Group 1 - Block Inc. will join the S&P 500 index, replacing Hess, effective before the opening bell on July 23, 2025, leading to an 8.5% increase in its shares during extended trading on July 18, 2025 [1] - The S&P 500 index saw recent changes, with The Trade Desk replacing Ansys, and Hess exiting due to Chevron's $54 billion acquisition [2] - Companies added to the S&P 500 typically experience stock price boosts due to fund managers and index-tracking ETFs rebalancing their holdings [3] Group 2 - Block's addition enhances the tech presence in the S&P 500, as the company, originally known as Square, has diversified into various financial services and rebranded to Block in 2021 to emphasize its commitment to blockchain technologies [4] - Despite a 16% year-to-date decline, Block's stock has surged 14.5% over the past month, with a market capitalization of approximately $45 billion, positioning it above the median company in the index [5] - Several ETFs, including Twin Oak Endure ETF (SPYA) and VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP), have significant investments in Block, with SPYA allocating about 7% of its weight to Block shares [6]

Stock Market & Finance - Block's shares are significantly up following the announcement of its inclusion in the S&P 500, replacing Hess after its acquisition by Chevron [1] Aviation Industry - Alaska Airlines resumed operations after a systemwide ground stop lasting approximately 3 hours due to an IT outage [2] Trade & International Relations - China's exports of rare earth magnets to the US increased over sixfold in June compared to May, but were still about 40% lower than the same month last year [3] Politics & Economy - Trump administration officials are reportedly planning a visit to the Federal Reserve amid a probe involving headquarters renovation [4] Corporate Governance - Data company Astronomer's CEO Andy Brown resigned after a social media incident at a Coldplay concert, prompting a formal investigation [5]

Group 1 - Dow futures rose by 0.24%, S&P 500 futures increased by 0.26%, and Nasdaq futures gained 0.28% [1] - NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang sold 75,000 shares worth approximately $12.94 million, part of a plan to sell up to 6 million shares by the end of the year [2] - Tesla announced that Model 3 sales reached 3 million units, maintaining its position as the global leader in pure electric sedan sales for seven consecutive years [3] Group 2 - TSMC plans to expand its 2nm monthly production capacity from 40,000 wafers at the end of 2024 to 100,000 wafers by 2025, a 150% increase [4] - Cryptocurrency exchange Bullish filed for an IPO to raise up to $100 million, with a cumulative trading volume exceeding $1.25 trillion by March 31, 2025 [5] Group 3 - Block, a fintech company led by Jack Dorsey, will replace Hess in the S&P 500 index, resulting in a 9.78% increase in its stock price [6] - JPMorgan estimates that OpenAI could face a total addressable market exceeding $700 billion by 2030, with a valuation of $300 billion as of March [7] - Microsoft warned of a cyberattack on its SharePoint servers, leading to a 0.1% decline in its stock price [8] Group 4 - BHP's stock rose by 2.55% after Citi reported that its production results for Q4 of FY2025 exceeded expectations, with net debt projected at $13 billion, lower than previous estimates [9]

Jack Dorsey's Bitcoin-centric Block Inc to join S&P 500 this week https://t.co/jkdfE33iyN ...

Group 1 - Block, owner of Square and Cash App, is set to join the S&P 500, replacing Hess starting July 23, marking a significant milestone for the company and the mainstream acceptance of digital payments and cryptocurrency [2][3] - The company has evolved from a payments processing entity to a comprehensive FinTech, offering services such as peer-to-peer transfers, merchant services, and consumer lending, with recent approval from the FDIC to provide consumer loans through Cash App Borrow [3][4] - Block is integrating bitcoin payment capabilities into its Square terminals, reflecting CEO Jack Dorsey's advocacy for cryptocurrency, which aims to empower small businesses by allowing them to accept bitcoin and receive payments faster [4][5] Group 2 - The news of Block's inclusion in the S&P 500 coincided with the cryptocurrency market reaching an all-time high, surpassing $4 trillion, following the passage of three crypto-related bills by Congress [5] - The company is leveraging machine learning for fraud detection, developing internal models to identify potentially scam payments in real-time, enhancing security without disrupting the payment process [6][7]

Block shares surged in extended trading Friday, after S&P Dow Jones Indices said the digital payments provider will be replacing Hess in the benchmark S&P 500 Index next week. https://t.co/xZmcPMKg6c ...

JUST IN: Jack Dorsey's 'Block' to join the S&P 500. ...

JUST IN: Jack Dorsey's Block to join the S&P 500.They hold 8,584 bitcoin on their balance sheet 🚀 https://t.co/6k97CSAuXy ...

Group 1 - Block shares increased by over 10% in extended trading as the fintech company prepares to join the S&P 500, replacing Hess [1] - The addition of Block to the S&P 500 is part of a series of changes, including The Trade Desk replacing Ansys [2][3] - Block's inclusion reflects the growing tech presence in the S&P 500, highlighting the market cap gains of tech companies [4] Group 2 - Block, formerly known as Square, has diversified into crypto, lending, and other financial services since its founding in 2009 [4] - Despite a 14% decline in shares this year, Block maintains a market cap of approximately $45 billion, significantly above the median company in the S&P 500 [5]

BREAKING: Jack Dorsey's Block to join the S&P 500 🔥 https://t.co/Blb7ot5j9t ...