📈 U.S. Stocks Close Higher; S&P 500 and Dow Hit Records, Nasdaq Nears All-Time High

• Equities: S&P 500 +0.32% to 6,501.86 (record), Dow +0.16% to 45,636.90 (record), Nasdaq +0.53% to 21,705.16 — just 8pts from all-time high. Nvidia –0.81% after earnings.
• Fed Showdown: Gov. Lisa Cook sued Trump over attempted dismissal; Friday’s court hearing could reshape Fed independence.
• Housing: U.S. pending home sales –0.4% in July (vs –0.1% est.); Redfin flagged record 15% contract cancellation rate.
• Commodities: Gold +0.43% to $3,413 (5-week high) on Fed uncertainty; WTI crude +0.70% to $64.60, holding key support.
• Crypto: Chainlink +4% on U.S. Commerce blockchain partnership; XRP steadies above $3.00; HYPE and Polkadot extend rallies.

📊 US Stocks Gain; Small Caps Lead, Fed Politics Heat Up

• Equities: Russell 2000 +0.83% outperformed; Nasdaq +0.44%, S&P +0.41%, Dow +0.30%. Industrials +1.04%, Financials +0.76% led sectors; Staples –0.46%, Real Estate –0.33% lagged.
• Macro: July durable goods –2.8% (better than –4.0% est); core +1.1%. Case-Shiller home prices –0.3% m/m, YoY slowed to +2.1%. Consumer confidence 97.4 vs 96.2 est. Richmond Fed index –7 (vs –20 prior). GDPNow Q3 trimmed to 2.2%.
• Fed & Politics: Barkin flagged labor force risks without immigration. Trump vowed “legal fight” to replace Fed Gov. Lisa Cook; Fed insists “for cause” removal protection applies.
• Treasuries: 2-yr auction strong, $69B at 3.641% (bid-to-cover 2.69x).
• Commodities: Gold steady below $3,400; resistance $3,409, support $3,268. WTI crude –2.39% to $63.25 after Trump said prices could drop < $60; broke below 100-hr MA. • Europe: Stocks sold off (CAC –1.70%, FTSE MIB –1.32%, DAX –0.50%). US pledged support for European-led Ukraine air defense shield. • Crypto: BTC rebounded >$110K after dipping $108,666; ETH >$4,400 with $444M ETF inflows. BTC ETFs +$219M inflows, total $54B. XRP stuck < $3.00.

📊 Powell Sparks Market Rally; Fed Pivot Fuels Risk-On Sentiment

• US Equities: Dow +1.89% to record close; S&P +1.52%; Nasdaq +1.88%; Russell 2000 +3.86% (biggest gain since April). Weekly: Dow +1.53%, S&P +0.27%, Nasdaq –0.58%, Russell +3.30%. Consumer Discretionary led; Staples lagged.
• Powell @ Jackson Hole: Announced end of “makeup strategy,” return to flexible inflation targeting. Framed tariffs as short-term shocks but acknowledged price pressures.
• Fed Watch: Goolsbee says September meeting “live.” Collins open to cut on tariff & labor risks. Markets price in 3 consecutive cuts starting September.
• Political Moves: SCOTUS clears Trump-era NIH grant cuts; CA Senate passes redistricting plan (+5 Dem seats possible); Rubio halts truck driver visas.
• Canada: June retail sales +1.5%; July est. +0.8%. Ottawa drops retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
• Commodities: Gold surged to $3,371 on dovish Fed bets; WTI +1.05% weekly to $63.66. US oil rigs fell to 538. EU gas +4% on Norwegian supply risks. Copper demand led by China; Swiss gold exports to US at 51 tons (July high).
• Europe: Stocks higher (DAX +0.29%, CAC +0.40%, FTSE 100 +0.13%). Weekly: FTSE +2%, MIB +1.54%. Germany Q2 GDP revised –0.3% QoQ; Eurozone wages +3.95% y/y.
• Asia: Japan core CPI 3.1% y/y. China expands Pakistan ties; Nvidia pauses H20 chip production under US rules, launches Rubin AI arch. SCO Summit confirmed for Tianjin.
• Crypto: Powell boost drove BTC >$116K, ETH +12%, SOL +8%, XRP +5%. Crypto mcap >$4T. Trump crypto push: Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, SEC task force, Bitcoin ETF filing, TRUMP token launch. BTC $112,736 near $111,920 support; ETH $4,100 support; XRP risks $2.75 break. OKB rally extends, ZEC wedge breakout, MORPHO golden cross, FLOW lagging despite Disney+ tie-up. Meme coins face sell pressure.

📊 US Stocks Slip; Energy Gains, Fed in Focus Ahead of Jackson Hole

• Equities: S&P –0.40% to 6,370 (5th straight loss); Dow –0.34%; Nasdaq –0.34%; Russell 2000 +0.21%. Energy +0.71% led gains; defensives lagged.
• Macro: Philly Fed –0.3 vs 7.0 est; Jobless claims rose to 235K; Flash PMI 55.4, with mfg back in expansion (53.3). Housing solid — sales +2% m/m.
• Fed watch: Hammack warns inflation “trending wrong way”; Cook rejects resignation calls; Schmid & Bostic back steady policy.
• Commodities: Gold steady at $3,342 (range $3,245–$3,438) ahead of Powell; WTI supported by US crude draw –6M bbl. Canada PPI +0.7% m/m on metals, beef, lumber.
• Europe: PMIs show resilience — Eurozone composite 51.1; UK composite 53.0 (1yr high). FTSE 100 hit record earlier this week.
• Asia: Japan composite PMI 51.9; Australia PMI 54.9 (40-mo high). China signs trade/security pacts with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan.
• Crypto: BTC ~$114K holding $112K support; ETH +5% to $4,500 on whale buying; ADA, BNB, SOL rebound; DOGE golden cross forming; PI up on Hackathon buzz.

📊 U.S. Stocks Rebound Off Lows; Fed Tensions Lift Gold

• Equities: S&P –0.24% to 6,395; Nasdaq –0.67% to 21,173; Dow +0.04% to 44,938. All indices held key moving averages after sharp intraday swings.
• Politics & Fed: Trump demanded Fed Gov. Lisa Cook’s resignation; concerns over Fed independence weighed on USD, boosted safe-haven demand.
• FOMC minutes: Majority prefer holding rates steady at 4.25–4.50%; inflation risks dominate; divisions remain over tariff impacts.
• Commodities: WTI +$0.73 to $62.50 on a surprise crude draw (–6M bbls); Gold +$26.77 to $3,342, rebounding above 100-day MA; Silver fell to $37.15, 5th straight decline.
• Europe: Mixed close — FTSE 100 +1.08% outperformed, DAX –0.60% and FTSE MIB –0.36% lagged.
• Crypto: Bitwise CIO projects BTC 28.3% annualized returns through 2035; ETFs see $54B+ inflows, corporate treasuries hold $111B BTC.

📊 Tech Selloff Drags Nasdaq; Powell in Focus at Jackson Hole

• Equities: Dow +0.02% to 44,922; S&P –0.58% to 6,411; Nasdaq –1.46% to 21,315 (below 100-hr MA); Russell –0.55%.
• Semis slump: NVDA –3.55%, AMD –5.44%, AVGO –3.55%, TSMC –3.16%; Intel +6.97% on $2B SoftBank stake & potential Chips Act equity deal.
• Macro: GDPNow cut to 2.3% Q3; S&P affirms U.S. AA+ rating, outlook stable. Housing starts surprise to upside (1.428m).
• Fed watch: Bowman backs July cut but no further shift.
• Commodities: Gold stuck $3,245–$3,438 range; oil softer on Ukraine peace hopes; China’s July refined copper output 1.27mt (2nd-highest ever).
• Europe: Rotation lifts indices; FTSE 100, Ibex, FTSE MIB hit multi-year highs.
• Asia: Japan PM calls for “fair peace”; BoJ rate debate intensifies. Aussie consumer sentiment at 3½-yr high post-RBA cuts.
• Crypto: BTC whipsaws near $115K, ETH slides toward $4,000, XRP clings to $2.99 support. Meme coins (DOGE, SHIB, PEPE) weaken; altcoins like AVAX, SUI show negative momentum.