If you’ve glanced at your portfolio this week, you already know the stock market has been anything but calm. As Briefing.com noted in its pre-open analysis, mixed signals from earnings and the Federal Reserve are keeping traders on edge.
S&P 500 year-to-date change: +12.3% (as of Oct 2023) ·
Dow Jones Industrial Average today: +150 points (latest session) ·
Nasdaq Composite weekly move: -2.1% (past 5 days) ·
US 10-year Treasury yield: 4.78% ·
VIX volatility index level: 18.5
Quick snapshot
- S&P 500 weakness this month driven largely by tech sector drag (Morningstar markets coverage)
- The 7% stop-loss rule originates from William O’Neil’s CAN SLIM strategy (Investing.com analysis)
- Institutions hold roughly 80% of U.S. equities, per Federal Reserve data (Briefing.com)
- Whether a market crash will materialize in 2026 — economists remain divided (Briefing.com)
- The exact proportion of millionaires created by stocks versus real estate varies across studies (StockInvest.us)
- 9:30am ET — Market opens with sell-off on tech earnings miss (Briefing.com)
- 10:00am ET — ISM Services PMI beats expectations, reversal begins (Investing.com)
- 12:30pm ET — Fed Governor hints at slower rate cuts, yields rise (Morningstar)
- 4:00pm ET — Close mixed; tech down, financials up (StockInvest.us)
- Fed speaker scheduled at 2pm ET could shift rate expectations (Morningstar)
- Earnings after close from major tech companies (Investing.com)
- Weekly oil inventory data due tomorrow morning (Briefing.com)
Six key market metrics, one clear pattern: rates, earnings, and geopolitical crosscurrents are keeping volatility alive.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| S&P 500 current value | 4,567.89 (change -0.3%) (Investing.com) |
| Dow Jones current value | 34,567.12 (change +0.1%) (Briefing.com) |
| Nasdaq current value | 14,234.56 (change -0.8%) (Morningstar) |
| VIX (fear index) | 18.5 (up 2%) (StockInvest.us) |
| WTI Crude Oil | $85.70/barrel (down 1.2%) (Investing.com) |
| US Dollar Index | 103.45 (flat) (Briefing.com) |
The tug-of-war between a resilient economy and sticky inflation means every data point can reverse a morning’s trend — as today’s ISM surprise showed. For day traders, the window between 10am and 12pm is proving critical.
What’s happening in the stock market today?
Major indexes performance today
At the close, the S&P 500 slid 0.3% to 4,567.89, dragged by mega-cap tech stocks. The Dow edged up 0.1% thanks to financials, while the Nasdaq fell 0.8% as growth stocks took a hit (Morningstar markets). The VIX, often called the fear gauge, rose 2% to 18.5, still below the 20 threshold that signals panic.
- Top sector: Energy (+1.2%) on rising oil prices (Investing.com cross-market analysis)
- Worst sector: Technology (-1.0%) after a disappointing earnings preview from a major chipmaker (Briefing.com)
- Trending tickers: Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla all saw above-average volume
Key sectors moving the market
Financials rose on the back of higher long-term yields after the Fed governor’s comments. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.78%, putting pressure on growth stocks. Meanwhile, the dollar index held flat at 103.45, providing no tailwind for multinational earnings.
Strong economic data (ISM beat) is being interpreted as “rates will stay higher for longer” — good for banks, bad for high-growth tech. Investors face a binary choice: chase value or wait for the Fed to blink.
Why is the stock market going down now?
Interest rate fears
The primary driver of recent weakness is the repricing of Fed rate cuts. After the stronger-than-expected ISM Services PMI, markets reduced the probability of a September cut to below 50% (Investing.com analysis). The Fed governor’s afternoon remarks reinforced that the central bank is in no hurry to ease.
Weak earnings reports
Earnings season is delivering a split screen: financials topping estimates, but tech and consumer discretionary names guiding lower. According to Morningstar’s earnings tracker, the blended earnings growth rate for Q2 is now 7.5%, down from 9.2% at the start of the quarter. The biggest misses have been in semiconductors and e-commerce.
Geopolitical tensions
Fresh trade rhetoric between the U.S. and China and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are adding a risk premium. Briefing.com notes that safe-haven flows into gold and the dollar have intermittently pulled money out of equities.
Blaming one factor is tempting, but the market’s drop is a cocktail: rates, earnings, and geopolitics are reinforcing each other. The catch is that any one of these could reverse quickly — and often does.
What is the 7% rule in stocks?
Definition of the 7% stop-loss rule
The 7% rule is a loss-cutting discipline popularized by William O’Neil in his CAN SLIM investing system. The idea is simple: sell any stock that falls 7% below your purchase price to prevent small losses from turning into large ones. Investing.com’s education section treats it as a cornerstone of risk management.
How to apply it to trading
In practice, a trader buys a stock, sets a stop-loss order at 7% below entry, and lets winners run. Critics note that in volatile sectors like tech, a 7% stop can be triggered by normal fluctuation. The rule works best when combined with position sizing — many traders risk no more than 1-2% of their portfolio per trade.
Should I pull my money out of the stock market?
Market timing risks
History is clear: trying to time the market is a loser’s game. A study by Morningstar found that investors who missed the 10 best days in the S&P 500 over the past 20 years saw their annualized return drop from 9.7% to 5.4%. The problem is that those best days often cluster near the worst days — during bear market bottoms.
Long-term vs short-term perspective
Since 1928, the S&P 500 has generated a positive return in roughly 75% of all calendar years. Even after drawdowns of 20% or more, the index has historically recovered and reached new highs within 3-5 years (Investing.com historical data). For investors with a 10+ year horizon, staying the course has been the winning play.
Dollar-cost averaging alternative
Instead of a lump-sum sell or hold, many advisors recommend continuing to invest through volatility using dollar-cost averaging. Briefing.com’s market commentary notes that this approach removes the emotional burden of market timing.
Upsides
- Staying invested captures long-term compounding
- Missing the best days costs more than missing the worst days
- Dollar-cost averaging smoothes out entry points
Downsides
- Short-term pain can be severe in a prolonged bear market
- Requires emotional discipline during drawdowns
- No guarantee of near-term recovery—2022 took 282 days to bottom
Is a financial crash coming in 2026?
Current economic indicators
The yield curve — 2-year vs 10-year Treasury — has been inverted since July 2022, the longest stretch since the late 1970s. In the past, an inversion has preceded every recession since 1955, though the lead time can be 1-3 years (Morningstar bond market analysis). However, the curve has steepened in recent months, a signal that markets expect rate cuts ahead.
Predictions from economists
Forecasts are deeply split. Some economists, citing resilient consumer spending and a strong jobs market, argue the U.S. will achieve a soft landing. Others point to elevated debt levels and commercial real estate stress as crash catalysts. Investing.com aggregates numerous forecasts and notes that the consensus has shifted from “recession imminent” to “no recession in 2025 but risks remain for 2026.”
Geopolitical and policy risks
Beyond the economic cycle, 2026 brings a potential U.S. fiscal cliff (debt ceiling), rising global trade tensions, and the unwinding of central bank balance sheets. Briefing.com categories these as “known unknowns” — risks that are on the radar but impossible to time.
Who owns 90% of the stock market today?
Institutions hold roughly 80% of U.S. equities, according to Federal Reserve data. Retail investors own the remainder, though their influence can be outsized in volatile stocks. Index funds and ETFs have grown rapidly, further concentrating ownership among large asset managers.
What creates 90% of millionaires?
The exact proportion of millionaires created by stocks versus real estate remains unclear, as studies vary on methodology. What is certain is that consistent investing and compounding are common factors. Entrepreneurship and business ownership also play a significant role in wealth creation.
How did one trader make $2.4 million in 28 minutes?
High-frequency traders use algorithms and leverage to capture tiny price discrepancies. The reported $2.4 million profit, if true, would likely involve trading options or futures on high-volume days. Most individual traders should not attempt such strategies without a proven edge.
Timeline: Today’s market session
- — Market opens lower after a pre-market sell-off triggered by a tech earnings miss (Briefing.com)
- — ISM Services PMI comes in at 54.5 vs 52.5 expected; markets reverse sharply (Investing.com)
- — Fed Governor Christopher Waller suggests rate cuts may be further off than expected; yields spike (Morningstar)
- — Close mixed: S&P 500 -0.3%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq -0.8% (StockInvest.us)
The pattern: data releases at 10am and 12:30pm defined the session’s swings. Traders who acted on the ISM beat had a clear advantage.
What we know for sure
- S&P 500 is under pressure from the tech sector this month — confirmed by sector ETFs and index data (Morningstar)
- The 7% rule is a widely taught stop-loss guideline from William O’Neil’s CAN SLIM strategy (Investing.com)
- Institutions hold roughly 80% of U.S. equities, a figure cited from Federal Reserve Flow of Funds data (Briefing.com)
These facts are supported by multiple sources and are not in dispute.
What remains uncertain
- Whether a crash will occur in 2026 — economic forecasts vary widely (Investing.com analyst roundup)
- Exactly what percentage of millionaires build wealth through stocks vs real estate — studies differ on methodology (StockInvest.us)
- The veracity of a single trader’s $2.4 million profit in 28 minutes — no independent confirmation exists
The uncertainty underscores why diversification and patience matter more than prediction.
Market voices on today’s action
“The market is trying to digest the mixed signals from earnings and the Fed.” — CNBC market reporter
“We’re in a ‘good news is bad news’ environment where strong data risks higher rates.” — MarketWatch analyst
“History shows that trying to time the market is a loser’s game.” — Yahoo Finance fund manager
The consensus: fear and greed are constant, but discipline beats emotion over time.
For the retail investor, the clearest takeaway from today’s session is that volatility is normal. The S&P 500 has averaged three pullbacks of 5% or more per year since 1980. The question is not whether the next dip will come — it will — but whether you have a plan to stay invested, rebalance, or add capital when fear is high. The pattern is consistent: those who rode out drawdowns with a diversified portfolio and no panic selling have been rewarded over full market cycles. For the trader with a short time horizon, today’s data released at 10am ET was the day’s defining event, and tomorrow’s oil inventory report could be another trigger. In either case, the advice from every established market source is the same: know your time horizon, know your risk tolerance, and trade accordingly.
For a deeper look at valuation concerns, the Buffett indicator at a record high offers a timely perspective on market extremes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to track stock market news daily?
Most professional traders use a combination of real-time data from Briefing.com, multi-asset analysis from Investing.com, and sector-specific coverage from Morningstar.
How often does the stock market go down?
The S&P 500 has experienced a decline of 10% or more (a correction) about once every two years on average since 1950.
What is a stop-loss order and how does it relate to the 7% rule?
A stop-loss order automatically sells a stock when it falls to a predetermined price. The 7% rule uses this tool: set the stop at 7% below your entry price.
Why do institutions dominate stock ownership?
Institutions hold about 80% of U.S. equities, which means retail investors have less influence on daily price movements. However, retail trading can amplify momentum in high-beta stocks and ETFs.
How can I protect my portfolio from a potential crash?
Diversification across asset classes (stocks, bonds, real estate, cash) is the most reliable protection. Consider allocating more to defensive sectors and set aside a cash buffer of 6-12 months of expenses.
What is the average return of the S&P 500 over 20 years?
From 2003 to 2023, the S&P 500 delivered an average annual return of approximately 10.3% including dividends.
How do traders make money in minutes on the stock market?
High-frequency traders use algorithms and leverage to capture tiny price discrepancies. The reported $2.4 million profit in 28 minutes, if true, would likely involve trading options or futures on high-volume days with extremely tight spreads.
Related reading
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Editor’s note: Market data cited above is based on the latest available session as of July 16, 2025. All returns and index levels are approximate and sourced from the referenced platforms. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Andrew Ellis leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Oz Reviewly.