{"id":64823,"date":"2026-07-15T06:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/u-s-launches-wave-of-strikes-against-iran-blackrock-and-elevance-post-earnings-beats\/64823\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T06:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:38:15","slug":"u-s-launches-wave-of-strikes-against-iran-blackrock-and-elevance-post-earnings-beats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/u-s-launches-wave-of-strikes-against-iran-blackrock-and-elevance-post-earnings-beats\/64823\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Launches Wave of Strikes Against Iran; BlackRock and Elevance Post Earnings Beats"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)<\/strong> launched a major wave of precision strikes against <strong>Iranian military targets<\/strong> to degrade capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BlackRock (<a href=\"\/stock\/BLK\">BLK<\/a>)<\/strong> reported record assets under management (AUM) of <strong>$15.34 trillion<\/strong>, fueled by <strong>$191.7 billion<\/strong> in quarterly net inflows that significantly outpaced analyst estimates.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Elevance Health (<a href=\"\/stock\/ELV\">ELV<\/a>)<\/strong> raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to <strong>$27.00<\/strong> after posting a strong Q2 beat with an adjusted EPS of <strong>$7.45<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Citigroup<\/strong> lowered its price target for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/MSFT\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"Stock: MSFT\">Microsoft<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/MSFT\">MSFT<\/a>)<\/strong> to <strong>$570<\/strong> from <strong>$620<\/strong>, though it maintained a &quot;Buy&quot; rating ahead of the tech giant&#39;s upcoming fiscal year-end results.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shabana Mahmood<\/strong> has emerged as the frontrunner for <strong>UK Chancellor of the Exchequer<\/strong> under the expected incoming administration of <strong>Andy Burnham<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Geopolitical Escalation in the Middle East<\/h2>\n<p>At <strong>6 a.m. ET today<\/strong>, U.S. Central Command forces initiated a significant wave of strikes against <strong>Iran<\/strong>. The operation targeted missile and drone sites, naval assets, and coastal defense systems used by Iranian forces to threaten international commerce in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This military action follows a series of attacks on commercial vessels and a resumed naval blockade. <strong>Iran<\/strong> has responded by threatening to halt all regional energy exports, further driving up global crude <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">oil prices<\/a> as the conflict enters a critical new phase.<\/p>\n<h2>Financial Sector: BlackRock Hits New Milestone<\/h2>\n<p><strong>BlackRock (<a href=\"\/stock\/BLK\">BLK<\/a>)<\/strong> dominated morning financial news by reporting a massive <strong>$15.34 trillion<\/strong> in AUM for Q2 2026. The firm\u2019s adjusted EPS of <strong>$13.91<\/strong> crushed the consensus estimate of <strong>$12.66<\/strong>, supported by <strong>$7.08 billion<\/strong> in revenue.<\/p>\n<p>The asset manager saw <strong>$191.70 billion<\/strong> in net inflows during the quarter, driven by strong demand for ETFs and private market strategies. In response to the robust performance, the company announced it is raising its quarterly share repurchases to <strong>$550 million<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Healthcare: Elevance Health Raises Outlook<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Elevance Health (<a href=\"\/stock\/ELV\">ELV<\/a>)<\/strong> reported Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of <strong>$7.45<\/strong>, comfortably beating the <strong>$6.21<\/strong> expected by Wall Street. Despite a benefit expense ratio of <strong>89.7%<\/strong>, the company\u2019s diversified portfolio and <strong>Carelon<\/strong> health services unit drove strong operational gains.<\/p>\n<p>Management expressed high confidence in their trajectory by raising the full-year adjusted EPS outlook to <strong>$27.00<\/strong>. The company also declared a Q3 dividend of <strong>$1.72 per share<\/strong>, reflecting a stable cash flow position despite broader market volatility.<\/p>\n<h2>Tech and Global Politics<\/h2>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/MSFT\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"Stock: MSFT\">Microsoft<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/MSFT\">MSFT<\/a>)<\/strong> faced a price target cut from <strong>Citigroup<\/strong>, with analysts lowering their outlook to <strong>$570<\/strong>. The adjustment comes as the market recalibrates valuations for mega-cap tech firms amid massive AI-related capital expenditures and a shifting interest rate environment.<\/p>\n<p>In the United Kingdom, <strong>Shabana Mahmood<\/strong> is reportedly leading the race to become the next <strong>Chancellor<\/strong>. Sources indicate she is prepared to transition from the <strong>Home Office<\/strong> to the <strong>Treasury<\/strong> as part of a leadership reshuffle under <strong>Andy Burnham<\/strong>, who is expected to succeed <strong>Keir Starmer<\/strong> following a period of party instability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a major wave of precision strikes against Iranian military targets to degrade capabilities 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