Market Overview - Wall Street reached new record highs driven by the Federal Reserve's quarter-point interest rate cut and expectations of further reductions in upcoming meetings [2][8] - The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 indices all achieved unprecedented levels, with technology stocks leading the gains [2][8] - Nvidia's $5 billion investment in Intel resulted in a significant 23.1% to 24.6% increase in Intel's shares, marking its largest daily gain since 1987 [2][8] Corporate Performance - FedEx reported a strong first quarter for fiscal year 2025, with adjusted earnings per share of $3.83, surpassing the estimated $3.59, and revenue of $22.2 billion, exceeding predictions of $21.67 billion [3][8] - The company's adjusted operating income reached $1.30 billion, higher than the expected $1.21 billion, indicating a robust start to the fiscal year [3] Capital Flows - U.S. Treasury International Capital (TIC) data for July showed a significant decline in net long-term capital inflows, totaling $49.2 billion, down from $150.8 billion in the same period last year [4][8] - Despite the monthly dip, total foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries reached a record high of $8.339 trillion in July, up from $8.211 trillion in June [4][8] Geopolitical Developments - Former President Trump announced efforts to regain control of Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, emphasizing its strategic importance due to its proximity to China's nuclear facilities [5][8] Technology Investments - Microsoft announced a $4 billion expansion of its data center investments in Wisconsin, bringing its total investment in the state to over $7 billion [6][8]
Wall Street Soars on Fed Cuts and Tech Boost, FedEx Exceeds Estimates, Geopolitical Tensions Rise