Merchants work on the ground of the New York Inventory Alternate (NYSE) in New York Metropolis, U.S., August 4, 2026.
Jeenah Moon | Reuters
The S&P 500 was comparatively unchanged on Thursday as merchants saved an eye fixed on the Center East, with a deal to reopen the important thing Strait of Hormuz within the works. Wall Avenue additionally weighed a slew of company earnings releases.
The broad market index traded across the flatline, whereas the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Common traded down 171 factors, or 0.3%.
Sandisk shares dropped 5%. The reminiscence identify posted fiscal fourth-quarter outcomes that did not impress buyers.
Moreover, AppLovin tumbled 19% on combined quarterly outcomes, and Western Digital shed 10% as the corporate’s first-quarter forecast upset buyers. Its fourth-quarter outcomes topped expectations, nevertheless.
“The markets appear to be principally taking a breather after an energetic interval of buying and selling prompted by earnings outcomes,” stated JJ Kinahan, Cboe’s head of retail enlargement and different funding merchandise. “Higher-than-expected income and gross sales do not at all times pump shares costs when coupled with smooth steerage.”
“Some profit-taking may be in play,” he additionally stated, noting that each Sandisk and Western Digital have skyrocketed within the final yr. Over the previous 12 months, Sandisk has soared 3,000%, whereas Western Digital has surged greater than 530%.
Monitoring the Center East
Oil costs rose barely as Iran and Oman drew nearer to reaching a deal that may reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Delivery by means of the Strait wouldn’t be topic to charges or tolls underneath a short lived settlement, an Iranian authorities official instructed MS NOW.
“Markets have seen loads of false dawns all through this battle, and whereas the element is turning into extra concrete, consideration is now shifting from whether or not an settlement may be reached to what the ultimate preparations will seem like, together with unresolved questions round whether or not Iran will finally be permitted to levy tolls on vessels utilizing the Strait,” Deutsche Financial institution strategist Jim Reid wrote.
— CNBC’s Jeff Cox contributed reporting.

