Market Update: S&P 500, Nasdaq Close Higher – An Hour Ago

In the latest financial news, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed higher as July trading began. The S&P 500 added 0.27% to close at 5,475.09, while the Nasdaq gained 0.83% to 17,879.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also inched higher by 0.13% to finish at 39,169.52. This positive movement in the market reflects the start of a new month and a positive outlook for the second half of the year.

However, small-cap stocks lagged behind, with the Russell 2000 slipping nearly 1% in the session. This puts their marginal year-to-date gain at risk, highlighting the challenging environment for smaller names in the market this year.

In other news, Wall Street started coverage of Israel’s Gauzy after its June IPO, causing the stock to fall another 10%. Despite the negative reaction from investors, analysts from Barclays, TD Cowen, and Stifel remain optimistic about Gauzy’s growth potential.

Additionally, investors are turning to buffer ETFs to hedge against election uncertainty, with several firms launching new structured product exchange-traded funds that offer downside protection in exchange for limiting upside potential.

Overall, the market outlook remains positive for the rest of the year, with experts like Principal Asset Management’s Seema Shah maintaining a positive outlook on risk assets. Despite some concerns, the market is expected to continue performing well in the coming months.

In summary, the financial markets are off to a positive start in July, with some sectors outperforming while others face challenges. Investors are advised to stay informed and consider their options carefully in the current market environment.