Your Capital Markets Snapshot: Nasdaq Reaches New All-time Highs

Last week, U.S. capital markets continued their upward momentum, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching new all-time highs, buoyed by strong corporate earnings and resilient economic data. Retail sales rebounded sharply in June, and inflation data remained within manageable levels, helping to support investor sentiment. Earnings season kicked off with better-than-expected results from major banks and tech firms, although some stocks like Netflix saw muted reactions despite strong reports. Geopolitical tensions added some uncertainty, particularly with the potential for US tariff policy to influence inflation and trade dynamics going forward. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve signaled a cautious stance, with markets pricing in potential rate cuts later this year. Overall, despite some volatility and policy uncertainty, markets remained supported by solid fundamentals and investor optimism heading into the heart of earnings season.