The U.S. stock market opened Friday, July 25, 2025, with major indexes showing modest gains, continuing a trend that has seen the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite hover near record highs. Investors are navigating a landscape shaped by a busy earnings season, ongoing trade negotiations, and anticipation for next week's Federal Reserve policy meeting.
Market Indexes Opening Performance
As trading commenced this Friday, the S&P 500 (SPX) edged up by 0.1% in early trading, building on its recent all-time high. The broad market index is currently on track to secure its fourth winning week out of the last five, reflecting sustained investor confidence. On Thursday, the S&P 500 closed at 6,363.35, marking its 13th closing high this year and reaching a new intraday high of 6,381.31.
Similarly, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), heavily weighted towards technology stocks, also saw a 0.1% increase at the open, maintaining its position near the record high achieved in the previous session. The Nasdaq closed Thursday at a record 21,057.96, up 0.2%, and hit a new intraday peak of 21,113.10. The strength in the tech sector, particularly from AI-related companies, has been a significant driver for the Nasdaq's performance.
In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) opened up 82 points this morning, attempting to recover some ground after a decline in the prior session. The Dow fell 0.7% on Thursday, closing at 44,693.91, pressured by a mixed bag of corporate earnings. Despite this, major indexes are broadly looking to post weekly gains, underscoring a generally positive sentiment in the market.
Upcoming Market Events
The coming days and the next week are packed with crucial events that could significantly influence market direction. The peak of the second-quarter earnings season is rapidly approaching, with over 100 companies within the S&P 500 scheduled to release their latest results next week.
Today, several companies reported earnings before the opening bell. Notable reports include:
- Eni (E) and NatWest Group (NWG) are expected to report their quarterly earnings.
- HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, with analysts forecasting a 12.55% increase in earnings per share compared to last year.
- Phillips 66 (PSX) posted a significant earnings beat, with reported earnings per share of $2.38, a 43.37% positive surprise, and revenues of $33.52 billion, surpassing expectations by 9.75%.
- Lear Corporation (LEA) reported second-quarter 2025 results, with sales remaining flat year-over-year at $6.0 billion and net income at $165 million.
- Wabash (WNC) announced Q2 2025 revenue of $459 million, exceeding the midpoint of its outlook, but reduced its full-year revenue and adjusted EPS guidance due to a challenging market environment.
- Centene (CNC) saw its stock plummet after reporting a surprise quarterly loss, impacting the health insurance industry.
Looking ahead, W&T Offshore, Inc. (WTI) announced its second-quarter 2025 earnings release for Monday, August 4, 2025, with a conference call scheduled for August 5. Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (MLCO) and Turtle Beach Corporation (TBCH) also announced their Q2 2025 earnings release dates for early August.
On the economic data front, the Advance Durable Goods report was released this morning, showing a -9.3% change for June, which was better than the projected -11.1%. Excluding transportation, the figure turned positive at +0.2%. Next week will also bring key job market reports, which are closely watched indicators for the health of the economy.
A significant policy event on the horizon is the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week, with an interest rate decision expected on Wednesday. The market will be keenly observing any signals regarding future monetary policy, especially amid ongoing pressure from President Trump to lower benchmark borrowing rates.
Furthermore, the August 1st deadline for President Trump's proposed tariffs looms large. There is optimism surrounding global trade negotiations, with reports indicating that the U.S. and the European Union are nearing an agreement to set a 15% tariff on most European imports, a reduction from an earlier threat of 30%.
Major Stock News
Several individual stocks are making headlines today due to their latest corporate announcements and earnings results:
Alphabet (GOOGL), the parent company of Google, saw its shares climb after delivering a better-than-expected profit for the latest quarter. The tech giant also announced an increased budget for artificial intelligence (AI) chips and other investments, committing an additional $10 billion to reach $85 billion this year, which provided a boost to other AI-related stocks like Nvidia (NVDA).
In contrast, Intel (INTC) shares plunged significantly, down approximately 9% in premarket trading, after the chipmaker reported a surprise loss for the latest quarter, defying analysts' expectations for a profit. The company also outlined plans to reduce its "core" workforce by nearly one-quarter as part of its restructuring efforts.
Tesla (TSLA) experienced a steep decline in its stock price, falling between 8.2% and 9%, despite its second-quarter earnings being roughly in line with or slightly above analysts' expectations. CEO Elon Musk's warning of "rough quarters" ahead, attributed to reduced electric vehicle (EV) incentives and softening demand in Europe, weighed heavily on investor sentiment.
On a positive note, Deckers Outdoor (DECK), the company behind popular footwear brands Ugg and Hoka, saw its shares soar by over 13% to 16.6%. This surge followed the release of stronger-than-expected profit and revenue figures for the spring quarter, with particularly robust growth observed outside the United States.
Miner Newmont (NEM) also reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, benefiting from rising gold prices. The company further announced a new $3 billion share buyback authorization.
In other corporate news, U.S. regulators have cleared Paramount's (PARA) merger with Skydance Media. NatWest Group (NWG) raised its outlook and initiated a share buyback program after a strong quarter. Charles Schwab (SCHW) authorized a new $20 billion stock repurchase plan, with its shares touching an all-time high, reflecting strong business momentum. Additionally, regional banks Pinnacle Financial (PNFP) and Synovus Financial (SNV) announced an $8.6 billion merger agreement. Finally, Indivior PLC (INDV) completed the cancellation of its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange, maintaining its primary listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The overall market remains in a consolidation phase, with a cautiously optimistic undertone as the earnings season continues to unfold. While speculative trading is booming, some analysts suggest this could become a headwind for the S&P 500. Investors will be closely watching the upcoming economic data, the Federal Reserve's decision, and developments in trade negotiations for further cues on market direction.
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.