Stock Market Today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 Turn Higher as Warsh …

On Wednesday, the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 rose after Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh indicated the central bank's readiness to act against inflation. Oil prices surged following President Trump's threats against Iran, amidst ongoing tensions. The tech sector saw mixed movements with Microsoft and Meta Platforms set to report earnings. Treasury yields slightly decreased. Despite overall market improvements, the S&P 500 Industrials Sector struggled, led by a 20% drop in Lennox International's shares. Noteworthy movers included GE HealthCare, which jumped 12% post-earnings, and VF Corp, which nosedived 17% due to poor sales performance. Procter & Gamble saw its stock fall 3% after missing sales expectations. Bitcoin remained steady at around $63,800 while gold and the U.S. dollar showed minor fluctuations.

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Microsoft and Meta Platforms are slated to report quarterly results after the bell Wedneday. Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 turned higher Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh spoke after the central bank kept interest rates intact. Meanwhile, oil prices surged after President Donald Trump threatened Iran for launching a surprise missile attack on U.S. forces.

The tech-focused Nasdaq and benchmark S&P 500 recently were up 0.6% and 0.2%, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1.1%. All three had remained in negative territory after the Fed's 9-3 decision to keep rates steady before Warsh said the central bank "will not hesitate to act" to combat inflation, and that "market participants are learning to play the ball, not the referee, and market prices will continue to respond in the direction and magnitude they see fit." (Read our live blog of the decision here.)

The 10-year Treasury yield, which influences interest rates on a variety of consumer loans including mortgages, was around 4.62%, down from 4.64% immediately before the decision. The yield closed yesterday at 4.61%.

Oil prices jumped early Wednesday after U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said last night that Iran had “launched multiple ballistic missiles ... in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East.” Trump then told Fox News that “we’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating.” U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures jumped 6.5% to $84.40 a barrel in recent trading, while global benchmark Brent crude futures surged 7.2% to $90.15.

Yesterday, the Dow and S&P 500 closed higher and the Nasdaq fell for the second time in as many days this week. The Nasdaq has declined for the past five sessions amid investor concerns about tech giants’ AI spending.

Two of those companies— Microsoft ( MSFT) and Meta Platforms ( META)—will be reporting highly anticipated results after markets close today and their shares ticked higher and lower, respectively. The other Magnificent Seven mega-cap tech stocks were lower except for Apple ( AAPL), which edged higher. Apple, which is slated to issue its own earnings report tomorrow afternoon, hit $5 trillion in market capitalization yesterday.

The Roundhill Memory ETF ( DRAM) and broader iShares Semiconductor ETF ( SOXX) were down 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, after closing down about 9% and 5% yesterday. South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix ( SKHY) stock fell fractionally and Seagate Technology ( STX) shares rose 6.5% after both reported results.

In other post-earnings moves, GE HealthCare Technologies ( GEHC) jumped 11%, Ford Motor ( F) rose 4%, Teradyne ( TER) advanced 5.5%, Visa ( V) edged higher, Vertiv Holdings ( VRT) dropped 16%, and Procter & Gamble ( PG) fell 3%.

Bitcoin was trading around $63,800, little changed over the past 24 hours. The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the value of the greenback against a basket of foreign currencies, was up 0.1% at 101.48. Gold futures declined 0.6% to $4,015 an ounce.

July 29, 2026 02:54 PM EDT

Lennox International Leads Leads S&P 500 Industrials Sector Lower

FROM 5 minutes ago

The S&P 500 Industrials Sector is the worst performer of the 11 industries tracked by the benchmark index. Lennox International is leading those declines.

Lennox International ( LII) shares are tumbling 20% with about an hour to go in the trading day, the worst individual performance in the S&P 500.

Industrials shares are down some 2.2%, more than twice the decline of any other sector.

Five of the 11 sectors are in negative territory today. The S&P 500 recently turned slightly higher on the day.

July 29, 2026 01:18 PM EDT

Fed Meeting Today: Here’s What to Expect

FROM 1 hr 41 min ago

Welcome to Investopedia’s live blog of the June Federal Open Market Committee meeting. Here, we will bring you the latest news on the Fed’s decision, explain what it means, and provide analysis.

The policy committee is expected to keep its influential fed funds rate unchanged this afternoon. However, investors are leaving some room for doubt.

At the close of their meeting on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, central bankers are expected to release a written statement outlining their decisions and a summary. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to hold a press conference after.

Read our coverage of the decision here.

Taylor Tompkins and Diccon Hyatt

Kevin Warsh, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh is expected to hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. Al Drago / Bloomberg / Getty Images

July 29, 2026 12:47 PM EDT

Procter & Gamble’s Stock Drops After Sales Miss Wall Street’s Projections

FROM 2 hr 12 min ago

Procter & Gamble’s stock is taking a hit Wednesday after sales fell short of Wall Street estimates.

Shares of Procter & Gamble ( PG) were down 3% in recent trading after the maker of Tide, Old Spice, Pampers, and dozens of other consumer brands posted fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $21.20 billion, slightly below the $21.22 billion analysts had expected, per Visible Alpha estimates. The company’s adjusted earnings per share of $1.43 was 2 cents ahead of expectations.

CEO Shailesh Jejurikar, who took over Procter & Gamble at the start of the year, pointed to a “very challenging geopolitical and economic environment” for the results.

Shelves with Tide detergent containers labeled free gentle highlighting packaging details

Procter & Gamble’s slide Wednesday brings the stock back near where it started the year. Kevin Carter / Getty Images

Procter & Gamble said it now expects sales to rise 1% to 3% in fiscal 2027, with flat to 3% growth in adjusted EPS. The midpoint of each range was just below the analyst consensus. The company also said that in the upcoming fiscal year, it will take on the remainder of the $1 billion to $1.6 billion in restructuring costs under a plan announced last year that included layoffs of about 7,000 employees.

Wednesday’s decline erased much of Procter & Gamble’s stock gains for the year, leaving it up just 1% for 2026 so far.

Aaron McDade

July 29, 2026 11:53 AM EDT

GE HealthCare Stock Leads S&P 500 and Nasdaq Gainers After Strong Earnings

FROM 3 hr 7 min ago

GE HealthCare’s stock is soaring after a better-than-expected earnings report.

Shares of GE HealthCare ( GEHC) were up about 12% in recent trading, making the stock one of the best performers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Wednesday, at a time when broader markets lost ground.

The company reported second-quarter revenue of $5.3 billion, up about 6% year-over-year and just above the $5.27 billion analyst consensus compiled by Visible Alpha. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.13, up from $1.06 a year ago, when analysts expected a slight decline.

The former General Electric division said its profits were boosted by tariff refunds, though the company said it doesn’t expect to see any more refunds this year. GE HealthCare affirmed its full-year forecasts of organic revenue growth of 3% to 4% and adjusted EPS of $4.80 to $5.00.

The logo of GE HealthCare is shown on medical equipment at the 8th China International Import Expo

Even with Wednesday’s gains, GE HealthCare shares are down about 13% since the start of the year. Sheldon Cooper / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images

In the second quarter, GE HealthCare’s sales jumped 8% and close to 16% in its Advanced Imaging Solutions and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segments, respectively. They fell 13% in its Patient Care Solutions division. CEO Peter Arduini said the company is “reviewing strategic options” for the struggling segment.

Even with GE HealthCare’s post-earnings rally, the stock is still down more than 10% since the start of the year.

Aaron McDade

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July 29, 2026 11:23 AM EDT

VF Corp. Stock Nosedives After Poor Vans Performance, CFO Departure

FROM 3 hr 36 min ago

VF Corp. ( VFC) posted better-than-expected fiscal 2027 first-quarter revenue and lifted its full-year outlook. Its stock is sinking nevertheless.

Shares of VF, the parent company of outdoor and active brands including The North Face and Timberland, are sinking 17% Wednesday after it reported a bigger loss and Vans sales decline than analysts had expected, and announced the departure of its finance chief.

VF registered Q1 revenue that fell 5% year-over-year to $1.67 billion, while analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had called for $1.64 billion. The Denver-based company raised its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to 2% or better growth on a constant-currency basis, up from the prior guidance of 1% to +2%.

However, VF posted an adjusted loss of $0.27 per share, wider than analysts’ consensus forecast of $0.23 per share. Vans revenue fell 8% from last year, while analysts expected a roughly 7% drop.

A Vans shoe logo is displayed at a store on May 9, 2026 in San Clemente, CA

Sales of Vans fell 8% year-over-year, a bigger decline than analysts expected. Kevin Carter / Getty Images

In addition, VF announced that Paul Vogel “will cease serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and will begin serving in an advisory capacity to assist in the transition of responsibilities” effective Aug. 1, when COO Abhishek Dalmia will take over those roles.

VF shares entered Wednesday up about 1% this year.

July 29, 2026 09:58 AM EDT

Teradyne Stock Soars After Profit, Revenue Easily Top Analysts’ Estimates

FROM 5 hr 1 min ago

Teradyne ( TER) stock is off to a roaring start today.

Shares of Teradyne jumped 8% in early trading after the automated test equipment and advanced robotics systems firm reported second-quarter results that easily topped analysts’ estimates.

Teradyne reports adjusted earnings of $2.47 per share on revenue that more than doubled year-over-year to $1.32 billion. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha had expected $2.05 per share and $1.22 billion, respectively.

The North Reading, Mass.-based firm expects third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.85 to $2.15 on revenue of $1.20 billion to $1.30 billion. Analysts are looking for $1.46 and $1.03 billion.

“Our Q3 guidance reflects robust AI-related demand,” CEO Greg Smith said. “Looking further ahead, rapid increase in wafer fab equipment investment sets the stage for continued growth in 2027 and beyond.”

Shares have added more than three-quarters of their value since the start of the year.

TER

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July 29, 2026 08:26 AM EDT

Ford Stock Jumps on Solid Earnings, Outlook

FROM 6 hr 34 min ago

Ford ( F) shares are surging this morning after the automaker reported a higher-than-expected profit and lifted its full-year forecast.

The company announced after the closing bell yesterday that it generated $48.3 billion in revenue in the second quarter, more than $1 billion shy of the analyst consensus compiled by Visible Alpha, but its adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share topped estimates.

Ford also raised its full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and adjusted free cash flow outlooks, in part because of tariff refunds the company expects to get from the federal government.

Ford shares, which through Tuesday’s close had gained 14% so far this year, were up more than 5% in recent premarket trading.

The Ford Motor emblem is seen on the bumper of a vehicle at the Leif Johnson Ford dealership on June 30, 2026 in Austin, Texas

Ford Motor shares rose before the bell Wednesday. Brandon Bell / Getty Images

July 29, 2026 07:38 AM EDT

Apple Is Set to Report Earnings Thursday. Here’s How Much the Stock Is Expected to Move

FROM 7 hr 22 min ago

Apple is set to report earnings after the closing bell Thursday, with traders expecting the iPhone maker’s stock could extend its record-setting rally following the results.1

Based on current options pricing, Apple ( AAPL) shares are seen swinging up to about 4% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of that size from Tuesday’s close could send the stock up to a new record above $352, or back below $328, giving up some of its recent gains.

After overtaking Nvidia ( NVDA) as the world’s most valuable company and watching its market capitalization briefly cross the $5 trillion threshold, Apple saw its shares finish Tuesday’s session 1% higher at a closing record of $340. The iPhone maker’s stock has added one-quarter of its value this year amid optimism around strong iPhone sales and anticipated advances under new CEO John Ternus, who’s set to take the helm from Tim Cook in September.

The Apple logo is seen on a black sign outside an Apple store.

Apple recently reclaimed its title as the world’s most valuable company from Nvidia. Kevin Carter / Getty Images

Ahead of the report, Morgan Stanley analysts lifted their price target to $364 from $360, suggesting investors could be underestimating Apple’s potential revenue growth in the next few quarters from recent price hikes to offset soaring memory costs.

Read the full article here.