Wall Street is acting a bit like a seesaw that can't decide which way to tilt.
On one hand, the S&P 500 just notched its second straight record close. That sounds like a victory lap, right? But if you look at the Nasdaq, it’s a different story. The tech-heavy index actually snapped a six-day winning streak today. Basically, investors are doing this weird dance where they’re cheering for the economy while sweating over Big Tech's valuation.
Honestly, the mood on the floor today was "cautious optimism" mixed with a healthy dose of tariff-induced anxiety.
What Really Happened With Stock Market News Today July 22 2025
The numbers tell a story of a market divided. The S&P 500 edged up about 0.1% to finish at 6,309.62. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average—that old-school index of blue chips—gained 0.4%, which puts it only about 1% away from its first new high since late last year.
Then you have the Nasdaq.
It slipped 0.4% today. Why? Because the "Magnificent Seven" and their chip-making cousins finally took a breather. Nvidia and Broadcom both took hits, dropping 2.5% and 3.3% respectively. It’s almost like the market is holding its breath for the Alphabet and Tesla earnings calls scheduled for tomorrow.
The Homebuilders Are Having a Moment
If you want to find the real excitement in stock market news today July 22 2025, look at the people who build houses. D.R. Horton and PulteGroup absolutely crushed it.
D.R. Horton shares skyrocketed 17% after they reported earnings that blew past what analysts expected. PulteGroup wasn’t far behind with a 12% jump.
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It's kinda wild when you think about it. Mortgage rates are still high, and everyone is talking about how tariffs are making lumber and steel more expensive. But these companies are managing to navigate the mess. D.R. Horton’s executive chair mentioned that they’re going to keep using "sales incentives" to keep buyers interested, which basically means they’re subsidizing those high mortgage rates to move inventory. It’s working for now.
Lockheed's Bad Day and Northrop's Win
The defense sector was a tale of two cities today. Lockheed Martin (LMT) had a rough one.
The stock tumbled 11%, making it the biggest loser in the S&P 500. They admitted to about $1.6 billion in losses, mostly tied to a classified aeronautics program and some international helicopter deals. When a defense giant says they’re losing money on "classified" projects, investors tend to run for the hills.
On the flip side, Northrop Grumman (NOC) jumped over 9%.
Why the disparity? Northrop is leaning hard into the high-tech missile and drone space. With President Trump’s military budget for next year reportedly focusing on those exact areas, the market is betting big on Northrop being the primary beneficiary of that shift in strategy.
The Tariff Shadow and Jim Cramer’s New Toy
You can’t talk about the market right now without mentioning Scott Bessent and the looming August 1 tariff deadline. Bessent has been out there saying these tariffs will put "more pressure" on trade partners to make deals.
The market is trying to figure out if this is a bluff or a legitimate economic shift.
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We also got a new acronym today. Because Wall Street loves its catchy names, Jim Cramer introduced "PARC." It stands for:
- Palantir (PLTR)
- Applovin (APP)
- Robinhood (HOOD)
- Coinbase (COIN)
These four have been on a tear, and Cramer is essentially arguing they’re the new guard of the AI and crypto-driven economy. Whether PARC sticks like FAANG did remains to be seen, but Coinbase and Robinhood are certainly riding the wave of Bitcoin's recent strength. Speaking of which, Bitcoin is hovering near $97,000, though it took a tiny dip today as the Senate Banking Committee delayed some votes on market structure bills.
A Quick Look at the Other Numbers
The 10-year Treasury yield, which is basically the pulse of the economy’s borrowing costs, cooled off a bit to 4.35%. That’s down from yesterday.
Gold is still looking like a safe haven, trading at $3,440 an ounce. It’s at its highest level since mid-June. On the other hand, oil is sliding. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell to around $66.35 per barrel. People are less worried about an immediate conflict in the Middle East, so that "risk premium" is evaporating from the gas pumps.
The AI Giants Are Pausing
IQVIA Holdings was actually the top performer in the S&P today, soaring 18%. They’re a data analytics firm that is leaning heavily into AI agents—they’re planning to launch 50 of them in the third quarter.
But for the household names, it was a red day.
- Microsoft and Meta: Down about 1%
- Amazon: Down 1%
- Apple: Up 1% (the outlier!)
- Alphabet: Up 0.5%
It’s clear investors are rotated out of the high-flying tech names and into "value" stocks like General Motors, even though GM actually dropped 8% today because they’re expecting a multi-billion dollar hit from tariffs later this year.
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Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead
The market is at a crossroads. If you’re looking at stock market news today July 22 2025, you shouldn't just look at the record highs. Look at the underlying tension.
First, keep a very close eye on the Alphabet and Tesla earnings tomorrow. If they miss, that Nasdaq slide could turn into a full-blown correction. The "AI trade" is starting to look a little tired, and these companies need to prove the massive infrastructure spending is actually turning into profit.
Second, the housing sector is surprisingly resilient. If you're invested in homebuilders, watch the mortgage rate trends. If the 10-year yield keeps dropping, those homebuilder gains might actually have some legs.
Finally, don't ignore the "PARC" stocks. Even if you think the acronym is silly, these companies are the ones capturing retail interest right now. Just be careful with Coinbase; crypto volatility is legendary, and any news out of the Senate could swing that stock 10% in either direction before you finish your morning coffee.
Next Steps for Investors:
- Check your tech exposure: With the Nasdaq snapping its streak, it might be time to see if you're too top-heavy in semiconductors.
- Monitor the August 1 Tariff Deadline: This is the biggest "known unknown" in the market. Any news of a trade deal with the EU or Japan will likely send the Dow even higher.
- Watch the 10-year Yield: If it breaks below 4.30%, it could signal a broader rally for dividend-paying stocks that have been beaten down.
The record high in the S&P 500 is great for the headlines, but the real story is the rotation happening underneath the surface. Smart money is moving, and you should be too.