Day: July 24, 2025

Intel Stock (INTC) Slides 7% as Restructuring Hits Earnings—Can Support Hold?

Posted on by Skerdian Meta

Following an unexpected loss in its Q2 earnings announcement, which overshadowed higher-than-expected sales and continued growth in its foundry sector, Intel shares fell precipitously.
Continue reading “Intel Stock (INTC) Slides 7% as Restructuring Hits Earnings—Can Support Hold?” →

Wall Street Closes Mixed After Alphabet and Intel New Reports

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both notched fresh record highs on Thursday, lifted by strong earnings from Alphabet, while Tesla’s disappointing results weighed on broader gains. Eight of the S&P 500’s 11 major sectors ended the session in the red.

Intel

Wall Street’s three main indexes closed mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, composed of 30 blue-chip stocks, fell 0.70% to 44,693.91 points. The S&P 500, tracking the largest U.S. companies, edged up 0.07% to 6,363.35 points. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.18% to close at 21,057.96.

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new all-time highs, buoyed by a 1.02% gain in Alphabet shares following better-than-expected second-quarter earnings. The Google parent company posted strong ad revenue and continued momentum in its cloud services segment.

Tesla shares, however, plunged 8.20%, limiting the broader market’s advance. The electric vehicle maker reported its sharpest revenue drop in over a decade, overshadowing news of a major expansion in its U.S. robotaxi initiative.

Within the S&P 500, consumer discretionary stocks led the losses, with eight of the 11 sectors closing in negative territory. On the Dow, most components retreated, with IBM sinking 7.61% after its quarterly results fell short of expectations.

Intel Earnings: Revenue Beat, But Profit Misses

Chipmaker Intel released upbeat revenue guidance for the current quarter after surpassing second-quarter revenue expectations. However, the company posted an unexpected adjusted loss, citing impairments and a scale-back of chip plant construction.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) dipped slightly in after-hours trading.

For the quarter ending June 28, Intel reported an adjusted loss of $0.10 per diluted share on revenue of $12.86 billion. Analysts surveyed had expected a profit of $0.01 per share on $11.95 billion in revenue.

The surprise loss was driven by a $0.20 per share impact tied to $800 million in impairment charges and $200 million in one-time costs.

FirstRand Stock Rises as Rand Gains 6% and R60M Bond Listing Lifts Sentiment

Posted on by Arslan Butt

FirstRand Ltd (JSE: FSR) rose 0.77% to 7,498 ZAC on Tuesday, building on recent gains as investor sentiment improves across South Africa’s banking sector. The up move comes as the rand continues its 2025 rebound and FirstRand is about to list R60 million in new bonds—more good news for the credit outlook.

The rand has gained over 6% year-to-date against the US dollar, currently trading at R17.57. While this is a big move, it’s still way off the fair value. Old Mutual’s chief economist Johann Els estimates the fair value at around R11.90 based on purchasing power parity.

The rand’s strength is easing inflationary pressure, particularly on imported goods like fuel, after years of low growth and high volatility. With GDP growth averaging just 1.1% over the past 15 years, this stability—albeit temporary—means better lending conditions and more market confidence for banks like FirstRand.

Rand Still Capped by Risks

Despite the recent tailwinds, the rand is still vulnerable to external shocks and domestic fiscal weakness. According to Els, the historical inflation gap between South Africa and the US is still driving long-term depreciation, while policy instability and low economic output is weighing on the rand’s global standing.

Els says the rand tends to overshoot in both directions, and short-term rallies are often followed by sharp reversals. “The rand is a barometer of global risk appetite and political trust in South Africa’s economy,” he said in a recent note.

Key Factors Holding Back the Rand:

  • Inflation differential vs. USD
  • Slow growth trajectory (1.1% average GDP growth)
  • Fiscal uncertainty and political instability

FirstRand Technicals Look Tentative

From a technical perspective, FirstRand is looking tentative. The stock bounced from the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level (7,304) and is now just below the 38.2% retracement at 7,536.

FirstRand Price Chart - Source: Tradingview
FirstRand Price Chart – Source: Tradingview

Price is at 7,498 ZAC, just above the 50-period SMA (7,445) which is acting as short-term support.The RSI is neutral at 49, neither bullish nor bearish. A break above 7,536 would be positive, with resistance at 7,620 and 7,755.

Levels to Watch:

  • Support: 7,468, 7,445 (SMA), 7,400, 7,304
  • Resistance: 7,536, 7,620, 7,755

Unless FirstRand gets back above 7,620 soon, it will be range bound short term. But with support in place and overall market sentiment improving, the bias is tentatively bullish.

Mexican Peso Dips Slightly Against Dollar After Four-Day Winning Streak

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

The Mexican peso weakened slightly against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, snapping a four-session winning streak that had pushed the currency to its strongest level in nearly a year.

The retreat came after renewed optimism surrounding a U.S.-Japan trade deal lifted the peso in recent days.

The exchange rate closed at 18.5548 pesos per dollar, according to official data from Banco de México (Banxico), marking a depreciation of 2.19 centavos, or 0.12%, compared to Wednesday’s close of 18.5329.

During the session, the dollar traded between a high of 18.5915 and a low of 18.5297 pesos. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY)—which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies—rose 0.22% to 97.43 points.

[[USD/MXN-graph]]

Mixed U.S. Data and Softer Inflation in Mexico

Markets absorbed mixed economic signals from the U.S. The preliminary July PMI composite fell to a seven-month low, although the services subindex exceeded expectations. Weekly jobless claims edged down slightly, suggesting labor market resilience.

In Mexico, investors responded to new inflation figures. The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) slowed for the third consecutive half-month period, coming in at 3.55% year-over-year in early July—comfortably within Banxico’s target range of 3% ± 1 point.

This lower-than-expected reading increased speculation that Banxico could cut interest rates again at its upcoming August 7 monetary policy meeting.

A Pause After Strong Gains

Despite Thursday’s modest pullback, the peso remains strong. On Wednesday, it hit its best level since August 1, 2024, touching a session low of 18.41. During its four-day rally, the currency gained 22.40 centavos, or 1.19%, reflecting optimism around international trade talks and improved local data.

Bitcoin Nears $120,000 While Ethereum Edges Close to $3,800

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

Cryptocurrencies are trading mixed on Thursday, July 24, though analysts remain optimistic amid favorable regulatory shifts, institutional momentum, and the prospect of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Bitcoin (BTC), the market’s flagship cryptocurrency, is trading just shy of $120,000, according to Binance, while Ethereum (ETH) rises 3.7% to $3,745.

Among altcoins, performance is varied: Lido Staked Ether leads gains with a 3.7% increase, while Dogecoin retreats 1.8%.

Institutional Demand for Crypto ETFs Reignites

Analysts point to growing institutional interest as a key market driver. Contributing factors include:

  • Supportive Legislation in the U.S.: Recent congressional approval of crypto-friendly laws has boosted investor confidence.
  • Corporate Adoption: Firms such as Trump Media have added cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets, reinforcing legitimacy.
  • Traditional Banking Embrace: In a notable shift, Financial Times reported that JPMorgan Chase is considering offering loans collateralized by cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This marks a dramatic reversal from CEO Jamie Dimon’s earlier skepticism—having called Bitcoin a “fraud” in 2017, he recently said: “I support your right to buy Bitcoin. Go for it.”

Fed Policy Outlook Supports Crypto Sentiment

Macroeconomic data is also helping buoy sentiment. Markets increasingly expect the Federal Reserve to begin cutting rates as early as September. Historically, looser monetary policy tends to benefit risk assets—especially cryptocurrencies.

Overall, while some profit-taking continues, the broader outlook remains constructive for digital assets.

Tesla Plunges Over 9% After Another Disappointing Revenue Report

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

Tesla shares plummeted more than 9% to $302.10 on Thursday, after the electric vehicle giant reported a 12% year-over-year drop in revenue — its steepest decline in a decade. The sell-off adds to a grim 2025 performance, with the stock now down over 25% year-to-date.

Tesla stock has fallen sharply.

The company’s Q2 revenue came in at $22.5 billion, falling short of the $22.74 billion average analyst estimate compiled by LSEG, and well below the $25.5 billion recorded in the same quarter last year.

Despite the highly anticipated refresh of its best-selling Model Y SUV, Tesla posted its second consecutive quarterly revenue drop, raising investor doubts about the company’s near-term growth prospects.

[[TSLA/USD-graph]]

CEO Elon Musk acknowledged that Tesla faces “a few tough quarters ahead,” as the firm battles intensifying price competition in the EV market — particularly from more affordable models — and public backlash over Musk’s increasingly politicized public profile. Once aligned with former President Donald Trump, Musk has since distanced himself from the administration.

While Tesla did reveal it began initial production of its new low-cost model in June and targets mass production in the second half of the year, the revenue slump overshadowed the announcement, triggering fresh concerns among investors.

Market Performance

Meanwhile, Wall Street’s major indexes are trading mixed, but both the Nasdaq and S&P 500 are breaking new records, buoyed by anticipation of upcoming trade deal announcements from President Donald Trump, the impact of recent earnings reports, and early indicators of U.S. economic performance for July.

In this context, the S&P 500 is up 0.3% at 6,377.10 points, marking a new all-time high for the 13th time this year, while the Nasdaq climbs 0.3% and holds above the 21,000 mark for a second straight day. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones slips 0.2% to 44,904.41 points.

How Will This Week’s Jobless Claims Affect Stock Market Momentum?

Posted on by Timothy St. John

The stock market could be headed for a rally above its current record highs, because jobless claims fell in this week’s report and signaled that the economy is strengthening.

Unemployment claims are down this month and indicating economic strength.
Unemployment claims are down this month and indicating economic strength.

As jobless claims drop, the stock market tends to grow, and that is what we are likely looking at for Thursday with a new jobless claims report for the week. For last week, the jobless claims numbers dropped to their lowest point in three months, a very positive sign for the economy.

Hiring rates are low right now, but at least the number of jobless claims is not rising. Unemployment benefit claims fell to 217,000, a drop of 4,000 for the week. This is the lowest these numbers have been since April, and stock market investors should start rejoicing.

The stock indices are already high, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq posting some of their best numbers for the year. In fact, both the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 are recording near record highs. Indicators like jobless claims show investors where the economy is at and where it is headed. The fact that these numbers are trending lower indicates that the economy is becoming more resilient and harder to weaken.

Jobless Claims and Inflation at a Glance in 2025

For the last six weeks, jobless claims have dropped, pointing toward economic stability and a vital job market. This report is not the only indicator that analysts and economists will look at, but it gives them a strong indication of where the economy is headed and what the market is likely to do. The Federal Reserve has continued to hold off on interest rate cuts, issuing no new ones in months but indicating that two new cuts are still to come in 2025. Those rates could be cut at the Fed meeting next week.

Inflation is increasing based on the latest report, which showed that in June, inflation rose from 2.4% to 2.7%. That is higher than the Federal Reserve would like it to be for them to issue interest rate cuts, but they may go ahead with the cuts anyway since they have planned two additional ones in 2025. Jobless claims are a good inflation indicator, however, and they point toward slowly decreasing inflation.

Even though jobless claims have decreased, they are expected to decrease further in the coming weeks as the economy strengthens. Investors should expect a healthy market that will not lose its stability easily on the first small negative factor that occurs in the next week or two. 

 

Tesla Stock Reacts to Disappointing Quarterly Earnings Report

Posted on by Timothy St. John

After an underwhelming second quarter earnings report, Tesla (TSLA) stock experienced a drop that was its biggest revenue loss for a quarter in more than 10 years.

Tesla stock plummets after its Q2 earnings statement.
Tesla stock plummets after its Q2 earnings statement.

The price of Tesla stock fell 7.36% on Thursday as trading began- a direct and decisive response from investors to the company’s Q2 earnings numbers. Tesla posted a revenue loss of $00 million, and that caused a $12 billion loss in Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s value.

Musk had told investors that they should expect a few rough quarters as government tax credits expire for the purchase of a new electric vehicle. These credits added up to $7,500 per Tesla car, and with that boon gone, consumers are far less likely to risk their money on a new Tesla vehicle.

Tesla’s 2025 Stock Performance

From the beginning of 2025, Tesla stock was performing well and was valued at $411 per share. Now valued at $307, the company has seen its stock lose about a quarter of its value.

The value of Tesla’s stock slumped dramatically in the early months of 2025 due to tariff fears, the polarizing politics of its CEO Musk, and poor sales performance around the world. In recent months, the company has managed to turn things around somewhat, with a jump from $227 to $362 between April and May.

What helped Tesla during that period was that Trump was relaxing his tariff efforts and the economy was strengthening. Tesla even managed to impress on the sales front in a few markets, but things have taken another turn for the worse.

The company is dealing with a politically active CEO who is talking about starting his own political party in the United States. The launch of the robotaxi service in Texas has had some difficulties and has not been the resounding success the company was hoping for. On top of all that, there have been a few more negative sales reports these last few weeks that have hurt the company’s revenue projections.

Now, with a less than stellar earnings report for the second quarter of 2025, things are looking grim for Tesla. Musk says that by the end of the year, the company’s economy should look a lot more appealing, but that is still a long way off. Investors have a new vehicle launch to look forward to and the potential hard rollout of the robotaxi service across more parts of the world, but the lack of EV credits and reports of declining sales are keeping Tesla stock very low for now. 

 

AI Gives Google the Edge in the Second Quarter

Posted on by Timothy St. John

Alphabet (GOOG) posted its second quarterly earnings report on Wednesday after trading had finished for the day, attributing part of its better-than-expected results to its AI focus.

Stock value for Alphabet are higher today thanks to a strong earnings report.
Stock value for Alphabet are higher today thanks to a strong earnings report.

Google’s parent company Alphabet beat earnings estimates when they posted their second quarterly earnings report on Wednesday, after trading has closed off. The company’s stock is expected to climb on Thursday as a result, but the planned $10 billion in spending for 2025 may hold them back.

Alphabet is spending an incredible amount on investing into AI research and programming, expecting that its bid will pay off in a big way. Already, more than 1.5 billion people use AI services from Google, and the company is expecting those numbers to increase. As controversial as some aspects of AI usage may be, internet users simply cannot get away from the technology. It is too pervasive at this point and is likely to become more so.

Alphabet’s Stock Changed Quickly

When news broke that Alphabet would be investing so heavily in tech this year, the stock price initially dropped. But that changed when the company revealed that it has seen a 10% increase in advertising revenue year-on-year. This demonstrates that the company’s efforts are paying off and that their advertising arm is growing substantially.

In premarket trading. GOOG stock was up 3.44%, and it is expected to increase even further throughout Thursday. Advertising revenue is earned in a big part through AI technology, so it makes sense that the company would invest so much into the tech moving forward. If they want to increase advertising revenue even more, they will have to improve their tech and train it to better appeal to users.

GOOG is now one of the biggest movers in premarket trading for the day, and they intend to keep their momentum going. They announced a VIP pass for their AI program called Google AI Ultra. That plan is available to U.S. customers for $249 a month for now.

GOOG stock is expected to improve throughout 2025, with Citi moving their estimated price point from $203 to $225. Currently, the company’s stock is priced at $198 and is down from its early 2025 high of $207.