Key Takeaways
- US New Home Sales unexpectedly rose 1.6% in June to a 628,000 annual rate, surpassing economist estimates of 607,000.
- NATO forces successfully downed a drone in Romanian airspace for the first time, marking a significant escalation in regional air policing.
- SLB (SLB) reported Q2 revenue of $8.97 billion, beating expectations and projecting 3%-4% Q3 growth driven by a massive 80% surge in data center solutions.
- Kuwait activated air defenses to intercept "hostile" Iranian drone threats targeting military bases, including the Ali Al-Salem air base.
- President Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday to discuss regional security and Iran.
Global Security and Defense Escalations
Geopolitical instability intensified Friday as NATO confirmed that Allied fighter jets—including Romanian F-16s and Italian Eurofighters—shot down a drone in Romanian airspace. This marks the first time the alliance has intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Romanian territory since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Romanian officials identified the craft as a Shahed-type drone, typically utilized by Russian forces, which was neutralized over an uninhabited area in Buzău County.
Simultaneously, the Middle East faced renewed volatility as Kuwait's Ministry of Defense reported its air defenses were intercepting "hostile" targets launched from Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for strikes targeting U.S. and Kuwaiti assets at the Ali Al-Salem air base and Al-Adiri camp. These developments come as the U.S. Treasury imposed fresh sanctions on four individuals and nine companies linked to Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, targeting a network used to evade international sanctions and fund the IRGC.
Economic Indicators: Housing and Trade
The U.S. housing market showed surprising resilience in June, with New Home Sales reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 628,000. While this represents a 1.6% increase from May's revised figures, the median sales price fell 2.7% year-over-year to $398,300, suggesting that builders are using price concessions to maintain sales volume amid elevated mortgage rates. Inventory remains a concern, with a 9.3-month supply currently on the market.
In North American trade, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the primary focus of the upcoming USMCA revision will be rules of origin. Sheinbaum downplayed the impact of new U.S. tariffs, asserting that Mexico is working to secure exemptions for treaty-compliant products. This follows President Trump’s decision not to renew the pact for its full 16-year term, instead triggering a cycle of annual reviews that has kept trade officials in Washington and Mexico City in constant negotiation.
Corporate Earnings and Energy Sector
Energy services giant SLB (SLB) outperformed Wall Street expectations in its second-quarter results, posting adjusted earnings of $0.55 per share. The company’s pivot toward digital infrastructure was evident as Data Center Solutions revenue skyrocketed 80% year-over-year. SLB (SLB) also announced a strategic alliance with Liberty Energy (LBRT) to expand its role in providing power and cooling solutions for the rapidly growing global data center market.
Looking ahead to the third quarter, SLB (SLB) expects Adjusted EBITDA margins to expand by approximately 75 basis points. Management noted that while Middle East activity remains a variable due to regional conflict, strong offshore demand in Latin America and Asia is offsetting local weaknesses. The company is increasingly positioning itself as a critical player in the AI-driven energy demand cycle, leveraging its core engineering expertise for non-traditional industrial applications.
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.