Wall Street opened the week slightly higher, led by gains in energy stocks, while the U.S. dollar posted its strongest performance in over two months, as markets reacted to the U.S.-EU trade deal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/07/46663043/trump-eu-us-energy-trade-deal-750-billion-oil-stocks-xle">struck over the weekend.</a>



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



The S&amp;P 500 ticked up 0.1% to a new record of 6,400 points, while the Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.5%, breaking above all-time highs at 23,380 points. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) continued its rally, hitting a new record of $175 per share and reaching a staggering $4.27 trillion market capitalization.



Under the new trade agreement, the U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on EU imports, including pharmaceuticals and automobiles. Certain sectors such as steel, aluminum, and copper will face steeper tariffs of up to 50%.



In return, the European Union has pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy exports over the next three years—up from roughly $100 billion annually—and to invest an additional $600 billion in the United States.



The euro dropped 1.2% against the dollar, marking its worst day since May 12, while Eurozone equities also slumped.



Oil prices jumped 2.2% to $66.5 per barrel, fueled by Europe's energy commitment and renewed geopolitical tensions after President Donald Trump moved up a deadline for Russia to agree to a truce in Ukraine. Trump warned that Russia has 10–12 days to comply or face 100% "secondary tariffs," raising fears of potential crude supply disruptions.



The energy sector led the market, while utilities lagged with a 1% decline.



Gold slid 0.8% to $3,313 per ounce as the dollar strengthened. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) dropped 1.2% to $118,000.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h2>



<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>Nasdaq 100</td><td>23,385.33</td><td>0.5%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,397.48</td><td>0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,263.20</td><td>0.1 %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>44,937.43</td><td>0.1%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;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>) flattened at $585.91.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) was steady at $449.20.</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 0.4% to $568.24.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.1% higher to $224.59.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Energy Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the&nbsp;Utilities&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) lagged, down 0.8%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Stocks moving on earnings reports included Bank of Hawaii Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOH#NYSE">BOH</a>), down 6%, Revvity Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVTY#NYSE">RVTY</a>) down 8.6% and Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPD#NYSE">EPD</a>), down 1.3%. </li>



<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) jumped 4% after the U.S. announced lower-than-expected tariffs on European goods, including autos, and following CEO Elon Musk's revelation of a $16.5 billion deal with Samsung Electronics to produce next-generation chips.</li>



<li>Top-performing energy stocks within the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund included Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>), which rose 3.5%; Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>), up 3.4%; APA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>), gaining 3.0%; EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EOG#NYSE">EOG</a>), up 2.5% and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>), up 2.2%.</li>



<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) rose 3.9% to $79.25 after J.P. Morgan upgraded the stock from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target to $93 from $64.</li>
</ul>



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/07/46663043/trump-eu-us-energy-trade-deal-750-billion-oil-stocks-xle">Trump&#8217;s $750 Billion Coup In Europe Could Bring Energy Stocks Back From The Dead</a></li>
</ul>



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Oil, Energy Stocks Rise, Dollar Rallies On US-EU Trade Deal: What's Moving Markets Monday?

U.S. energy stocks have trailed behind the broader market this year. Still, President Donald Trump's $750 billion trade agreement with the European Union may be the catalyst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/energy-stocks">to reverse that underperformance</a>. 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>CVX stock is up 8% in July. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVX">See the chart here.</a></li>
</ul>



While headlines fixated on the 15% tariff rate the U.S. will apply to European imports, a far more consequential detail went largely overlooked: the EU has agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy exports over the next three years, a sharp increase from the roughly $100 billion imported annually today.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reaction: Energy Stocks Catch A Bid</h3>



The U.S. energy sector welcomed the move. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) climbed 1% on Monday, outperforming all other sectors. 



The agreement is being viewed as a potential structural shift in demand—one that could unlock long-term export growth, solidify pricing power, and revive capital flows into the sector.



Yet energy stocks still lag in 2025, with the XLE up just 1.9% year-to-date, compared to the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which has gained 8.9%.



Among notable Monday&#8217;s movers in oil &amp; gas stocks:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>) up 3.14%</li>



<li>Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>) up 3.03%</li>



<li>APA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>) up 2.64%</li>



<li>EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EOG#NYSE">EOG</a>) up 2.54%</li>



<li>ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>) up 2.32%</li>



<li>Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNG#NYSE">LNG</a>), a major LNG exporter, jumped 3.3%</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bold Target, But Risks Remain</h3>



Oxford Economics' Oliver Rakau called the agreement a "clear political win for the U.S.," citing no signs of EU retaliation and a favorable tariff structure. Still, he flagged "significant implementation risks," related to the energy pledge, noting the target may prove too ambitious.



"The $750 billion pledge over three years is highly ambitious given current levels are under $100 billion," Rakau said.



Florence Schmit, energy strategist at Rabobank, echoed the skepticism.



"To hit $250 billion annually, the EU would need to import 67% of its energy needs from the U.S.," he said, citing Eurostat data.



Instead, she expects the deal will trigger European investment in U.S. LNG infrastructure, securing future supply but having a limited short-term impact on global balances.



According to Oilprice.com, the deal aims to replace sanctioned Russian gas volumes with U.S. LNG through a combination of spot and long-term contracts. Although no specific contracts were announced, follow-on agreements are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46643105/arkk-etf-performance-cathie-wood-tesla-coinbase-bitcoin">Cathie Wood Doesn&#8217;t Need Tesla To Win—ARKK Delivers A Blowout While EV Giant Idles</a></li>
</ul>



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Trump's $750 Billion Coup In Europe Could Bring Energy Stocks Back From The Dead

Goldman Sachs is doubling down on its dovish rate path forecast, saying the Federal Reserve is poised to deliver five interest rate cuts through the end of next year—three in 2025 and two more in 2026—a significantly more aggressive easing cycle than markets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">are currently pricing in.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) ETF has rallied 26% year-to-date. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GLD">See real-time price here. </a></li>
</ul>



In a report published Monday, Goldman economist David Mericle said he expects no change at this Wednesday's FOMC meeting but reaffirmed the bank's base case: 25-basis-point cuts in September, October and December, followed by two more in 2026, bringing the terminal Fed Funds rate down to 3–3.25%.



"The activity data have now begun to show clearer support for forecasts of below-potential growth than they had at the time of prior FOMC meetings," Mericle wrote.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Driving Goldman's Call?</h3>



The firm pointed to a deceleration in consumer spending, which it said slowed more than expected in the first half of 2025—even before the full impact of Donald Trump's tariff regime is felt. Investment softness, primarily in housing, and policy-related uncertainty are also contributing to the economic downshift.



Goldman believes the inflation battle is largely over, citing the rebalancing of the labor market and a return to pre-pandemic trendlines. 



The only upside risk? A temporary tariff-driven boost to core inflation, estimated at about 1 percentage point, which it sees as a one-time effect unlikely to alter long-term inflation expectations.



The firm echoed Fed Governor Christopher Waller's view that tariffs won't ignite a prolonged inflation wave.



"We expect the underlying inflation trend to continue converging to 2% this year," the note said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Expectations Lag Behind</h3>



Despite Goldman's confidence, markets remain more cautious. 



Fed futures data from CME Group shows a 73% chance of just two rate cuts in 2025. 



Meanwhile, Kalshi's CFTC-regulated contracts assign the highest probability to two cuts (50bps) at 40%, with only 10% odds for the three-cut scenario Goldman forecasts for this year.



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://kalshi.com/external-widgets/events/KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31?color_scheme=light&#038;widget_size=medium&#038;variant=a&#038;ids=KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31-T2&#038;ids=KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31-T1&#038;ids=KXRATECUTCOUNT-25DEC31-T0&#038;utm_campaign=benzinga_widget" width="488px" height="196px" style="border:0"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What To Expect From Powell?</h3>



The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady this week at the 5.25%–5.50% range. 



Goldman anticipates no strong forward guidance in the July statement or Powell's press conference. Instead, the tone will likely shift from describing growth as "solid" to "moderate" to reflect slower first-half expansion.



Mericle expects both Governor Bowman and Waller to likely dissent and vote for a 25-basis-point rate cut. 



While Powell may be asked whether the two cuts projected in the Fed's June dot plot remain the baseline, he's unlikely to commit—preferring to emphasize the "meeting-by-meeting" approach with two key inflation and jobs prints still due before September.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bottom Line</h3>



Goldman Sachs sees the Fed cutting faster and deeper than Wall Street believes. 



If growth slows further and inflation stays tame—aside from a short-lived tariff bump—the market may be underestimating the pace of policy easing in the months ahead.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46641084/wall-street-stock-bubble-2025">Is A Stock Market Crash Imminent? Bubble Warnings Grow Louder </a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Federal Reserve

Get Ready For Five Fed Cuts, Markets Got It All Wrong: Goldman Sachs

In a market where every crypto firm wants to slap <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">&#8216;AI&#8217; on its investor deck</a>, two Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) miners are winning by doing the exact opposite.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Track BTC&#8217;s price <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTC-USD">here</a>.</li>
</ul>



CleanSpark Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLSK#NASDAQ">CLSK</a>) and MARA Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), formerly known as Marathon Digital, received a bullish nod from JPMorgan. The investment bank&#8217;s analysts upgraded MARA to Overweight and reiterated CleanSpark as its top pick.



Why? Both companies stayed focused on their core business—mining Bitcoin. Their rivals, meanwhile, chased high-performance computing (HPC) dreams with uncertain timelines and even hazier economics.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46653821/ray-dalio-says-15-in-bitcoin-or-gold-may-be-essential-as-fiat-currencies-face-devaluation-risks">Ray Dalio Says 15% In Bitcoin Or Gold May Be Essential As Fiat Currencies Face Devaluation Risks</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When AI Hype Fizzles, Fundamentals Shine</h2>



Analyst Reginald L. Smith writes that CleanSpark and Marathon now offer the "best relative value" among JPMorgan's crypto mining coverage. In contrast, formerly favored names like Riot Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIOT#NASDAQ">RIOT</a>) and IREN Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IREN#NASDAQ">IREN</a>) (formerly known as Iris Energy) were downgraded, not due to poor execution, but because their valuations look stretched—and too dependent on unannounced AI or HPC deals.



With Bitcoin roaring and network hashrates stabilizing, miners producing coins efficiently—not theorizing about AI workloads—are positioned to benefit first.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Miners That Mine—What A Concept</h2>



MARA is aiming for a massive 75 EH/s hashrate by year-end 2025. According to JPMorgan, the market hasn't fully priced that in. Meanwhile, CleanSpark continues to scale quietly, without pivoting to AI theater, and is now considered best-in-class for cost efficiency.



In short: the more a miner sounds like an HPC sales pitch, the less compelling it looks to Wall Street right now.



Investors may finally be asking: who's generating actual revenue from bitcoin, and who's just generating buzzwords? For now, it seems the miners who didn't try to reinvent themselves as AI companies are the ones worth watching.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46652325/bitcoin-has-shot-up-a-whopping-92525-since-chamath-palihapitiya-called-it-schmuck-insurance">Bitcoin Has Shot Up A Whopping 92525% Since Chamath Palihapitiya Called It &#8216;Schmuck Insurance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



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MARA, CleanSpark Avoided The AI Hype—And That's Their Superpower

Jim Cramer has predicted that Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) will soar to $200, following its recent surge past $150.



Check out the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR">PLTR stock price here</a>.



What Happened: In a post on X, CNBC&#8217;s &#8216;Mad Money&#8217; host Cramer described the stock's upward movement as "like a knife through butter," signaling a bullish outlook on the AI-driven data analytics firm.



Palantir, known for its Gotham and Foundry platforms used by U.S. defense and commercial sectors, hit a fresh record high of $160.39 per share intraday on Friday.



<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">Palantir being pushed up nicely. Right through $150 like a knife through butter. Next stop: $200. Obviously Robinhood roaring, too&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1949764867268784395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Last week, the U.S. Army awarded a $100 million contract to the Anduril-Palantir team for the delivery of a Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) platform prototype.



With this deal, Palantir is poised to secure an estimated $30 million from an 11-month contract, a high-priority U.S. Army project, <a href="https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/palantir-pltr-wins-key-u-s-army-ai-contract-in-push-for-defense-growth-1573150/">reported</a> Insider Monkey, citing William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma. 



This initiative also offers the potential to boost Palantir&#8217;s annual recurring revenue by over $150 million within three years.



Wedbush analyst Dan Ives also highlighted Palantir as a key beneficiary of President Donald Trump&#8216;s &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46580004/trumps-ai-action-plan-to-unleash-4th-industrial-revolution-dan-ives-picks-6-stock-winners">AI Action Plan</a>,&#8221; which aims to secure U.S. leadership in the sector, and he also listed it as one of his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46463595/dan-ives-picks-5-stocks-for-2nd-half-of-2025-nvidia-palantir-microsoft-and-more-golden-age-of-tech-is-here-with-ai-revolution">top five picks</a> for the second half of 2025. 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46655759/these-3-dividend-yielding-stocks-could-outperform-as-high-fed-rates-spark-4-9-billion-inflows-ex">These 3 Dividend-Yielding Stocks Could Outperform As High Fed Rates Spark $4.9 Billion Inflows: Expert</a>



Why It Matters: Additionally, last week on Friday, Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46635102/palantir-technologies-stock-hits-a-new-all-time-high-whats-driving-the-action">$170 price target</a> for Palantir. 



This followed Ives&#8217; target price <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46339022/palantir-could-be-the-next-big-ai-winner-says-dan-ives-sees-12-pltr-stock-surge">increase to $160 apiece</a>, underlining the growing confidence in Palantir&#8217;s artificial intelligence strategy. He described PLTR to be on a &#8220;golden path to become an AI stalwart&#8221; over the next 12 months. 



The enthusiasm of various analysts underscores their belief in the company&#8217;s potential to dominate the AI landscape, despite its forward P/E ratio of 277.778, raising valuation concerns among some investors.



While bullish analysts like Ives and Bracelin are raising their targets, the broader analyst consensus of 25 experts, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings">tracked by Benzinga</a>, remains a &#8216;Sell&#8217; with an average price target near $80.6. Despite this, investor sentiment, propelled by key government contracts and strategic enterprise partnerships, continues to drive the stock to new heights.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="387" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-1024x387.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1003078" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-1024x387.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest-768x290.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071416/PLTR-ANR-new-fresh-latest.png 1098w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



Price Action: Palantir was up 1.41% in premarket on Monday. It has risen by 111.20% on a year-to-date basis and 486.41% over the past year.



Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that PLTR maintains solid momentum across short, medium, and long-term periods. However, while the stock scores well on growth rankings, its value rating remains relatively weak. Additional performance details are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-3/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-3/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="155" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-1024x155.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1003076" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-1024x155.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-300x46.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR-768x116.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28071351/edge-new-PLTR.png 1167w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were higher in premarket on Monday. The SPY was up 0.18% at $638.23, while the QQQ advanced 0.37% to $568.47, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46653560/bitcoin-ethereum-ripple-have-big-money-moment-as-expert-sees-incremental-institutional-buyers-driving-current-rally" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple Have ‘Big Money' Moment As Expert Sees ‘Incremental Institutional Buyers' Driving Current Rally</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

News

PLTR

Palantir's Next Stop Is $200, Says Jim Cramer As PLTR Glides 'Like A Knife Through Butter'

As the uncertainty surrounding Trump tariffs and other policy changes in Washington continues, middle-income Americans are accelerating their car-buying plans, a new survey reveals.



What Happened: A new survey by&nbsp;Santander Holdings USA&nbsp;shows that the majority of middle-income Americans are concerned about rising car prices and the impact of future price uncertainty. Despite these worries, three-quarters of the respondents believe&nbsp;they are on the right&nbsp;financial track,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/28/car-buyers-prices-tariffs-survey?ref=biztoc.com">reported</a>&nbsp;Axios on Monday.



&#8220;Our&nbsp;research finds consumers are taking&nbsp;proactive steps to secure what&nbsp;matters most, especially autos,&#8221; said&nbsp;Betty Jotanovic, president of auto&nbsp;relationships at Santander Consumer USA.



The survey also highlights the significance of vehicle access to families, with many consumers making proactive decisions to secure their transportation needs.



Consumers are keeping a close eye on how uncertainty around future prices might influence their spending decisions. In Q2, 55% said they were considering purchasing a car in the next year, up from 47% in Q1. Additionally, 18% accelerated major purchases due to price concerns, with 41% of those buying a car.



Despite rising prices, consumers appear more eager to make a move—half of potential buyers say they're now more likely to take out an auto loan, 48% are more inclined to buy a used vehicle, and 42% are more likely to complete a purchase within the next three months.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46651859/trumps-new-eu-trade-deal-labeled-bad-news-by-economists-as-dow-futures-spike-over-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s New EU Trade Deal Labeled &#8216;Bad News&#8217; By Economists As Dow Futures Spike Over 150 Points</a>



Why It Matters: The surge in car-buying plans among middle-income Americans reflects the impact of the ongoing policy shifts in Washington. This trend is also evident in the used car market, where buyers are facing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46483841/a-used-car-buyer-is-baffled-by-prices-says-there-are-no-more-affordable-safe-and-reliable-starter-cars-with-less-than-100k-miles">sticker shock</a>&nbsp;and dealerships are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46370165/car-buyer-says-paying-cash-made-the-dealer-act-like-they-just-spoke-fluent-dolphin-theyre-not-dealerships-anymore-theyre-bankerships">reacting</a>&nbsp;to cash payments in unusual ways.



These changes are occurring against the backdrop of the Trump administration&#8217;s&nbsp;$550 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46622277/trumps-trade-deal-with-japan-a-tax-on-americans-economist-says-not-remotely-optimistic-us-auto-companies-will-gain-as-toyota-and-honda-stocks-rally">trade deal with Japan</a>, which some experts argue is essentially a tax increase for American consumers. 



The American Automotive Policy Council, representing U.S. automakers like GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), Ford (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Stellantis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>), has opposed a new trade deal that imposes a 25% tariff on U.S.-made vehicles from Canada and Mexico, while Japan faces only a 15% tariff, thus potentially raising vehicle prices in the U.S..



However, the U.S. Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46627767/commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick-dismisses-silly-concerns-of-us-automakers-over-japan-trade-deal-says-theyre-cool-with-it">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;has stated that American auto CEOs are in favor of the new trade agreement.



READ MORE: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46549018/general-motors-delivers-q2-beat-braces-for-higher-tariff-pressures-ahead">General Motors Delivers Q2 Beat, Braces For Higher Tariff Pressures Ahead</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46549018/general-motors-delivers-q2-beat-braces-for-higher-tariff-pressures-ahead"> </a>

STLA

Trump Tariff Worries Drive Middle-Income Americans To Rush Car Buys: Report

U.S. stock futures rose on Monday after ending higher on Friday. Futures of major benchmark indices were higher.



President Donald Trump announced a 15% tariff <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46650830/donald-trump-announces-15-tariff-trade-agreement-with-eu-ending-months-of-trade-uncertainty">trade deal with the European Union</a> (EU) on Sunday, putting an end to several months of trade uncertainty with the U.S.'s biggest trade partner. 



The tariff rate is a significant drop from the 30% Trump threatened on July 12 and the 20% he proposed on April 2. Trump stated that the EU will not impose a tariff on U.S. imports, describing the deal as "satisfactory to both sides."



Investors will assess a slew of macro and micro indicators this week, as the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate decision, along with the second-quarter GDP data, will be released on Wednesday.



Additionally, earnings from companies including Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) are expected this week.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.37% and the two-year bond was at 3.91%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 96.99% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its July meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.16%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.27%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>0.47%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.53%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were higher in premarket on Friday. The SPY was up 0.28% at $638.91, while the QQQ advanced 0.50% to $569.22, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



On Friday, industrials, materials, and consumer discretionary stocks led the gains among S&amp;P 500 sectors, while energy and communication services stocks ended the session lower, bucking the overall positive trend.



U.S. stocks settled higher, with the S&amp;P 500 marking its 14th record close this year, fueled by optimism over corporate earnings and global trade talk progress, which bolstered risk assets.



All three major indices saw weekly gains, with the 30-stock Dow rising approximately 1.3%, the broad S&amp;P 500 climbing about 1.5%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq adding 1%.



Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>) reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results. Conversely, Carter&#8217;s Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRI#NYSE">CRI</a>) shares dropped around 20% after the company missed second-quarter adjusted EPS estimates, suspended its fiscal 2025 guidance, and cited tariff impacts.



On the economic data front, U.S. durable goods orders fell 9.3% month-over-month to $311.84 billion in June, following a revised 16.5% gain in May.



The Dow Jones index ended 208 points or 0.47% higher at 44,901.92, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index rose 0.40% to 6,388.64. Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.24% to 21,108.32, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, gained 0.40% to end at 2,261.07.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>0.24%</td><td>21,108.32</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>0.40%</td><td>6,388.64</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>0.47%</td><td>44,901.92</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.40%</td><td>2,261.07</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



The Director and Senior Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab &amp; Co., Kevin Gordon, highlighted that the week ahead was crucial with important market-moving data scheduled to be released during this period.



<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">Here&#39;s what we have next week: Apple earnings Amazon earnings Microsoft earnings Meta earnings FOMC rate decision JOLTS Conference Board consumer confidence PCE inflation ISM Manufacturing UMich June jobs report August 1 tariff deadline Other than that, should be pretty quiet&mdash; Kevin Gordon (@KevRGordon) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevRGordon/status/1948107799613059455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research, &#8220;Naturally, the main event will be the Federal Open Market Committee's widely expected decision (Wed) to leave the federal funds rate unchanged. We are among those expecting no change.&#8221;



However, he expects that Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s press conference (Wed) will be relatively dovish, raising the odds of a September rate cut. &#8220;Nevertheless, we remain in the none-and-done camp in 2025 for now,&#8221; Yardeni added.



However, senior economist Mohamed El Erian noted that Trump&#8217;s Fed visit last week underscored &#8220;differing interpretations.&#8221;



According to him, some viewed it as a &#8220;truce,&#8221; citing the President&#8217;s pledge not to fire Chair Powell and his expectation that the Chair would &#8220;do the right thing&#8221; by cutting interest rates.



Whereas others saw the visit as an escalation, aligning with Steve Bannon&#8217;s &#8220;flood the zone&#8221; strategy. &#8220;They point to the awkward televised exchange between the President and Chair Powell regarding the renovation&#8217;s cost as evidence of continued and clear friction,&#8221; he added.



&#8220;This week promises to be an exceptionally busy one, packed with notable policy decisions, major economic data releases, and systemically important corporate earnings – all set against the backdrop of seasonally thinner market liquidity,&#8221; Erian added.



Meanwhile, Jamie Cox, the managing partner for Harris Financial Group spoke about the U.S. deal with EU.



&#8220;When Japan broke down and made a deal the EU had little choice. The biggest piece in the trade deal puzzle still remains, and the Chinese are unlikely to be as willing to fold. The next big durable theme in markets is security, and the EU deal only accelerates it,&#8221; he said.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on this week:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>No data is scheduled to be released on Monday.</li>



<li>On Tuesday, June&#8217;s advanced U.S. trade balance in goods, retail inventories, and wholesale inventories data will be announced by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>May&#8217;s S&amp;P Case-Shiller home price index for 20 cities will be out by 9:00 a.m., July&#8217;s consumer confidence data, and June&#8217;s job openings data will be released by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Wednesday, July ADP employment will be out by 8:15 a.m. and the second quarter&#8217;s GDP data will be released by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>June&#8217;s pending home sales data will be released by 10:00 a.m. and the FOMC interest rate decision will be bout by 2:00 p.m., with the Federal Reserve Chair Powell addressing a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Thursday, the initial jobless claims data for the week ended July 26, the second quarter&#8217;s Employment Cost Index data, June personal income, spending, and the headline and core PCE Index data will all be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>July&#8217;s Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) will be out by 9:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Friday, July&#8217;s U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data will be announced by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>July&#8217;s S&amp;P final U.S. manufacturing PMI will be released at 9:45 a.m., whereas July&#8217;s ISM manufacturing, construction spending, and consumer sentiment will be announced by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>July&#8217;s auto sales data will also be released on Friday.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) stock rose 1.72% in premarket on Monday after it confirmed a massive $16.5 billion chip manufacturing deal with Samsung Electronics.</li>



<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) was up 1.44% after the U.S. Army on Friday awarded a $100 million, 11-month Next-Generation Command and Control prototype contract, part of a broader $3 billion Department of Defense request for fiscal 2026.</li>



<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) was up 1.30% after it released a statement responding to the Department of Justice after a review of the media reports about investigations into specific aspects of its involvement in the Medicare program.</li>



<li>Anghami Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANGH#NASDAQ">ANGH</a>) zoomed 38.65% the company appointed James Cooke, a senior executive from Warner Bros Discovery Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>), to its Board of Directors. Additionally, its shareholders also approved a 1-for-10 reverse stock split.</li>



<li>Mill City Ventures III Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCVT#NASDAQ">MCVT</a>) surged 91.68% following a recent halt in trading due to a circuit breaker. On Friday, the stock was halted after a 211.3% increase, leading to a temporary suspension in trading.</li>



<li>ATAI Life Sciences NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATAI#NASDAQ">ATAI</a>) dropped 16.81% after disclosing that the Phase 2b trial of Inidascamine in patients with cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia did not meet its primary endpoint.</li>



<li>Enterprise Products Partners LP. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPD#NYSE">EPD</a>) was 0.95% higher as analysts expect it to report earnings of 65 cents per share on revenue of $15.04 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Nucor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>) advanced 1.09% as it is expected to report earnings after the closing bell. Analysts estimate earnings of $2.65 per share on revenue of $8.51 billion.</li>



<li>Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>) added 0.25% as analysts expect it to report earnings of $1.89 per share on revenue of $6.37 billion after the closing bell.</li>



<li>Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>) rose 0.76% as it is expected to report earnings after the closing bell. Analysts estimate earnings of $1.78 per share on revenue of $3.90 billion.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.95% to hover around $65.78 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 0.01% to hover around $3,337.38 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,500.33 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.51% at the 98.1430 level.



Asian markets mostly advanced on Monday, except Japan's Nikkei 225 and India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex indices. South Korea's Kospi, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, China&#8217;s CSI 300, and Australia's ASX 200 indices rose. European markets were mostly higher in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46652124/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-climb-on-trump-eu-trade-pact-analyst-says-this-risk-off-signal-could-be-critical-as-btc-drives-entire-crypto-market">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Climb On Trump-EU Trade Pact — Analyst Says This &#8216;Risk-Off&#8217; Signal Could Be Critical As BTC Drives Entire Crypto Market</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: godongphoto / Shutterstock.com

AAPL

AMZN

ANGH

ATAI

MCVT

MSFT

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher As US-EU Ink Trade Deal: Tesla, Palantir, UnitedHealth In Focus

Amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty, global stocks and funds with a strategic focus on high dividends are experiencing a significant resurgence in investor interest. This expert highlights the top three stocks and funds that investors could consider to seize the opportunity.



What Happened: After two years of subdued demand, these funds are once again drawing substantial inflows, driven by a confluence of economic factors, most notably the elevated interest rates maintained by the Federal Reserve.



As highlighted by Eugenia Mykuliak, the founder and executive director at B2PRIME Group, the renewed popularity of dividend-yielding instruments was reflected in April 2025 fund flow data. The equity income ETFs recorded an impressive $4.9 billion in net flows.



Industry leaders such as the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>) have been at the forefront of this trend.



&#8220;Donald Trump&#8216;s calls for lower rates and the Fed&#8217;s reluctance, which kept rates high, are the principal rationales here. As we know, high interest rates make bonds less attractive, prompting investors to shift towards dividend-paying stocks,&#8221; Mykuliak told <a href="https://www.benzinga.com">Benzinga</a>.



Mykuliak points to compelling examples citing Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>), Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), and BP PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>). &#8220;C-bond dividend yields offered by companies like Kroger (~9.4% dividend yield), Chevron (4.78%), and BP (6.59%) appear to be competitive so far,&#8221; she highlighted.



This data underscores that dividend yields are currently either close to or, in many cases, significantly higher than the 10-year Treasury bond yield of 4.37%, making them a more attractive proposition for income-seeking investors.



&#8220;So current dividend yields remain competitive relative to long-term government bonds, particularly for high-quality dividend stocks,&#8221; Mykuliak states.



Furthermore, Mykuliak highlights that &#8220;geopolitical tensions (most notably, tariffs) and economic uncertainty make dividend stocks a safer investment.&#8221;



Looking ahead, the momentum for dividend stocks is expected to persist. Mykuliak reiterates, &#8220;Once again, the Fed&#8217;s stance amid overall economic uncertainty tilts toward keeping interest rates high, making dividends more attractive.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46653560/bitcoin-ethereum-ripple-have-big-money-moment-as-expert-sees-incremental-institutional-buyers-driving-current-rally">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple Have &#8216;Big Money&#8217; Moment As Expert Sees &#8216;Incremental Institutional Buyers&#8217; Driving Current Rally</a>



Why It Matters: &#8220;All in all, dividend stocks are strategically positioned to benefit from 2025's macroeconomic landscape, offering higher yields than bonds and greater stability than growth stocks,&#8221; Mykuliak concludes.



She advises investors to &#8220;prioritize high-quality, diversified dividend portfolios (tapping into the ETF universe for convenience, bearing in mind, for example, SCHD, VIG) to capitalize on this trend while mitigating the known risks.&#8221;



However, she cautions investors to be aware of potential risks, including dividend cuts and the possibility of current economic uncertainty escalating into a more severe slowdown, which could potentially temper future inflows.



Price Action: Here&#8217;s how the stocks and ETFs mentioned by Mykuliak have performed.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>ETFs</td><td>One-Month Performance</td><td>YTD Performance</td><td>One-Year Performance</td></tr><tr><td>Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>)</td><td>2.47%</td><td>7.10%</td><td>10.78%</td></tr><tr><td>Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIG#NYSE">VIG</a>)</td><td>2.18%</td><td>7.31%</td><td>11.03%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Stocks</td><td>One-Month Performance</td><td>YTD Performance</td><td>One-Year Performance</td></tr><tr><td>Kroger Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>)</td><td>-0.38%</td><td>15.37%</td><td>31.85%</td></tr><tr><td>Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</td><td>8.14%</td><td>5.54%</td><td>-1.12%</td></tr><tr><td>BP PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>)</td><td>7.58%</td><td>7.58%</td><td>-7.89%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were higher in premarket on Friday. The SPY was up 0.17% at $638.16, while the QQQ advanced 0.35% to $568.37, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46652770/citi-strata-elite-credit-card-launched-to-attract-affluent-customers-heres-how-it-stacks-up-against-amex-platinum-jpmorgan-chase-sapphire-reserve">Citi Strata Elite Credit Card Launched To Attract Affluent Customers: Here&#8217;s How It Stacks Up Against Amex Platinum, JPMorgan Chase Sapphire Reserve</a></li>
</ul>



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



Image Credit: RYAN MERCER/NORTHJERSEY.COM via Imagn Images

SCHD

These 3 Dividend-Yielding Stocks Could Outperform As High Fed Rates Spark $4.9 Billion Inflows: Expert

YouTube cofounder Steve Chen warned parents against allowing children to consume only short-form content, citing concerns about diminishing attention spans and addictive design elements that could impact cognitive development.



What Happened: &#8220;I don&#8217;t know if I want my kids to be watching like short-form content as their only way and they can&#8217;t be able to watch something that&#8217;s more than 15 minutes in length,&#8221; Chen said during a Stanford Business School talk published Friday. 



The former Chief Technology Officer helped launch YouTube in 2005 before Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) owned Google acquired the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41616337/google-bought-youtube-for-1-65b-and-now-it-prints-50b-in-revenue-just-in-1-year-sundar-pich">platform for $1.65 billion in 2006</a>.



Chen&#8217;s comments carry significant weight as YouTube now generates $50 billion in combined <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41616337/google-bought-youtube-for-1-65b-and-now-it-prints-50b-in-revenue-just-in-1-year-sundar-pich">advertising and subscription revenue</a>, representing a massive return on Google&#8217;s initial investment. The platform competes directly with TikTok and Meta Platforms Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Instagram Reels for user engagement.



&#8220;I think TikTok is entertainment, but it&#8217;s purely entertainment,&#8221; said Chen, who moved to Taiwan in 2019. &#8220;Just shorter form content equates to shorter attention spans.&#8221;



During the talk, Chen mentioned that some parents are intentionally steering their children toward long-form content while avoiding videos with flashy visuals and &#8220;addictive eyeballs,&#8221; recognizing how easily such content can get kids hooked.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46654181/alibaba-cloud-pioneer-says-he-doesnt-like-agi-asi-classifications-it-just-means-you-get-more-capability-thats-it">Alibaba Cloud Pioneer Says He Doesn&#8217;t Like AGI, ASI Classifications: &#8216;It Just Means You Get More Capability. That&#8217;s It&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: A 2022 survey shows that Gen Z users spend over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/12/30065546/gen-z-users-want-short-form-content-spend-4-hours-on-social-media-daily-like-superheroes-wh">four hours daily on social media</a>, with 71% preferring content under 30 minutes. 



Chen suggested implementing age-based daily access restrictions, noting the &#8220;delicate balance between what is going to get users&#8217; eyes and what&#8217;s going to monetize more versus what is actually useful.&#8221;



His warnings come as Amazon.com Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Twitch <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38541148/amazons-twitch-launches-short-form-video-platform-to-challenge-tiktok-as-chinese-platforms-future-re">launched short-form features in 2024</a> and TikTok faces U.S. regulatory challenges, creating market opportunities for established players like YouTube to capture shifting user <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/07/46310388/kevin-oleary-torpedoes-trumps-tiktok-deal-claim-we-dont-have-a-seller">engagement patterns</a>.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/07/46652824/mark-cuban-says-its-not-the-students-at-fault-but-the-school-if-answers-can-be-generated-with-ai-kids-take-path-of-least-resistance">Mark Cuban Says It&#8217;s Not The Students At Fault But The School If Answers Can Be Generated With AI: Kids Take &#8216;Path Of Least Resistance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

Social Media

GOOG

GOOGL

YouTube Cofounder Says He May Not Want His Kids Watching Only Shorts, Reels Or TikTok—Warns Of 'Addictive Eyeballs,' Shrinking Attention Spans

Meta Platforms Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has announced a ban on political, electoral, and social issue advertising in the European Union (EU) due to the &#8220;unworkable requirements&#8221; of the new rules.



What Happened: Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, as well as messaging app WhatsApp, is set to implement the ban from October, <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250725-meta-to-ban-political-ads-in-eu-due-to-bloc-s-unworkable-rules">reported</a> AFP. The new EU regulations, known as the Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA), are aimed at enhancing transparency in online advertising following the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal.



Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/META" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">META stock here</a>.



Meta CEO&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg&nbsp;has been vocal about his discontent with the EU&#8217;s regulations, previously accusing the EU of &#8220;censorship&#8221; and equating fines to tariffs. The company is currently facing a 200-million-euro ($235-million) fine for violating personal data rules on Facebook and Instagram, with the possibility of additional daily penalties if changes are not made.



Meta is not alone in this move. Google (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) last year also revealed plans to block&nbsp;political advertising in the EU&nbsp;from October 2025 due to similar challenges and legal uncertainties.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46650830/donald-trump-announces-15-tariff-trade-agreement-with-eu-ending-months-of-trade-uncertainty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump Announces 15% Tariff Trade Agreement With EU, Ending Months Of Trade Uncertainty</a>



Why It Matters: This decision by Meta comes amid a series of regulatory challenges faced by the company in the EU. Earlier in July,&nbsp;Meta, along with other tech giants, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46536032/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-and-elon-musks-x-fight-back-against-efforts-by-italy-to-tax-free-access-to-social-media-in-exchange-for-users-personal-data">fought back</a> against a tax case in Italy&nbsp;that could alter how digital services are taxed across the EU. 



Additionally, WhatsApp, owned by Meta, was warned of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46492350/russian-lawmaker-says-whatsapp-should-prepare-to-leave-amid-push-for-state-backed-messaging-app">potential exit </a>from the Russian market due to national security concerns. These instances highlight the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by Meta in the region.



Furthermore, the EU&#8217;s stringent regulations have not only affected Meta but also other tech companies. For instance,&nbsp;Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) was expected to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46565660/apple-set-to-dodge-over-50-million-in-daily-eu-fines-with-app-store-overhaul-opening-door-to-cheaper-developer-payments-report">dodge daily </a>EU fines&nbsp;by accepting changes to its App Store rules and fees. This growing regulatory pressure on tech companies in the EU could potentially reshape the digital landscape in the region.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="787" height="138" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1002946" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424.png 787w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424-300x53.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/28054138/image-424-768x135.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 787px) 100vw, 787px" /></figure>



Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Rankings place Amazon in the 90th percentile for quality and the 93rd percentile for growth, reflecting strong performance in both areas. Check the detailed report&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.&nbsp;



READ MORE:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46647034/mark-zuckerberg-names-openai-veteran-shengjia-zhao-as-chief-scientist-of-meta-superintelligence-labs">Mark Zuckerberg Names OpenAI Veteran Shengjia Zhao As Chief Scientist Of Meta Superintelligence Labs </a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



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

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Shuts Down EU Political Ads On Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp — Calls New Rules 'Unworkable'

Wall Street closed the week higher, with tech-heavy indices notching fresh records as upbeat corporate earnings, resilient macro data and breakthrough trade deals converged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">to boost risk appetite.</a>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>SPY ETF has rallied 5% over the past month.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY"> See the chart here. </a></li>
</ul>



The U.S. finalized new trade agreements with Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. The Tokyo deal was the most significant, locking in a reduction in tariffs on Japanese autos and goods from 25% to 15%, while Japan pledged $550 billion in investment and improved access <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/07/46587245/japan-bond-yields-trump-trade-deal">to American-made goods.</a>



A U.S.-EU trade deal is now reportedly close, expected to align with the Japan framework and potentially ease existing tariff rates ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline.



Separately, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to boost the U.S. artificial intelligence sector by promoting the export of full-stack AI systems to trusted global partners. The White House said the move is aimed at strengthening economic leadership and national security.



Among the week's strongest performers, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>) rallied over 12%, topping the leaderboard for large-cap stocks, followed by T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>), up 9%.



Within the Magnificent Seven, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) rose by 1% after delivering better-than-expected results and raising its 2025 capital expenditures (capex) outlook by $10 billion, reinforcing its commitment to scaling AI infrastructure.



Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) dropped 8.2% following cautious commentary from CEO Elon Musk, who warned that upcoming quarters could prove challenging amid rising <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46626447/elon-musk-says-20-trillion-valuation-possible-for-tesla-even-as-second-quarter-earnings-show-sales-revenue-decline-extreme-execution-is-needed">costs and margin pressures.</a>



Economic indicators added fuel to the rally. U.S. business activity surprised to the upside, with the Composite Purchasing Managers&#8217; Index climbing to a seven-month high in July, helped by expansion in services and steady consumer strength.



Trump's push to influence monetary policy continued with an unannounced visit to the Federal Reserve's headquarters in Washington, D.C. — the first by a sitting president <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46633129/trumps-fed-visit-powell-interest-rates">in nearly 20 years.</a>



Wearing a hard hat alongside Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Trump criticized the central bank's renovation project, claiming costs had surged to $3.1 billion. Powell countered on the spot, clarifying that the real cost is closer to $2.5 billion, excluding unrelated construction.



Pressed on rate policy, Trump said, "I'd love to see him lower interest rates."



Markets now shift focus to the July 30 Fed meeting, where expectations remain anchored for a hold — but not without growing political heat.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46641084/wall-street-stock-bubble-2025">Is A Stock Market Crash Imminent? Bubble Warnings Grow Louder</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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