Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held firm on monetary policy, calling the central bank's current stance &#8220;modestly restrictive&#8221; and reiterating that no decision has been made about a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">rate cut in September.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The SPY ETF is moving fast. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY">See real-time price here.</a></li>
</ul>



On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.50% as expected, yet two members broke ranks to support a rate cut, marking the most divided Fed meeting in over three decades.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Powell Doesn&#8217;t Concede On September Rate Cut</h3>



Speaking after the July Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Powell said inflation remains "a bit above 2%," even when excluding the recent tariff-driven spike in goods prices. 



Despite softening in some economic indicators, Powell emphasized that policy must remain tight enough to prevent those price increases from becoming embedded.



Markets and the Trump administration have been pressuring the Fed to begin cutting interest rates this fall. But Powell resisted those calls, stressing that two more rounds of jobs and inflation data will arrive before the next meeting.



"We have made no decisions about September," he said. "We don't do that in advance."



Powell explained that the Fed is trying to time its next move efficiently: "If we move too soon, we may not finish the job on inflation. If we move too late, we risk unnecessary damage to the labor market."



Asked whether current data would justify a cut in September if trends hold steady, Powell declined to answer directly. "We're going to need to see the data," he said. "It can go in many different directions."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tariff Effects Are Real—But Still Evolving</h3>



Powell acknowledged that higher tariffs, particularly those imposed earlier this year, are beginning to filter through to consumer prices. The Fed estimates that around $30 billion in tariff revenue is being collected monthly, much of which is now appearing in goods inflation. Powell cited the June Consumer Price Index report as evidence.



"Companies feel that they have every intention of putting this through to the consumer," Powell said. "But they may not be able to in many cases."



While he called it a "reasonable base case" that these price increases are a one-time shift, Powell warned that the inflationary impact could still prove more persistent—a risk the Fed is monitoring closely.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Labor Market Holding, But Under Pressure</h3>



Despite ongoing strength in headline numbers, Powell admitted the labor market is "in balance" largely because both labor demand and supply are slowing in tandem. Private-sector job creation has decelerated in recent months, though unemployment remains low at 4.1%.



"There are downside risks to the labor market," Powell said. "It's worth paying close attention."



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Stocks Fall, Dollar Rallies, Copper Suffer Historic Fall</h3>



Markets swung lower as Powell struck a cautious tone on interest rates, dashing hopes for a near-term cut. Wall Street&#8217;s rate-cut bets for September fell to 45%, down from 68% immediately after the Fed's July policy statement.



The S&amp;P 500 declined 0.5%, on pace for its third straight loss—its longest losing streak since late April. Small caps, which are more sensitive to interest rates, underperformed, with the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) down 1%.



The U.S. dollar index surged 1%, extending its rally to five consecutive sessions, the strongest five-day gain since mid-2022, as traders unwound short positions.



Copper markets saw unprecedented volatility. Prices plunged 19.4%, marking the steepest one-day drop since the metal began trading on financial markets in 1988. The selloff followed President Donald Trump's tariff adjustments, which excluded refined copper, prompting a reversal of pre-tariff hoarding strategies.



The updated tariff plan will apply to semi-finished copper goods, such as wires and pipes, but will exclude ore, cathodes, and concentrates, which account for the majority of U.S. copper imports. Traders had been front-loading shipments ahead of Friday's 50% levy, fueling a rapid unwind.



Other metals also suffered losses. Gold fell 1.6% to $3,272 an ounce, hitting a one-month low. Silver dropped 3.4% to $36.85, while platinum sank 7.4% to $1,290.



Crypto followed suit: Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) lost 1.7% to $116,000 and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) dipped 2% to $3,719.



Copper On A Free Fall After Trump&#8217;s Tariff Correction



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="560" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/30153814/image-491-1024x560.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1007837" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/30153814/image-491-1024x560.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/30153814/image-491-300x164.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/30153814/image-491-768x420.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/30153814/image-491-1536x840.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/30153814/image-491-2048x1120.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46730519/exxon-chevron-could-be-wall-streets-best-kept-secrets-this-quarter">Exxon, Chevron Could Be Wall Street&#8217;s Best-Kept Secrets This Quarter </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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Powell Puts Breaks On September Rate Cut—And Trump Triggers A Metal Market Crash

Technology giant Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) reported fourth-quarter financial results<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings"> after market close Wednesday.</a>



Here are the key highlights.



What Happened: Microsoft reported fourth-quarter revenue of $76.44 billion, up 17% year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $73.80 billion according to data from Benzinga Pro.



The company reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $3.65, beating a Street consensus estimate of $3.37.



Here's a look at Microsoft's revenue by reporting segment:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Productivity and Business Processes: $33.1 billion, +16% year-over-year</li>



<li>Intelligent Cloud: $29.9 billion, +26% year-over-year</li>



<li>More Personal Computing: $13.5 billion, +9% year-over-year</li>
</ul>



The company reported that Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud revenue increased by 18% year-over-year. Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue was up 20% year-over-year in the quarter.



Within the Intelligent Cloud segment, revenue from Azure and other cloud services increased by 39% year-over-year.



Xbox content and services revenue was up 13% year-over-year in the quarter.



Overall cloud revenue was $46.7 billion in the quarter, representing a 27% year-over-year increase across various segments.



The company's full fiscal year revenue was $281.7 billion, up 15% year-over-year. Full-year earnings per share were $13.64, up 16% year-over-year.



"Cloud and AI is the driving force of the business transformation across every industry and sector," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said. "We're innovating across the tech stack to help customers adapt and grow in this new era."



Nadella said Azure surpassed the $75 billion revenue milestone for the full fiscal year, representing a 34% year-over-year increase.



The company will provide an update on guidance during its earnings call, which can be viewed below.



MSFT Price Action: Microsoft stock is up 7.2% to $550.01 in after-hours trading versus a 52-week trading range of $344.79 to $518.29.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46678233/satya-nadella-touts-copilot-mode-in-edge-can-microsoft-finally-leverage-ai-to-snag-browser-dominance-from-google-chrome">Satya Nadella Touts Copilot Mode In Edge, Can Microsoft Finally Leverage AI To Snag Browser Dominance From Google Chrome?</a></li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Microsoft Earnings Call Q4 2025 &#x7C; $MSFT &#x7C; &#x1f534; WATCH LIVE" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/49kmWquV4Fk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Photo: Shutterstock

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Microsoft Q4 Earnings Highlights: Double Beat, CEO Says 'Cloud And AI Is The Driving Force'

Artificial intelligence may be making more headlines in the financial media than in the technology press – and for good reason.



Take natural gas stocks, which are capturing the attention of big whale investors primarily because of AI-fueled demand from power technology data centers, where natural gas, the cleanest of all fossil fuels, is expected to play a significant role.



That could mean big business for natural gas players, who have already pushed the S&amp;P GSCI Natural Gas Index up 54% over the past year.&nbsp;



Growth has slowed somewhat in 2025 due to lower European Union imports, tepid growth in the liquified natural gas (LNG) sector and storage injection issues in the EU and Asia. Still, the AI infusion is expected to ignite a surge in the natural gas sector in the second half of 2025, particularly in 2026.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Get Access To The Leaderboards That Reveal Tomorrow's Top Stocks</h2>



Updated daily, Benzinga's Top Stock Leaderboards highlight our best buys right now. Spot breakout opportunities before the crowd catches on—without the noise. Get access now and start using the same research trusted by hedge funds, analysts, and serious traders. Get started <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?">HERE</a>.



"The rapid growth of AI and the construction of new AI-driven data centers are dramatically increasing electricity demand," said Christian Harris, financial analyst at the UK-based Investing.co, which is a trading and investment tutorial platform. "The IEA projects electricity demand from data centers to more than double by 2030, with renewable and natural gas leading the new capacity mix due to their cost and dispatchability."



The link to natural gas stems from data centers being energy-intensive and needing around-the-clock, reliable power. "That's something natural gas provides exceptionally well, given its ability to ramp up quickly and supply steady power," Harris said.



While renewables and nuclear energy are on the rise, natural gas remains the immediate go-to, as it's more readily available and scalable. Harris expects this trend to continue for the next several years, "with natural gas prices seeing moderate upward pressure as a result, particularly in the U.S., where infrastructure is strong." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Three Natural Gas Stocks For The AI Revolution</h2>



With the rising demand for energy resources like natural gas in data centers, which sector is likely to gain the most significant benefits? Here's a short list.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">GE Vernova</h3>



GE Vernova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>) stands out for its leadership in natural gas power infrastructure, which is essential for data centers. Vernova shares are already outperforming (up 98% year-to-date). The stock is priced at a hefty $652, but with plenty of room for growth.



A case in point: the energy transition company reported second-quarter earnings per share of $1.86, beating the consensus estimate of $1.69. Revenue came in at $9.11 billion, exceeding Wall Street's expectations of $8.78 billion,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46608274/ge-vernova-analysts-increase-their-forecasts-after-better-than-expected-q2-ear?utm_source=MarketWatch"> Benzinga reported</a>.



&#8220;We had a productive second quarter, positioning us well to accelerate growth and margin expansion,&#8221; said CEO Scott Strazik. &#8220;We grew our backlog by more than $5 billion and increased Gas Power slot reservation agreements from 50 to 55 gigawatts.&#8221;



Analysts are bullish on the stock for the long haul, with Baird analyst Ben Kallo recently issuing an Outperform rating while raising the price target from $568 to $706. Meanwhile, Susquehanna analyst Charles Minervino maintained the stock with a Positive rating and hiked the price target from $662 to $736.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">EQT Corp.</h3>



Rob Thummel, managing director and senior portfolio manager at Tortoise Capital, calls the Pittsburgh-based EQT Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQT#NYSE">EQT</a>) one of the lowest-cost producers of natural gas in the U.S. He says the company has a great management team that has positioned it for future growth.



"Last week, EQT announced an agreement to supply natural gas to the largest natural gas-powered data center campus in Homer City, Pa.," Thummel said. "Ironically, the Homer City data campus in Pennsylvania used to be a coal-fired power plant that is being redeveloped into a natural gas-powered data center campus."



The stock is up 16% year-to-date, while both JP Morgan and Wells Fargo have recently issued Buy calls on EQT shares. Morgan Stanley made the same call, with a $69 price target. The stock is currently trading at $53 per share.



EQT is also seeing some significant whale activity, with Stanley Druckenmiller‘s Duquesne Family Office LLC recently taking a new position in the stock,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/hedge-funds/25/07/46386374/stanley-druckenmillers-duquesne-dumps-palantir-bets-big-on-this-dividend-play-which-has-surged-nearly-50-in-2025"> Benzinga reported</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Williams Companies</h3>



Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMB#NYSE">WMB</a>) operates one of the largest natural gas pipeline infrastructure networks in the U.S.



"Pipelines operate with large economic moats," Thummel said. &#8220;WMB is no different, offering investors an above-average dividend yield of 3.5% with dividend growth expectations of 6%-plus."



Williams&#8217; cash flows should also rise as its fee-based pipelines will benefit from higher natural gas volumes.&nbsp;



"Additionally, Williams is building natural gas-powered generation infrastructure to support a data center campus in New Albany, Ohio, Thummel noted. "This electricity generation facility is behind the meter, meaning that it's not connected to the electrical grid; instead, it supplies all electricity generated directly to the data center campus." 



Williams has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 10.98% on an annualized basis, producing an average annual return of 25.21%, as<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/25/07/46545771/heres-how-much-you-would-have-made-owning-williams-companies-stock-in-the-last-5-years?utm_source=MarketWatch&amp;utm_campaign=partner_feed&amp;utm_medium=partner_feed&amp;utm_content=site&amp;mod=mw_quote_news"> reported by Benzinga</a>.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

3 Natural Gas Stocks That Are Booming Because Of AI

Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is once again in the limelight before its second quarter results today after markets close, but this time it&#8217;s not merely stock pickers who are sitting up. Even ETF investors are on high alert, particularly those with exposure via Big Tech and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">AI-themed ETFs</a>. 



With <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/25/07/46703548/meta-q2-preview-11-straight-revenue-beats-on-line-with-stock-near-all-time-highs">Meta expecting to report its 11th consecutive revenue beat</a>, some high-conviction ETFs may witness substantial movements. Revenues forecasted by the company stand between $42.5–$45.5 billion. Moreover, analysts expect earnings per share of $5.86, up from $5.16 in last year&#8217;s second quarter.



META is trading in the upper third of its 52-week range. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check the latest price here.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI &amp; Big Tech ETFs Surfing On Meta Momentum</h2>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#BATS">MAGS</a>) Built to balance equally the so-called Magnificent Seven, MAGS is a condensed bet on the largest U.S. tech giants. Meta represents one-seventh of the fund, providing it with significant clout. As Meta continues to invest billions in AI and automation software such as Advantage+ for advertisers, MAGS finds itself a first choice among investors looking for direct access to the AI-enriched core of U.S. tech.</li>



<li>Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) Meta is among the top 10 holdings in QQQ, representing more than 3% of the fund. QQQ, which is one of the most liquid and most traded ETFs, normally responds rapidly to an earnings beat or miss from key components. An upbeat Meta report would push QQQ, particularly considering its exposure to other AI leaders such as Microsoft and Nvidia.</li>



<li>Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLC#NYSE">XLC</a>) XLC provides one of the cleanest ETF plays on Meta, with the stock representing more than 18% of the fund&#8217;s weighting. That&#8217;s at the top. For investors directly wagering on Meta&#8217;s leadership in social media and digital advertising, XLC offers focused exposure within the larger communication services space.</li>
</ol>



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46726306/new-york-times-gets-new-ai-partner-for-20-25-million">New York Times Gets New AI Partner For $20-$25 Million</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What To Watch</h2>



Meta&#8217;s 2025 capital spending plans, projected at $64–$72 billion and possibly increasing further, are the sign of a full-throated AI buildout. That would render AI-intensive ETFs more vulnerable to Meta&#8217;s rhythm on monetization and infrastructure return on investment. Threads, WhatsApp and Business AI products continue to be key focuses for future revenue sources.



ETF investors aren&#8217;t riding shotgun; they&#8217;re tactically exposed. Be it equal-weight AI exposure in MAGS, tech broad brushes in QQQ or laser-specific Meta allocation in XLC, Meta&#8217;s second-quarter results can drive near-term ETF flows and longer-term sector sentiment.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/emerging-market-etfs/25/07/46728565/tesla-battery-pivot-sparks-etf-rotation-america-in-china-out">Tesla Battery Pivot Sparks ETF Rotation: America In, China Out?</a></li>
</ul>

Specialty ETFs

MAGS

Meta's AI Firepower Could Ignite Magnificent Seven ETFs

Anticipation was sky-high heading into a politically charged Federal Reserve meeting, after months of relentless pressure from President Donald Trump to deliver rate cuts, but the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/federal-reserve">central bank didn't budge.</a>



Yet what unfolded behind closed doors revealed one of the most profound internal cracks in decades.



The Federal Open Market Committee held interest rates steady at 4.25%-4.50% in its July decision, as widely anticipated by the market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Two Fed Governors Break Ranks</h2>



For the first time since 1993, two permanent members of the Fed's Board of Governors—Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller—explicitly dissented, favoring an immediate 25 basis-point rate cut. 



That kind of internal division hasn't been seen since Alan Greenspan's tenure, when Governors Wayne Angell and Lawrence Lindsey opposed the Committee's easing bias in December of that year.



The dissent highlights growing friction not just between Chair Jerome Powell and Washington, but within his own leadership circle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Fed&#8217;s Official Line: Still Not Time to Cut</h2>



In its post-meeting statement, the Fed noted that "recent indicators suggest that growth of economic activity moderated in the first half of the year." 



Still, the labor market remains strong, the unemployment rate is low, and inflation "remains somewhat elevated."



The Committee reiterated its standard forward guidance, stating that it would continue to monitor data and stands ready to act "as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede" its goals. That leaves the door open for a potential shift in September.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions</h2>



Traders now see a 62% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut at the September meeting, up from 58% earlier in the day, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool.



The U.S. dollar index (DXY) trimmed daily gains, while Treasury yields slipped. 



Gold, as tracked by the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), edged slightly higher but remained down by 0.8% for the day.



Wall Street held broadly steady, with the S&amp;P 500 – tracked by the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) – up 0.2% at 6,385 points.



Attention now turns to Powell's press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET, where investors will parse every word for clues about the Fed's next steps.



For now, the Fed has said &#8220;not yet&#8221; on rate cuts—but the internal fractures suggest "not yet" could quickly become "soon" if economic momentum cools or political heat intensifies.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46720292/us-gdp-q2-economy-us-trump-fed-interest-rates-dollar">US Economy Roars Back With 3% Growth, Handing Trump A Timely Victory </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Currency ETFs

Forex

Fed Skips Rate Cut Again—But Reveals Something We Haven't Seen Since 1993

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) may be fashionably late, but it's arriving with style — and a plan to bend the market to its will.



Despite planning to show up in 2026, six years after Samsung Electronics Co (OTCPK: SSNLF) debuted its first foldable phone, Apple's long-rumored book-style foldable iPhone could open the door to $65 billion in revenue and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/earnings">deliver high-single-digit EPS</a> gains by 2029, according to JPMorgan's Samik Chatterjee.



Track Apple&#8217;s stock trajectory <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL">here</a>.



With foldables still a niche segment — making up just ~1.5% of global smartphone sales — Apple's entrance could be the jolt the market needs. Samsung may own up to 56% of the foldable space, but Apple's entry with the iPhone 18 Fold might flip the dynamics, especially with a crease-free display and $1,999 price tag designed to woo premium buyers.



Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46680504/apple-faces-18-month-deadline-to-deliver-on-ai-says-analyst">Apple Faces 18-Month Deadline To Deliver On AI, Says Analyst</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Fold To Flip: Apple's Late But Loaded</h2>



Samsung's six-year head start has allowed it to fine-tune its foldables, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 leading a product line that shipped about 10 million units in 2024. Still, Apple has something Samsung doesn't: a fiercely loyal user base, deep ecosystem and a track record of turning latecomer moves into gold, such as iPod, iPad and the Apple Watch.



JPMorgan expects Apple to sell 10 to 15 million foldable iPhones in 2027, ramping to 45 million units by 2029, echoing the success of the iPhone Pro Max.



Half those early buyers may even be Android switchers, lured by Apple's polish and prestige.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Niche No More?</h2>



Foldables have struggled to break out, but Apple's presence alone could mainstream the segment. As volume scales, JPMorgan sees price premiums falling, helping drive adoption. 



And behind the scenes, Amphenol Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APH#NYSE">APH</a>) and Corning Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>) could benefit from increased hardware content.



Apple might be late — but if history is any guide, it's still very much in control of the playbook.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46680613/apple-to-shut-down-china-retail-store-for-first-time-ever-citing-shifting-mall-landscape-amid-consumer-slowdown">Apple To Shut Down China Retail Store For First Time Ever, Citing Shifting Mall Landscape Amid Consumer Slowdown</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: jamesteohart via Shutterstock.com

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Analyst Ratings

AAPL

SSNLF

Six Years Late, Apple's Foldable iPhone Could Still Flip Everything

U.S. stocks inched higher midday Wednesday, as investors digested upbeat economic data while keeping an optimistic tone ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision and a wave of key tech earnings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46693997/wall-street-earnings-preview-microsoft-apple-meta-amazon-mastercard-visa">due after the bell. </a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The QQQ ETF is on track for a fourth consecutive monthly gain. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QQQ">See the chart here.</a></li>
</ul>



The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.2%, the Nasdaq added 0.4%, and the Dow Jones hovered near the flatline. Small-cap stocks outperformed, with the Russell 2000 up 0.6%. 



Markets widely expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates steady at 4.25%-4.50%, but with two policymakers already showing preference for a cut, the decision could mark the most divided vote since 1993.



On the trade front, former President Donald Trump announced a new 25% tariff on Indian imports, set to take effect Aug. 1. 



Advance GDP data showed the U.S. economy grew at an annualized 3.0% in the second quarter of 2025, a sharp rebound from the previous quarter's 0.5% contraction and well above the 2.4% consensus, powered by strong consumer spending and a decline in imports. 



In the labor market, private payrolls rose by 104,000 in July, the strongest gain since March and a solid beat on the 75,000 forecast—reversing a contraction in June. 



Commodities were in focus as WTI crude extended its rally, surging 1.5% on the day to hit $70 a barrel, driven by geopolitical tensions following Trump's new 10-day ultimatum to Russia over peace talks with Ukraine. The three-day gain now totals over 8%.



Gold slipped 1% to $3,290 per ounce as the U.S. dollar strengthened on the back of robust economic data. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) held steady around $118,000.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %chg</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,257.27</td><td>0.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>23,396.45</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,384.59</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,654.85</td><td>0.0%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:05 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) inched 0.1% higher to $584.81.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) flattened at $446.50.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.3% to $569.07.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rallied 0.7% to $224.19.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Utilities&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up 1%; the&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1%.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) climbed 2.3%, poised to break a seven-day losing streak, after JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) announced a partnership with the crypto exchange that will allow Chase credit card holders to fund their Coinbase wallets and purchase cryptocurrencies. </li>



<li>Stocks moving on earnings reports included:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) up 0.8%</li>



<li>UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) flat</li>



<li>Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>) up 1.2%</li>



<li>Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADP#NASDAQ">ADP</a>) up 1.9%</li>



<li>Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) up 0.7%</li>



<li>Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) up 2.0%</li>



<li>Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TT#NYSE">TT</a>) down 7.8%</li>



<li>Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>) down 6.0%</li>



<li>Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITW#NYSE">ITW</a>) down 2.0%</li>



<li>Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSG#NYSE">RSG</a>) down 5.0%</li>



<li>American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) up 3.8%</li>



<li>Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRT#NYSE">VRT</a>) up 1.6%</li>



<li>Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRMN#NYSE">GRMN</a>) down 5.5%</li>



<li>Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EA#NASDAQ">EA</a>) up 7.2%</li>



<li>Entergy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETR#NYSE">ETR</a>) up 3.2%</li>



<li>Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRSK#NASDAQ">VRSK</a>) down 4.8%</li>



<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) up 2.3%</li>



<li>WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEC#NYSE">WEC</a>) up 0.5%</li>



<li>Tradeweb Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TW#NASDAQ">TW</a>) up 4.9%</li>



<li>GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEHC#NASDAQ">GEHC</a>) down 4.9%</li>



<li>Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACGL#NASDAQ">ACGL</a>) down 1.0%</li>



<li>Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>) down 8.8%</li>



<li>Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) up 7.4%</li>



<li>Expand Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPN#NASDAQ">EXPN</a>) up 5.1%</li>



<li>Smurfit Westrock plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMUR#NYSE">SMUR</a>) down 2.1%</li>



<li>PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPG#NYSE">PPG</a>) down 4.9%</li>



<li>Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>) up 3.6%</li>



<li>Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESS#NYSE">ESS</a>) down 4.7%</li>



<li>Teradyne, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TER#NASDAQ">TER</a>) up 21.2%</li>



<li>Fortive Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTV#NYSE">FTV</a>) up 0.9%</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks slated to report earnings after the close:</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>)</li>



<li>American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AWK#NYSE">AWK</a>)</li>



<li>Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AR#NYSE">AR</a>)</li>



<li>AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVB#NYSE">AVB</a>)</li>



<li>Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHC#NYSE">BHC</a>)</li>



<li>C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHRW#NASDAQ">CHRW</a>)</li>



<li>Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>)</li>



<li>Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTSH#NASDAQ">CTSH</a>)</li>



<li>Confluent, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFLT#NASDAQ">CFLT</a>)</li>



<li>DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXCM#NASDAQ">DXCM</a>)</li>



<li>eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EBAY#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>)</li>



<li>Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>)</li>



<li>Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EG#NYSE">EG</a>)</li>



<li>Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXR#NYSE">EXR</a>)</li>



<li>F5, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>)</li>



<li>Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FICO#NYSE">FICO</a>)</li>



<li>FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FE#NYSE">FE</a>)</li>



<li>Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>)</li>



<li>GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GFL#NYSE">GFL</a>)</li>



<li>Guardant Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GH#NASDAQ">GH</a>)</li>



<li>Hologic, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOLX#NASDAQ">HOLX</a>)</li>



<li>Host Hotels &amp; Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HST#NASDAQ">HST</a>)</li>



<li>Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRT#NYSE">IRT</a>)</li>



<li>Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INVH#NYSE">INVH</a>)</li>



<li>Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>)</li>



<li>Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>



<li>MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>)</li>



<li>Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAA#NYSE">MAA</a>)</li>



<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</li>



<li>Public Storage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSA#NYSE">PSA</a>)</li>



<li>Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PRU#NYSE">PRU</a>)</li>



<li>PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTC#NASDAQ">PTC</a>)</li>



<li>QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>)</li>



<li>Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFM#NASDAQ">SFM</a>)</li>



<li>The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>)</li>



<li>Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TYL#NYSE">TYL</a>)</li>



<li>UDR, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UDR#NYSE">UDR</a>)</li>



<li>Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTR#NYSE">VTR</a>)</li>



<li>VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VICI#NYSE">VICI</a>)</li>



<li>Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>)</li>
</ul>



Now Read



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46720292/us-gdp-q2-economy-us-trump-fed-interest-rates-dollar">US Economy Roars Back With 3% Growth, Handing Trump A Timely Victory </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

ACGL

BKNG

CFLT

CHRW

COIN

CTSH

CVNA

DXCM

EBAY

EQIX

FFIV

FICO

GEHC

GRMN

HOLX

INVH

LRCX

MDLZ

ODFL

QCOM

SBUX

TEVA

VICI

VRSK

EXPN

SMUR

Stocks Rise Ahead Of Fed Meeting, Oil Jumps To $70: What's Moving Markets Wednesday?

An Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) analyst says iPhone demand will be the key item to watch when the technology giant reports third-quarter financial results Thursday<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings"> after market close.</a>



The Apple Analyst: Wedbush analyst Dan Ives maintains an Outperform rating on Apple with a price target of $270.



The Analyst Takeaways: Ives expects a mini rebound for China iPhone sales in Q3.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46588868/apple-stock-to-get-boost-20-at-a-time-inside-tech-giants-latest-plan-to-monetize-user-base">Apple Stock To Get Boost $20 At A Time?: Inside Tech Giant&#8217;s Latest Plan To Monetize User Base</a>



"Our Asia checks have showed stable iPhone demand globally this quarter…with some improvement in the China market which is a key theme for Apple," Ives said.



China is a "persistent growth headwind" for Apple, Ives said in a new investor note, due to increased competition. "This quarter is just the appetizer for the main event, which is the launch of iPhone 17 in September."



Ives anticipates that the iPhone 17 will exhibit accelerated unit growth for Apple, driven by pent-up demand from consumers. He also estimates that 20% of the 1.5 billion iPhones worldwide have not had an upgrade in over four years.



The analyst said Apple's Services segment is another area to watch and should provide upside in the quarter.



Outside of the iPhone and Services, Ives calls AI the "elephant in the room" for Apple.



The rest of the tech world is focused on monetizing AI right now, Ives says. However, Apple's AI growth strategy has been "invisible."



"Apple's WWDC event in June felt like an episode out of Back to the Future with barely no mention of AI while every other tech company and developer in the world is focused on AI."



An AI monetization strategy for Apple could be worth up to $75 per share, he adds. But "time is ticking" to figure out a plan.



Ives said one option is for Apple to acquire Perplexity, which he said would be a "no brainer deal."



"The reality now is that AI technology on the enterprise and consumer landscape are happening at such a rapid pace Apple will not be able to catchup with an internally built solution to turn Siri into the next AI gateway for consumers."



Ives said Apple CEO Tim Cook could be the CEO for another five years, but without an acquisition or AI strategy, his legacy could be defined by current negative items like missing AI strategy, tension with President Donald Trump on supply chain and navigating tariffs on the iPhone.



"It's time for Cook and Cupertino to face the new reality of this quickly morphing AI driven tech landscape…because if they do not change it will be a historic strategic black eye for Apple in our view."



AAPL Price Action: Apple stock trades at $211.17 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $169.21 to $260.10. Apple stock is down 13.4% year-to-date.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46664749/is-apple-sinking-warren-buffetts-portfolio-the-oracle-of-omahas-winning-streak-faces-collapse">Is Apple Sinking Warren Buffett&#8217;s Portfolio? The Oracle Of Omaha&#8217;s Winning Streak Faces Collapse</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Price Target

Previews

Reiteration

Apple Stock Will Get Q3 Boost From iPhones, Analyst Says This Is The 'Elephant In The Room'

After a quarter of contraction and political pressure mounting, the U.S. economy's surprise second-quarter growth and a sharp rebound in private jobs in July have weakened the case for a September rate cut, leaving Fed Chair Jerome Powell in the hot seat ahead of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46720292/us-gdp-q2-economy-us-trump-fed-interest-rates-dollar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wednesday&#8217;s pivotal policy decision.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>IBIT ETF has rallied 55% from its April lows. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IBIT#:~:text=The%20stock%20price%20for%20iShares,at%201%3A38%20PM%20EDT.">Track live prices here</a></li>
</ul>



The 3% annualized GDP growth for the second quarter—well above the 2.4% forecast—came as a surprise to many. Combined with a strong bounce in July&#8217;s private payrolls, the data sent rate cut bets tumbling.



According to CME Group's FedWatch tool, traders now see a 58% chance of a September cut, down from 65% just a day ago, and way off the 95% odds priced in a month earlier.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trade Payback Powers Q2 Rebound, July&#8217;s Labor Market Shows Strength</h2>



Much of the GDP rebound came down to a big drop in imports, which fell 30.3% last quarter. That followed a front-loaded import surge in Q1, when companies rushed to get ahead of new tariffs announced by the Trump administration.



Since imports subtract from GDP calculations, their collapse gave Q2 figures a notable boost, though it doesn't necessarily reflect a sudden jump in domestic demand.



Second-quarter growth was driven largely by a sharp reversal in trade dynamics. Imports plunged 30.3%, following a 37.9% surge in the first quarter as businesses raced to stockpile foreign goods ahead of the Trump administration's new tariffs. Because imports are subtracted in GDP calculations, the drop provided a statistical lift to output.



Meanwhile, private-sector labor data for July showed unexpected strength, offering an early signal ahead of Friday's official jobs report.



ADP said U.S. private employers added 104,000 jobs in July, bouncing back from a 23,000 contraction in June and topping expectations for a 74,000 increase. 



"Hiring and pay data are broadly indicative of a healthy economy," said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. "Employers have grown more optimistic that consumers, the backbone of the economy, will remain resilient."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">September Cut Now At Risk</h2>



The combination of GDP and jobs strength is forcing economists to reevaluate the case for imminent rate relief.



"The US economy rebounded solidly in the second quarter, shaking off the mild Q1 contraction that was almost entirely due to an exceptional surge in imports," said Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at Ebury.



"We expect Chair Powell to talk up this economic resilience and steer clear of signaling a September cut, which now appears very much in doubt."



"Given the solid growth data, steadily rebounding consumption and early signs that tariffs are beginning to feed into inflation, the Fed will be even less inclined to cut rates soon. This is likely to pile on tensions between President Trump and Chair Powell," said Nathaniel Casey, investment strategist at Evelyn Partners. 



Not everyone sees the data as a reason to rule out a September rate cut.



Jamie Cox, managing partner of Harris Financial Group called the GDP beat "great, just not that great," noting that the second quarter was largely a rebound from Q1 distortions.



Jeffrey Roach, Chief Economist at LPL Financial, said: "Investors should focus on the deceleration in consumer spending. With delinquencies rising for upper-income consumers, we expect spending to moderate. The Fed should still be in a good place to cut by September."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Eyes On Powell</h2>



Markets now turn to Powell's press conference later Wednesday, where analysts expect the Fed Chair to acknowledge the economic strength but avoid firm guidance for future moves.



"There is significant interest in how Powell will frame recent developments," economist Mohamed El-Erian posted on X. 



"This meeting risks being a lose-lose scenario for the institution."



A week ago, El-Erian suggested that Powell should resign to protect the central bank's independence.



"If Chair Powell's objective is to safeguard the Fed's operational autonomy (which I deem vital), then he should resign," El-Erian wrote on July 22.



His comments came amid mounting criticism and intensifying pressure from the Trump administration, which has repeatedly urged Powell to cut interest rates.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46661023/fed-rate-cuts-goldman-forecast-2025-inflation">Get Ready For Five Fed Cuts, Markets Got It All Wrong: Goldman Sachs </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Government

Powell Cornered? Strong GDP, Jobs Data Weaken September Rate Cut Odds

A White House advisory group formed under President Donald Trump has released a comprehensive report urging federal agencies to clarify rules governing digital assets and accelerate the rollout of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46510518/trump-family-crypto-business-nabs-26-million-profit-from-quarter-billion-ethereum-stake">innovative crypto products</a>.



What Happened: The Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, established by executive order earlier this year, is <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-30/trump-crypto-group-unveils-proposals-to-boost-digital-finance?embedded-checkout=true">calling</a> on Congress and regulators to modernize oversight frameworks to better accommodate the evolving crypto ecosystem.



The report encourages the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to use existing legal authority to streamline federal rules for digital asset trading. 



It emphasizes immediate action on key areas such as trading, custody, and registration to eliminate uncertainty and reduce regulatory friction.



One of the central recommendations is for lawmakers to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a bill that would authorize the CFTC to oversee spot markets for digital assets that are not classified as securities. 



The report also highlights the need for safe harbor provisions that would allow new crypto products to reach users without lengthy delays.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46721901/jpmorgan-partners-with-coinbase-to-expand-crypto-access-for-80m-customers">JPMorgan Partners With Coinbase To Expand Crypto Access For 80M Customers</a>



Why It Matters: The working group proposes further clarity on how banks can issue stablecoins and use blockchain infrastructure, and urges transparency around the process of acquiring federal bank charters.



It also recommends that bank capital requirements be updated to reflect the distinct risk profile of digital assets.



This report follows Trump's recent signing of the first federal law regulating dollar-backed stablecoins, a major step toward integrating digital currencies into the broader financial system. 



Previously known for his skepticism, Trump has emerged as a pro-crypto figure, appointing venture capitalist David Sacks to lead AI and digital asset policy efforts, and ordering the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.



In addition to regulatory reform, the report calls for updated tax rules for digital assets, including their classification as a new asset class for federal tax purposes and inclusion in wash sale rules to curb tax avoidance. 



It also requests further guidance from the IRS and Treasury on how these assets interact with corporate tax regulations.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46720657/turkeys-uber-joins-strategy-tesla-as-bitcoin-treasury-company">&#8216;Turkey&#8217;s Uber&#8217; Joins Strategy, Tesla As Bitcoin Treasury Company</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

News

Trump's Advisors Just Laid Out A Crypto Blueprint—Here's What's In It

After the sharpest quarterly contraction in three years, the U.S. economy roared back robustly in the second quarter, with gross domestic product rebounding well above expectations—offering President Donald Trump a timely <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">economic victory to celebrate. </a>



The U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 3% annualized pace in the second quarter, after a 0.5% contraction in the previous quarter, according to advance estimates released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.



The outcome surpassed economists expectations of a 2.4% growth, and marked the strongest pace of growth since the third quarter of last year.



&#8220;3%, way better than expected!&#8221; Trump stated on Truth Social. He then seized the moment to ramp up pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell just hours before the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting later in the day.



&#8220;Too Late must lower the rate. No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Drove The Rebound?</h3>



Trade-driven distortions that skewed first-quarter data—caused by a surge in pre-tariff imports—unwound in the second quarter.



The upsurge in GDP was powered primarily by a 30.3% collapse in imports—a reversal of the 37.9% surge seen in Q1 as businesses scrambled to stockpile goods before tariffs kicked in. 



Since imports subtract from GDP, the drop provided a significant boost to the quarterly figures.



Consumer spending, the bedrock of the U.S. economy, also showed renewed strength. Real personal consumption expenditures rose 1.4%, up from just 0.5% in the previous quarter.



One of the biggest surprises was the inflation rate. The core Personal Consumption Expenditures index—the Fed's preferred inflation gauge—rose 2.5% quarter-over-quarter, down from 3.5% in the first quarter.



Headline PCE prices slowed sharply from 3.7% to 2.1%. 



In a separate release, ADP's July employment report showed private payrolls rebounding strongly, rising by 104,000 after June's 23,000 contraction—easily topping expectations for a 74,000 gain.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Dollar Extends Rally, Crude Eyes $70</h3>



The U.S. dollar index (DXY) climbed 0.4% Thursday, extending its rally to a fifth consecutive session after stronger-than-expected economic data lifted confidence in the U.S. outlook.



Gold prices dropped as the appetite for safe-haven assets cooled. The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) fell 0.4% to $3,315 per ounce.



Stock futures pointed to a modestly positive open. S&amp;P 500 contracts were up 0.1% at 6,380, while Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.2% to 23,358.



Oil extended its rally, with WTI crude rising above $69.50 a barrel—the highest since June 23—buoyed by tightening supply and resilient demand.



Markets will now turn their attention to the Federal Reserve's policy decision later Wednesday, where rates are widely expected to remain steady at 4.25%-4.5%. However, growing speculation points to possible dissent among committee members who favor rate cuts.



Later this week, investors will also digest the June PCE inflation report on Thursday and the July jobs report on Friday—two key data points that could shape the Fed's next steps.



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Photo: Miha Creative via Shutterstock

US Economy Roars Back With 3% Growth, Handing Trump A Timely Victory

Etsy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>) reported second-quarter financial results before the market open on Wednesday. Here&#8217;s a rundown <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/n46716835/etsy-inc-reports-second-quarter-2025-results">of the report</a>. 



Q2 Earnings: Etsy reported second-quarter revenue of $672.66 million, beating analyst <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/ETSY/earnings">estimates</a> of $646.53 million, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>. The company reported second-quarter earnings of 25 cents per share, missing analyst estimates of 49 cents per share. 



Total revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis, driven primarily by the performance of on-site ads.&nbsp;GMS (gross merchandise sales)&nbsp;totaled $2.8 billion in the quarter, down 4.8% year-over-year. Active buyers decreased&nbsp;4.6%&nbsp;year-over-year to 87.3 million.



Etsy repurchased $335 million of its common stock in the second quarter. The company ended the period with $1.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short- and long-term investments. 



&#8220;We&#8217;re seeing early success in our efforts to build a more browsable shopping experience, particularly on our App, amplified by more personalized marketing and emergent AI technologies. We believe this is creating a significant runway for growth,&#8221; said Josh Silverman, CEO of Etsy.



Guidance: Etsy expects third-quarter GMS to be in the range of $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion. The company also guided for third-quarter adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 25%. 



&#8220;Getting the Etsy marketplace back to GMS growth in the near term is our number one priority, and we have four strategic initiatives designed with this in mind,&#8221; Silverman said.



&#8220;These include showing up where shoppers discover, matching shoppers with the right content through better machine learning, retaining and rewarding our most valuable customers, and further amplifying the human connection that makes Etsy unique.&#8221;



Etsy executives will further discuss the quarter on a conference call with investors and analysts at 8:30 a.m. ET.



ETSY Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/ETSY">Etsy shares</a> were up 8.52% at $65.44 at the time of publication Wednesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



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Guidance

ETSY

Etsy Reports Mixed Q2 Earnings, Shares Move Higher

Wilbur Ross, the former Commerce Secretary under President Donald Trump, has cautioned that the U.S.-China trade war is far from over, despite recent trade agreements with the EU and Japan.



What Happened:  Ross, who was part of President Trump&#8217;s first administration, commended the recent trade deals that the White House has made with key global economies. However, he voiced doubts about the U.S.&#8217;s ability to secure a similar agreement with China, its main competitor, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/07/29/wilbur-ross-trump-commerce-secretary-japan-eu-china-deal/">reported</a> Fortune.



He pointed out that China&#8217;s political calendar, particularly the upcoming meeting of top leaders in August, might hinder any immediate resolution. Ross also highlighted China&#8217;s reluctance to appear as &#8220;submitting to Trump&#8217;s demands.&#8221;



The U.S. and China have been engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff escalation. Despite a temporary truce in May, Ross warned that if a deal isn&#8217;t reached soon, the tariffs could return to their previous high levels, severely impacting Chinese exports to the U.S.



Ross also suggested that China might try to bypass economic sanctions by routing shipments through countries with lower U.S. tariff rates. However, the effectiveness of this approach is still unclear.



"We're in much better shape because it's now clear that if there's gonna be a real trade war with anyone it would just be with China, so it's limited the risk that we have,&#8221; stated Ross.



SEE ALSO: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46680702/trump-administration-weighs-paradigm-shift-in-patent-system-to-raise-billions-in-revenue-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Administration Weighs &#8216;Paradigm Shift&#8217; In Patent System To Raise Billions In Revenue: Report</a>



Why It Matters: The U.S.-China just concluded the third round of trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the extension of the U.S.-China tariff truce depends on President Trump&#8217;s approval, as he has the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/macro-notification/25/07/46714265/trump-has-the-final-say-on-extending-us-china-truce-says-scott-bessent-after-a-refined-tariff-talks">final say</a> on trade deals. 



The absence of a trade agreement between the U.S. and China could lead to a significant decrease in Chinese exports to the U.S. The Observatory of Economic Complexity has projected that if the two countries fail to reach a trade agreement and the proposed higher tariffs on China are implemented, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46687133/china-risks-losing-488-billion-in-us-exports-without-trade-deal-protectionism-doesnt-protect">Chinese exports</a> to the U.S. could reduce by $488 billion by 2027.



Moreover, critics have questioned the substance of the U.S.-EU trade agreement, calling it a &#8220;framework of a deal&#8221; and suggesting that the terms are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46711597/trump-calls-it-the-biggest-deal-ever-but-critics-are-pointing-out-nothings-been-signed-with-the-eu-did-the-president-score-a-lowercase">subject to change</a>. Similarly, industry experts have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the EU&#8217;s pledge to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy products over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46680157/trumps-750-billion-eu-energy-deal-wholly-unrealistic-and-absurd-say-analysts-how-would-literally-any-of-this-work">next three years</a>, as part of its trade deal with the U.S.



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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Trump's Ex-Commerce Secretary Warns China Won't Bow To US Like EU, Japan: 'If There's A Real Trade War…'

Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) second-quarter report didn&#8217;t sit well with longtime Tesla shareholder Ross Gerber, who pulled no punches in an interview following the release.



&#8220;Yeah, I mean, it&#8217;s garbage,&#8221; the CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjzEpljd80I">Yahoo Finance</a>, just after the report was released. &#8220;It&#8217;s sad and depressing to me that this is a business in decline when it should be&#8230; a growing business, and it&#8217;s not.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"It's garbage, it's sad and depressing to me that this is a business in decline," Gerber Kawasaki Wealth &amp; Investment Management CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GerberKawasaki</a> says about <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a>. <a href="https://t.co/ONXGSb9Iue">pic.twitter.com/ONXGSb9Iue</a>&mdash; Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooFinance/status/1948127627006685350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Revenue Down, Sentiment Lower</h2>



On July 23, Tesla <a href="https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/downloads/TSLA-Q2-2025-Update.pdf">reported</a> $22.5 billion in revenue for the second quarter, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46587882/tesla-q2-earnings-highlights-revenue-and-earnings-fall-short-new-models-still-set-for-2025-2026">down 12% from a year earlier</a>, short of Wall Street&#8217;s $22.8 billion estimate. Automotive revenue fell even more sharply, dropping 16% year-over-year to $16.66 billion. Per-share earnings were 40 cents, missing the expected 42 cents. Operating income dropped 42% to $923 million, with operating margins falling to 4.1%.



Gerber criticized Tesla's shrinking cash flow, noting that the company is now essentially break-even without regulatory credits. &#8220;The regulatory credits are going down every quarter and they&#8217;re <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46594381/elon-musk-says-tesla-could-face-a-few-rough-quarters-as-ev-incentives-expire-and-trump-tariff-pressures-mount">going to be gone soon</a>,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And the prices are going up on the vehicles soon. So I&#8217;m just like, man, you know, this sucks.&#8221;



Deliveries also fell to 384,122 vehicles, down from 443,956 in the same period last year. Production held steady at just over 410,000 units.



Trending: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffet-make-money-when-you-sleep"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $10.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High-End Sales Collapse And Brand Troubles</h2>



Gerber pointed to a 54% drop in sales of Tesla&#8217;s high-end vehicles, including the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck. While he said he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46259057/ross-gerber-gary-black-weigh-in-on-tesla-cybertrucks-poor-sales-a-very-sad-result">likes the Cybertruck personally</a>, he criticized Tesla for not doing enough to market it.



He also warned that no matter how many new models Tesla produces, it won't matter if <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46594012/teslas-new-model-y-trim-wont-expand-market-offers-zero-incremental-volume-says-gary-black">customers aren&#8217;t interested</a>. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter how many products you come up with if people don&#8217;t want to buy them,&#8221; Gerber said. &#8220;They just don&#8217;t seem to want to address that issue.&#8221;



While Tesla touted early production of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46212911/amid-declining-sales-elon-musks-tesla-confirms-new-affordable-models-will-be-introduced-this-year">more affordable model</a> set for volume release late this year, Gerber was skeptical. He acknowledged the need for a lower-cost vehicle but doubted that a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/04/45032179/tesla-reportedly-developing-a-cheaper-model-y-e80-variant-with-fewer-features-in-china">smaller Model Y</a> would move the needle. &#8220;You&#8217;re going to lose—you&#8217;re going to cannibalize more of your business,&#8221; he warned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Musk&#8217;s Influence And Image Problem</h2>



The Tesla bull didn't shy away from addressing what he sees as a core issue: CEO Elon Musk's behavior. &#8220;Even if they came out with a golden car that flew, people wouldn&#8217;t buy it because it&#8217;s Elon Musk&#8217;s car,&#8221; Gerber said.



See Also: How do billionaires pay less in income tax than you?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/tax-deferring-adv"> Tax deferring is their number one strategy</a>.



He argued that Musk&#8217;s political commentary and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46215609/elon-musk-regrets-cpac-chainsaw-stunt-it-lacked-empathy">public actions</a> have alienated potential buyers. &#8220;Elon&#8217;s political, not just opinions, but his actual behavior in public is just super inappropriate and turns off basically everybody now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Until he wants to address that, I still think it&#8217;s going to be hard for Tesla to grow.&#8221;



Though Gerber supports <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46510590/elon-musk-returns-to-intense-work-schedule-back-to-working-7-days-a-week-and-sleeping-in-the-office">Musk returning to a more active CEO role</a>—&#8221;The CEO of the company should actually work at the company&#8221;—he said that won't fix the brand image alone. &#8220;Probably the best thing he could do is work at Tesla and never tweet again,&#8221; he added.



Gerber also isn&#8217;t convinced that robotaxis are a game-changer. &#8220;What is so exciting about a business that&#8217;s been around for a long time?&#8221; he said. &#8220;I get in a Waymo. It takes me from A to B. Costs me 20 bucks. Big deal.&#8221;



He also expects Tesla to eventually acquire xAI, Musk&#8217;s AI startup, which would give Musk more control of Tesla. &#8220;Sadly, I think Tesla&#8217;s shareholders are going to vastly overpay for xAI,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They need the cash out of Tesla&#8217;s balance sheet for xAI to grow.&#8221;



Despite all his concerns, Gerber said he&#8217;s still long Tesla and isn't betting against Musk. But he&#8217;s clear-eyed about what needs to change: &#8220;Maybe in a year things get better. But if he doesn&#8217;t change the way he&#8217;s acting, I don&#8217;t see how anything gets better.&#8221;



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Image: Imagn Images

TSLA

Ross Gerber Calls Tesla's Q2 Report 'Garbage.' He Says It's 'Sad And Depressing' To See The Company Is In Decline

The cryptocurrency market remained calm Tuesday ahead of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision, with traders expecting the central bank to keep rates unchanged.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 10:30 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+0.26%</td><td>$117,951.86</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+1.63%</td><td>$3,804.28</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+0.86%</td><td>$0.2255</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin continued to fluctuate between $117,000 and $119,000, as trading volume remained thin. This, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46706233/strategy-closes-2-52b-strc-ipo-acquires-21021-bitcoin-at-117k-each">despite a $2.52 billion purchase</a> by Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) using the proceeds from the initial public offering of its STRC preferred stock.



Ethereum, meanwhile, rose slightly, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/07/46710463/cathie-woods-15m-crypto-bet-sells-bitcoin-king-block-doubles-down-on-ethereum-giant-bitmine-immersion">helped by significant investments</a> by Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest in BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMNR#AMEX">BMNR</a>), a firm that has adopted ETH as its primary reserve asset.



Bitcoin's market dominance dipped to 60.6%. On the other hand, Ethereum's market share increased to 11.9%



Cryptocurrency liquidations shot up to $300 million in the last 24 hours, with $209 million in upside bets wiped out.



Bitcoin's open interest dropped by 1.45% in the last 24 hours. The majority of Binance derivatives traders with open BTC positions continued to bet on the coin's price drop, according to the Long/Shorts ratio.&nbsp;



Top Gainers (24 Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Cryptocurrency</th><th>Gains +/-</th><th>Price (Recorded at 10:30 p.m. ET)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Pump.fun (PUMP)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+15.13%</td><td>$0.002762</td></tr><tr><td>XDC Network (XDC)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+11.74%</td><td>$0.09987</td></tr><tr><td>Four (FORM)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>+11.04%</td><td>$3.80 </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.88 trillion, following a modest increase of 0.46% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks retreated from record highs on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 204.57 points, or 0.46%, to close at 44,632.9. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.30%, ending at 6,370.86, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slid 0.38% to finish at 21,098.29.



Investors will likely shift focus to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46661023/fed-rate-cuts-goldman-forecast-2025-inflation">Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision</a> on Wednesday, with the market pricing in more than a 97% chance that rates will remain steady at the current range of 4.25% to 4.5%, <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">according </a>to the CME FedWatch tool.&nbsp;



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Cryptocurrency trader The Crypto Monk spotted Bitcoin forming a new range before the monthly close.



"Don&#8217;t see much room for a retracement. Next impulse is probably gonna send it to $130,000," the trader predicted.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">2 days before monthly close and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> looks like it&#39;s forming a fresh range. Don&#39;t see much room for a retracement. Next impulse is probably gonna send it to $130k. <a href="https://t.co/lCXKqBIpUH">pic.twitter.com/lCXKqBIpUH</a>&mdash; The Crypto Monk (@thecryptomonk) <a href="https://twitter.com/thecryptomonk/status/1950298375028715763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Michaël van de Poppe predicted another leg upward for Ethereum, with a target at $4,100.



"I assumed we&#8217;d had a slightly deeper correction on ETH. Didn&#8217;t happen," the analyst said. "I think we&#8217;ll sweep that level [$4,100] and consolidate for a little."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I assumed we&#39;d had a slightly deeper correction on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a>. Didn&#39;t happen. In that case, I think we&#39;ll be seeing another run upwards, the target is quite clear: the high at $4,100. I think we&#39;ll sweep that level and consolidate for a little. Up we go. <a href="https://t.co/We5xaGGF6I">pic.twitter.com/We5xaGGF6I</a>&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1950142256356196825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo: Yalcin Sonat on Shutterstock.com



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$DOGE

BMNR

MSTR

Bitcoin Trades Flat Ahead Of Fed Interest Rate Decision; Ethereum, Dogecoin Gain: Analyst Says 'Next Impulse' Will Send BTC To $130,000

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Tuesday.



U.S. stocks settled lower on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones index falling more than 200 points during the session.



UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) reported downbeat second-quarter 2025 earnings on Tuesday and reestablished its 2025 guidance. The Procter &amp; Gamble Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>) reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter on Tuesday.



On the economic data front, the number of job openings declined by 275,000 to 7.437 million in June, compared to market expectations of 7.55 million. The S&amp;P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index increased 2.8% year-over-year for May. U.S. wholesale inventories increased 0.2% month-over-month to $907.7 billion in June. The U.S. trade deficit in goods shrank by $10.4 billion to $86 billion in June.



The Federal Reserve will announce its interest-rate decision today, with investors expecting no change in rates.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with industrials, consumer discretionary and health care stocks recording the biggest losses on Tuesday. However, real estate and utilities stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.



The Dow Jones closed lower by 205 points to 44,632.99 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.30% to 6,370.86, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.38% to 21,098.29 during Tuesday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Meta Platforms Inc.(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Kraft Heinz Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 69.1, the index remained in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 72.2.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Pre-Market Outlook

Dow Falls Over 200 Points Ahead Of Fed Decision: Investor Sentiment Declines, But Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

Healthcare company, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), says that it will drop 600,000 Medicare Advantage members and launch a sweeping operational overhaul after being blindsided by $6.5 billion in unanticipated medical costs.



What Happened: During its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46688163/unitedhealth-misses-q2-mark-but-vows-a-healthier-2026">second-quarter earnings</a> call on Tuesday, UnitedHealthcare&#8217;s CEO, Tim Noel, said, &#8220;Our pricing assumptions were well short of actual medical costs.&#8221;



&#8220;We know these are serious challenges. We are humbled by them,&#8221; Noel says. As the company now expects the full-year Medicare Advantage trend, which refers to the year-over-year increase in healthcare costs per member, to be approximately 7.5%, well above the 5% trend it had assumed when setting 2025 bids.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46624499/centene-gears-up-for-q2-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">Centene Gears Up For Q2 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a>



Under Medicare Advantage, private insurers such as UnitedHealth get paid a fixed amount by the U.S. Government, per enrollee, to manage their care. 



&#8220;Physician and outpatient care together represent 70% of the pressure year to date,&#8221; Noel said. &#8220;In short, most encounters are intensifying in services and costing more.&#8221;



The decision to exit underperforming plans, which affect more than 600,000 members, is centered around &#8220;less managed products such as PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) offerings,&#8221; according to Noel. He added that UnitedHealth has made &#8220;significant adjustments to benefits&#8221; in response to margin compression.



Executive Chairman, Stephen Hemsley, who recently returned to the top role, said the company is undergoing a fundamental reset. He says, &#8220;We have embarked on a real cultural shift in our relationship with regulators and all external stakeholders.&#8221;



Hemsleys says they &#8220;intend to infuse this entire enterprise with an AI-first orientation,&#8221; as the company reaffirmed its plans to deliver nearly $1 billion in cost reductions by 2026, while targeting a return to earnings growth starting in 2027.



Why It Matters: UnitedHealth Group has had a rough year in 2025, with the stock down 48% year-to-date, amid a slew of challenges in recent months.



It began with the assassination of its former CEO, Brian Thompson, in December 2024, by Luigi Mangione, which later became the subject of an investor lawsuit that alleges the company downplayed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45305392/unitedhealth-investors-claim-company-hid-profit-impact-of-ceos-murder">the potential impact</a> of this murder on its performance.



In May, the stock plunged again due to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance">abrupt resignation</a> of the company&#8217;s CEO, Andrew Witty, with former CEO, Hemsley, succeeding him. The company also suspended its guidance for 2025 at the same time, citing continued acceleration in care activity.



Last week, the company announced that it was cooperating with the U.S. Department of Justice&#8217;s criminal healthcare fraud unit, which has brought UnitedHealth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/07/46605691/unitedhealth-under-federal-scrutiny-reaffirms-integrity-of-its-medicare-operations">Medicare billing practices</a> into scrutiny.



The company released its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46688163/unitedhealth-misses-q2-mark-but-vows-a-healthier-2026">second-quarter results</a> on Tuesday, reporting $111.62 billion in revenue, up 13% year-over-year, but missing consensus estimates of $111.69 billion. It posted a profit of $4.08, down from $6.80 a year ago, and missing the consensus of $4.95.



Price Action: Shares of UnitedHealth Group were down 7.46% on Tuesday, closing at $261.07, but are up 0.72% after hours.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="148" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/29221157/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-7.41.42-AM-1024x148.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1006087" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/29221157/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-7.41.42-AM-1024x148.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/29221157/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-7.41.42-AM-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/29221157/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-7.41.42-AM-768x111.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/29221157/Screenshot-2025-07-30-at-7.41.42-AM.png 1520w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



According to Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, UnitedHealth Group scores poorly across the board, with an unfavorable price trend in the short, medium and long term. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> for deeper insights into the stock, along with how it compares with peers and competitors.



Photo Courtesy: JHVEPhoto on Shutterstock.com



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Health Care

General

UnitedHealth Hit By $6.5 Billion Medical Cost Blowout: Launches AI-Led Overhaul, Drops 600K Members To Regain Margins — 'These Are Serious Challenges'

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