Stocks largely advanced over a V-shaped week as the AI trade, led by chip stocks, pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq averages higher amid renewed conflict.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.23 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 1.74 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.50 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 1.42 percent.^1,2

Tech-Led Rise Past Geopolitical Concerns

Stocks rose to start the week, with the Dow hitting another record close and the Nasdaq climbing more than 1 percent as investors shook off valuation concerns that plagued AI stocks over the past few weeks.³

The Dow hit a new intraday high on Tuesday before its two-day slide, along with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, through the week's lows midday Wednesday. That said, the Nasdaq eked out a slight gain on Wednesday after chip stocks recovered.^4,5

After hitting its midweek bottom, stocks climbed through the end of the week. Chip stocks led the rally, pushing higher amid continued Middle East conflict, even as reports emerged that mediators were trying to get the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table. A handful of big tech names led the broad market’s rise to finish the week strong, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each gaining more than 1 percent on Friday.^6,7

A ‘Family Fight’, Vexed by Inflation

Minutes from the Fed’s June meeting were released on Wednesday and revealed a Fed divided and unsure of how to proceed without more inflation data.

Fed officials offered opposing arguments at the meeting about whether to raise or lower interest rates. Fed Chair Warsh called the debate a “family fight” and gave little forward guidance on where the next decision was leaning, adding they would continue to assess “incoming information” on inflation.⁸

This Week: Key Economic Data

Monday: Treasury Balance.

Tuesday: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Consumer Price Index (CPI). Fed Chair Kevin Warsh presents Monetary Policy Report to Congress. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaks.

Wednesday: Producer Price Index (PPI). Personal Consumption. New York Fed President John Williams speaks. Fed Beige Book.

Thursday: Retail Sales. Weekly Jobless Claims. Manufacturing & Trade: Inventories & Sales. NAHB Housing Market Index. Pending Home Sales. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan speaks.

Friday: Housing Starts. Import Prices. Industrial Production. Capacity Utilization. University of Michigan Survey Results. 

^{Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar; July 10, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.}

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Tuesday: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Bank of America Corporation (BAC), The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS), Wells Fargo & Company (WLS), Citigroup Inc. (C)

Wednesday: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Morgan Stanley (MS), BlackRock (BLK), The Progressive Corporation (PGR), BNY (BNY), The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC), Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV), Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI), Cintas Corporation (CTAS)

Thursday: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH), GE Aerospace (GE), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Prologis, Inc. (PLD), U.S. Bancorp (USB)

Friday: The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV), Truist Financial Corporation (TFC) 

^{Source: Zacks, July 10, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.}

"You cannot talk to people successfully if they think you are not interested in what they have to say or you have no respect for them."

– Larry King

Bananas: Nature's Energy Bar

Bananas are one of the most portable, fuss-free sources of nutrition you can find. High in potassium, vitamin B6, and fiber, they're a natural energy booster, no wrapper required. Freeze them and blend them in a smoothie, mash them into pancake batter as a natural sweetener, or slice them onto a peanut butter sandwich for a classic combination that never gets old. They're also a great egg substitute in baking, making them a pantry hero for plant-based cooking.

Tip adapted from Healthline⁹

Brittany carried a load of wood in a wheelbarrow, yet the wood was neither straight nor crooked. How could this be?

Last Week's Riddle: I lack lungs, yet I constantly need oxygen; I have no mouth, but sufficient water will drown me. What am I?

Answer: Fire.

Markets notched a solid gain over a shortened trading week as investors cheered ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.77 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 2.12 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.97 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 1.81 percent.^1,2

Q2 Ends with Fireworks

Stocks opened higher to start the week, climbing on weekend news regarding the U.S. and Iran.³

On the second day of trading, the rally narrowed with chip stocks leading the way. The Nasdaq rose more than 3.5 percent and the S&P 500 2 percent in the first two days of the week.⁴

But as July began, markets pivoted as investors rotated out of some AI and tech names. The Dow hit a new intraday high before pulling back a bit. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined, but a handful of megacap tech stocks with company-specific news rose, limiting the downside.⁵

On the last trading day of a shortened week, stocks initially rose after the June jobs report missed expectations, leading investors to readjust their interest rate expectations. However, as the session progressed, markets turned more mixed ahead of the holiday weekend.⁶

The Dow Industrials ended the week at a record high.⁷

Job Market Slows

The economy added 57,000 jobs last month, coming up short of the 115,000 economists expected. It was also short of the 129,000 jobs added in May.⁷

This Week: Key Economic Data

Monday: PMI Composite. ISM Services Index. Three-Month Treasury Bill Auction.

Tuesday: International Trade in Goods & Services. One-Year Treasury Bill Auction.

Wednesday: EIA Petroleum Status Update. Ten-Year Treasury Note Auction. FOMC Minutes Released (June meeting). Consumer Credit.

Thursday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Fed President speeches: John Williams (New York) and Lorie Logan (Dallas). Existing Home Sales. Fed Balance Sheet. 

^{Source: Investor’s Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar: July 2, 2026.
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.}

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Tuesday: PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP)

Wednesday: Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)

^{Source: Zacks, July 2, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.}

"For every man in the world functions to the best of his ability, and no one does less than his best, no matter what he may think about it."

 –John Steinbeck

Set a 15-Minute Timer for Tasks You're Avoiding

Procrastinating on something? Set a timer for just 15 minutes and commit to starting, nothing more. More often than not, momentum takes over, and you'll keep going long after the timer ends. It's a surprisingly effective way to break through resistance and get things done.

Tip adapted from Buzzfeed⁸

Citrus Fruits: Your Vitamin C Powerhouse

Oranges and strawberries may seem like simple staples, but these vitamin C-rich fruits are among the most nutritious foods you can add to your diet. Oranges bring fiber and antioxidants to the table, while strawberries deliver manganese and a naturally sweet flavor with minimal calories and carbs. Squeeze fresh orange juice into salad dressings for a bright, tangy kick, or macerate strawberries with a pinch of sugar to spoon over yogurt, pancakes, or even grilled chicken. Together or separately, these fruits make healthy eating feel anything but boring.

Tip adapted from Healthline⁹

I lack lungs, yet I constantly need oxygen; I have no mouth, but sufficient water will drown me. What am I?

Last Week's Riddle: What has a foot on each side and yet another foot in its middle?

Answer: A yardstick.

Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis)

Kearney, Nebraska, United States

Stocks ended mixed as falling oil prices helped lift the Dow Industrials, while concerns about AI valuation put pressure on the broader market.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.95 percent while the Nasdaq Composite Index skidded 4.60 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.60 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 1.33 percent.^1,2

Dow Industrials Take the Lead

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes were under pressure to start the week as the AI trade and tech more broadly came under scrutiny. But the Dow Industrials made a modest gain for the day.³

The rotation away from tech continued Tuesday, with large consumer stocks faring particularly well, which minimized the Dow’s decline. The S&P fell about 1.4 percent for the day, while the Nasdaq fell more than 2 percent.⁴

Midweek, stocks were mixed. Healthcare, financial, and industrial sectors carried the Dow to small gains on Wednesday and Thursday. Conversely, continued pressure on tech shares led the S&P and Nasdaq down, albeit at a slower pace than earlier in the week.^5,6

Then markets flattened out as the week wrapped up. The slow-but-steady Dow logged its 3rd consecutive weekly gain, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 were under steady pressure during the week.⁷

Inflation Update

The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, PCE, or the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, came in as expected for May. While the core number, which excludes energy, was at its highest level since October 2023. However, investors appeared relieved that there were no surprises.⁸

This Week: Key Economic Data

Tuesday: S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Chicago Business Barometer. Consumer Confidence. Job Openings/Labor Turnover.

Wednesday: ADP Employment Report. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)—Manufacturing. Institute for Supply Management (ISM)—Manufacturing. Construction Spending.

Thursday: Employment Report. Weekly Jobless Claims. Factory Orders. 

^{Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar; June 26, 2026. The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.}

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Tuesday: Nike, Inc. (NKE)

Wednesday: General Mills, Inc. (GIS) 

^{Source: Zacks, June 26, 2026. Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.}

"True originality consists not in a new manner but in a new vision."

– Edith Wharton

Use AI as Your Personal Tour Guide

Planning a trip, or already on one? AI makes for a surprisingly great tour guide. Try asking something like: "I'm at [location] — what's the best route to see the highlights, and what's the history behind each one?" With voice mode enabled, it's like having a knowledgeable companion right in your ear.

Tip adapted from creatoreconomy.so⁹

4 Benefits of Yoga

In addition to helping you finally touch your toes, yoga may confer many other benefits, from helping you relax to even potentially helping your heart health. Below are some other potential benefits of yoga:

• Yoga can decrease stress and promote relaxation. Becoming more in tune with your body and where you hold stress is rewarding.
• Yoga may also be able to relieve anxiety. In one study, 34 women diagnosed with an anxiety disorder participated in yoga classes twice weekly for two months. At the end of the study, those who had practiced yoga had significantly lower levels of anxiety than the control group.
• Yoga may help improve heart health and reduce several risk factors for heart disease. One study found that participants over 40 who practiced yoga for five years had lower blood pressure and pulse rates than those who did not.
• Lastly, yoga may help fight depression; this may be because yoga can decrease cortisol levels, a stress hormone that influences serotonin levels, the neurotransmitter frequently associated with depression.

Tip adapted from Healthline¹⁰

What has a foot on each side and yet another foot in its middle?

Last Week's Riddle: What force and strength cannot get through, it with gentle touch can do. People in many halls would stand were it not in their hand. What is it?

Answer: A key.

Benidorm 

Alicante Province, Spain

• 1-minute high plank: Your hands are on the ground, your arms are straight, and you are holding your body up with your arms and a tight core. 
• 30-second side plank on each side: One hand is on the ground, your arm is straight, and the other is in the air. You can do a side plank with your feet stacked on each other (most challenging), your feet staggered (a little easier), or your bottom knee on the ground. 
• 1-minute boat pose: Your feet are in the air, and your arms are by your side, reaching to your feet. You can pose with your legs bent (easier) or straight out (harder). 
• 1-minute crunches: Lift your shoulders and upper back off the ground without pulling your neck.
• 1-minute dead bug: Lie on your back and alternate, extending the opposite arm and leg simultaneously.