Today's War Room Trading Recap

📈 Market Movers: What Powered Today’s Rally

1. Strong Corporate Earnings

   • PepsiCo jumped ~7–7.5% after beating expectations.

   • TSMC posted record profits and raised guidance on robust AI-chip demand, lifting the entire semiconductor sector.

   • United Airlines and GE Aerospace reported upbeat results, adding to optimism The Economic TimesStocksToTrade+15The Wall Street Journal+15The Wall Street Journal+15The Wall Street JournalInvestors.

2. Solid Economic Data

   • June retail sales surprised to the upside (+0.6% vs. +0.2% forecast), signaling resilient consumer spending.

   • Weekly jobless claims also came in lower than expected, reinforcing expectations of steady consumer demand Schwab Brokerage+2Reuters+2The Guardian+2MarketWatch+1Reuters+1The Wall Street Journal.

3. Tariff & Fed Speculation Fade

   • Market jitters around potential tariffs and rumors of firing Fed Chair Powell surfaced but were quickly dismissed after statements from the White House and Fed officials restored calm StocksToTrade+15Investors+15MarketWatch+15thetimes.co.uk+2edwardjones.com+2Investopedia+2.

4. Corporate Buybacks & Retail Buying

   • Citadel Securities notes U.S. firms are on track to repurchase ~$1 trillion in stock this year.

   • Retail investors have been net buyers for 14 consecutive days—the longest streak since late 2024 Reuters+1MarketWatch+1.

5. Broader Global Lift & Sector Rotation

   • Global equities climbed alongside U.S. stocks, bolstered by earnings from companies like ABB.

   • The U.S. dollar and Treasury yields rose modestly; gold dipped on reduced Fed-cut expectations ReutersThe Wall Street Journal+5Reuters+5edwardjones.com+5.

6. Energy & Commodity Notes

   • Oil prices climbed slightly due to Middle East tensions and ongoing OPEC+ supply constraints.

   • Caution remains about inflation and rate risks