Market Update
Wall Street Indexes Scale to New Record Highs as Investors Reviewed Jobless Claims and July's PPI
Barry Adams
14 Aug, 2025
New York City
Wall Street indexes flatlined and hovered near record highs as investors digested the latest batch of earnings.
The S&P 500 index edged up 0.1%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.2%, as investors reviewed the latest weekly jobless claims and the producer price index reading.
The S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite closed at new highs in the previous session after cooler-than-expected inflation soothed investor anxieties.
The Department of Treasury collected about $29 billion in "customs and excise taxes" in July, sharply higher than $8.7 billion in the month a year ago.
Despite the sharp increase in import duties, most retailers and businesses have, for now, not passed over higher import duties to customers. But that is likely to change in the months ahead if import taxes cover more items and escalate.
To put things in perspective, total nominal retail and food services sales in July, including automobiles and gasoline, are likely to reach $725.0 billion.
So for now, tariffs are not a big factor impacting consumer decisions, but that could change as more items face higher tariffs beginning in August.
U.S. Stock Movers
Cisco Systems decreased 1.3% to $69.33 despite the networking equipment maker reporting higher sales and earnings.
Consolidated revenue increased to $14.7 billion from $13.6 billion, net income advanced to $2.8 billion from $2.2 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to 71 cents from 54 cents a year ago.
During the fourth quarter, Cisco returned a total of $2.9 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, including the repurchase of 1.3 million shares of common stock.
Brinker International decreased 0.2% to $157.12 despite the parent company of the Chili's restaurant chain reporting an 88% jump in its earnings in the fourth quarter.
Consolidated revenue inched higher to $1.5 billion from $1.2 billion, net income jumped to $107 million from $57 million, and diluted earnings per share soared to $2.30 from $1.24 a year ago.
Comparable restaurant sales increased by 21.3%, driven by a 23.7% increase at Chili's and a 0.4% decrease at Maggiano's restaurant chains.
During the fourth quarter, Brinker returned a total of $507 million to shareholders through share repurchases.
Coherent Corp. dropped 19% to $91.91, and the advanced semiconductor and optical materials maker's results disappointed investors.
In addition, the company announced the sale of its aerospace and defense business for $400 million to Advent Technologies Holdings.
Ibotta Inc. dropped 34% to $22.32, and the promotion technology provider reported a decline in revenue in the second quarter.
Revenue fell 2% to $86.0 million from $87.9 million, and net income swung to a profit of $2.49 million from a loss of $33.96 million. and diluted earnings per share was a profit of 8 cents compared to a loss of $1.32 a year ago.
Deere & Company declined 6.5% to $480.0 after the agriculture equipment company offered a mixed outlook for the full year.
Stock Movers: Cisco Systems, Brinker International
Scott Peters
14 Aug, 2025
New York City
Cisco Systems Inc. fell 0.03% to $70.37 despite the networking company reporting a 30% increase in net income in the fourth quarter.
Consolidated revenue increased to $14.7 billion from $13.6 billion, net income advanced to $2.8 billion from $2.2 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to 71 cents from 54 cents a year ago.
During the fourth quarter, Cisco returned a total of $2.9 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, including the repurchase of 1.3 million shares of common stock.
The company's board declared a cash dividend of $0.41 per share.
The company guided net sales in the next quarter to range between $14.65 million and $14.85 million, and GAAP EPS between $0.63 and $0.68 a quarter earlier, respectively.
"The AI infrastructure orders we received from webscale customers in fiscal 2025 were more than double our original target, indicating a massive opportunity ahead as we lead the required architectural shift and build the critical infrastructure needed for the AI era," said Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco.
Brinker International decreased 0.3% to $157.38 despite the parent company of the Chili's restaurant chain reporting an 88% jump in its earnings in the fourth quarter.
Consolidated revenue inched higher to $1.5 billion from $1.2 billion, net income jumped to $107 million from $57 million, and diluted earnings per share soared to $2.30 from $1.24 a year ago.
Comparable restaurant sales increased by 21.3%, driven by a 23.7% increase at Chili's and a 0.4% decrease at Maggiano's restaurant chains.
During the fourth quarter, Brinker returned a total of $507 million to shareholders through share repurchases.
Brinker International guided full-year revenue to be between $5.60 billion and $5.70 billion and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share between $9.90 and $10.50 a year earlier.
Chili's franchisees generated sales of approximately $262.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to $230.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
Stock Movers: Cisco Systems, Brinker International
Scott Peters
14 Aug, 2025
New York City
Cisco Systems Inc. fell 0.03% to $70.37 despite the networking company reporting a 30% increase in net income in the fourth quarter.
Consolidated revenue increased to $14.7 billion from $13.6 billion, net income advanced to $2.8 billion from $2.2 billion, and diluted earnings per share rose to 71 cents from 54 cents a year ago.
During the fourth quarter, Cisco returned a total of $2.9 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, including the repurchase of 1.3 million shares of common stock.
The company's board declared a cash dividend of $0.41 per share.
The company guided net sales in the next quarter to range between $14.65 million and $14.85 million, and GAAP EPS between $0.63 and $0.68 a quarter earlier, respectively.
"The AI infrastructure orders we received from webscale customers in fiscal 2025 were more than double our original target, indicating a massive opportunity ahead as we lead the required architectural shift and build the critical infrastructure needed for the AI era," said Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco.
Brinker International decreased 0.3% to $157.38 despite the parent company of the Chili's restaurant chain reporting an 88% jump in its earnings in the fourth quarter.
Consolidated revenue inched higher to $1.5 billion from $1.2 billion, net income jumped to $107 million from $57 million, and diluted earnings per share soared to $2.30 from $1.24 a year ago.
Comparable restaurant sales increased by 21.3%, driven by a 23.7% increase at Chili's and a 0.4% decrease at Maggiano's restaurant chains.
During the fourth quarter, Brinker returned a total of $507 million to shareholders through share repurchases.
Brinker International guided full-year revenue to be between $5.60 billion and $5.70 billion and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share between $9.90 and $10.50 a year earlier.
Chili's franchisees generated sales of approximately $262.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to $230.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
Japan's Indexes Eased 1% After a 3-Day Rally Lifted Stocks to Record Highs
Akira Ito
14 Aug, 2025
Tokyo
Benchmark indexes in Japan pulled back after rallying for three consecutive sessions amid profit taking.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average and the broader Topix declined more than 1%, as investors booked profit after benchmark indexes surged more than 10% this year.
Market sentiment remained positive amid receding global trade tensions and an improving profit outlook for domestic corporations.
Moreover, foreign investors continued to pump new capital into Japanese stocks as they chased returns outside the U.S.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average and the Topix are hovering at record highs, as investors remain focused on corporate earnings results despite the challenging global macroeconomic outlook.
Investors debated the rate path, and the Bank of Japan is expected to continue its rate-hike campaign amid wage pressures and building inflationary pressures after decades of price declines.
The yen strengthened to 146.24 against the U.S. dollar amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve is more likely to lower rates at the end of the next policy meeting in September.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 1.3% to 42,693.77, and the broader Topix decreased 1% to 3,060.14.
SoftBank Group advanced 4.4% to ¥15,530.0, NTT Inc. decreased 0.8% to ¥161.50, and KDDI Corp. fell 1.9% to ¥2,587.50.
Toyota Motor Corp. declined 2.2% to ¥2,813.50, Honda Motor Corp. dropped 1.6% to ¥1,618.0, and Nissan Motor eased 1.4% to ¥327.80.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha decreased 0.8% to ¥2,213.0, Nippon Yusen K.K. eased 1.5% to ¥5,246.0, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. fell 0.3% to ¥4,885.0.
Japan Indexes Eased 1% After a 3-Day Rally Lifted Stocks to Record Highs
Akira Ito
14 Aug, 2025
Tokyo
Benchmark indexes in Japan pulled back after rallying for three consecutive sessions amid profit taking.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average and the broader Topix declined more than 1%, as investors booked profit after benchmark indexes surged more than 10% this year.
Market sentiment remained positive amid receding global trade tensions and an improving profit outlook for domestic corporations.
Moreover, foreign investors continued to pump new capital into Japanese stocks as they chased returns outside the U.S.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average and the Topix are hovering at record highs, as investors remain focused on corporate earnings results despite the challenging global macroeconomic outlook.
Investors debated the rate path, and the Bank of Japan is expected to continue its rate-hike campaign amid wage pressures and building inflationary pressures after decades of price declines.
The yen strengthened to 146.24 against the U.S. dollar amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve is more likely to lower rates at the end of the next policy meeting in September.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 1.3% to 42,693.77, and the broader Topix decreased 1% to 3,060.14.
SoftBank Group advanced 4.4% to ¥15,530.0, NTT Inc. decreased 0.8% to ¥161.50, and KDDI Corp. fell 1.9% to ¥2,587.50.
Toyota Motor Corp. declined 2.2% to ¥2,813.50, Honda Motor Corp. dropped 1.6% to ¥1,618.0, and Nissan Motor eased 1.4% to ¥327.80.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha decreased 0.8% to ¥2,213.0, Nippon Yusen K.K. eased 1.5% to ¥5,246.0, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. fell 0.3% to ¥4,885.0.
China and HK Indexes Hover at Multi-Year Highs; Tencent, CK Infrastructure, and Power Assets In Focus
Li Chen
14 Aug, 2025
Hong Kong
Benchmark indexes in China and Hong Kong traded at multi-year highs amid waning buzz about the U.S. tariffs, and the earnings season picked up pace.
The Hang Seng index decreased a fraction and hovered near a four-year high after Tencent Holdings reported better-than-expected quarterly results.
Earnings remained in focus after Power Assets Holdings and CK Infrastructure Holdings reported higher-than-expected first-half results.
China's annual M1 money supply increased 5.6% in July, indicating improving economic conditions, according to data released by the People's Bank of China.
Market sentiment was cautious ahead of the release of retail sales, fixed-asset investment, and new home prices on Friday.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng index decreased 0.1% to 25,597.85, and the CSI 300 index rose 0.5% to 4,199.06.
Tencent Holdings Ltd. increased 1.4% to HK $594.0, and the Internet platform operator reported better-than-expected second-quarter results.
Revenue increased 15% to 184.5 billion yuan, and net income soared 16% to 55.6 billion yuan, or $7.81 billion, from a year ago, respectively.
Video game sales advanced 17% to 40.4 billion yuan, and revenue from fintech and business services increased 10% to 55.5 billion yuan.