Opening Comment — Monday, July 13, 2026
DJIA: 52,637.01, up 149.60
S&P 500: 7,575.39, up 31.75
NASDAQ: 26,281.61, up 74.72
Stocks lower to start off week
Stock futures are lower Monday morning as investors assess developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict over the weekend, with both parties exchanging strikes. Investors will also be looking ahead to this week’s inflation and consumer sentiment data, along with testimony from Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Kevin Warsh. As of 7:15 AM ET, the Dow is decreasing 0.1%, while the S&P 500 is down 0.3%. The Nasdaq 100 is falling 0.9% relative to fair value on the GLOBEX.
U.S. equities were higher on Friday to end out the week. The Dow was up 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite also rose 0.3%. The S&P 500 increased 0.4% with 10 of 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Materials sector was the top performer, rising 1.1%, while the Health Care sector was the bottom performer, falling 0.8%.
On the data front, the U.S. federal budget balance for June is expected to show a deficit of $128.3 billion versus the prior month’s $292.6 billion.
Across the pond, European stocks are mostly higher in mid-day trading as investors are looking forward to a slew of speakers this week from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.
Overnight in Asia, stocks were mixed as South Korean export and import data for the first 10 days of July increased by 53.9% and 17.4% year-over-year, respectively.
In FOREX trading, the U.S. dollar is little changed ahead of this week’s updates on U.S. inflation.
Over in the commodity pits, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is 3.3% higher at $73.78/barrel.
In the metals complex, gold is 1.5% lower at $4,058.80/ounce.