Nasdaq Breaks Records as Gold Tariffs Shake Markets

• Indices climb: Nasdaq +0.98% to record 21,450; S&P just shy of record; Dow +0.47%, Russell 2000 +0.17%.
• Tech leads: Apple +13.33%, Tesla +8.93%, Alphabet +6.50% drive weekly gains.
• Gold spikes: U.S. tariffs on Swiss gold bars push COMEX futures to $3,534, widening London gap by $100+.
• Oil mixed: Brent –0.7% on Trump–Putin meeting hopes; S&P Global halves 2025 demand growth forecast.
• Japan deal: U.S.–Japan agree to cap tariffs at 15% and cut U.S. auto duties; Nikkei jumps 2%.
• Crypto rallies: BTC tests trendline; ETH hits $3,900; XRP at $3.38 after SEC settlement signals.

📊 Nasdaq Hits Record, Fed Bets Rise

• Markets fade late: Nasdaq closed at a record (+0.35%) as Dow and S&P slipped; early rally erased by weak bond auction and labor data.
• Treasury auction soft: 30-year bonds tailed at 4.813%; demand weak across buyers, fueling rate-cut speculation.
• Stagflation fears grow: Jobless claims rose, continuing claims hit 2021 highs; inflation expectations stay sticky.
• Gold climbs: Up to $3,385/oz on risk-off tone, weak yields, and fresh tariffs from Trump.
• Oil under pressure: WTI failed to hold above 100-day MA, settling at $63.88.
• XRP breakout: Rallied to $3.08 before pulling back; Ripple acquires Rail to expand payments footprint.

📈 Tech Surge Lifts Markets, Apple Leads Rally

• NASDAQ leads: Tech-heavy index rose 1.21% on megacap strength; Apple jumped 5.10% on $100B U.S. investment deal.
• Fed shift incoming: Officials signaled easing is likely “in coming months” as labor market cools.
• Crude falls: Despite bullish draw, WTI dropped to $64.35 as demand fears outweigh supply risks.
• Gold holds firm: Near $3,374 on Fed bets and tariff uncertainty; resistance remains at $3,400.
• Crypto mixed: BTC steady, ETH gains on ETF inflows; XRP slipped below $3.00.
• Regulatory spotlight: Japan’s SBI and Nomura push new crypto ETFs amid weak price response.

📉 U.S. Services Slowdown Weighs on Markets

• Weak ISM print: July ISM Services fell to 50.1, raising fresh economic concerns.
• Earnings diverge: Palantir surged; Super Micro, Snap, Rivian disappointed.
• Treasury demand fades: 3-year auction showed weak foreign interest.
• Gold climbs: Hit $3,381 as Fed cut expectations build; Citi eyes $3,500/oz.
• Oil & copper dip: Crude dropped 1.7%; copper steady on Chile supply risks.
• Crypto under pressure: ETF outflows weigh on BTC and ETH; XRP holds $3.00.

📉 U.S. Markets Slammed by Jobs Miss, Tariffs, and Geopolitics

• Major selloff: Dow –542 pts; Nasdaq –2.24% as July NFP came in at just +73K, with big revisions lower.
• BLS scandal: Labor chief fired over data manipulation; trust in U.S. stats shaken.
• Tariffs hit: August 1 tariffs now active; Canada, Mexico react sharply.
• Fed pivot watch: Rate cut odds jump to 70% for September after weak data.
• Gold surges: Rebounds above $3,350 as yields plunge and safe-haven flows return.
• Crypto sinks: BTC –2.5%, ETH breaks below $3,700; traders ignore bullish SEC tone.

📊 Markets Slide as Fed Hawkishness & Tariffs Weigh, Meta & Microsoft Lead AI Boom

• OpenAI revenue hits $12B run rate, with 700M weekly ChatGPT users—AI adoption enters hypergrowth
• Q2 GDP beats at +3.0%, but real final sales up just 1.2%, exposing soft consumer demand
• Copper crashes 22% as U.S. slaps 50% tariffs on semi-finished goods; refined copper excluded
• Layoffs jump 140% YoY in July, despite jobless claims holding steady at 218K
• Trump secures South Korea trade pact, locking 15% tariff and $450B in LNG & infrastructure deals
• Earnings: Meta +11%, Microsoft +4%, Apple beats, Amazon dips on AWS

📊 GDP Jumps, Fed Holds — Meta & Microsoft Soar Post-Earnings

• U.S. Q2 GDP rose 3.0%, but real demand showed weakness; Fed held rates, signaling no immediate cuts
• Stocks were mixed, with the NASDAQ up +0.15%, while the S&P 500 and Dow slipped; markets digest Powell’s cautious tone
• Meta crushed earnings (EPS $7.14 vs. $5.85), surging +9% post-close; Microsoft also beat and jumped +6.5%
• Alphabet dipped after a revenue miss, while AMD soared on raised guidance and strong AI chip demand
• Crude oil fell as U.S. inventories surged and China demand worries lingered; gold attempted a bounce but stayed below resistance
• XRP held $3.00, but on-chain data suggests weakening conviction; Ethereum steadied above $3,730 as it turns 10