariff rate has already risen by 9 percentage points—and may reach 14 points if additional sectoral tariffs are enacted.



These types of shocks, Peng noted, tend to "meaningfully pass through to consumer prices," citing the 2018–2019 trade war experience.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">High-Yield Spread: Why It Matters Now</h3>



The compression of high-yield spreads to 286 basis points signals calm, but risks may be building beneath the surface.



"Those juicy 7–8% yields might look tempting, but there's credit risk in there that most investors haven't had to really consider in a while," said Michael Gayed, CFA. "If credit spreads start widening and defaults tick up, the price direction on junk bonds can quickly turn south."



After a decade of cheap money, debt is now more expensive and credit quality matters. 



With trade tensions rising, volatility could return fast.



Read now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/07/46306953/emerging-markets-etfs-inflows-iemg-vwo-2025">Wall Street Is On Fire—So Why Is This Wall Of Cash Moving Abroad?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bonds

Treasuries

JOJO

Trump Tariffs: The Junk Bond Market May Be Sitting On A Time Bomb

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) became the first company ever to reach a $4 trillion market capitalization on Wednesday.



The impressive milestone, which puts Nvidia in the history books, was correctly predicted by Benzinga readers who picked between three tech giants in a recent poll.



What Happened: Nvidia traces its roots to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/05/45701924/jensen-huang-founded-nvidia-at-a-dennys-now-hes-worth-600x-more-than-the-restaurant-chain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being created at a</a> Denny's restaurant from which it has come a long way to become the most valuable company in the world &#8211; a title it has earned multiple times over the last two years.



Nvidia <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32630114/nvidia-becomes-ninth-company-to-hit-1-trillion-market-cap-who-could-be-next-to-join-elusive-club">became the ninth company </a>to pass the $1 trillion market capitalization milestone back in May 2023. The company then quickly surpassed more milestones over the last two years. It has fought back and forth with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to claim the title of the most valuable company on multiple occasions.



By hitting the $4 trillion milestone ahead of Microsoft and Apple, the company takes its place in history and disrupts a streak from Apple as the iPhone maker was the first U.S. company to be valued at $1 trillion, $2 trillion and $3 trillion market cap milestones.



In late June, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46198021/nvidia-vs-microsoft-vs-apple-which-stock-reaches-4-trillion-first">Benzinga polled its readers</a> to ask which of these three tech giants would reach the $4 trillion market cap first.



The results on Instagram were:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia: 79%</li>



<li>Microsoft: 14%</li>



<li>Apple: 7%</li>
</ul>



The results on Threads were:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia: 79%</li>



<li>Microsoft: 17%</li>



<li>Apple: 4%</li>
</ul>



At the time, Nvidia had the market capitalization lead at $3.85 trillion, with Microsoft and Apple following closely behind at $3.70 trillion and $3.06 trillion, respectively.



Overall, Nvidia significantly won the polls with nearly 80% of the vote, ranking well ahead of the other two companies.



Here are the current market capitalizations as of Wednesday, July 9:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia: $4.00 trillion</li>



<li>Microsoft: $3.76 trillion</li>



<li>Apple: $3.14 trillion</li>
</ul>



Nvidia passing the milestone comes with the stock up 18.3% year-to-date and up 24.5% over the last year. Nvidia's gain of more than 1,400% over the last five years is significantly higher than that of its two peers.



Microsoft stock is up 20.4% year-to-date and 9.6% over the last 12 months. The stock has increased by 135% over the last five years.



Apple stock is down 13.7% year-to-date and 8.0% over the last 12 months. The stock has increased by 119% over the last five years.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/03/37879478/humble-beginnings-like-nvidia-reddit-was-founded-inside-a-restaurant">Humble Beginnings: Like NVIDIA, Reddit Was Founded Inside A Restaurant</a>



What's Next: While Nvidia's rise to become the first $4 trillion company is historical, Benzinga readers are betting on more gains for the tech giant over the next 18 years.



President Donald Trump announced a plan to give parents $1,000 to invest for their children at birth. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45973429/trump-wants-babies-to-get-1000-to-invest-at-birth-this-maginicent-7-stock-tops-poll-for-18-year-growth">Benzinga asked readers</a> which of the Magnificent 7 stocks they would invest $1,000 in today and hold for the next 18 years.



Here are the results:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia: 21%</li>



<li>Apple: 17%</li>



<li>Alphabet Inc: 14%</li>



<li>Meta Platforms: 14%</li>



<li>Amazon.com Inc: 12%</li>



<li>Microsoft: 12%</li>



<li>Tesla: 10%</li>
</ul>



The winner of the poll was Nvidia, with 21% of readers picking this stock as the one they would invest in and hold for the next 18 years to add wealth to their children&#8217;s investment account. Apple was a close second at 17%, with Alphabet and Meta tied for third at 14%.



Tesla ranked last in the poll of the Mag 7 stocks with 10% of the vote, while Microsoft and Amazon tied for fifth with 12%.



Benzinga readers are predicting big things for Nvidia in the future.



The company will report second-quarter financial results in late August. Nvidia<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45657660/nvidia-q1-highlights-china-export-ban-hits-results-but-jensen-huang-says-demand-incredibly-strong"> previously guided for </a>second-quarter revenue to be $45.0 billion, +/- 2%, which includes a loss of $8.0 billion in H20 revenue due to the export controls.



Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said at the time that the company's Blackwell AI supercomputer is in full-scale production and demand for the company's AI infrastructure is "incredibly strong."



&#8220;AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate. Countries around the world are recognizing AI as essential infrastructure — just like electricity and the internet — and NVIDIA stands at the center of this profound transformation," Huang said.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/gaming/25/06/45776150/jensen-huang-says-nintendo-switch-2-has-ai-processors-to-enhance-gameplay-unlike-anything-weve-built-before">Jensen Huang Says Nintendo Switch 2 Has AI Processors To Enhance Gameplay: &#8216;Unlike Anything We&#8217;ve Built Before&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Nvidia Breaks $4 Trillion Barrier—Benzinga Poll Predicted It First

When copper prices exploded by more than 13%—marking the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46305321/copper-price-surges-trump-tariffs-stocks-july-2025">biggest single-day gain in history</a>—in response to President Donald Trump&#8216;s latest tariff threat, commodity investors cheered.



But for Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), that chart may as well have been a warning flare. With every Model Y and Cybertruck packing over 180 pounds of copper, the metal's meteoric rise just made building an EV a whole lot pricier.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tesla's Copper Habit Just Got Expensive</h2>



Electric vehicles are copper gluttons. From motors to wiring to battery connectors, the red metal is the unsung hero of electrification. While a traditional gas-powered car uses around 50 pounds of copper, Teslas use more than three times that amount—roughly <a href="https://www.mining.com/new-tesla-low-voltage-system-a-big-deal-for-copper-says-musk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">180 pounds</a> per vehicle.



That makes Elon Musk's production lines especially vulnerable to copper's mood swings. And right now, copper is throwing a tantrum.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/downgrades/25/07/46308347/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-too-much-for-tesla-stock-direct-hit-to-profitability">Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Big Beautiful Bill&#8217; Too Much For Tesla Stock: &#8216;Direct Hit To Profitability&#8217;</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blame The Tariff—Or The Speculators?</h2>



Jim Cramer thinks the surge isn't entirely organic. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The copper tariff is gratuitous. It makes data centers more costly. Of course, it makes a Tesla more expensive to make as it has a huge amount of copper in it. Please let that NOT be the reason for this tariff&#8230;&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1942750426417238077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



He took to X to call the Trump administration's copper tariff "gratuitous," warning it could make both data centers and Teslas more expensive to build. And with AI infrastructure and EVs both guzzling copper like there's no tomorrow, that extra cost has nowhere to hide.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">JUST IN &#x1f6a8;: Copper gets a God Candle as it explodes by more than 13% for its biggest gain IN HISTORY &#x1f4c8;&#x1f4c8; <a href="https://t.co/rnj0KrtsZa">pic.twitter.com/rnj0KrtsZa</a>&mdash; Barchart (@Barchart) <a href="https://twitter.com/Barchart/status/1942695893230137579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Meanwhile, traders are calling the surge a "God Candle"—a slang term for an epic breakout, noted Barcharts on X. Whether the move sticks or fizzles, companies like Tesla will feel it first.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Shock To The Supply Chain</h2>



The irony? 



Copper was supposed to be the backbone of the green transition. Now it's threatening the affordability of EVs just as mainstream adoption gains speed. 



Tesla, which has long prided itself on vertical integration and margin control, may soon be forced to make some tough sourcing decisions.



For now, investors might enjoy the heat in copper miners. But Tesla? It's sweating the small stuff—180 pounds of it per car.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46307371/musk-vs-trump-tesla-ceo-is-down-87-billion-in-2025-but-still-worth-49x-more-than-trump-media-trump-coin">Musk Vs. Trump: Tesla CEO Is Down $87 Billion In 2025 But Still Worth 49X More Than Trump Media &amp; Trump Coin</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Technicals

Commodities

Tesla Is Getting Burnt By Copper's God Candle

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) may <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dominate AI headlines</a>, but JPMorgan's Harlan Sur thinks Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) deserves more credit for building the infrastructure that makes artificial intelligence work.



From cutting-edge XPUs to networking muscle and enterprise software, Broadcom is the "#2 global AI semiconductor supplier" and the top name in custom ASICs, Sur says in a research note.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">XPUs Built For A Million-Cluster World</h2>



Broadcom's AI strategy centers on its custom AI XPU business, which is firing on all cylinders. Sur highlights the company's collaboration with four AI customers and notes that it's "on track to tape-out first-generation AI XPU products this year."



He believes these customers—including OpenAI—are aiming to build massive AI clusters of "1 million XPU" units, which would place Broadcom at the heart of the AI buildout.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46276421/broadcom-tesla-mag-7-switch-musk-trump-feud">Musk Chaos Could Oust Tesla From Mag 7, Making Way For Broadcom</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Networking Gains From AI Compute</h2>



AI models require not just computing power but ultra-fast networking. That's where Broadcom's scale-up networking comes in, with 5–10x more dollar content per unit than traditional networks. As Sur puts it, "AI compute workloads continue to drive strong networking demand."



Broadcom's leadership in next-generation interconnects and silicon photonics further cements its position as the go-to vendor for high-performance infrastructure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VMware Is The Sleeper Growth Engine</h2>



Don't overlook the software side. Sur notes VMware's Cloud Foundation (VCF) platform is set to "sustain strong growth until late 2026/2027," with revenues expected to hit $20 billion before settling into mid- to high-single-digit growth.



Despite lower gross margins on custom AI chips, Sur expects Broadcom to keep expanding operating margins due to business leverage. 



Importantly, "the team is focused on reinvesting in the business," says Sur, not chasing distractions like M&amp;A.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/downgrades/25/07/46308347/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-too-much-for-tesla-stock-direct-hit-to-profitability">Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Big Beautiful Bill&#8217; Too Much For Tesla Stock: &#8216;Direct Hit To Profitability&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

AVGO

Nvidia Is The Star―But Broadcom Is The AI Boom's Best-Kept Secret

Cryptocurrency bettors now estimate a 50% possibility that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for the first time in 2025 during its September meeting.



What happened: As of this writing, the <a href="https://polymarket.com/dashboards/fed-rates">odds</a> of a 25 basis point cut were at 50% on the decentralized prediction platform Polymarket. On the other hand, the odds that rates will remain unchanged from the current 4.25%-4.50% range were 44%.



The probability of rates going unchanged during the July meeting was 96%.



These bets were roughly consistent with the CME FedWatch tracker, which <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">showed </a>a 95% chance of rates remaining steady in July. For September, traders priced in a 62% chance of a 0.25% rate cut.



Goldman Sachs economists also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46188699/goldman-sachs-now-expects-3-fed-rate-cuts-in-2025-amid-weak-jobs-data-modest-trump-tariff-effects">anticipate a rate cut in September</a>, three months earlier than they had previously forecast, due to the lower-than-expected impact of tariffs.



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46302822/peter-schiff-says-trumps-tax-cuts-wont-grow-the-economy-instead-he-warns-theyll-lead-to-higher-interest-rates-and-inflation">Peter Schiff Says Trump&#8217;s Tax Cuts &#8216;Won&#8217;t Grow The Economy.&#8217; Instead, He Warns They&#8217;ll Lead To Higher Interest Rates And Inflation</a>



Polymarket, based on Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">POL</a>), allows users to buy &#8220;Yes&#8221; and &#8220;No&#8221; shares in USDC (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDC</a>) stablecoin. The shares representing the correct outcome are paid out $1 USDC each upon market resolution.



The platform is not accessible in the U.S. due to regulatory restrictions.



Why It Matters: The jump in odds comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's escalating criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell.



Trump reiterated his call for Powell to &#8220;resign immediately&#8221; and asked for a congressional investigation into allegations that the Fed Chair gave<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46237506/trump-says-jerome-powell-should-resign-immediately-after-fhfa-director-alleges-fed-chair-lied-about-2-5-billion-renovation-plan"> false information</a> during a Senate Banking Committee testimony.



On monetary policy, Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46165110/donald-trump-calls-fed-chair-jerome-powell-a-bad-person-who-keeps-rates-artificially-high-says-benchmark-should-drop-by-half">has accused Powell of keeping interest rates &#8220;artificially high&#8221;</a> and argued that the benchmark should be reduced to &#8220;1% or 2%,&#8221; or half of what it is now.



Earlier this month, Powell said that Trump's tariff strategy had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46213909/jerome-powell-says-trumps-tariffs-deterred-fed-from-easing-monetary-policy-july-decision-to-depend-on-data-wouldnt-take-any-meeting-off-the-table">deterred the Federal Reserve</a> from implementing a more dovish monetary policy.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46313013/trumps-tariff-letters-spark-high-level-of-uncertainity-and-volatility-says-economist-mohamed-el-erian">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Letters Spark &#8216;High Level Of Uncertainity And Volatility,&#8217; Says Economist Mohamed El-Erian</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46148904/donald-trump-says-bitcoin-takes-a-lot-of-pressure-off-the-dollar"> </a></li>
</ul>



Image Credit: Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

$POL

$USDC

Polymarket Bettors See 50% Chance Of Fed September Rate Cuts As Trump Turns Up Heat On Powell

U.S. stock futures advanced on Wednesday after ending on a mixed note on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were trading higher.



President Donald Trump announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46305321/copper-price-surges-trump-tariffs-stocks-july-2025">50% tariff on copper imports</a> and confirmed the &#8220;reciprocal&#8221; tariffs, paused in April, will resume on Aug. 1, stating, &#8220;no extensions will be granted&#8221; to countries without finalized deals by that date. 



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.41% and the two-year bond was at 3.90%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool&#8217;s</a> projections show markets pricing a 95.3% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its July meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.20%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.18%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>0.19%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.08%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were higher in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was up 0.17% at $621.37, while the QQQ advanced 0.16% to $553.24, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Energy and materials stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing Tuesday&#8217;s session higher, while most other sectors on the S&amp;P 500 ended negatively.



Consumer staples, utilities, and financial stocks notably recorded the biggest losses.



U.S. stocks settled mostly lower on Tuesday.



Shares of ProKidney Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PROK#NASDAQ">PROK</a>) jumped an impressive 515% on Tuesday. This surge followed the company&#8217;s announcement of statistically and clinically significant topline results from its Phase 2 REGEN-007 trial, which evaluated Rilparencel in patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes.



On the economic data front, the US Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index saw a 1.6% month-over-month increase for June, a rebound after a 1.4% decline in May. Meanwhile, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dipped to 98.6 in June from 98.8 in May, slightly below market estimates of 98.7.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.029%</td><td>20,418.46</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.072%</td><td>6,225.52</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.37%</td><td>44,240.76</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.66%</td><td>2,228.74</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



Jeffrey Buchbinder, the chief equity strategist at LPL Financial, forecasted modest gains for equities in its mid-year outlook.



&#8220;AI-driven capex remains a key tailwind, but tariff-related earnings pressure and elevated valuations may cap upside. Pullbacks should be viewed as selective buying opportunities,&#8221; he said.



LPL's year-end S&amp;P 500 target range was set at 6,000 to 6,100 points, based on $275 in 2026 EPS.



Meanwhile, the senior economist at WisdomTree, Jeremy Siegel, said that &#8220;Equity markets found encouragement, not because employment showed strength, but because it did not show further deterioration.&#8221;



Talking about AI, he said, &#8220;Companies able to leverage AI for productivity gains—particularly in financials and traditional industries—are poised to outperform.&#8221;



Siegel also stated that he will be closely watching for a potential shift in market leadership. &#8220;July has opened strongly for smaller caps, but I believe the stage is set for a longer-lasting rotation.&#8221;



&#8220;If users begin to invest in cost-saving technologies under the pressure of higher tariffs or wage costs, value could finally have its day,&#8221; he added.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Wednesday:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The wholesale inventories data will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Minutes of the Fed&#8217;s May FOMC meeting will be released by 2:00 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Entero Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENTO#NASDAQ">ENTO</a>) surged 57.84% after regaining Nasdaq compliance following its annual meeting.</li>



<li>Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLDI#NYSE">CLDI</a>) zoomed 50.57% after it announced the development of a precision genetic medicine platform for cancer treatment. Its innovative approach focuses on using engineered viruses to deliver genetic medicines that can target both primary tumors and metastatic sites.</li>



<li>Sobr Safe Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOBR#NASDAQ">SOBR</a>) climbed 42.73% after the company announced it had been granted European patent number EP4171362.</li>



<li>Birks Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BG#NYSE">BG</a>) gained 21.10% after completing the acquisition of the Watch and Jewellery Business of European Boutique and related debt financing amendments.</li>



<li>Sharplink Gaming Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBET#NASDAQ">SBET</a>) advanced 14.06% after the company announced that it acquired an additional 7,689 ETH for the week of June 28 through July 4.</li>



<li>GameSquare Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GAME#NASDAQ">GAME</a>) was 1.95% higher after a $100 million Ethereum investment announced on Tuesday spurred a 58% rally.</li>



<li>AZZ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZZ#NYSE">AZZ</a>) rose 2.01% in premarket on Wednesday as analysts expect it to report earnings of $1.58 per share on revenue of $434.79 million after the closing bell.</li>



<li>Methode Electronics Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEI#NYSE">MEI</a>) advanced 4.72% as it is expected to report earnings after market close. Analysts estimate earnings of 4 cents per share on revenue of $232.87 million.</li>



<li>Penguin Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TZUP#NASDAQ">TZUP</a>) dropped 6.09% after reporting upbeat earnings for the third quarter, while sales missed estimates. The company raised its FY2025 earnings guidance, but narrowed its sales forecast.</li>



<li>Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEHR#NASDAQ">AEHR</a>) plummeted 20.11% after posting weaker-than-expected revenue for the fourth quarter on Tuesday. Aehr Test Systems reported fourth-quarter revenue of $14.09 million, missing analyst estimates of $14.82 million.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.51% to hover around $68.68 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar fell 0.37% to hover around $3,289.34 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.06% at the 97.5760 level.



Asian markets ended mostly lower on Wednesday, except South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Nikkei 225 indices. Meanwhile, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Australia's ASX 200, and China&#8217;s CSI 300 indices fell. European markets were higher in early trade.



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