Update: US Equity Indexes Advance as Big Tech Helps Outweigh Worsening Iran Geopolitics
(Updates with index/price moves and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes rose in a broad-based rally, as chipmakers boosted technology to the top of sector charts and helped offset a move higher in crude oil amid renewed threats of more hostilities in the Middle East.The Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.3% to 25,837.21, with the S&P 500 up 0.9% to 7,509.20 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher by 0.7% to 52,224.64 on Tuesday. Technology was the standout performer, up 2.4%, followed by energy. Consumer staples and communication services were the sole decliners.Out of the top ten companies with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion each, all but one were from the technology sector, according to data compiled by Finviz. Within that tech dominance, seven were from semiconductors and semiconductor equipment and materials industries, including Intel (INTC).Intel is planning to lay off workers within its data center group, Business Insider reported Tuesday, citing a company spokesperson. Separately, RBC Capital Markets said in a note that Intel is expected to report a decent Q2 supported by server CPU demand and pricing momentum. Intel's shares surged 8.6%, one of the top gainers on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq."Stock traders have shrugged off the news from the [Iran] War in favor of buying the chip makers again, presumably on the hope that the AI hyperscalers, when they report Q2 earnings over the next few days, will also report large capital spending plans," Thierry Wizman, global foreign-exchange and rates strategist at Macquarie, said in a note. "That's hoped to boost the earnings outlooks for the hardware makers."President Donald Trump delivered a dim view of possible talks with Iran to end the war, telling reporters Tuesday that the US has "no interest in meeting" until Iran is ready to convene "in a meaningful way," the Associated Press reported.A desalination facility and power plants caught fire and suffered serious damage in Kuwait after new Iranian strikes targeted the crucial facilities, along with areas of Bahrain and Jordan, following the 10th consecutive night of US bombing, Al Jazeera, a Middle Eastern broadcaster, reported Tuesday.Meanwhile, the Houthi-run SABA news agency said six ships attempting to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the southern Red Sea were forced to reroute on Tuesday after being warned by the rebels, a day after they announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, according to the Associated Press.The front-month US West Texas Intermediate rose 2% to $84.91 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent climbed 2.5% to $91.41 a barrel.US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up three basis points to 4.63%. The two-year jumped 4.9 basis points to 4.26%.In earnings news, 3M (MMM) raised its full-year earnings guidance while reporting Q2 results above market expectations.General Motors (GM) lifted its outlook for full-year earnings as it recorded an unexpected year-over-year increase in Q2 sales.In precious metal markets, gold futures advanced 1.8% to $4,086.9, and silver futures jumped 3.4% to $59.03.
