Markets Find Equilibrium as Oil Prices Retreat from Peak

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 235.60 points to 51,947.25, while the S&P 500 managed a modest gain of 0.05%. Conversely, the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.64% as tech stocks struggled under broader market pressure. Brent crude tumbled 3.9% to $96.78, easing the strain on bond yields that had spiked earlier in the week. Despite President Trump’s rhetoric regarding potential military action, traders opted to lock in profits, tempering the recent rally in energy costs.

Corporate performance remained mixed. Intel shares dropped 7.9% despite beating revenue estimates, highlighting investor sensitivity to the ongoing tech sector correction. SAP bucked the trend, jumping 9.3% on strong cloud revenue, while Bank of America shares rose following a 14% dividend hike. Meanwhile, economic indicators showed resilience: July’s S&P Global Flash Composite PMI reached an eight-month high of 53.6, fueled by service sector demand tied to the FIFA World Cup and the USA 250th anniversary celebrations. With the Federal Reserve meeting and earnings reports from major tech giants like Apple and Microsoft on the horizon, markets remain braced for further data-driven shifts.