Track the evolution of major financial and economic events
Proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and ISS recommended that Aterian shareholders approve the sale of substantially all asset portfolios to Trademark Global. Additionally, the firms recommended favoring an all-cash acquisition of Kneat by Thoma Bravo at $6.50 per share. However, a July 20 investigation by FTI Consulting uncovered conflicts of interest and fraudulent activities involving an activist investor and dissident nominees.
BellRing Brands has announced the appointment of Michael Axelrod as its new President and CEO, effective July 29, 2026, succeeding the retiring Darcy Davenport. Alongside this leadership transition, the company reported a 2% increase in net sales to $599 million. However, gross profit declined by $67 million, a drop attributed to ongoing inflationary pressures.
MDA Space shares declined following the announcement of a common stock offering. The company subsequently announced a firm offer to acquire a 70% stake in Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) for €567M in cash to expand its geo-intelligence services. The event concluded with the successful closing of the previously announced stock offering in both Canada and the United States.
A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Megan Holdings Limited (MGN) on behalf of investors who acquired securities between September 2025 and May 2026. The law firm Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP initiated the legal action in July 2024 regarding alleged IPO violations. The firm officially announced the filing of the lawsuit through multiple updates between July 10 and July 14.
Honeywell raised its profit guidance for the second half and full-year 2026, updating its EPS projections to $7.90-$8.30. This adjustment follows a 1-for-2 reverse stock split that reduced outstanding shares from 634 million to 317 million as of late June. Following the announcement, the company's stock rose 0.5% in post-market trading.
Copart announced the promotion of Jane Pocock to President, effective August 1, 2026, following her tenure as CEO of UK and Ireland operations since 2019. In mid-July 2026, company director Daniel Englander sold a total of 160,000 shares for approximately $2.2 million while the stock traded near its 52-week low. Although Copart's stock has declined 40% over the past year, some analysts currently view the price drop as a potential 'buy on the dip' opportunity.
AMD announced it will report its fiscal second quarter 2026 financial results on August 4, 2026, following the market close. Other industry peers also scheduled their earnings dates, with Expedia Group set for August 5 and IQVIA for July 28. Additionally, AZZ Inc. raised its fiscal year 2027 guidance after reporting record quarterly sales of $448.5 million. These announcements were confirmed through official press releases issued on July 9 and 10.
The Bank of Japan may accelerate interest rate hikes to combat rising inflation pressures, partly driven by the war in Iran. Changing capital flows resulting from these policies could negatively impact risk assets like Bitcoin. Meanwhile, the BOJ maintained its economic assessment across all nine Japanese regions, stating they continue to recover moderately.
Crude oil prices rose following U.S. attacks in the Middle East, causing Asia-Pacific government bonds to fall amid inflation concerns. On July 13, international prices surged nearly 10%, marking the largest single-day increase since 2020, following President Trump's announcement to reimpose a U.S. blockade. This policy shift caused market sentiment to pivot toward a long-term expectation that operations in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to normal.
Etihad Airways is nearing a deal to order 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, while Riyadh Air is considering exercising options for an additional 25 to 30 aircraft of the same model. Concurrently, Boeing and SMBC Aviation Capital announced a major order for 100 737 MAX airplanes. The agreement consists of 60 737-10 and 40 737-8 jets, marking the largest single purchase of the 737-10 variant by an aircraft lessor.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi called for an extension of the review period for the $67 billion merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. Hashmi submitted 64 questions to the State Corporation Commission regarding the merger's impact on consumer costs, following concerns from residents and officials about rising electricity bills. She requested a formal delay and extensive information from both companies to ensure a thorough evaluation of the deal's consequences.
UniCredit announced it likely gained voting control of Commerzbank after increasing its stake to nearly 50% through an open tender offer, bypassing German government resistance. This move prompted criticism from a German labor union, which warned of potential chaos resulting from the takeover. Meanwhile, Monte dei Paschi di Siena rejected a 30.6 billion euro unsolicited takeover bid from Intesa Sanpaolo, stating that the offered premium was too low.
The UK Takeover Panel extended the deadline for the KKR and Energy Capital Partners consortium to make a firm offer for DCC twice, ultimately reaching July 16. This extension comes amid growing opposition, as company founder Jim Flavin joined major shareholders in rejecting the £5.7bn takeover bid. These developments aim to provide more time for negotiations regarding the proposed acquisition of the FTSE 100 logistics and services group.
John Deere settled a lawsuit with the FTC and five U.S. states regarding unlawful restrictions on equipment repairs. The settlement mandates that the company provide farmers and independent technicians with expanded access to diagnostic software and repair tools for a period of ten years. This agreement aims to lower repair costs and eliminate forced reliance on authorized dealerships while upholding equipment safety standards.
Bitcoin long-term holders experienced a $280M capitulation spike in early July as prices remained in a deep value zone below key cost bases for five months. Despite a $1B USDT injection, spot demand remained weak while ETF flows stayed negative and the market entered a high-leverage phase. By mid-July, a dormant whale moved 2,931 BTC worth approximately $188M after seven years of inactivity.
Halliburton secured a series of major integrated contracts in July, starting with the development of Iraq's Bin Umar and Sindbad oil fields, followed by drilling and completion awards for TotalEnergies' GranMorgu project in Suriname. The company also landed lump sum turnkey contracts from Aramco for approximately 285 onshore wells, featuring a three-year base term with options for two additional years. The scope includes oil re-entry, drilling, and workover operations designed to enhance Aramco's operational consistency.
AEP Texas secured a $3.26 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund approximately 100 transmission projects. The loan agreement was finalized in early July to support major grid infrastructure upgrades. These projects are aimed at enhancing power transmission capabilities across Texas through the allocated federal funding.
Palantir reported a robust 85% revenue growth for Q1 2026, driven by a 133% surge in US commercial revenue and a net retention rate of 150%. Management raised its full-year revenue guidance to approximately $7.66 billion, supported by a significant expansion in adjusted EBIT margins to 60%. The company strengthened its AI ecosystem through strategic partnerships with Nvidia and Google. Furthermore, remaining performance obligations (RPO) jumped 134% to $4.5 billion, indicating strong future revenue visibility and operational efficiency as expenses grew at a much slower pace than revenue.
Global bond yields reached one-month highs as Middle East peace prospects faded and U.S.-Iran tensions strained markets. While the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield held steady at 4.473% mid-month, investors remained focused on upcoming core inflation data. By July 14, yields rose further due to increasing expectations of additional interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Goldman Sachs warned that the era of easy money is ending, presenting a reality check for the small-cap rally. The continued performance of the Russell 2000 index remains heavily dependent on Federal Reserve interest rate decisions and policy outlooks. Additionally, the firm identified its top three US lodging and hospitality stocks ahead of their upcoming quarterly earnings reports.
HCA Healthcare faced several rating downgrades and financial outlook revisions throughout July. Barclays lowered its rating while Wells Fargo reduced its price target due to uncertainties surrounding patient volumes. The company also cut its 2026 EPS guidance to a range of $28.70–$30.50, citing persistent policy pressures, an increase in uninsured patients, and shifts in the payer mix.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered Jack Henry & Associates' price target to $200 from $205 following the announced retirement of Board Chair David Foss. Other significant adjustments included BTIG Research raising Fortinet's target and Goldman Sachs lowering the target for Roper Technologies. Additionally, JPMorgan adjusted the price target for C.H. Robinson Worldwide upward to $198 during the same period.
Renewed Middle East tensions initially pushed oil prices higher, pressuring Bitcoin's $62,000 price level as inflation outlooks became complicated. By July 11, oil prices retreated below $76, significantly lower than earlier peaks this year. This decline in oil prices has eased inflationary pressures, subsequently increasing the likelihood of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
United Airlines is scheduled to report its Q2 2026 financial results on July 15, with analysts forecasting revenue of $17.58 billion and earnings per share of $1.82. The release follows recent results from rival Delta Air Lines, which shifted market expectations for the aviation sector. Investors are closely monitoring the report due to these significant changes in the industry landscape.
