US stock markets slipped a bit on Thursday as more people filed for unemployment benefits, while defense companies rose after President Trump pushed for higher military spending.
Market snapshot
By 9:35 a.m. ET, the major indexes were down:
- S&P 500: –0.2% (down 6.8 points)
- Dow Jones: –0.2% (down 145.9 points)
- Nasdaq: –0.4% (down 35.4 points)
Key stock movers
Big gains
- Bloom Energy +16.3% after a $2.65 billion fuel‑cell deal with American Electric Power
- Northrop Grumman +8.2%
- Lockheed Martin +8.8%
- L3Harris Technologies +8%
- Kratos Defense +16%
- Applied Digital +13.3% on strong Q2 revenue
- Ford +3.6% after an upgraded rating
Weak performers
- Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Broadcom – each down 1–2%
- Alphabet up 0.7% after overtaking Apple in market value
Bond and commodity outlook
Ten‑year Treasury yields rose to about 4.18%, reflecting mixed economic data. Oil prices climbed, with Brent at $61.17 a barrel and WTI at $57.09, driven by news on Venezuela and potential sanctions on Russia‑linked countries. Gold slipped to $4,433 an ounce, while silver, platinum and palladium also fell.
What this means for you
The dip in the indexes suggests investors are waiting for Friday’s big jobs report before making big moves. Defense stocks could stay strong if higher military spending materialises. Keep an eye on the unemployment data and the upcoming jobs numbers for clues on where the market may head next.
Remember, this is just my view, not a prediction. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.