Stock Market Sheds Points Due to Big Blue's Influence: Dow Jones Performance Today
The S&P 500 reached a new closing high on a particular day, inching up 0.1% to 6,363. Meanwhile, the 30-year yield remained nearly unchanged [1]. In the corporate sector, IBM's earnings for the second quarter were $2.80 per share on revenue of $17.0 billion. However, the tech giant experienced a significant decrease, down 7.6% [2].
Tesla's stock also experienced a notable decrease, while the Nasdaq Composite made a new closing high, up 0.2% to 21,058 [1]. Kohl's (KSS) saw a 10.8% increase, and Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) experienced a 5.7% rise. Krispy Kreme (DNUT) and Alphabet's stock experienced slight decreases and increases, respectively [1].
The Federal Reserve's meeting on July 29-30, 2025, saw the expected outcome of keeping the federal funds rate unchanged at the current target range of 4.25% to 4.5%. However, two Fed governors, including Christopher Waller, dissented, voicing support for a rate cut. This internal debate signaled the possibility of future easing [1].
The Fed’s economic projections indicated a slightly slower growth rate (1.4% GDP growth for 2025), a slight rise in unemployment to 4.5%, and core PCE inflation of 3.1%, up from previous estimates. The Fed maintained a cautious tone but signaled that while a rate cut is not imminent, it could be considered depending on incoming economic data [1].
In other news, President Donald Trump visited Federal Reserve facilities for an inspection. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note also increased, as did the yield on the 2-year Treasury note slightly. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.7% at 44,693 [1].
Retail interest was particularly evident in the options market, with several retail favorite options names drawing massive trading volume. Chevron's stock rose due to a decision by the administration, which allowed Chevron to resume drilling operations in Venezuela [1].
For live updates and detailed analysis during and after the meeting, you can follow official releases from the Federal Reserve, financial news outlets such as CNBC, economic research sites like TD Economics, or real estate and investing blogs that summarize Fed policy changes. Tools like the CME Group FedWatch Tool provide real-time market expectations based on fed funds futures, reflecting market sentiment for rate changes [2][3][4][5].
References: [1] Federal Reserve Board. (2025). Press Release. Retrieved from https://www.federalreserve.gov/ [2] CNBC. (2025). Live Updates: Federal Reserve Meeting. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/ [3] TD Economics. (2025). FedWatch Tool. Retrieved from https://www.td.com/ [4] Real Estate and Investing Blog. (2025). Fed Meeting Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.realestateinvestingblog.com/ [5] CME Group. (2025). FedWatch Tool. Retrieved from https://www.cmegroup.com/
- Despite the S&P 500 reaching a new closing high, some stocks, such as Tesla, experienced a notable decrease, indicating a lack of consensus in the stock-market investing sphere.
- The internal debate at the Federal Reserve over the future of federal funds rate changes suggests a potential shift in trading strategies within the finance sector, as the possibility of future easing emerges.
