Key Takeaways
- President Trump signaled a preference for a deal with Iran while maintaining that the nation "can never have a nuclear weapon," contributing to a complex geopolitical outlook.
- The Nasdaq 100 climbed 1.5% to a session high following a mix of U.S. economic data and corporate restructuring news, including major layoffs at Microsoft.
- U.S. ISM Services PMI fell to 54.0 in June, meeting analyst expectations but showing a slight decline from the previous month's 54.5 reading.
- Microsoft (MSFT) announced it is cutting approximately 4,800 roles, representing 2.1% of its global workforce, as part of a major restructuring of its Xbox gaming division.
- Germany announced a historic shift in defense policy, planning to borrow €800 billion for rearmament to meet rising NATO security demands.
President Trump dominated the morning news cycle with a series of wide-ranging comments on foreign policy and domestic industry. Regarding Iran, Trump stated he would "rather make a deal" but warned that the U.S. would either reach an agreement or "finish the job," while clarifying he is not seeking regime change. He also noted positive developments in talks regarding the war in Ukraine, mentioning a "very good call" and plans to discuss the conflict further with NATO allies.
On the economic front, the Nasdaq 100 extended its gains to 1.5%, reaching a session high as investors processed fresh economic data. Trump praised the stock market's performance during his second term, predicting that the "market is going to go through the roof." He specifically lauded companies like Micron Technology (MU) and Dell Technologies (DELL), while suggesting that the NYSE and Nasdaq could cooperate on future initiatives.
The U.S. services sector showed signs of cooling as the ISM Services Index for June landed at 54.0, down from May's 54.5. While the headline figure met estimates, the Prices Paid component remained elevated at 67.7, and New Orders slowed to 55.1. Conversely, the employment sub-index saw a surprise jump to 51.2, up from 47.9 in the previous month, suggesting resilience in labor demand within the service industry.
In the corporate sector, Microsoft (MSFT) confirmed it is eliminating roughly 4,800 roles globally. The tech giant is specifically restructuring its gaming business, with four studios moving under new management. The company stated these roles are not being replaced by AI but are part of a broader effort to position the Xbox business for long-term success.
Geopolitical tensions in Europe remained a focal point as a Russian oil refinery in Omsk was reportedly hit by a drone attack. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Ukraine requires continued support, particularly in air defense, and noted that European allies are now investing roughly 4% of their GDP into defense. Germany's move to borrow €800 billion for rearmament underscores a massive shift in European security spending.
In energy and commodities, Saudi Aramco set its August Arab Light crude oil OSP for the U.S. at plus $4.6/bbl over the ASCI benchmark. Meanwhile, in the crypto space, Strategy Shares saw its stock fall 4.1% premarket after revealing the sale of 3,588 Bitcoin and a staggering $8.32 billion loss on digital assets for the second quarter.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.