By Alex Financials

Market Snapshot: Mixed but Optimistic

Wall Street showed a mixed performance: the Dow Jones slipped ~0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained ~0.2% and the Nasdaq led with a ~0.6% rise. Tech stocks and earnings provided support amid volatility.

Tariffs & Trade: A Tech-Heavy Boost

President Trump’s new semiconductor tariffs—100% on imported chips with carve‑outs for companies that manufacture in the U.S.—boosted optimism for Apple ($AAPL), Nvidia ($NVDA), and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) among others.

Earnings Highlights: Winners and Losers

• Duolingo ($DUOL) surged 21–28% after a better-than-expected earnings report and revenue growth.

• Dutch Bros ($BROS) climbed over 17% on strong results.

• Airbnb ($ABNB) dropped ~6–7% despite beating Q2 estimates due to a cautious outlook.

• Eli Lilly ($LLY) fell significantly—6% to 14%—despite beating earnings, as weight-loss trial data disappointed.

Other Movers: Crypto & Jobless Data

Jobless claims rose to 226,000, modestly shy of expectations but signaling continued labor market resilience. Meanwhile, Bitcoin climbed above $116,400 on reports suggesting a potential executive order to allow crypto in 401(k) plans.

Global Ripple Effects

Markets outside the U.S. reacted positively: Asia and Europe gained with China’s strong July trade data adding confidence. Taiwan and South Korea received tariff exemptions, aiding their chipmakers. The Bank of England also cut rates by 0.25% to 4%, further supporting market sentiment.

In Summary

U.S. markets ended the day on a cautiously optimistic note, driven by tech sector strength, mixed earnings, and policy updates. Though tariffs injected uncertainty, strategic carve-outs for semiconductor firms, resilient job data, and upbeat global trends helped sustain momentum.