Traders Paradise

This friendship day celebrate with your friends by getting a fundedfirm account! Use code - “BFF20“ for 20% discount at fundedfirm.com

🇺🇸 Microsoft shares surged more than 15%, marking their biggest daily gain since March 2020, after the company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results. The company posted $90 billion in quarterly revenue, up 18% from a year ago. Azure and other cloud services grew 43%, while CEO Satya Nadella announced that Azure's annual revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time. The strong results boosted investor confidence in Microsoft's AI and cloud business.

🇬🇧 Sensodyne maker Haleon reported stronger-than-expected first-half profit, but investors focused on slowing sales growth, sending the stock lower. Organic revenue grew 2.6%, matching forecasts, but the company still needs a much stronger second half to reach its long-term target of 4% to 6% growth. Weak demand in Europe and lower sales of cold and flu products, after a mild flu season, weighed on results. Respiratory product sales fell 6.5%. Haleon also said higher shipping costs linked to the Iran conflict and weaker consumer sentiment in some markets, including Dubai, added pressure. Despite these challenges, the company remains confident that demand will improve in the second half of the year.

🇺🇸 The U.S. economy grew 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, below expectations of 2.1%, as higher oil prices from the Iran war weighed on growth. Consumer spending stayed strong, supported by jobs, tax refunds, and AI investment, but rising fuel prices increased pressure on household budgets. Inflation also cooled in June, with the Fed's preferred inflation measure rising 3.7%, reducing the chance of an immediate interest rate hike.

🇺🇸 Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said the company has made strong progress in making its meals feel more affordable after several years of price increases. To attract more customers, Chipotle has introduced lower-cost high-protein menu items, expanded digital offers like free double-protein deals, free delivery, and buy-one-get-one promotions. The strategy helped boost second-quarter results. Revenue rose 9.3% to $3.35 billion, while comparable restaurant sales increased 2.2% as more customers visited stores. Chipotle also raised its full-year sales outlook, expecting low-single-digit growth, and its shares jumped about 8% in premarket trading after the earnings report.

🇪🇺 European Union will invest €10 billion ($11.5 billion) to build 7 AI gigafactories across Europe, aiming to compete with the U.S. and China in artificial intelligence. The EU also hopes to attract at least €20 billion from private investors. The new facilities will provide powerful AI chips, cloud systems, data centers, and high-speed networks to support AI development. Tech companies including AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm have already shown interest by signing agreements to support the project.

🇺🇸 Meta reported higher revenue than expected, but its profit missed expectations because of legal and severance costs. The company also gave a weaker sales forecast for the next quarter, causing its stock to fall nearly 10% in premarket trading. Meta is continuing to invest heavily in AI, raising its 2026 spending plan to $135-$145 billion and building a $14 billion AI data center in Texas with BlackRock. The company also launched a cheaper AI model to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic by offering much lower prices for developers.

🇬🇧 Rolls-Royce raised its full-year profit forecast after reporting a 46% jump in first-half operating profit, driven by strong performance across its civil aerospace, defence, and power systems businesses. The company now expects £4.7-£4.9 billion in operating profit for 2026, well above its previous forecast of £4.0-£4.2 billion. Demand from data centers, improved aircraft engine servicing, and growing defence spending all boosted results. Following the announcement, Rolls-Royce shares climbed more than 5%.

🇬🇧 Shell reported $10.8 billion in net profit for the second quarter, nearly three times higher than a year ago, as the Middle East conflict pushed oil prices sharply higher. Revenue climbed 45% to $96.4 billion, although gas production fell after damage to Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility disrupted supplies. The company also announced a $3 billion share buyback, while environmental groups criticized the massive profits as extreme weather events continue to worsen worldwide.

FOMC Live Trade in XAUUSD 🔥

The rally has increased founder and CEO David Overton's stake to around $320 million, making his total fortune exceed $300 million.

🇺🇸 Cheesecake Factory shares jumped 12% to a record high after the company reported its first-ever quarterly revenue above $1 billion. Net income rose to $68.4 million, beating market expectations, while the company also confirmed plans to open 26 new restaurants in 2026. The stock has surged 91% this year, pushing the company's market value to nearly $5 billion.

🇺🇸 DoorDash has received FAA Part 135 air carrier certification, allowing it to operate commercial drone deliveries in the United States. The company is launching DoorDash Air, featuring its own U.S-built drones and delivery infrastructure. The system is designed to deliver orders in under 25 minutes for locations within five miles. DoorDash will continue working with existing drone partners like Wing and Flytrex, while expanding its own in-house drone network. The company still needs additional FAA approval before its drones can make long-distance autonomous flights beyond the operator's line of sight.

Ferrari has reportedly reached its 2026 sales target for its first fully electric car, the Luce, just two months after launch, driven by strong demand from China. The luxury automaker had planned to sell just under 500 units of the EV this year. Priced at around €550,000 ($626,000), the Luce is a four-door, five-seat electric family car. Despite initial criticism over its design, the model has seen stronger-than-expected demand.

🇺🇸 U.S military has carried out a major wave of airstrikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran after Tehran allegedly attempted missile attacks on American forces. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal defense sites, and maritime assets to reduce threats to U.S. forces, commercial shipping, and Gulf allies. CENTCOM said Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in the Middle East on July 28, but all of them were successfully intercepted.

🇾🇪 Yemen's Houthi group is reportedly considering charging fees to commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait after announcing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. Reports say Chinese ships may be exempt, while Iran has discussed the proposal with Houthi officials. If implemented, the move could disrupt global shipping, increase pressure on oil supplies and raise transport costs through one of the world's busiest trade routes.

🇺🇸 Markets expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.50%-3.75%.

US oil prices up +7% after trump tweet