The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up 301.38 (0.58%) points today, reaching a level of 52,509.44. This upward momentum was mirrored in the derivatives market, where Dow Futures (YM=F) was up 254.00 (0.48%) points. The primary narrative driving the market on this Friday, July 31st, 2026, centered on a robust industrial sector rebound and cooling inflation data, which bolstered investor confidence in a potential "soft landing" for the U.S. economy.
Leading the blue-chip index higher was 3M (MMM), which was up 3.70% at $148.62 following a positive earnings surprise and improved forward guidance. The technology sector also provided significant support, with Nvidia (NVDA) up 1.77% to $225.01 and Cisco Systems (CSCO) up 1.33% at $100.48. Healthcare giants also contributed to the gains, as Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) was up 1.61% and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) was up 1.00% to $399.64.
Conversely, the market faced headwinds from the retail and enterprise software sectors. IBM (IBM) was down 2.42% at $213.40, making it the day's steepest decliner within the Dow. Consumer-facing stocks also struggled, with Home Depot (HD) down 2.14% at $303.85 and Salesforce (CRM) down 1.64%. Financials showed mixed results as American Express (AXP) was down 1.27% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) was down 1.12%, reflecting cautious sentiment regarding long-term interest rate trajectories despite the broader index's daily gain.
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.