Opening Comment — Tuesday, June 30, 2026
DJIA: 52,182.74, up 306.63
S&P 500: 7,440.43, up 86.41
NASDAQ: 25,820.14, up 522.52
Stocks higher before JOLTS data
Stock futures are higher Tuesday morning ahead of today’s economic releases, including June consumer confidence and May job openings. Investors will also be closely watching any developments in U.S.-Iran peace deal progress. As of 7:20 AM ET, the Dow and the S&P 500 Index are both rising 0.2%. The Nasdaq 100 is increasing 0.3% relative to fair value on the GLOBEX.
U.S. equities were higher on Monday as tensions between the U.S. and Iran eased following a flare up over the weekend. The Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Dallas’s Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey showed the general business activity index for June unexpectedly falling slightly. The Dow was up 0.6% and reached a new record closing level of 52182.74, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 2.1%. The S&P 500 increased 1.2% with six of 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Communication Services sector was the top performer, rising 3.1%, while the Materials sector was the bottom performer, falling 1.9%.
On the data front, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s House Price Index is expected to rise 0.2% month-over-month (MOM) in April, compared to the prior month’s increase of 0.1%. The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index for April is expected to register a decrease of 0.10% MOM and an increase of 0.90% year-over year (YOY), versus the prior month’s decrease of 0.16% MOM and increase of 0.83% YOY, respectively. Meanwhile, the Market News International Chicago purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for June is expected to come in at 55.1, down from the prior month’s 62.7. The Conference Board’s reading of June consumer confidence is projected to come in at 94.4 versus the prior month’s 93.1. The May Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is forecasted to show job openings of 7.30 million, versus the prior month’s 7.62 million. The Dallas Fed’s Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey for June will be released, with the headline general business activity index expected to rise to -5.0 from last month’s -7.7.
Across the pond, European stocks are lower in mid-day trading the U.K.’s finalized first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) showed the economy growing 0.6% quarter-over-quarter (QOQ), matching expectations, alongside a weaker-than-expected increase of 0.9% YOY. Germany’s unemployment change unexpectedly declined in May and the unemployment claims rate remained stable at 6.3%. Meanwhile, France’s preliminary June Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined 0.2% MOM and increased 1.8% YOY, both coming in below projections.
Overnight in Asia, stocks were lower as China’s official government June manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs increased to 50.3 and 50.2, respectively. South Korea’s May industrial production unexpectedly declined 0.9% MOM and 3.0% YOY. Japan’s jobless rate remained steady at 2.5% for May and the job-to-applicant ratio slightly reduced to 1.17. The country’s annualized housing starts stood at 757,000 in May, reflecting a greater-than-expected 33.9% YOY increase, while the country’s preliminary reading of industrial production rose by 0.5% MOM and decreased by 1.7% YOY. Meanwhile, Australia’s private sector credit expanded by 0.7% MOM and 8.2% YOY in May.
In FOREX trading, the U.S. dollar is higher ahead of today’s JOLTS data.
Over in the commodity pits, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is 0.1% lower at $70.68/barrel.
In the metals complex, gold is 0.3% higher at $4,029.20/ounce despite a Strengthening U.S. dollar.