U.S. stock markets opened the week with a continuation of their recent upward trend on Monday, July 28, 2025, largely driven by easing trade tensions and sustained optimism around corporate earnings and economic data. Major indexes saw mixed but generally positive movements, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite once again reaching new record highs. This performance sets the stage for an exceptionally busy week ahead, packed with crucial economic reports, central bank decisions, and a flurry of earnings announcements from some of the nation's largest companies.
Today's Market Performance Recap
The broad-based S&P 500 Index edged up by less than 0.1%, gaining 1.13 points to close at 6,389.77. This marks its sixth consecutive record close, reflecting persistent investor confidence. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) also continued its impressive run, adding 0.3% (70.27 points) to reach 21,178.58, securing its 16th record close of 2025 and 10th in the last 11 trading days. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) experienced a slight dip, falling 0.1% (64.36 points) to settle at 44,837.56, though it remains less than 0.5% away from its December record high. The Russell 2000 Index (RUT), which tracks smaller companies, saw a modest decline of 0.2% to 2,256.73.
The positive sentiment was significantly bolstered by the announcement over the weekend that the United States and the European Union had reached a trade agreement. This deal will see most imports from the 27-country bloc face a 15% tariff, a substantial reduction from the 30% rate previously threatened by President Donald Trump's administration. Furthermore, the EU has committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of energy from the U.S., alongside an unspecified amount of military equipment. This agreement, coupled with rumors of a potential 90-day extension on reciprocal tariffs against China, has eased investor concerns about global trade disputes. Last week also saw the finalization of a comprehensive trade deal between the U.S. and Japan, which reduced tariffs on Japanese imports to 15% and opened Japanese markets to American autos and agricultural products, with Japan committing $550 billion in U.S. investments.
Upcoming Market Events to Watch
The week ahead is poised to be exceptionally active, with a series of high-impact events that could significantly influence market direction. Investors will be closely monitoring:
- Corporate Earnings Bonanza: This is the busiest week of the quarter for earnings reports. Key technology giants are scheduled to release their quarterly results, including Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) on Wednesday, followed by Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) on Thursday. Over 150 S&P 500 companies are expected to report this week, providing crucial insights into corporate health and future outlooks.
- Federal Reserve Meeting: The Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting concludes on Wednesday. While interest rates are widely expected to remain steady in the 4.25%-4.50% range, market participants will be scrutinizing the Fed's statement for any hints regarding potential future rate cuts or changes in monetary policy.
- Key Economic Data: Several vital economic indicators are slated for release. On Wednesday, the preliminary estimate for second-quarter U.S. GDP will be announced. Thursday will bring the June Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, a key inflation reading closely watched by the Fed. The week will conclude with the highly anticipated July jobs report, including Nonfarm Payrolls, on Friday. Other notable releases include the Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index (Monday) and JOLTS Job Openings (Tuesday).
Major Stock News and After-Hours Earnings
Several individual stocks made headlines today. Electric vehicle pioneer Tesla (TSLA) saw a notable 3% gain after announcing a significant $16 billion deal with South Korea's Samsung to procure its next-generation AI chips. Chipmakers Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO) also performed strongly, climbing nearly 2% and 1.4% respectively. Other "Magnificent Seven" stocks like Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta Platforms (META) also advanced, while Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet (GOOGL) ticked slightly lower.
Sportswear giant Nike (NKE) surged approximately 4% following an upgrade from analysts at JPMorgan. Server manufacturer Super Micro Computer (SMCI) jumped 10%, leading the S&P 500 advancers, while Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) climbed over 4% on reports of a price increase for its Instinct MI350 AI chips. Oil sector stocks, including Diamondback Energy (FANG), Devon Energy (DVN), Exxon Mobil (XOM), and Chevron (CVX), also saw gains as crude oil prices rose amid optimism surrounding the EU's planned energy investments. Conversely, UnitedHealth (UNH) was the biggest decliner in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, having lost approximately 45% of its value year-to-date. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) also garnered attention with the unveiling of new AI glasses.
Following the market close on Monday, July 28, 2025, several companies reported their quarterly earnings. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) announced a 3% increase in net income attributable to common unitholders, reaching $0.66 per common unit for the second quarter of 2025, with distributable cash flow rising 7%. Other companies reporting after hours included Welltower Inc. (WELL), Waste Management, Inc. (WM), Cadence Design Systems (CDNS), Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG), Nucor Corporation (NUE), Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO), Veralto Corp. (VLTO), Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF), Celestica, Inc. (CLS), Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG), Woodward, Inc. (WWD), Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL, and Dyne Therapeutics (DYN). These reports will be closely analyzed as the market moves into Tuesday's trading session, providing further insights into the corporate landscape.
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.