A trade deal designed to stabilize transatlantic relations is delivering a very unexpected outcome in currency markets: a surging U.S. dollar and a battered euro.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>SPY ETF hit new record highs on July 28. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY">Check the price action here.</a></li>
</ul>



On Monday, the U.S. dollar index (DXY) jumped 1%, its best single-day performance in over two months, as investors absorbed the details of the U.S.-EU trade agreement struck by President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the weekend. 



Mirroring the dollar move but in reverse, the euro posted its worst day since May—and its second-worst of 2025. 



Chart: Dollar Index Notches Rare 1% Daily Rally After US-EU Trade Deal



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="560" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28154014/image-432-1024x560.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1003947" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28154014/image-432-1024x560.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28154014/image-432-300x164.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28154014/image-432-768x420.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28154014/image-432-1536x840.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28154014/image-432-2048x1120.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Deal That Strengthens The US Economic Hand</h3>



While headlines focused on the 15% tariff cap the U.S. will impose on EU goods—down from the 30% level previously threatened—the agreement includes massive fiscal and energy concessions from the European side.



Key terms of the deal include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>$750 billion in U.S. energy purchases over three years, a 150% jump from current levels</li>



<li>$600 billion in EU investment into the U.S. economy</li>



<li>Large-scale purchases of U.S. AI chips and military equipment</li>



<li>Zero tariffs on high-value sectors like aircraft and parts, despite sectoral tariffs of 50% on steel, aluminum and copper</li>
</ul>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
"Politically, this agreement looks like a clear win for the U.S.," said Oliver Rakau, economist at Oxford Economics.
</blockquote>



Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/07/46663043/trump-eu-us-energy-trade-deal-750-billion-oil-stocks-xle">Trump&#8217;s $750 Billion Coup In Europe Could Bring Energy Stocks Back From The Dead</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Is The Dollar Rallying After The US-EU Trade Deal?</h3>



The sharp move in the dollar wasn't just about the deal's fundamentals—it was also about positioning. Ahead of the weekend agreement, traders were heavily short the greenback. 



Net non-commercial positions in CME dollar futures sat at a negative 14,749 contracts, near a three-year low, indicating widespread bearish bets.



That left the market vulnerable to a sharp reversal. Monday's rally may have already triggered a wave of short covering, and if the dollar continues climbing, positioning alone could further amplify the move.



"The U.S. dollar began the week on the front foot, making gains versus all the majors," said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.



"It's interesting that the U.S. dollar should be the major beneficiary from the breakthrough, rather than the euro. Could this signal that the bottom is in for the greenback after the Dollar Index hit a multi-year low at the beginning of the month?" he added.



While the trade deal tilted flows in the dollar's favor, the macro calendar is also fueling greenback strength. 



Analysts at ING flagged this week's data slate—second-quarter GDP, Personal Consumption Expenditure inflation, July FOMC meeting and July&#8217;s jobs report—as likely to support the Fed's patient stance and challenge expectations for a September rate cut.



"This should leave the majority of the Fed comfortable in their patient position on interest rates," ING&#8217;s analyst Chris Turner wrote.



&#8220;We continue to favour a period of consolidation for the dollar,&#8221; he added. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Goldman Sticks To Long-Term Dollar Bearish View</h3>



Despite the dollar's strong reaction to the US-EU trade agreement, Goldman Sachs remains cautious on the long-term outlook. 



According to Kamashka Trivedi, a currency analyst at the bank, the structure of the deal—while avoiding an all-out tariff war—cements higher baseline tariffs that could ultimately erode U.S. trade dynamics.



"This direction of travel should keep the dollar under pressure—especially as the baseline tariff turns from a &#8216;pause&#8217; placeholder to the new reality," she said.



Goldman's position contrasts with the immediate bullish reaction from spot currency markets, suggesting that short-term strength may be temporary and potentially fade as the economic implications of the deal settle in.



Read now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46661023/fed-rate-cuts-goldman-forecast-2025-inflation">Get Ready For Five Fed Cuts, Markets Got It All Wrong: Goldman Sachs </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Government

Regulations

Currency ETFs

Forex

Federal Reserve

Analyst Ratings

ETFs

Trump's Charm Offense In Europe Unleashes Dollar Thunder

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28183159/Tether-Trump-Signature-KMR-Canva-1024x683.png" alt="Trump signs stablecoin law, the GENIUS Act." class="wp-image-16534" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28183159/Tether-Trump-Signature-KMR-Canva-1024x683.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28183159/Tether-Trump-Signature-KMR-Canva-300x200.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28183159/Tether-Trump-Signature-KMR-Canva-768x512.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28183159/Tether-Trump-Signature-KMR-Canva.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">US Dollar Tether coin with President Trump&#8217;s signature superimposed. Image created by the author.</figcaption></figure>



President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-signs-genius-act-into-law/">signed </a>the GENIUS Act into law on July 18, ushering in the most comprehensive U.S. framework for stablecoins to date. While some in crypto view it as long-overdue clarity, others worry it may entrench incumbents and freeze out startups.



First the good news. Regulations are needed to make sure stablecoins are trustworthy, safe, and easy to understand for issuers who operate in a global market.



Arthur Breitman, Cofounder of Tezos (XTZ), said the one of the best things about the GENIUS Act is that it lays out a clear set of rules for U.S.-based dollar-linked stablecoin issuers. "And it also marks a sharp turning point with the U.S. administration embracing innovation rather than fighting it," Breitman said.



He predicts the GENIUS act means we will likely see many more stablecoin issuers, "in particular from traditional finance."



According to the law, traditional banks like Bank of America, for instance, must establish separate entities if they want to issue stablecoins. Also, the GENIUS Act does not protect your stablecoins, which are a digital currency, even if you got them at a BofA branch. The GENIUS Act establishes <a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/majority/fact-sheet-the-genius-act-protects-consumers">strict marketing standards</a> for stablecoins, meaning no one can market them as being covered by FDIC insurance.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No Slam Dunk for Big Tech&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/46512492/genius-act-includes-clause-to-block-big-tech-and-wall-street-from-stablecoin-dominance">The same applies for Big Tech </a>companies like Meta Platforms (META), which had once dabbled in the stablecoin space.  Like any traditional bank, tech companies wanting to issue stablecoins to create online market places must obtain clearance from a Treasury-led oversight committee with veto authority.



"I think its great how it keeps the Web2 giants from muscling their way into stablecoins," said Shady El Damaty, CEO at the Holonym Foundation, the driving force behind Human.Tech – a cryptography-first identity and personhood platform that differentiates real people from artificial intelligence. "It would be a disaster for consumers and for competition if Apple or Meta issued their own stablecoin," he said, alluding to the fact that their size would immediately absorb market share from the start up foundations that have been at this for years, and developed this market in the first place.



The first stablecoin was BitUSD.&nbsp; It was launched in July 2014 by the BitShares blockchain platform. BitUSD was backed by the native token of BitShares at the time and created through smart contracts that locked cash collateral at a ratio of 1:1.



U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC)and Tether (USDT) are the biggest stablecoins in use today. USDC was created by Circle Internet Financial (CRCL) in Boston around 2018. 



Tether Limited created USDT in July 2014. The company was co-founded by Brock Pierce, Reeve Collins, and Craig Sellars. Giancarlo Devasini, CFO of Bitfinex, later emerged as the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/10/35171909/bitfinex-parent-company-considers-150m-share-repurchase">central figure and major shareholder of Tether</a>. He is still a major player at Tether.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="615" height="375" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28181524/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-14-15-03-Circle-Internet-Group-Stock-Price-Quotes-and-Forecasts-NYSE-CRCL-Benzinga.png" alt="" class="wp-image-16532" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28181524/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-14-15-03-Circle-Internet-Group-Stock-Price-Quotes-and-Forecasts-NYSE-CRCL-Benzinga.png 615w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28181524/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-14-15-03-Circle-Internet-Group-Stock-Price-Quotes-and-Forecasts-NYSE-CRCL-Benzinga-300x183.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Circle Internet Financial stock has taken a hit as market expects new stablecoin competitors. Benzinga chart.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Regulation Means More Costs, Possibly Tying Up Newcomers</h2>



El Damaty said that the new depth of regulation could "freeze" innovation with stablecoins, making easier for "companies already big enough to cross that new regulatory moat."



The Senate Banking Committee highlighted these regulatory requirements for stablecoins in their<a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/majority/fact-sheet-the-genius-act-protects-consumers"> fact sheet:</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Diversification requirements for reserve assets.</li>



<li>Interest rate risk management standards.</li>



<li>Capital, liquidity, and risk management requirements.</li>



<li>Prohibiting riskier reserve assets like corporate debt or equities.</li>
</ul>



The main challenge for issuers will be grappling with rules on capital allocation, said Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner of Falcon Finance. Falcon is part of DWF Labs, a crypto market‑maker, venture investment firm, and token advisory founded in 2022 in Abu Dhabi. DWF launched a collateralized, yield‑bearing stablecoin protocol managed by Falcon (USDf) in April.



"Imagine building a stablecoin protocol only to face retroactive scrutiny based on shifting political winds," Grachev said. "Without a unified vision, challenges include fragmented compliance requirements that raise operational costs, deter cross-border collaboration, and stifle innovation in areas like on-chain lending. Investors might pull back from U.S.-centric projects, favoring jurisdictions with clearer paths, while businesses risk talent flight to less hostile environments," he said.



Trump noted that the GENIUS Act means stablecoin issuers active in the U.S. must be able to seize, freeze, or burn stablecoins "when legally required" and "must comply with lawful orders to do so."



This is raising some eyebrows. What if a user is on the wrong end of the law, or, as Grachev said, not adhering to the prevailing political behaviors preferred by Washington at the time. The market might like Trump now. But he is only president for three more years. What if the next president has a different interpretation of the law?



"This will be akin to the hesitation we&#8217;ve seen pre-GENIUS Act, where lack of clarity stalled pilots despite surging demand, ultimately hindering the industry's ability to move fast and build cool stuff."



The concern among the stablecoin market participants seems to be that regulators will also expect stablecoin issuers to be able to comply quickly with full auditing and verify reserves, delivered in near-real time, to maintain compliance. Non compliance threatens their chance to sell their stablecoin in the U.S.



Nate Holiday, CEO at Makeinfinite, formerly known as Space and Time Labs, thinks the auditing issue is a solvable problem.



"You can't do it using traditional auditing processes, but it's something that can be achieved very simply with Proof of SQL," he said. SQL for the non-tech investor stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is the standard programming language used to communicate with relational databases. Proof of SQL is Makeinfinite's wheelhouse.



"Proof of SQL uses zero-knowledge proofs to ensure that stablecoins can only be minted (created) when the issuer has sufficient reserves on hand in accordance with the rules laid out in the GENIUS Act," he said.&nbsp; "You can do this in seconds and without disclosing sensitive financial data. You can run a stablecoin business without getting bogged down in audits,&#8221; he said.



Earlier this month, Ripple (XRP) CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the stablecoin sector is poised for explosive growth. They launched the Ripple stablecoin (USDr) this year. He said on CNBC's Squawk Box that the market could grow from its current $250 billion capitalization to "as much as $2 trillion in a handful of years. We are very regulated. We have over 60 global licenses to participate in these markets. We feel the growth (in stablecoins) will serve us well as we continue to serve our institutional clients."



When Garlinghouse says Ripple has 60 licenses worldwide to offer their stablecoin, he&#8217;s referring primarily to money transmitter licenses, virtual asset service provider registrations, and other local equivalents. These licenses cost money in numerous ways, including paying for local, legal expertise.&nbsp;



The GENIUS Act may provide the clarity the crypto industry long sought—but clarity comes at a cost. As Ripple and other well-capitalized issuers scale up under a new regulatory regime, smaller startups may find the bar for participation higher than ever.



Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Cryptocurrency

Opinion

Startups

Tech

Trading Ideas

General

Web3 Leaders See GENIUS Act Stifling Startups

Soccer players who score an own goal (accidentally kicking the ball into their own goal, giving the other team a point) feel foolish about this egregious error.



It is made even worse when their own goal wins the match for their opponent.



Players who make this mistake frequently quickly become former soccer players.



Baseball players who consistently make errors that cost their team runs become baseball fans before too much time passes.



Quarterbacks who throw as many interceptions as they do touchdowns are looking for new jobs before long.



In most endeavors, avocations, and occupations, consistent failure usually sends the unfortunate aspirant off in search of new activities and endeavors.



Except in investing and trading. 



There, hope springs eternal. Everyone is sure they can make their fortune trading. The research clearly shows that they cannot. It also shows there's one simple secret to make options trading profitable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Get the Strategies Powering This 20%+ Portfolio — Live Wednesday at 6 PM ET</h2>



Benzinga's "Perfect Stocks" Portfolio is up 20% YTD, and on Wednesday, you'll find out why. Join Tim Melvin, Anne-Marie Baiynd, and Ryan Faloona to uncover the exact setups driving results: trend trades with real earnings power, low-maintenance income plays, and undervalued stocks with global momentum. <a href="https://events2.benzinga.com/bz-pro-webinar-wed-july30-2025-registration/?utm_campaign=073025-webinar&amp;&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD072925/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&amp;adt_ei=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D&amp;utm_medium=newsletter">Reserve your seat now</a>.



The Dunning-Kruger effect is on display in grand fashion among retail options traders.



Most retail traders fail.



Most retail investors lag the market badly.



We overtrade.



We are overconfident.



We chase yesterday&#8217;s news.



Every investor or trader you talk to, though, is having a big year every year. No one on Twitter (now X) is making less than 100% a year, if you believe what they say. In spite of this, somehow retail investors routinely underperform the markets, and 75% of all day traders and 90% of all option traders lose money.



We are impatient.



Almost every retail trader I have ever known sells winners too soon and holds losers in hopes that the stock will bounce their way.



We like to be part of a tribe. Social media sites devoted to trading encourage herd following, which ultimately ends up as the financial equivalent of a pyramid scheme.



Those with FOMO who chase the story are almost always at the bottom of the pile.



A recent study reviewed in Science Direct examined trading behavior on the popular trading herd site WallStreetBets.



The professors found that &#8220;WSB attention increases overall risk levels as investors trade riskier stocks and allocate larger portfolio shares to new positions. WSB attention significantly reduces holding period returns (HPRs). Positions created when WSB attention is at its highest realize −8.5% HPRs.&#8221;



It gets worse when we turn toward options.



The options markets are a very efficient system. These markets almost effortlessly transfer money from traders with dreams of glory to market makers and options sellers.



A study published this year examining trades at major US brokerages with a moderately sophisticated trading clientele found that the average retail options trade lost about $4.



The average One Day to Expiration trade lost almost 5%.



The average short options trade made 20%.



If you are tired of losing money trying to trade using the same techniques everyone else is using, read that last sentence about 100 times.



Maybe get a tattoo or have the words sewn into a nice sampler you can hang on the wall.



Most option sellers make money.



For us as retail investors, the most important part of selling options is to make sure you really like the stock on which you are selling puts and understand trade management when you sell covered calls.



It is not an income strategy.



Selling options on minimum exchange margins without first evaluating the stocks is eventually going to end poorly.



Love the stock—sell the put to buy it cheaper.



Ready to part ways or just want to collect premium along the way? Sell the calls.



It is a total return strategy. You are using it to add to the returns of your stock portfolio.



You may recall from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46531827/how-i-built-a-portfolio-that-outperforms-in-every-market">last week&#8217;s letter</a> that my work (and that of most serious students of the market, who all have found some version of the same) shows that deep value strategies and owning companies with strong fundamentals momentum that attract buying pressure are the two best ways to build wealth over time.



Now add options selling strategies to enhance the return, and things begin to get impressive.



I usually skip being promotional in this weekly epistle, but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/trade-alerts-accelerator-bundle/?utm_campaign=save500&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD072925">take a look</a> at what Anne-Marie Baiynd and I are doing at Trade Alerts Accelerator at Benzinga Research.



I deploy stock strategies, and she brings options strategies that allow us to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/trade-alerts-accelerator-bundle/?utm_campaign=save500&amp;utm_adType=sponsorad&amp;utm_ad=RD072925">collect premiums and build the total return</a> on these already high-performing strategies.



Those in search of the biggest possible bang for the buck can add a little leverage and use partial margin to boost returns.



Partial margin.



Adding leverage only after significant down moves in the market gives you a favorable risk-reward proposition.



Deep value, momentum, selling premium, and smart leverage should put you into a position to earn returns that most so-called traders will never even come close to achieving.



The further out on the X-axis you go, the more the odds shift in your favor, and this strategy moves you way to the right.



Best of all, the only expiration dates are for options you sold, so time is your friend instead.



Some of you are going to insist that you are among the anointed and want to trade your way to fame and fortune.



Some of you just want some action and find stock and options trading more socially acceptable and interesting than the casino or the track.



In that case, pick a strategy and a time frame.



Stop looking for magic answers.



Stop focusing on how much you might make.



To be a profitable trader, you have to excel at risk control.



Choose momentum or reversion.



Have rules and stick to them. Be ruthless about closing trades that do not go your way.



I have seen some very interesting work done recently with five-day moving averages, opening range breakouts, and standard deviation-based reversion systems.



If you must trade, those are probably rabbit holes worth jumping into.



All in all, odds are you will be better off with deep value, momentum, and premium collecting.



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.



Image: Shutterstock

The Secret To Profitable Trading That No One Wants To Hear

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) currently trades with a valuation of just over $1 trillion. CEO Elon Musk is beyond optimistic, doubling down on past comments that the stock will reach a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39327644/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-eyes-25-trillion-market-cap-with-optimus-bot-admits-to-being-pathologically-opti" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> $25 trillion market capitalization,</a> now revising the range to $20 trillion to $30 trillion.



What Happened: Musk believes that the future of Tesla's growth will come mainly from autonomous vehicles and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46662067/elon-musks-30-trillion-bombast-may-come-back-to-haunt-tesla-bulls">Optimus humanoid robot</a>.



Those two items together could take Tesla stock "to crazy levels," Musk said while speaking virtually at the X Takeover event hosted by Tesla Owners Silicon Valley recently.



Musk said that some people believe Tesla can reach a $25 trillion market capitalization in the future.



"I think that's probably correct if we execute well on autonomous transport and Optimus," Musk <a href="https://x.com/teslaownersSV/status/1949684932491849832">said</a>.



Musk highlighted the large opportunity for robotaxis and robots, saying that these could help Tesla reach a huge market capitalization.



"It does actually get to a $20 trillion to $30 trillion valuation."



This is not the first time Musk has placed a market cap goal of more than $20 trillion on the electric vehicle company. In June 2024, he said Optimus could help Tesla hit a $25 trillion market capitalization in the future.



Perhaps helping Tesla in the future will be robotaxi fleets across the country.



"Some of the fleet will be Tesla-owned and some will be customer-owned," Musk <a href="https://x.com/teslaownersSV/status/1949715181040455985">told </a>the audience when asked about Cybercabs.



Musk said the robotaxi fleets will be like a combination of Uber and Airbnb with some people owning the cars to add to the fleet and some owned by Tesla directly.



The Tesla CEO <a href="https://x.com/teslaownersSV/status/1949684495994749428">said </a>Optimus could be life-changing for a lot of people.



"Optimus could be like a 24-hour day nurse or helper to someone who's paraplegic or needs physical help."



Musk said Optimus could also be used in situations where the work is dangerous or there are a lot of repetitive tasks.



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: While Tesla has attracted a large fan base and numerous investors, hearing a market capitalization of more than $20 trillion likely sounds crazy today.



For context, the 10 most valuable companies in the world today are worth a combined $23.2 trillion.



The highest Tesla has ever hit was around $1.25 trillion.



In an era where markets assign massive valuations to companies based on future potential rather than fundamentals like earnings, revenue, or free cash flow, even Tesla hasn't inspired investors to place a bet that big—yet.



To be fair, Musk has not said when he believes Tesla will hit $20 trillion to $30 trillion, just that it will.



NVIDIA is the most valuable company and the first to hit a $4 trillion market cap. It could take months or years for a company to reach $5 trillion. A recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46395825/nvidia-vs-microsoft-vs-apple-who-will-hit-5-trillion-market-cap-first-75-of-readers-pick-this-stock">poll of Benzinga </a>social media followers said Nvidia was most likely to hit $5 trillion first, ahead of Microsoft, Apple or another company like Tesla.



What's perhaps most interesting about Tesla having such a high market capitalization in the future is that it's only one of several companies run by Musk and could be his least desired for future growth.



Benzinga<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/05/45680115/tesla-the-best-elon-musk-company-84-say-no-these-3-rank-higher" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> recently polled readers</a> to see which Musk company they would invest in, given the opportunity, among all of the ventures.



&#8220;If all of the Musk-related companies were currently public at recent valuation, which would you most want to invest in?&#8221; Benzinga asked.



The results were:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Starlink: 27%</li>



<li>SpaceX&nbsp;(with minority ownership of&nbsp;Starlink): 27%</li>



<li>X and xAI: 19%</li>



<li>Tesla: 16%</li>



<li>Neuralink: 8%</li>



<li>The Boring Company:&nbsp;4%</li>
</ul>



The poll results indicate a strong interest from investors in gaining access to SpaceX and Starlink. The combination of X and xAI ranked third with 19%. Musk suggested that the company could go public again in the future at the time of his $44 billion buyout of X, which was then known as Twitter, back in 2022.



While Neuralink and The Boring Company ranked fifth and sixth, the overall results show that Tesla is far from the most popular investment option. Only 16% picked Tesla as their top Musk investment, meaning 84% of those polled picked another company.



If someone told you today that a company would grow from a $1 trillion to a $30 trillion valuation, it might sound like a once-in-a-generation buying opportunity. But so far, investors aren't fully buying into Musk's promises.



While Musk has proven investors wrong before, $30 trillion is a lofty goal, and currently, investors would rather invest in other companies, including some of the ones run by Musk.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/entertainment/25/07/46620076/elon-musk-biopic-who-should-play-tesla-ceo-grok-picks-these-6-actors">Elon Musk Biopic: Who Should Play Tesla CEO? Grok Picks These 6 Actors</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Long Ideas

Management

TSLA

Tesla Worth $30 Trillion? Elon Musk Says Yes But Investors Say No

Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is gearing up for a significant rebound in the second half of fiscal 2025, driven by the highly anticipated launch of new product cycles, including a &#8216;slim&#8217; iPhone, and sustained momentum in its lucrative Services division, even as it contends with rising tariff costs and ongoing regulatory challenges.



On Monday, Bank of America Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">reaffirmed a Buy rating</a> on Apple, maintaining a price forecast of $235.



As Apple prepares to release its fiscal third-quarter earnings on July 31, investor sentiment, as noted by Mohan, remains somewhat subdued.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/reiteration/25/07/46636565/apple-faces-existential-threat-if-it-fails-to-act-on-genai" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Faces Existential Threat If It Fails To Act On GenAI</a>



Key concerns include escalating tariff-related costs, scrutiny from the Department of Justice regarding Google&#8217;s traffic acquisition cost (TAC) payments, ongoing headwinds for the App Store, and the perceived slow pace of Apple&#8217;s advancements in artificial intelligence.



Nevertheless, the impending earnings call is expected to shift focus towards gross margin trends and the projected recovery trajectory fueled by forthcoming product launches.



For fiscal third-quarter 2025, Mohan projects revenue of $90.2 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.45, figures that slightly surpass consensus Street estimates of $89.3 billion and $1.43, respectively.



The analyst anticipates a gross margin of approximately 46.1%, aligning with Apple&#8217;s guidance midpoint, despite the absorption of an estimated $900 million in tariff-related costs.



Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, projections indicate revenue of $99.5 billion and EPS of $1.66, largely in line with Street expectations.



While gross margin is projected to dip to 45% due to an additional $1 billion in tariff impact, Mohan views this quarter as a trough, with margins expected to improve heading into fiscal 2026.



Mohan noted that a key driver of this expected rebound is the highly anticipated &#8220;slim&#8221; iPhone, potentially branded as the iPhone &#8220;Air,&#8221; which Apple is likely to launch in fall 2025.



The analyst said that this model, expected to replace last year&#8217;s Plus version, will reportedly have a 6.6-inch display, measure just 6mm thick, and carry a price tag $100 higher than the Plus.



He noted that the shift in product mix toward higher average selling prices (ASP) is anticipated to drive gross margin expansion and boost replacement rates. Mohan modeled stronger iPhone sales in the September and December quarters on the back of this launch.



On the Mac front, Apple is expected to benefit from the March launch of the new MacBook Air featuring the M4 chip, which provides improved performance at a reduced entry price of $999, or $100 lower than its predecessor, the analyst noted.



He said this is expected to drive better-than-seasonal Mac revenue in the June and December quarters. Similarly, Mohan said the iPad segment could receive a boost from the expected fall launch of iPad Pro models equipped with the M5 chip. The analyst anticipates revenue growth in iPads driven by higher ASPs and product upgrades.



Apple&#8217;s Services segment continues to show steady growth, Mohan noted. For the third quarter, he expects Services revenue of $27.1 billion, up 2% quarter-over-quarter and 12% year-over-year.



Substantial year-over-year gains are projected across the App Store (+12%), Licensing (+18%), Subscriptions (+9%), and Apple Pay (+18%), as per the analyst.



For the fourth quarter, Services are projected to rise another 3% sequentially to $28 billion, again marking a 12% annual increase, with Licensing and Apple Pay both expected to grow over 20% year-over-year, Mohan noted.



Mohan slightly raised estimates for the full fiscal year 2025. Revenue is now forecast at $409 billion (up from $408 billion), and EPS at $7.15 (up from $7.13). The price forecast remains $235, based on a 29x multiple of fiscal 2026 estimated EPS of $8.20.



While Apple faces near-term margin pressure and regulatory noise, Mohan noted upside potential in new product cycles, improving Services momentum, and ASP-driven gross margin recovery, positioning the stock for renewed strength in the back half of the year.



AAPL&nbsp;Price Action:&nbsp;Apple stock is trading higher by 0.10% to $214.06 at last check on Monday.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46656199/pony-ai-gets-green-light-for-driverless-robotaxis-in-shanghais-pudong" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pony.ai Gets Green Light For Driverless Robotaxis In Shanghai&#8217;s Pudong</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

News

Price Target

Reiteration

AAPL

Can Apple's Slim iPhone And Cheaper Macs Reverse The 2025 Stock Slump?

Peter Schiff didn't mince words after President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46650830/donald-trump-announces-15-tariff-trade-agreement-with-eu-ending-months-of-trade-uncertainty">new trade agreement</a> with the European Union. 



The deal is at odds with Trump&#8217;s &#8220;America First&#8221; narrative, the economist and gold advocate argued on social media. That&#8217;s because industrial America will pay the price—literally.



What Happened: In a fiery post on X, Schiff wrote: "We will pay 15% tariffs to buy most European goods, but 50% tariffs to buy European steel, aluminum, or copper…"



His verdict? "Americans lose again."



<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">Trump has a trade deal with the EU, where Americans lose again. We will pay 15% tariffs to buy most European goods, but 50% tariffs to buy European steel, aluminum, or copper, driving up material costs for many U.S industries. Europeans won&#39;t pay any tariffs on most U.S. imports.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1949590339322605685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Schiff is often critical of Trump&#8217;s policies. His latest post echoes his sentiments from April, on the heels of Trump&#8217;s so-called &#8220;Liberation Day.&#8221; 



&#8220;By putting America first, Trump has put America last when it comes to investment returns,&#8221; Schiff <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/1911045936467386686">said</a> on X. &#8220;America&#8217;s consumer-driven economy will fall apart.&#8221;



Why It Matters: Schiff warned that the sharply higher tariffs on essential metals will raise costs for American manufacturers across sectors—from construction and cars to defense and energy. 



With European steel, aluminum, and copper now slapped with a 50% tariff, U.S. industries dependent on those imports could see thinner margins and less competitive pricing globally.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45260021/economist-justin-wolfers-says-tariffs-wont-lead-to-shortages-but-explains-why-it-might-cause-a-recession">Economists</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44754457/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-says-trump-tariff-costs-could-hit-consumers-as-sellers-pass-them-on-company-working-to-limit-price-hikes-amid-1771-ytd-stock-drop">CEOs predict</a> these companies will likely pass some or all of the extra cost on to customers.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/07/46579748/trump-copper-tariff-rally-record-highs-freeport2025">Trump Shock Treatment Ignites Copper Boom—And It&#8217;s Only Getting Started</a>



Observers also argue that tariffs could deliver gains for certain U.S. metal producers. Domestic buyers may pivot away from now-costlier European suppliers, thus boosting the stocks of Alcoa Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AA#NYSE">AA</a>), Nucor Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>), and Freeport-McMoRan Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>).



If material costs rise broadly, American miners and smelters could command better prices and improved volumes.



Still, Schiff remains skeptical. While certain U.S. stocks may catch a tailwind, the economist insists the macro impact could be inflationary and productivity-draining.



According to Schiff, Trump's EU deal trades campaign optics for long-term economic pain—and investors would be wise to read between the tariffs.



Price Action: The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) is up about 10% year-to-date, as can be seen <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XLB">here</a>.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46613806/freeport-mcmoran-eyes-major-gains-from-us-copper-tariff">Freeport-McMoRan Eyes Major Gains From US Copper Tariff</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Politics

Peter Schiff Blasts Trump's EU Deal: 'Americans Lose Again'

Goldman Sachs is doubling down on its dovish rate path forecast, saying the Federal Reserve is poised to deliver five interest rate cuts through the end of next year—three in 2025 and two more in 2026—a significantly more aggressive easing cycle than markets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">are currently pricing in.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) ETF has rallied 26% year-to-date. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GLD">See real-time price here. </a></li>
</ul>



In a report published Monday, Goldman economist David Mericle said he expects no change at this Wednesday's FOMC meeting but reaffirmed the bank's base case: 25-basis-point cuts in September, October and December, followed by two more in 2026, bringing the terminal Fed Funds rate down to 3–3.25%.



"The activity data have now begun to show clearer support for forecasts of below-potential growth than they had at the time of prior FOMC meetings," Mericle wrote.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Driving Goldman's Call?</h3>



The firm pointed to a deceleration in consumer spending, which it said slowed more than expected in the first half of 2025—even before the full impact of Donald Trump's tariff regime is felt. Investment softness, primarily in housing, and policy-related uncertainty are also contributing to the economic downshift.



Goldman believes the inflation battle is largely over, citing the rebalancing of the labor market and a return to pre-pandemic trendlines. 



The only upside risk? A temporary tariff-driven boost to core inflation, estimated at about 1 percentage point, which it sees as a one-time effect unlikely to alter long-term inflation expectations.



The firm echoed Fed Governor Christopher Waller's view that tariffs won't ignite a prolonged inflation wave.



"We expect the underlying inflation trend to continue converging to 2% this year," the note said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Expectations Lag Behind</h3>



Despite Goldman's confidence, markets remain more cautious. 



Fed futures data from CME Group shows a 73% chance of just two rate cuts in 2025. 



Meanwhile, Kalshi's CFTC-regulated contracts assign the highest probability to two cuts (50bps) at 40%, with only 10% odds for the three-cut scenario Goldman forecasts for this year.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;ids=KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31-T2&#038;ids=KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31-T1&#038;ids=KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31-T0&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="196px" style="border:0"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What To Expect From Powell?</h3>



The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady this week at the 5.25%–5.50% range. 



Goldman anticipates no strong forward guidance in the July statement or Powell's press conference. Instead, the tone will likely shift from describing growth as "solid" to "moderate" to reflect slower first-half expansion.



Mericle expects both Governor Bowman and Waller to likely dissent and vote for a 25-basis-point rate cut. 



While Powell may be asked whether the two cuts projected in the Fed's June dot plot remain the baseline, he's unlikely to commit—preferring to emphasize the "meeting-by-meeting" approach with two key inflation and jobs prints still due before September.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom Line</h3>



Goldman Sachs sees the Fed cutting faster and deeper than Wall Street believes. 



If growth slows further and inflation stays tame—aside from a short-lived tariff bump—the market may be underestimating the pace of policy easing in the months ahead.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46641084/wall-street-stock-bubble-2025">Is A Stock Market Crash Imminent? Bubble Warnings Grow Louder </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Get Ready For Five Fed Cuts, Markets Got It All Wrong: Goldman Sachs

U.S. energy stocks have trailed behind the broader market this year. Still, President Donald Trump's $750 billion trade agreement with the European Union may be the catalyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/energy-stocks">to reverse that underperformance</a>. 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>CVX stock is up 8% in July. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVX">See the chart here.</a></li>
</ul>



While headlines fixated on the 15% tariff rate the U.S. will apply to European imports, a far more consequential detail went largely overlooked: the EU has agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy exports over the next three years, a sharp increase from the roughly $100 billion imported annually today.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reaction: Energy Stocks Catch A Bid</h3>



The U.S. energy sector welcomed the move. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) climbed 1% on Monday, outperforming all other sectors. 



The agreement is being viewed as a potential structural shift in demand—one that could unlock long-term export growth, solidify pricing power, and revive capital flows into the sector.



Yet energy stocks still lag in 2025, with the XLE up just 1.9% year-to-date, compared to the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which has gained 8.9%.



Among notable Monday&#8217;s movers in oil &amp; gas stocks:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>) up 3.14%</li>



<li>Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>) up 3.03%</li>



<li>APA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>) up 2.64%</li>



<li>EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EOG#NYSE">EOG</a>) up 2.54%</li>



<li>ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>) up 2.32%</li>



<li>Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNG#NYSE">LNG</a>), a major LNG exporter, jumped 3.3%</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bold Target, But Risks Remain</h3>



Oxford Economics' Oliver Rakau called the agreement a "clear political win for the U.S.," citing no signs of EU retaliation and a favorable tariff structure. Still, he flagged "significant implementation risks," related to the energy pledge, noting the target may prove too ambitious.



"The $750 billion pledge over three years is highly ambitious given current levels are under $100 billion," Rakau said.



Florence Schmit, energy strategist at Rabobank, echoed the skepticism.



"To hit $250 billion annually, the EU would need to import 67% of its energy needs from the U.S.," he said, citing Eurostat data.



Instead, she expects the deal will trigger European investment in U.S. LNG infrastructure, securing future supply but having a limited short-term impact on global balances.



According to Oilprice.com, the deal aims to replace sanctioned Russian gas volumes with U.S. LNG through a combination of spot and long-term contracts. Although no specific contracts were announced, follow-on agreements are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46643105/arkk-etf-performance-cathie-wood-tesla-coinbase-bitcoin">Cathie Wood Doesn&#8217;t Need Tesla To Win—ARKK Delivers A Blowout While EV Giant Idles</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Equities

Large Cap

Sector ETFs

FANG

Trump's $750 Billion Coup In Europe Could Bring Energy Stocks Back From The Dead

Wall Street opened the week slightly higher, led by gains in energy stocks, while the U.S. dollar posted its strongest performance in over two months, as markets reacted to the U.S.-EU trade deal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/07/46663043/trump-eu-us-energy-trade-deal-750-billion-oil-stocks-xle">struck over the weekend.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>MSFT Stock is moving fast. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT">See real-time price here.</a></li>
</ul>



The S&amp;P 500 ticked up 0.1% to a new record of 6,400 points, while the Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.5%, breaking above all-time highs at 23,380 points. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) continued its rally, hitting a new record of $175 per share and reaching a staggering $4.27 trillion market capitalization.



Under the new trade agreement, the U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on EU imports, including pharmaceuticals and automobiles. Certain sectors such as steel, aluminum, and copper will face steeper tariffs of up to 50%.



In return, the European Union has pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy exports over the next three years—up from roughly $100 billion annually—and to invest an additional $600 billion in the United States.



The euro dropped 1.2% against the dollar, marking its worst day since May 12, while Eurozone equities also slumped.



Oil prices jumped 2.2% to $66.5 per barrel, fueled by Europe's energy commitment and renewed geopolitical tensions after President Donald Trump moved up a deadline for Russia to agree to a truce in Ukraine. Trump warned that Russia has 10–12 days to comply or face 100% "secondary tariffs," raising fears of potential crude supply disruptions.



The energy sector led the market, while utilities lagged with a 1% decline.



Gold slid 0.8% to $3,313 per ounce as the dollar strengthened. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) dropped 1.2% to $118,000.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#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 %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>23,385.33</td><td>0.5%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,397.48</td><td>0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,263.20</td><td>0.1 %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,937.43</td><td>0.1%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:30 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>) flattened at $585.91.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) was steady at $449.20.</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 $568.24.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.1% higher to $224.59.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Energy Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the&nbsp;Utilities&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, down 0.8%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stocks moving on earnings reports included Bank of Hawaii Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOH#NYSE">BOH</a>), down 6%, Revvity Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVTY#NYSE">RVTY</a>) down 8.6% and Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPD#NYSE">EPD</a>), down 1.3%. </li>



<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) jumped 4% after the U.S. announced lower-than-expected tariffs on European goods, including autos, and following CEO Elon Musk's revelation of a $16.5 billion deal with Samsung Electronics to produce next-generation chips.</li>



<li>Top-performing energy stocks within the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund included Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>), which rose 3.5%; Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>), up 3.4%; APA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>), gaining 3.0%; EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EOG#NYSE">EOG</a>), up 2.5% and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>), up 2.2%.</li>



<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) rose 3.9% to $79.25 after J.P. Morgan upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target to $93 from $64.</li>
</ul>



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/07/46663043/trump-eu-us-energy-trade-deal-750-billion-oil-stocks-xle">Trump&#8217;s $750 Billion Coup In Europe Could Bring Energy Stocks Back From The Dead</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$BTC

NVDA

RVTY

Oil, Energy Stocks Rise, Dollar Rallies On US-EU Trade Deal: What's Moving Markets Monday?

In a market where every crypto firm wants to slap <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">&#8216;AI&#8217; on its investor deck</a>, two Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) miners are winning by doing the exact opposite.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Track BTC&#8217;s price <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD">here</a>.</li>
</ul>



CleanSpark Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLSK#NASDAQ">CLSK</a>) and MARA Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), formerly known as Marathon Digital, received a bullish nod from JPMorgan. The investment bank&#8217;s analysts upgraded MARA to Overweight and reiterated CleanSpark as its top pick.



Why? Both companies stayed focused on their core business—mining Bitcoin. Their rivals, meanwhile, chased high-performance computing (HPC) dreams with uncertain timelines and even hazier economics.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46653821/ray-dalio-says-15-in-bitcoin-or-gold-may-be-essential-as-fiat-currencies-face-devaluation-risks">Ray Dalio Says 15% In Bitcoin Or Gold May Be Essential As Fiat Currencies Face Devaluation Risks</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When AI Hype Fizzles, Fundamentals Shine</h2>



Analyst Reginald L. Smith writes that CleanSpark and Marathon now offer the "best relative value" among JPMorgan's crypto mining coverage. In contrast, formerly favored names like Riot Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>) and IREN Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IREN#NASDAQ">IREN</a>) (formerly known as Iris Energy) were downgraded, not due to poor execution, but because their valuations look stretched—and too dependent on unannounced AI or HPC deals.



With Bitcoin roaring and network hashrates stabilizing, miners producing coins efficiently—not theorizing about AI workloads—are positioned to benefit first.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Miners That Mine—What A Concept</h2>



MARA is aiming for a massive 75 EH/s hashrate by year-end 2025. According to JPMorgan, the market hasn't fully priced that in. Meanwhile, CleanSpark continues to scale quietly, without pivoting to AI theater, and is now considered best-in-class for cost efficiency.



In short: the more a miner sounds like an HPC sales pitch, the less compelling it looks to Wall Street right now.



Investors may finally be asking: who's generating actual revenue from bitcoin, and who's just generating buzzwords? For now, it seems the miners who didn't try to reinvent themselves as AI companies are the ones worth watching.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46652325/bitcoin-has-shot-up-a-whopping-92525-since-chamath-palihapitiya-called-it-schmuck-insurance">Bitcoin Has Shot Up A Whopping 92525% Since Chamath Palihapitiya Called It &#8216;Schmuck Insurance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Markets

CLSK

IREN

MARA

RIOT

MARA, CleanSpark Avoided The AI Hype—And That's Their Superpower

Jim Cramer has predicted that Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) will soar to $200, following its recent surge past $150.



Check out the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR">PLTR stock price here</a>.



What Happened: In a post on X, CNBC&#8217;s &#8216;Mad Money&#8217; host Cramer described the stock's upward movement as "like a knife through butter," signaling a bullish outlook on the AI-driven data analytics firm.



Palantir, known for its Gotham and Foundry platforms used by U.S. defense and commercial sectors, hit a fresh record high of $160.39 per share intraday on Friday.



<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">Palantir being pushed up nicely. Right through $150 like a knife through butter. Next stop: $200. Obviously Robinhood roaring, too&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1949764867268784395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Last week, the U.S. Army awarded a $100 million contract to the Anduril-Palantir team for the delivery of a Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) platform prototype.



With this deal, Palantir is poised to secure an estimated $30 million from an 11-month contract, a high-priority U.S. Army project, <a href="https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/palantir-pltr-wins-key-u-s-army-ai-contract-in-push-for-defense-growth-1573150/">reported</a> Insider Monkey, citing William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma. 



This initiative also offers the potential to boost Palantir&#8217;s annual recurring revenue by over $150 million within three years.



Wedbush analyst Dan Ives also highlighted Palantir as a key beneficiary of President Donald Trump&#8216;s &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46580004/trumps-ai-action-plan-to-unleash-4th-industrial-revolution-dan-ives-picks-6-stock-winners">AI Action Plan</a>,&#8221; which aims to secure U.S. leadership in the sector, and he also listed it as one of his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46463595/dan-ives-picks-5-stocks-for-2nd-half-of-2025-nvidia-palantir-microsoft-and-more-golden-age-of-tech-is-here-with-ai-revolution">top five picks</a> for the second half of 2025. 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46655759/these-3-dividend-yielding-stocks-could-outperform-as-high-fed-rates-spark-4-9-billion-inflows-ex">These 3 Dividend-Yielding Stocks Could Outperform As High Fed Rates Spark $4.9 Billion Inflows: Expert</a>



Why It Matters: Additionally, last week on Friday, Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46635102/palantir-technologies-stock-hits-a-new-all-time-high-whats-driving-the-action">$170 price target</a> for Palantir. 



This followed Ives&#8217; target price <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46339022/palantir-could-be-the-next-big-ai-winner-says-dan-ives-sees-12-pltr-stock-surge">increase to $160 apiece</a>, underlining the growing confidence in Palantir&#8217;s artificial intelligence strategy. He described PLTR to be on a &#8220;golden path to become an AI stalwart&#8221; over the next 12 months. 



The enthusiasm of various analysts underscores their belief in the company&#8217;s potential to dominate the AI landscape, despite its forward P/E ratio of 277.778, raising valuation concerns among some investors.



While bullish analysts like Ives and Bracelin are raising their targets, the broader analyst consensus of 25 experts, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings">tracked by Benzinga</a>, remains a &#8216;Sell&#8217; with an average price target near $80.6. Despite this, investor sentiment, propelled by key government contracts and strategic enterprise partnerships, continues to drive the stock to new heights.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="387" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-1024x387.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1003078" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-1024x387.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-768x290.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest.png 1098w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



Price Action: Palantir was up 1.41% in premarket on Monday. It has risen by 111.20% on a year-to-date basis and 486.41% over the past year.



Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that PLTR maintains solid momentum across short, medium, and long-term periods. However, while the stock scores well on growth rankings, its value rating remains relatively weak. Additional performance details are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-3/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-3/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="155" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-1024x155.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1003076" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-1024x155.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-300x46.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-768x116.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR.png 1167w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></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 Monday. The SPY was up 0.18% at $638.23, while the QQQ advanced 0.37% to $568.47, 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/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46653560/bitcoin-ethereum-ripple-have-big-money-moment-as-expert-sees-incremental-institutional-buyers-driving-current-rally" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple Have ‘Big Money' Moment As Expert Sees ‘Incremental Institutional Buyers' Driving Current Rally</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

PLTR

Palantir's Next Stop Is $200, Says Jim Cramer As PLTR Glides 'Like A Knife Through Butter'

As the uncertainty surrounding Trump tariffs and other policy changes in Washington continues, middle-income Americans are accelerating their car-buying plans, a new survey reveals.



What Happened: A new survey by&nbsp;Santander Holdings USA&nbsp;shows that the majority of middle-income Americans are concerned about rising car prices and the impact of future price uncertainty. Despite these worries, three-quarters of the respondents believe&nbsp;they are on the right&nbsp;financial track,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/28/car-buyers-prices-tariffs-survey?ref=biztoc.com">reported</a>&nbsp;Axios on Monday.



&#8220;Our&nbsp;research finds consumers are taking&nbsp;proactive steps to secure what&nbsp;matters most, especially autos,&#8221; said&nbsp;Betty Jotanovic, president of auto&nbsp;relationships at Santander Consumer USA.



The survey also highlights the significance of vehicle access to families, with many consumers making proactive decisions to secure their transportation needs.



Consumers are keeping a close eye on how uncertainty around future prices might influence their spending decisions. In Q2, 55% said they were considering purchasing a car in the next year, up from 47% in Q1. Additionally, 18% accelerated major purchases due to price concerns, with 41% of those buying a car.



Despite rising prices, consumers appear more eager to make a move—half of potential buyers say they're now more likely to take out an auto loan, 48% are more inclined to buy a used vehicle, and 42% are more likely to complete a purchase within the next three months.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46651859/trumps-new-eu-trade-deal-labeled-bad-news-by-economists-as-dow-futures-spike-over-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s New EU Trade Deal Labeled &#8216;Bad News&#8217; By Economists As Dow Futures Spike Over 150 Points</a>



Why It Matters: The surge in car-buying plans among middle-income Americans reflects the impact of the ongoing policy shifts in Washington. This trend is also evident in the used car market, where buyers are facing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46483841/a-used-car-buyer-is-baffled-by-prices-says-there-are-no-more-affordable-safe-and-reliable-starter-cars-with-less-than-100k-miles">sticker shock</a>&nbsp;and dealerships are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46370165/car-buyer-says-paying-cash-made-the-dealer-act-like-they-just-spoke-fluent-dolphin-theyre-not-dealerships-anymore-theyre-bankerships">reacting</a>&nbsp;to cash payments in unusual ways.



These changes are occurring against the backdrop of the Trump administration&#8217;s&nbsp;$550 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46622277/trumps-trade-deal-with-japan-a-tax-on-americans-economist-says-not-remotely-optimistic-us-auto-companies-will-gain-as-toyota-and-honda-stocks-rally">trade deal with Japan</a>, which some experts argue is essentially a tax increase for American consumers. 



The American Automotive Policy Council, representing U.S. automakers like GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), Ford (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Stellantis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>), has opposed a new trade deal that imposes a 25% tariff on U.S.-made vehicles from Canada and Mexico, while Japan faces only a 15% tariff, thus potentially raising vehicle prices in the U.S..



However, the U.S. Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46627767/commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick-dismisses-silly-concerns-of-us-automakers-over-japan-trade-deal-says-theyre-cool-with-it">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;has stated that American auto CEOs are in favor of the new trade agreement.



READ MORE: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46549018/general-motors-delivers-q2-beat-braces-for-higher-tariff-pressures-ahead">General Motors Delivers Q2 Beat, Braces For Higher Tariff Pressures Ahead</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.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46549018/general-motors-delivers-q2-beat-braces-for-higher-tariff-pressures-ahead"> </a>

STLA

Trump Tariff Worries Drive Middle-Income Americans To Rush Car Buys: Report

U.S. stock futures rose on Monday after ending higher on Friday. Futures of major benchmark indices were higher.



President Donald Trump announced a 15% tariff <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46650830/donald-trump-announces-15-tariff-trade-agreement-with-eu-ending-months-of-trade-uncertainty">trade deal with the European Union</a> (EU) on Sunday, putting an end to several months of trade uncertainty with the U.S.'s biggest trade partner. 



The tariff rate is a significant drop from the 30% Trump threatened on July 12 and the 20% he proposed on April 2. Trump stated that the EU will not impose a tariff on U.S. imports, describing the deal as "satisfactory to both sides."



Investors will assess a slew of macro and micro indicators this week, as the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision, along with the second-quarter GDP data, will be released on Wednesday.



Additionally, earnings from companies including Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) are expected this week.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.37% and the two-year bond was at 3.91%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 96.99% 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>0.16%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.27%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>0.47%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.53%</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 Friday. The SPY was up 0.28% at $638.91, while the QQQ advanced 0.50% to $569.22, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



On Friday, industrials, materials, and consumer discretionary stocks led the gains among S&amp;P 500 sectors, while energy and communication services stocks ended the session lower, bucking the overall positive trend.



U.S. stocks settled higher, with the S&amp;P 500 marking its 14th record close this year, fueled by optimism over corporate earnings and global trade talk progress, which bolstered risk assets.



All three major indices saw weekly gains, with the 30-stock Dow rising approximately 1.3%, the broad S&amp;P 500 climbing about 1.5%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq adding 1%.



Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results. Conversely, Carter&#8217;s Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRI#NYSE">CRI</a>) shares dropped around 20% after the company missed second-quarter adjusted EPS estimates, suspended its fiscal 2025 guidance, and cited tariff impacts.



On the economic data front, U.S. durable goods orders fell 9.3% month-over-month to $311.84 billion in June, following a revised 16.5% gain in May.



The Dow Jones index ended 208 points or 0.47% higher at 44,901.92, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index rose 0.40% to 6,388.64. Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.24% to 21,108.32, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, gained 0.40% to end at 2,261.07.



<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>0.24%</td><td>21,108.32</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.40%</td><td>6,388.64</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.47%</td><td>44,901.92</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.40%</td><td>2,261.07</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



The Director and Senior Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab &amp; Co., Kevin Gordon, highlighted that the week ahead was crucial with important market-moving data scheduled to be released during this period.



<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">Here&#39;s what we have next week: Apple earnings Amazon earnings Microsoft earnings Meta earnings FOMC rate decision JOLTS Conference Board consumer confidence PCE inflation ISM Manufacturing UMich June jobs report August 1 tariff deadline Other than that, should be pretty quiet&mdash; Kevin Gordon (@KevRGordon) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevRGordon/status/1948107799613059455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research, &#8220;Naturally, the main event will be the Federal Open Market Committee's widely expected decision (Wed) to leave the federal funds rate unchanged. We are among those expecting no change.&#8221;



However, he expects that Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s press conference (Wed) will be relatively dovish, raising the odds of a September rate cut. &#8220;Nevertheless, we remain in the none-and-done camp in 2025 for now,&#8221; Yardeni added.



However, senior economist Mohamed El Erian noted that Trump&#8217;s Fed visit last week underscored &#8220;differing interpretations.&#8221;



According to him, some viewed it as a &#8220;truce,&#8221; citing the President&#8217;s pledge not to fire Chair Powell and his expectation that the Chair would &#8220;do the right thing&#8221; by cutting interest rates.



Whereas others saw the visit as an escalation, aligning with Steve Bannon&#8217;s &#8220;flood the zone&#8221; strategy. &#8220;They point to the awkward televised exchange between the President and Chair Powell regarding the renovation&#8217;s cost as evidence of continued and clear friction,&#8221; he added.



&#8220;This week promises to be an exceptionally busy one, packed with notable policy decisions, major economic data releases, and systemically important corporate earnings – all set against the backdrop of seasonally thinner market liquidity,&#8221; Erian added.



Meanwhile, Jamie Cox, the managing partner for Harris Financial Group spoke about the U.S. deal with EU.



&#8220;When Japan broke down and made a deal the EU had little choice. The biggest piece in the trade deal puzzle still remains, and the Chinese are unlikely to be as willing to fold. The next big durable theme in markets is security, and the EU deal only accelerates it,&#8221; he said.



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 this week:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>No data is scheduled to be released on Monday.</li>



<li>On Tuesday, June&#8217;s advanced U.S. trade balance in goods, retail inventories, and wholesale inventories data will be announced by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>May&#8217;s S&amp;P Case-Shiller home price index for 20 cities will be out by 9:00 a.m., July&#8217;s consumer confidence data, and June&#8217;s job openings data will be released by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Wednesday, July ADP employment will be out by 8:15 a.m. and the second quarter&#8217;s GDP data will be released by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>June&#8217;s pending home sales data will be released by 10:00 a.m. and the FOMC interest rate decision will be bout by 2:00 p.m., with the Federal Reserve Chair Powell addressing a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Thursday, the initial jobless claims data for the week ended July 26, the second quarter&#8217;s Employment Cost Index data, June personal income, spending, and the headline and core PCE Index data will all be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>July&#8217;s Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) will be out by 9:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Friday, July&#8217;s U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data will be announced by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>July&#8217;s S&amp;P final U.S. manufacturing PMI will be released at 9:45 a.m., whereas July&#8217;s ISM manufacturing, construction spending, and consumer sentiment will be announced by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>July&#8217;s auto sales data will also be released on Friday.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock rose 1.72% in premarket on Monday after it confirmed a massive $16.5 billion chip manufacturing deal with Samsung Electronics.</li>



<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) was up 1.44% after the U.S. Army on Friday awarded a $100 million, 11-month Next-Generation Command and Control prototype contract, part of a broader $3 billion Department of Defense request for fiscal 2026.</li>



<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) was up 1.30% after it released a statement responding to the Department of Justice after a review of the media reports about investigations into specific aspects of its involvement in the Medicare program.</li>



<li>Anghami Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANGH#NASDAQ">ANGH</a>) zoomed 38.65% the company appointed James Cooke, a senior executive from Warner Bros Discovery Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>), to its Board of Directors. Additionally, its shareholders also approved a 1-for-10 reverse stock split.</li>



<li>Mill City Ventures III Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCVT#NASDAQ">MCVT</a>) surged 91.68% following a recent halt in trading due to a circuit breaker. On Friday, the stock was halted after a 211.3% increase, leading to a temporary suspension in trading.</li>



<li>ATAI Life Sciences NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATAI#NASDAQ">ATAI</a>) dropped 16.81% after disclosing that the Phase 2b trial of Inidascamine in patients with cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia did not meet its primary endpoint.</li>



<li>Enterprise Products Partners LP. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPD#NYSE">EPD</a>) was 0.95% higher as analysts expect it to report earnings of 65 cents per share on revenue of $15.04 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Nucor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>) advanced 1.09% as it is expected to report earnings after the closing bell. Analysts estimate earnings of $2.65 per share on revenue of $8.51 billion.</li>



<li>Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>) added 0.25% as analysts expect it to report earnings of $1.89 per share on revenue of $6.37 billion after the closing bell.</li>



<li>Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>) rose 0.76% as it is expected to report earnings after the closing bell. Analysts estimate earnings of $1.78 per share on revenue of $3.90 billion.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.95% to hover around $65.78 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 0.01% to hover around $3,337.38 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.51% at the 98.1430 level.



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



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46652124/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-climb-on-trump-eu-trade-pact-analyst-says-this-risk-off-signal-could-be-critical-as-btc-drives-entire-crypto-market">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Climb On Trump-EU Trade Pact — Analyst Says This &#8216;Risk-Off&#8217; Signal Could Be Critical As BTC Drives Entire Crypto Market</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

AMZN

ANGH

ATAI

MCVT

MSFT

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher As US-EU Ink Trade Deal: Tesla, Palantir, UnitedHealth In Focus

Amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty, global stocks and funds with a strategic focus on high dividends are experiencing a significant resurgence in investor interest. This expert highlights the top three stocks and funds that investors could consider to seize the opportunity.



What Happened: After two years of subdued demand, these funds are once again drawing substantial inflows, driven by a confluence of economic factors, most notably the elevated interest rates maintained by the Federal Reserve.



As highlighted by Eugenia Mykuliak, the founder and executive director at B2PRIME Group, the renewed popularity of dividend-yielding instruments was reflected in April 2025 fund flow data. The equity income ETFs recorded an impressive $4.9 billion in net flows.



Industry leaders such as the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>) have been at the forefront of this trend.



&#8220;Donald Trump&#8216;s calls for lower rates and the Fed&#8217;s reluctance, which kept rates high, are the principal rationales here. As we know, high interest rates make bonds less attractive, prompting investors to shift towards dividend-paying stocks,&#8221; Mykuliak told <a href="https://www.benzinga.com">Benzinga</a>.



Mykuliak points to compelling examples citing Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>), Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), and BP PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>). &#8220;C-bond dividend yields offered by companies like Kroger (~9.4% dividend yield), Chevron (4.78%), and BP (6.59%) appear to be competitive so far,&#8221; she highlighted.



This data underscores that dividend yields are currently either close to or, in many cases, significantly higher than the 10-year Treasury bond yield of 4.37%, making them a more attractive proposition for income-seeking investors.



&#8220;So current dividend yields remain competitive relative to long-term government bonds, particularly for high-quality dividend stocks,&#8221; Mykuliak states.



Furthermore, Mykuliak highlights that &#8220;geopolitical tensions (most notably, tariffs) and economic uncertainty make dividend stocks a safer investment.&#8221;



Looking ahead, the momentum for dividend stocks is expected to persist. Mykuliak reiterates, &#8220;Once again, the Fed&#8217;s stance amid overall economic uncertainty tilts toward keeping interest rates high, making dividends more attractive.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46653560/bitcoin-ethereum-ripple-have-big-money-moment-as-expert-sees-incremental-institutional-buyers-driving-current-rally">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple Have &#8216;Big Money&#8217; Moment As Expert Sees &#8216;Incremental Institutional Buyers&#8217; Driving Current Rally</a>



Why It Matters: &#8220;All in all, dividend stocks are strategically positioned to benefit from 2025's macroeconomic landscape, offering higher yields than bonds and greater stability than growth stocks,&#8221; Mykuliak concludes.



She advises investors to &#8220;prioritize high-quality, diversified dividend portfolios (tapping into the ETF universe for convenience, bearing in mind, for example, SCHD, VIG) to capitalize on this trend while mitigating the known risks.&#8221;



However, she cautions investors to be aware of potential risks, including dividend cuts and the possibility of current economic uncertainty escalating into a more severe slowdown, which could potentially temper future inflows.



Price Action: Here&#8217;s how the stocks and ETFs mentioned by Mykuliak have performed.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>ETFs</td><td>One-Month Performance</td><td>YTD Performance</td><td>One-Year Performance</td></tr><tr><td>Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>)</td><td>2.47%</td><td>7.10%</td><td>10.78%</td></tr><tr><td>Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>)</td><td>2.18%</td><td>7.31%</td><td>11.03%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Stocks</td><td>One-Month Performance</td><td>YTD Performance</td><td>One-Year Performance</td></tr><tr><td>Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>)</td><td>-0.38%</td><td>15.37%</td><td>31.85%</td></tr><tr><td>Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</td><td>8.14%</td><td>5.54%</td><td>-1.12%</td></tr><tr><td>BP PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>)</td><td>7.58%</td><td>7.58%</td><td>-7.89%</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 Friday. The SPY was up 0.17% at $638.16, while the QQQ advanced 0.35% to $568.37, 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/personal-finance/management/25/07/46652770/citi-strata-elite-credit-card-launched-to-attract-affluent-customers-heres-how-it-stacks-up-against-amex-platinum-jpmorgan-chase-sapphire-reserve">Citi Strata Elite Credit Card Launched To Attract Affluent Customers: Here&#8217;s How It Stacks Up Against Amex Platinum, JPMorgan Chase Sapphire Reserve</a></li>
</ul>



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



Image Credit: RYAN MERCER/NORTHJERSEY.COM via Imagn Images

SCHD

These 3 Dividend-Yielding Stocks Could Outperform As High Fed Rates Spark $4.9 Billion Inflows: Expert

YouTube cofounder Steve Chen warned parents against allowing children to consume only short-form content, citing concerns about diminishing attention spans and addictive design elements that could impact cognitive development.



What Happened: &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I want my kids to be watching like short-form content as their only way and they can&#8217;t be able to watch something that&#8217;s more than 15 minutes in length,&#8221; Chen said during a Stanford Business School talk published Friday. 



The former Chief Technology Officer helped launch YouTube in 2005 before Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) owned Google acquired the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41616337/google-bought-youtube-for-1-65b-and-now-it-prints-50b-in-revenue-just-in-1-year-sundar-pich">platform for $1.65 billion in 2006</a>.



Chen&#8217;s comments carry significant weight as YouTube now generates $50 billion in combined <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41616337/google-bought-youtube-for-1-65b-and-now-it-prints-50b-in-revenue-just-in-1-year-sundar-pich">advertising and subscription revenue</a>, representing a massive return on Google&#8217;s initial investment. The platform competes directly with TikTok and Meta Platforms Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Instagram Reels for user engagement.



&#8220;I think TikTok is entertainment, but it&#8217;s purely entertainment,&#8221; said Chen, who moved to Taiwan in 2019. &#8220;Just shorter form content equates to shorter attention spans.&#8221;



During the talk, Chen mentioned that some parents are intentionally steering their children toward long-form content while avoiding videos with flashy visuals and &#8220;addictive eyeballs,&#8221; recognizing how easily such content can get kids hooked.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46654181/alibaba-cloud-pioneer-says-he-doesnt-like-agi-asi-classifications-it-just-means-you-get-more-capability-thats-it">Alibaba Cloud Pioneer Says He Doesn&#8217;t Like AGI, ASI Classifications: &#8216;It Just Means You Get More Capability. That&#8217;s It&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: A 2022 survey shows that Gen Z users spend over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/12/30065546/gen-z-users-want-short-form-content-spend-4-hours-on-social-media-daily-like-superheroes-wh">four hours daily on social media</a>, with 71% preferring content under 30 minutes. 



Chen suggested implementing age-based daily access restrictions, noting the &#8220;delicate balance between what is going to get users&#8217; eyes and what&#8217;s going to monetize more versus what is actually useful.&#8221;



His warnings come as Amazon.com Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Twitch <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38541148/amazons-twitch-launches-short-form-video-platform-to-challenge-tiktok-as-chinese-platforms-future-re">launched short-form features in 2024</a> and TikTok faces U.S. regulatory challenges, creating market opportunities for established players like YouTube to capture shifting user <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/07/46310388/kevin-oleary-torpedoes-trumps-tiktok-deal-claim-we-dont-have-a-seller">engagement patterns</a>.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/07/46652824/mark-cuban-says-its-not-the-students-at-fault-but-the-school-if-answers-can-be-generated-with-ai-kids-take-path-of-least-resistance">Mark Cuban Says It&#8217;s Not The Students At Fault But The School If Answers Can Be Generated With AI: Kids Take &#8216;Path Of Least Resistance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

Social Media

GOOG

GOOGL

YouTube Cofounder Says He May Not Want His Kids Watching Only Shorts, Reels Or TikTok—Warns Of 'Addictive Eyeballs,' Shrinking Attention Spans

Meta Platforms Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has announced a ban on political, electoral, and social issue advertising in the European Union (EU) due to the &#8220;unworkable requirements&#8221; of the new rules.



What Happened: Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, as well as messaging app WhatsApp, is set to implement the ban from October, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250725-meta-to-ban-political-ads-in-eu-due-to-bloc-s-unworkable-rules">reported</a> AFP. The new EU regulations, known as the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA), are aimed at enhancing transparency in online advertising following the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal.



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



Meta CEO&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg&nbsp;has been vocal about his discontent with the EU&#8217;s regulations, previously accusing the EU of &#8220;censorship&#8221; and equating fines to tariffs. The company is currently facing a 200-million-euro ($235-million) fine for violating personal data rules on Facebook and Instagram, with the possibility of additional daily penalties if changes are not made.



Meta is not alone in this move. Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) last year also revealed plans to block&nbsp;political advertising in the EU&nbsp;from October 2025 due to similar challenges and legal uncertainties.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46650830/donald-trump-announces-15-tariff-trade-agreement-with-eu-ending-months-of-trade-uncertainty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump Announces 15% Tariff Trade Agreement With EU, Ending Months Of Trade Uncertainty</a>



Why It Matters: This decision by Meta comes amid a series of regulatory challenges faced by the company in the EU. Earlier in July,&nbsp;Meta, along with other tech giants, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46536032/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-and-elon-musks-x-fight-back-against-efforts-by-italy-to-tax-free-access-to-social-media-in-exchange-for-users-personal-data">fought back</a> against a tax case in Italy&nbsp;that could alter how digital services are taxed across the EU. 



Additionally, WhatsApp, owned by Meta, was warned of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46492350/russian-lawmaker-says-whatsapp-should-prepare-to-leave-amid-push-for-state-backed-messaging-app">potential exit </a>from the Russian market due to national security concerns. These instances highlight the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by Meta in the region.



Furthermore, the EU&#8217;s stringent regulations have not only affected Meta but also other tech companies. For instance,&nbsp;Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) was expected to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46565660/apple-set-to-dodge-over-50-million-in-daily-eu-fines-with-app-store-overhaul-opening-door-to-cheaper-developer-payments-report">dodge daily </a>EU fines&nbsp;by accepting changes to its App Store rules and fees. This growing regulatory pressure on tech companies in the EU could potentially reshape the digital landscape in the region.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="787" height="138" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1002946" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424.png 787w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424-300x53.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424-768x135.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 787px) 100vw, 787px" /></figure>



Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Rankings place Amazon in the 90th percentile for quality and the 93rd percentile for growth, reflecting strong performance in both areas. Check the detailed report&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.&nbsp;



READ MORE:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46647034/mark-zuckerberg-names-openai-veteran-shengjia-zhao-as-chief-scientist-of-meta-superintelligence-labs">Mark Zuckerberg Names OpenAI Veteran Shengjia Zhao As Chief Scientist Of Meta Superintelligence Labs </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.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Shuts Down EU Political Ads On Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp — Calls New Rules 'Unworkable'

Wall Street closed the week higher, with tech-heavy indices notching fresh records as upbeat corporate earnings, resilient macro data and breakthrough trade deals converged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">to boost risk appetite.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>SPY ETF has rallied 5% over the past month.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY"> See the chart here. </a></li>
</ul>



The U.S. finalized new trade agreements with Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. The Tokyo deal was the most significant, locking in a reduction in tariffs on Japanese autos and goods from 25% to 15%, while Japan pledged $550 billion in investment and improved access <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46587245/japan-bond-yields-trump-trade-deal">to American-made goods.</a>



A U.S.-EU trade deal is now reportedly close, expected to align with the Japan framework and potentially ease existing tariff rates ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline.



Separately, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to boost the U.S. artificial intelligence sector by promoting the export of full-stack AI systems to trusted global partners. The White House said the move is aimed at strengthening economic leadership and national security.



Among the week's strongest performers, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>) rallied over 12%, topping the leaderboard for large-cap stocks, followed by T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), up 9%.



Within the Magnificent Seven, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) rose by 1% after delivering better-than-expected results and raising its 2025 capital expenditures (capex) outlook by $10 billion, reinforcing its commitment to scaling AI infrastructure.



Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) dropped 8.2% following cautious commentary from CEO Elon Musk, who warned that upcoming quarters could prove challenging amid rising <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46626447/elon-musk-says-20-trillion-valuation-possible-for-tesla-even-as-second-quarter-earnings-show-sales-revenue-decline-extreme-execution-is-needed">costs and margin pressures.</a>



Economic indicators added fuel to the rally. U.S. business activity surprised to the upside, with the Composite Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index climbing to a seven-month high in July, helped by expansion in services and steady consumer strength.



Trump's push to influence monetary policy continued with an unannounced visit to the Federal Reserve's headquarters in Washington, D.C. — the first by a sitting president <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46633129/trumps-fed-visit-powell-interest-rates">in nearly 20 years.</a>



Wearing a hard hat alongside Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Trump criticized the central bank's renovation project, claiming costs had surged to $3.1 billion. Powell countered on the spot, clarifying that the real cost is closer to $2.5 billion, excluding unrelated construction.



Pressed on rate policy, Trump said, "I'd love to see him lower interest rates."



Markets now shift focus to the July 30 Fed meeting, where expectations remain anchored for a hold — but not without growing political heat.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46641084/wall-street-stock-bubble-2025">Is A Stock Market Crash Imminent? Bubble Warnings Grow Louder</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

TMUS

Trade Deals Fuel Wall Street Gains, Trump Renews Fed Attack: This Week In Markets

The Symbol RBT was not found. Here are some similar symbols and popular symbols to consider.

Symbol Similar to: RBT

Top Gaining Stocks

Notizie

PARTNER/COLLABORATORE

BENZINGA NEL MONDO