U.S. markets ended Monday in the red as all three major indexes pulled back amid renewed jitters over weak economic signals and hawkish Fed commentary. The Dow led losses, pressured by industrial names—3M (MMM) slid after cutting its full-year outlook, and Caterpillar (CAT) eased on softer global manufacturing data. The Nasdaq dropped as big‑tech headlines disappointed; Apple (AAPL) declined following tepid guidance for AI services, and Meta Platforms (META) slipped after showing slower ad revenue growth. In financials, Wells Fargo (WFC) fell despite stable margins, while Truist Financial (TFC) lagged on concerns over regional loan growth. Healthcare saw mixed action—Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) remained steady on steady drug sales, but Merck (MRK) retreated after its litigation costs rose. Consumer discretionary also weakened: Starbucks (SBUX) dipped following weaker store traffic and Booking Holdings (BKNG) pulled back as cruise stocks cooled ahead of the holiday. Energy names such as ExxonMobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) declined alongside falling oil prices. The overall tone was risk-off, with traders trimming positions and staying defensive as they await clearer signals from upcoming inflation data and earnings reports. Market Drivers: 📱Technology: AMD Slips, Palantir Softens: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) declined after lukewarm commentary on data center chip momentum, raising questions about Q3 AI acceleration. Palantir Technologies (PLTR) also eased as traders rotated out of high-growth software names amid valuation sensitivity and broader tech weakness. 🏦 Financials: Wells Fargo Falls, Truist Drops: Wells Fargo (WFC) pulled back despite solid margin data, with broader pressure across bank stocks tied to concerns over loan growth and upcoming earnings guidance. Truist Financial (TFC) also declined after analysts flagged continued headwinds in regional lending and deposit competition. 🚗 Automotive: Stellantis Slips, NIO Retreats: Stellantis (STLA) fell following a cut to its EV production forecast due to supply chain disruptions in Europe. NIO Inc. (NIO) retreated after reporting sequentially lower deliveries in China and cautious commentary around pricing dynamics. 🏥 Healthcare: Merck Dips, Johnson & Johnson Holds: Merck (MRK) traded lower after disclosing rising litigation provisions tied to legacy product lawsuits. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) held steady on consistent performance in its pharma division, despite broader weakness across defensive sectors. 🍔 Consumer Discretionary: Starbucks Falls, Booking Holdings Slips: Starbucks (SBUX) declined following weaker-than-expected traffic data across U.S. urban locations. Booking Holdings (BKNG) also lost ground as summer travel enthusiasm showed signs of peaking and profit-taking emerged in lodging and cruise stocks. Profit from Trump's Industrial Revival[ad] |