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Japan

Update: US Equity Indexes Decline Amid Sell-Off in Chipmakers, Iran's Warning on Red Sea Route

(Updates with index/price moves and geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes dropped as a sell-off in chipmakers pushed technology sharply lower, and Iran threatened to close the Red Sea crude oil route if President Donald Trump orders an attack on Tehran's power infrastructure.The Nasdaq declined 1.8% to 25,786.2, the S&P 500 fell 0.8% to 7,508.7, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.5% to 52,386.8.Technology slumped 2.3%, the worst of a trio of decliners in the final leg of trading.Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) slid 3.1% after the firm earmarked an additional $100 billion to increase its chipmaking capacity in the US, raising its total planned investment to $265 billion, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a US official. Taiwan Semiconductor also reported Q2 results on Thursday, with year-over-year earnings and net revenue rising and Q3 sales guidance beating consensus.Among stocks with market capitalization exceeding $200 billion each, 15 out of the bottom 20 names were from the technology sector, according to data compiled by Finviz. Half of the decliners were semiconductor firms, the data showed. The worst performer was SanDisk (SNDK), down 11%.In company news, UnitedHealth's (UNH) shares jumped 3.1%, making it one of the Dow's top gainers, after the company posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.In geopolitical news, the US military launched a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, with the country's media reporting explosions on Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, and Chabahar, according to Al Jazeera, a Middle Eastern broadcaster.The Iranian military has warned "all infrastructure in the region will be crushed under steel blows" if the US carries out its threat to attack Iran's civilian sites, the Al Jazeera report said. Iran has asked Yemen's Houthi movement to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US strikes Iranian power infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing three sources.Total volumes of petroleum transiting Bab el-Mandeb amounted to 7.4 million barrels per day in June, or about 7% of global oil output, up from 4.2 million bpd a year ago, MarineLink reported, citing Kpler data.The front-month US West Texas Intermediate fell 0.7% to $79.08 a barrel, hovering around its highest in about a month amid a rally that began after the US renewed strikes on Iran a week ago. North Sea Brent futures retreated 0.7% to $84.34 a barrel, close to its month-high.Iraqi crude loadings more than doubled to average roughly 1.2 million barrels per day in the first half of July, Reuters reported, citing Kpler data and a source with direct knowledge of the flows, as exports accelerated following months of restricted shipments.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$SNDK$TSM$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Gain Late Afternoon

Healthcare stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 1.7% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 2%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was down 0.7%.In corporate news, Merck (MRK) shares gained 3% after it said Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Lipfendra 20 mg tablets as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C, in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.UnitedHealth (UNH) shares rose 1.7% after it posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.AtaiBeckley (ATAI) shares surged 32% after Eli Lilly (LLY) said it agreed to acquire the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for up to $3.8 billion. Lilly was up 0.8%.Abbott Laboratories (ABT) lifted its full-year earnings outlook on Thursday as the healthcare firm reported Q2 results above market estimates. Abbott shares jumped past 10%.

$ABT$ATAI$LLY$MRK$UNH
Wire

UnitedHealth's Strong Q2 Results Set Higher Expectations for H2, Truist Says

UnitedHealth (UNH) reported strong Q2 results, featuring top and bottom-line beats, an improved medical care ratio, and raised full-year guidance for both UnitedHealthcare and Optum Health, reflecting Q2 outperformance and higher expectations for H2, Truist Securities said Thursday.Total revenue of $112 billion beat Truist's estimate of $110.2 billion and the consensus estimate of $110.8 billion, as premiums, products, services, and investment income all exceeded expectations, according to the note.The brokerage remains upbeat on the company's ongoing initiatives, including governance policies, greater transparency in its fee-based pharmacy model and 100% pass-through of drug rebate discounts, affordability, and improvements to the authorization system, the note added.Truist kept a buy rating on UnitedHealth with a price target of $480.Price: $427.40, Change: $+8.88, Percent Change: +2.12%

$UNH
Chip Stocks Weigh on Equities Intraday; Netflix Earnings on Deck
US Markets

Chip Stocks Weigh on Equities Intraday; Netflix Earnings on Deck

US benchmark equity indexes were lower intraday amid a sell-off in certain chip-related stocks as investors parsed latest corporate earnings and awaited Netflix's (NFLX) results.The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite was down 1.1% at 25,979.8 after midday Thursday, while the S&P 500 fell 0.5% to 7,537.8. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.2% to 52,548. Among sectors, tech saw the steepest decline, while consumer staples paced the gainers.Sandisk (SNDK) was down 12%, the biggest drop on the S&P 500. Nvidia (NVDA) fell 2.5%, among the worst performers on the Dow.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's (TSM) US-listed shares were down 3.2% after the semiconductor manufacturer reported its second-quarter results. The company earmarked an additional $100 billion to increase its chipmaking capacity in the US, Bloomberg News reported, citing a US official.In other corporate news, Abbott Laboratories (ABT) shares jumped 11%, the biggest gainer on the S&P 500. The healthcare company lifted its full-year earnings outlook after reporting second-quarter results above market estimates.UnitedHealth (UNH) raised its full-year earnings guidance, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected year-over-year increase in its second-quarter revenue. The company's shares rose 3.3%, among the best performers on the Dow.Streaming giant Netflix is scheduled to report results after the closing bell Thursday.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 0.8% at $78.96 a barrel intraday, while Brent dropped 0.7% to $84.37."Oil prices slipped as traders assessed tensions between the (US) and Iran and the risks to oil supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz," D.A. Davidson said in a note.Iran vowed to destroy key Middle East infrastructure if US President Donald Trump carries out his threat to hit Iranian infrastructure in the absence of a deal between the two countries, an Iranian military spokesperson reportedly said. Trump issued his warning in a recent interview with Fox News, CNBC reported.US Treasury yields were higher intraday, with the two-year rate up 3.8 basis points at 4.17% and the 10-year rate rising 2.8 basis points to 4.57%.In economic news, US retail sales edged higher in June despite lower gasoline prices that drove a sharp decline in gas station receipts, official data showed.Pending home sales decreased more than projected in June amid high mortgage rates and prices, data from the National Association of Realtors showed.Homebuilder confidence deteriorated in July amid growing material prices, high land costs and elevated mortgage rates, the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said.Gold was down 1.5% at $3,992 per troy ounce, while silver lost 2.1% to $56.22 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$ABT$NFLX$NVDA$SNDK$TSM$UNH
Asia Markets

Update: Technology Slide Pushes Nasdaq, S&P 500 Lower

(Updates with index/price moves, macroeconomic data, and geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed as a sell-off in chipmakers pushed technology sharply lower, while UnitedHealth's (UNH) strong Q2 results helped lift the price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average.The Nasdaq declined 0.9% to 26,021.1, and the S&P 500 fell 0.3% to 7,548.3 after midday Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up by less than 0.1% to 52,691.5.Consumer staples, healthcare, and real estate topped the gainers, while technology slumped, down 1.9% intraday.Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) slid 3.1% after the firm earmarked an additional $100 billion to increase its chipmaking capacity in the US, raising its total planned investment to $265 billion, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a US official. Taiwan Semiconductor also reported Q2 results on Thursday, with year-over-year earnings and net revenue rising and Q3 sales guidance beating consensus.Among stocks with market capitalization exceeding $200 billion each, 15 out of the bottom 20 names were from the technology sector, according to data compiled by Finviz. Half of the decliners were semiconductor firms, the data showed. The worst performer was SanDisk (SNDK), down 11%.In company news, UnitedHealth's shares jumped 3.1%, making it one of the Dow's top gainers, after the company posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.In geopolitical news, the Iranian military warns "all infrastructure in the region will be crushed under steel blows" if the US carries out its threat to attack Iran's civilian sites, Al Jazeera, a Middle Eastern broadcaster, reported. Iran has asked Yemen's Houthi movement to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US strikes Iranian power infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing three sources.The front-month US West Texas Intermediate fell 0.3% to $79.35 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent slipped 0.1% to $84.83 a barrel.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 2.8 basis points to 4.57% and the two-year climbing four basis points to 4.16%.In precious metal markets, gold futures retreated 1.4% to $3,995.1, and silver futures dropped 2% to $56.32.In economic news, US retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, as expected in a Bloomberg-compiled poll and following the previous month's revised 1.0% increase. Excluding a 1.9% increase in motor vehicle sales, retail sales were down 0.2% compared with an expected 0.1% decrease. That followed a 1.0% increase in May. Removing both motor vehicles and a 5.3% decline in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.4% in June after a 0.8% increase in May.US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 208,000 in the week ended July 11 from an upwardly revised 216,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a level of 217,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The four-week moving average fell by 4,750 to 214,250.Pending home sales fell by 5.4% in June, well below the 0.5% decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET and following a 3.5% increase in May, according to the National Association of Realtors. The monthly sales index was down 0.3% from June 2025."The highest mortgage rates in nearly a year and the record-high national median home price together are contributing to a tepid housing market that is especially difficult for first-time homebuyers," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. "However, job gains can help support housing demand."

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$SNDK$TSM$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Gain Thursday Afternoon

Healthcare stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 1.8% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 2%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was down 0.4%.In corporate news, UnitedHealth (UNH) shares rose 3.3% after it posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.AtaiBeckley (ATAI) shares surged 33% after Eli Lilly (LLY) said it agreed to acquire the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for up to $3.8 billion. Lilly was up 1.3%.Abbott Laboratories (ABT) lifted its full-year earnings outlook on Thursday as the healthcare firm reported Q2 results above market estimates. Abbott shares jumped 11%.

$ABT$ATAI$LLY$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare

Healthcare stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 1.9% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 2.1%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was down 0.5%.In corporate news, UnitedHealth (UNH) shares rose 3.4% after it posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.

$UNH
Research

Baird Upgrades UnitedHealth Group to Neutral From Underperform, Price Target is $453

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $444.60, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $433.07, Change: $+14.55, Percent Change: +3.48%

$UNH
Japan

Update: US Equity Indexes Mixed as Slumping Technology Pushes Nasdaq, S&P 500 Lower

(Updates with index/price moves and company/geopolitical news from the first paragraph.)US equity indexes traded mixed as a sell-off in chipmakers pushed technology sharply lower, while UnitedHealth's (UNH) strong Q2 results helped lift the price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average.The Nasdaq declined 0.8% to 26,063.2, and the S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 7,557.6 after midday Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average bucked the intraday trend, up 0.2% to 52,769.1.Consumer staples, healthcare, and real estate topped the gainers, while technology slumped, down 1.8% intraday.Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) retreated 2.6% after the firm earmarked an additional $100 billion to increase its chipmaking capacity in the US, raising its total planned investment to $265 billion, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a US official. Taiwan Semiconductor also reported Q2 results on Thursday, with year-over-year earnings and net revenue rising and Q3 sales guidance beating consensus.Among stocks with market capitalization exceeding $200 billion each, 15 out of the bottom 20 names were from the technology sector, according to data compiled by Finviz. Half of the decliners were semiconductor firms, the data showed. The worst performer was SanDisk (SNDK), down 9.5%.In company news, UnitedHealth's shares jumped 3.5%, making it one of the Dow's top gainers, after the company posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.In geopolitical news, Iran has asked Yemen's Houthi movement to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US strikes Iranian power infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing three sources.The front-month US West Texas Intermediate was little changed at $79.61 a barrel, and global benchmark North Sea Brent was steady at $84.96 a barrel. Both crude oil types traded lower earlier in the session.Most US Treasury yields rose after midday, with the 10-year up 2.8 basis points to 4.57%.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$SNDK$TSM$UNH
Wire

Top Midday Stories: Taiwan Semiconductor Q2 Earnings Top Estimates, Increases Capex; UnitedHealth Raises Full-Year Guidance

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite were down in late-morning trading Thursday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up slightly, as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's (TSM), or TSMC's, latest earnings report dragged down chip stocks.In company news, TSMC reported Q2 earnings Thursday of 27.25 New Taiwan dollars ($0.86) per diluted share, up from NT$15.36 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of NT$24.20. Net Q2 revenue was NT$1.270 trillion, up from NT$933.79 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of NT$1.266 trillion. For Q3, the chipmaker said it expects revenue of $44.6 billion to $45.8 billion, above the FactSet consensus of $43.21 billion. Separately, TSMC has reserved an additional $100 billion to increase its chipmaking capacity in the US, raising its total planned investment to $265 billion, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a US official. TSMC shares were down 2.1% around midday.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reported Q2 adjusted earnings Thursday of $6.38 per diluted share, up from $4.08 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $4.91. Second-quarter revenue was $112.03 billion, up from $111.62 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $110.81 billion. For 2026, the insurance company raised its adjusted EPS guidance to $19.50 to $20 from greater than $18.25. Analysts expect $18.49. UnitedHealth shares were up 3.3%.Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reported Q2 adjusted earnings Thursday of $1.31 per diluted share, up from $1.26 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.28. Second-quarter revenue was $12.59 billion, up from $11.14 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $12.52 billion. For Q3, Abbott said it expects adjusted diluted EPS of $1.38 to $1.46, compared to the FactSet consensus of $1.42. For 2026, the company raised its adjusted EPS guidance to $5.45 to $5.60 from $5.38 to $5.58. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $5.47. Abbott shares were up 11%.Uber Technologies (UBER) on Thursday said it has entered into a business combination agreement with Delivery Hero in a deal with an equity value of $14.8 billion, or $13.7 billion adjusted for Uber's prior stake purchases. Under the terms of the deal, Delivery Hero shareholders will receive cash consideration of 41.50 euros ($47.60) per share. Uber shares were up 1.6%.GE Aerospace (GE) reported Q2 adjusted earnings Thursday of $2.02 per share, up from $1.66 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.86. Second-quarter revenue was $13.35 billion, up from $11.02 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $11.87 billion. For 2026, the company raised its adjusted EPS guidance to $7.65 to $7.85 from $7.10 to $7.40. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $7.56. GE shares were down 4.3%.Price: $410.53, Change: $-8.95, Percent Change: -2.13%

$ABT$GE$TSM$UBER$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Rise Pre-Bell Thursday

Healthcare stocks were rising pre-bell Thursday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) 1.2% higher and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) up 0.5%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up more than 7% after the company posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue, and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.Abbott Laboratories (ABT) shares were up more than 5% after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue, and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance.Eli Lilly (LLY) has agreed to acquire AtaiBeckley (ATAI) for $2.8 billion in cash plus potential milestone payments of up to $1.0 billion, the companies said. AtaiBeckley stock was up more than 33% pre-bell.

$ABT$ATAI$IBB$LLY$UNH$XLV
UnitedHealth Lifts Full-Year Earnings Outlook as Second-Quarter Revenue Unexpectedly Rises
US Markets

UnitedHealth Lifts Full-Year Earnings Outlook as Second-Quarter Revenue Unexpectedly Rises

UnitedHealth (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Thursday as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected year-over-year increase in its second-quarter revenue.The company now anticipates adjusted earnings to be in a range of $19.50 to $20 per share for 2026, up from its previous guidance of more than $18.25. The current consensus on FactSet is for non-GAAP EPS of $18.49.The stock rose 6.6% in the most recent premarket activity.UnitedHealth's revenue came in at $112.03 billion for the June quarter, up from $111.62 billion the year before, defying the Street's view for a decrease to $110.81 billion. Adjusted EPS jumped to $6.38 from $4.08, topping the average analyst estimate of $4.91."Our results and outlook reflect the continuing progress in our work to simplify how we operate, improve both affordability and the health care experience for patients and care providers and apply modern technology to create real improvement for people," Chief Executive Stephen Hemsley said in a statement.Revenue in the UnitedHealthcare segment, which provides health care benefits, including those covered under Medicare and Medicaid, slipped to $86.02 billion from $86.1 billion in the prior-year period. The division served 48.5 million people in the quarter, down by 525,000 on a sequential basis, the company said.The Optum business, which serves the global health care marketplace, saw sales decrease to $65.66 billion from $67.23 billion. Within the segment, Optum Health and Optum Rx recorded lower revenue, while Optum Insight increased to $5.4 billion from $5.23 billion.UnitedHealth said its medical care ratio, which is used to measure medical costs as a percentage of premium revenue, declined to 86.7% from 89.4% in the 2025 quarter, buoyed by "benefit design and pricing discipline, member mix and medical cost management initiatives." A lower ratio generally signifies higher profitability.For the ongoing year, the health insurer estimates the medical care ratio to come in at 88.1%, plus or minus 25 basis points, compared with its initial estimate in January for 88.8%, plus or minus 50 basis points.

$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Healthcare

Healthcare stocks were mixed pre-bell Thursday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) 1.1% higher and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) down 0.1%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up more than 7% after the company posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue, and raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook.

$UNH
Commodities

Exchange-Traded Funds Lower, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Thursday Amid Semiconductor Stock Weakness

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.3%, and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) retreated 0.9% in Thursday's premarket activity, amid weakness in semiconductor stocks.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gaining 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures slipping 0.5% before the start of regular trading.US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 208,000 in the week ended July 11 from an upwardly revised 216,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a level of 217,000 in a survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.The New York Federal Reserve's services index jumped to 8.7 in July from minus 10.1 in June.US retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following the previous month's revised 1.0% increase.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index jumped to 41.4 in July after rising to 10.3 in June, compared with expectations for a much smaller increase to a reading of 12.5 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.Reports releasing at 10:00 am ET include the pending home sales data for June, business inventories data for May, and home builder sentiment data for July.Weekly natural gas stocks data will be released at 10:30 am ET.Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson is slated to speak on Thursday.In premarket action, bitcoin was down by 1.2%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.1% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated 1.9%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 2.1%.Power Play:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) gained 0.8%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) rose 0.9%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased marginally by 0.02%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up more than 5% premarket after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.Winners and Losers:IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) retreated 0.9%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was down 0.7% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.GE Aerospace (GE) stock was down more than 3% before the opening bell, even after the company reported higher Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.4%, the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) gained 0.7%, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) advanced marginally by 0.03%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) increased 0.4%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was down 0.6%.Honda Motor (HMC) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell after a 0.7% decline at the prior close. Nikkei reported that the company plans to begin production of its UC3 electric motorcycle in Vietnam as early as September, shifting manufacturing from Thailand as it looks to capitalize on growing demand for electric two-wheelers in the country.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.3%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.4% lower.UBS Group (UBS) shares traded down 2% in early hours activity following a 2.3% gain in the previous session. Bloomberg News reported, citing an internal memo, that the company hired former Goldman Sachs (GS) managing director Takehiro Sakuramoto to head its debt capital markets division in Japan.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) gained 0.9%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.04%.TotalEnergies (TTE) stock was down more than 2% before market open, extending losses from its 0.7% retreat at the end of Wednesday's session. The company said it expects Q2 hydrocarbon production to be nearly 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, supported by about 4% organic growth.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 1.5%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 1.2% lower, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) declined 2.7%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) fell by 3.7%.Nvidia (NVDA) shares were down more than 1% in premarket activity after advancing 0.3% at Wednesday's close. The company said it is working with Noetra to launch a factory of central processing units and graphics processing units to support the development of a national "Physical AI" infrastructure.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil advanced by 1% to $80.41 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up by 0.8% to $2.95 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up 0.4%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.8% higher.Gold futures for July retreated 0.5% to $4,032.80 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated by 0.7% to $57.02 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) decreased 1.4%, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) was 2.9% lower.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BETH$BITO$EEM$EETH$EXI$FAS$FAZ$GE$GLD$GS$HMC$IBB$IGM$IGV$IPK$IVV$IWM$IYE$IYH$IYJ$IYK$IYW$NVDA$PMR$QQQ$RTH$SLV$SOXX$SPY$TTE$UBS$UNG$UNH$USO$VDC$VHT$VIS$XLE$XLF$XLI$XLK$XLP$XLV$XLY$XRT$XSD
Asia Markets

Update: US Equity Futures Edging Lower Pre-Bell as Traders Cautious on Tech, US Strikes Iran Targets Anew

(Updates with economic data, recent oil price movement, world markets' overview and corporate stock movements.)US equity futures were edging lower pre-bell Thursday as traders saw tech stocks trend downwards and the US unleashed another round of strikes against Iran.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 1% lower.SK Hynix (SKHY) stock fell more than 11% in Seoul and 8% in premarket activity on the Nasdaq.US Central Command said in a post on X that it completed another wave of attacks against Iran, holding the nation "accountable" at the direction of President Donald Trump.Iran warned that it would hit key infrastructure in the Gulf region if the US followed through on Trump's threats on Tuesday to strike Iranian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants if progress on peace talks was not achieved.Traders took note of the latest round of earnings with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) posting higher Q2 earnings and revenue.Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1.3% at $86.06 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.3% higher at $80.66 per barrel.US retail sales rose by 0.2% in June, following a 1.0% gain in the prior month and meeting expectations in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Initial jobless claims dropped to 208,000 in the week ended July 11 from 216,000 in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 217,000. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's monthly manufacturing index rose to 41.4 in July from 10.3 in June, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to a reading of 12.5.The July US housing market index, slated for 10 am ET, is expected at 35, unchanged from the prior month. Pending home sales for June are expected to decline by 0.5% after a gain of 3.8% in the prior month.Federal Reserve Dallas President Lorie Logan, Kansas City President Jeffrey Schmid, and Vice Chair Philip Jefferson are slated to speak on Thursday.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 2.8% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.3% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 1.9% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.4%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.9% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shares were 4.2% lower despite the company's Q2 earnings and revenue surpassing analysts' consensus estimates. Stocks of STMicroelectronics (STM), Western Digital (WDC), and Seagate Technology (STX) were down as part of a larger decline in the tech sector. STMicroelectronics shares fell 4.8%, Western Digital stock was down 7.7%, and Seagate Technology shares dropped 6.5%.On the winning side, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up 6.7% after the company reported Q2 adjusted earnings and revenue that beat analyst estimates, as well as boosting its 2026 outlook. Baidu (BIDU) stock was up 2.1% after the company said its board approved a plan to pursue a voluntary conversion to a dual-primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, while maintaining its primary listing on the Nasdaq.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BIDU$SKHY$STM$STX$TSM$UNH$WDC
Stocks Mostly Down Pre-Bell as Investors Await More Earnings, Retail Sales Data
US Markets

Stocks Mostly Down Pre-Bell as Investors Await More Earnings, Retail Sales Data

US equity markets were mostly tracking in the red before the opening bell Thursday as traders await the latest round of earnings and the June retail sales report.The S&P 500 edged down 0.1% and the Nasdaq was off 0.5% in premarket activity, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%. The three main indexes finished Wednesday trading higher for the second consecutive session.UnitedHealth (UNH), GE Aerospace (GE), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Prologis (PLD), US Bancorp (USB), State Street (STT) and Citizens Financial (CFG) are expected to report their latest financial results before the bell, among others. Streaming giant Netflix (NFLX) posts its earnings after the markets close.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's (TSM) US-listed shares declined 3.9% pre-bell after the semiconductor manufacturer reported its second-quarter results. United Airlines (UAL) was down 2.3% as the air carrier flagged an additional $6 billion in fuel costs for 2026 amid rising oil prices.J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) jumped 6.4% as the transportation and logistics company's second-quarter results topped market estimates. Apple (AAPL) added 0.2% after finishing Wednesday with a 4% gain amid media reports that the iPhone maker has held talks with bankers in recent months about possible acquisitions of chip companies.Last month's retail sales report is out at 8:30 am ET.Government data showed Wednesday that producer prices unexpectedly dropped on a monthly basis in June amid a steep decline in the cost of energy products. Earlier in the week, an official report showed that consumer prices decreased last month for the first time in more than six years."While still nominally elevated at a dangerously high level, the relative improvement in inflation in June emboldens the more dovish argument that price pressures are already cooling and could retreat further into year-end as the lingering impact from tariffs falls off and energy prices potentially normalize amid -- still tentative -- but ongoing, US-Iran peace negotiations," Stifel said in a note Wednesday.US Treasury yields were up in premarket action, with the two-year rate increasing 3.2 basis points to 4.16% and the 10-year rate adding 2.8 basis points to 4.57%.Thursday's economic calendar also has the weekly jobless claims bulletin at 8:30 am, along with the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index for July. The housing market index for the current month and the pending home sales index for June are both out at 10 am.Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid are all slated to speak on Thursday.Inflation is more likely to accelerate than cool given price pressures arising from an artificial intelligence boom and major supply shocks, Fed Governor Lisa Cook said Wednesday. Separately, New York Fed President John Williams said that inflation should ease in the next few quarters as energy prices retreat.West Texas Intermediate crude oil dipped less than 0.1% to $79.59 a barrel before the open, while Brent nudged down 0.3% to $84.72.The US Central Command said Wednesday its forces disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to transit towards an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf. The US resumed its naval blockade on Iranian ships and ports earlier this week.A spokesperson for Iran's top military command reportedly said Thursday that it will destroy key infrastructure in the Middle East if the US follows through on President Donald Trump's threat to attack power plants and bridges in the country in case a deal isn't finalized, CNBC reported.Gold decreased 0.3% to $4,039 per troy ounce, while bitcoin fell 1.1% to $64,176.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$ABT$CFG$GE$JBHT$NFLX$PLD$STT$TSM$UAL$UNH$USB
Wire

Piper Sandler Raises Price Target on UnitedHealth Group to $475 From $420, Maintains Overweight Rating

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $442.32, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Price: $420.50, Change: $-4.69, Percent Change: -1.10%

$UNH
Wire

Update: Market Chatter: DOJ Expands Antitrust Probe Into Claritev

(Updates with Claritev's response in the fourth paragraph.)The US Justice Department recently sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to lawyers for a group of hospitals and doctor groups suing Claritev (CTEV) for alleged antitrust violations, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.The lawsuits accuse the healthcare technology firm of conspiring with UnitedHealth Group (UNH), CVS Health's (CVS) Aetna and Cigna Group (CI) and other health insurers to lower reimbursements for out-of-network services, the report said."We decline to comment on any matters before the DOJ, according to longstanding policy," a DOJ spokesperson told. "However, we can affirm that under the Trump Administration this DOJ will continue to prioritize affordability for all Americans across our economy.""Claritev previously disclosed both the closure of the DOJ's criminal antitrust investigation and the company's receipt of a civil investigative demand ("CID")," a Claritev spokesperson said in an emailed statement to. "The CID does not make findings or allegations, and Claritev is fully cooperating with the DOJ in providing the information it seeks."(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $28.59, Change: $-1.26, Percent Change: -4.21%

$CI$CTEV$CVS$UNH
Wire

Update: Market Chatter: DOJ Expands Antitrust Probe Into Claritev

(Update with the Justice Department's response to a request for comment in the third paragraph.)The US Justice Department recently sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to lawyers for a group of hospitals and doctor groups suing Claritev (CTEV) for alleged antitrust violations, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.The lawsuits accuse the healthcare technology firm of conspiring with UnitedHealth Group (UNH), CVS Health's (CVS) Aetna and Cigna Group (CI) and other health insurers to lower reimbursements for out-of-network services, the report said."We decline to comment on any matters before the DOJ, according to longstanding policy," a DOJ spokesperson told. "However, we can affirm that under the Trump Administration this DOJ will continue to prioritize affordability for all Americans across our economy."Claritev didn't immediately reply to a request for comment from.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $26.49, Change: $-3.35, Percent Change: -11.23%

$CI$CTEV$CVS$UNH
Wire

Market Chatter: DOJ Expands Antitrust Probe Into Claritev

The US Justice Department recently sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to lawyers for a group of hospitals and doctor groups suing Claritev (CTEV) for alleged antitrust violations, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.The lawsuits accuse the healthcare technology firm of conspiring with UnitedHealth Group (UNH), CVS Health's (CVS) Aetna and Cigna Group (CI) and other health insurers to lower reimbursements for out-of-network services, the report said.Claritev and the Justice Department didn't immediately reply to requests for comment from.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $27.91, Change: $-1.93, Percent Change: -6.47%

$CI$CTEV$CVS$UNH

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