Public Markets 24 Hours

Last updated: July 29, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Federal Reserve and Market Reaction

The Federal Reserve at its meeting, which in early Asian trade. However, internal divisions were evident, with three officials voting for an increase. This decision and the dollar to decline to its lowest in nearly a week. Investors expressed doubt about the Fed's commitment to fighting inflation, with some anticipating rate hikes later in the year. The divergence in forward guidance between the Fed and other central banks may also weigh on the dollar. Bond market volatility increased as the Fed abandoned forward guidance, leading to sharp swings in Treasury yields.

Corporate Earnings and Dealmaking

Samsung Electronics reported a surge in net profit, jumping 14-fold in the second quarter, driven by its semiconductor division. This strong performance, however in South Korea, with stocks declining. Microsoft also, fueled by Azure cloud sales exceeding $100 billion. In contrast, Meta's profit due to heavy investment in artificial intelligence. Banco Bradesco SA to support its digital transformation. In the financial sector, Fortress Investment Group agreed to from fintech Wayflyer. Johnson & Johnson with Sail Biomedicines, with initial payments of $785 million and an option to acquire for $2.58 billion.

Geopolitical Tensions and Commodity Markets

Geopolitical tensions escalated in the Middle East, with renewed strikes between the U.S. and Iran, and attacks on tankers in crucial oil routes. Qatar sent first through the Strait of Hormuz in three weeks following an earlier attack. These developments on a possible technical correction, though President Trump. Glencore's traders saw gains as the Iran conflict upended commodity markets. U.S. natural gas futures steadied in early trading. China's coal demand received a boost from a heatwave increasing air conditioner usage and power demand.

Asian Markets and Economic Outlook

South Korean stocks for a third day, despite Samsung's better-than-expected earnings, as the government introduced measures to. Indian benchmark Nifty at its 200-day moving average, indicating its long-term momentum has yet to be convincingly reclaimed. India's forex inflows have reached, but have yet to boost the rupee. Chinese firms are preparing for their biggest wave of share buybacks since 2025 to counter a stock selloff. Hong Kong builder Parkview Group Ltd. missed interest on a $940 million loan.

Global Economic Trends and Company News

Australia's inflation data was "a touch softer" than anticipated, though the labor market remains tight. The UK property market due to higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. In the U.S., used car retailer Carvana driven by a hot market. Starbucks is focusing on food availability as a next challenge. Procter & Gamble for its new fiscal year, anticipating a $1 billion hit from increased costs related to the Iran war. BMW aims cut amid mounting challenges in China. Ferrari's electric vehicle driven by strong demand from China.