ASX Poised to Rise as Investors Eye Inflation Reading and Easing Rate Prospects
July 29, 2026, 4:44 AM EDT. The Australian sharemarket is on track for a stronger open, with futures advancing 76 points (0.9%) as of 6.14am AEST on Wednesday. The uptick comes as investors respond to a softening rate outlook ahead of upcoming inflation data, indicating optimism. The move reflects hopes for better equity performance as financial settings evolve.
The Morning Catch-Up: ASX set to climb as …
Gold Price Outlook: Volatility Expected Ahead of Fed Decision July 29, 2026
July 29, 2026, 4:38 AM EDT.Gold and silver prices are likely to experience volatility as investors await the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement. Gold edged up 0.9% over the past week, buoyed by a retreat in crude oil prices and softer US Treasury yields, but continues to trade within a five-week consolidation range. According to the World Gold Council, 18.1 tonnes of net ETF inflows were reported for the week through July 24. Gold’s short-term direction will hinge on today’s FOMC announcement and upcoming US economic reports, with support at $3,960 and resistance around $4,220 per ounce.
Gold price prediction today: What factors …
Oil Jumps on Iran Tensions; Chip Shares Drop as AI Demand Wavers
July 29, 2026, 4:37 AM EDT.Chip shares slipped as SK Hynix made its Nasdaq debut alongside fresh concerns around AI spending, prompting a broad sentiment reset in the sector. European bourses moved higher, with the UK’s FTSE 100 climbing 0.6% on the back of robust results from basic materials companies. Mining major Rio Tinto announced a 43% jump in profit to $6.9bn, supported by copper prices driven higher amid AI-related demand. Glencore reported a 15% lift in copper production and projected strong future earnings.
Oil jumps after Iran attempts ‘surprise at…
AI Sector Drives S&P 500 to Historic Highs as Bubble Risk Grows, Analysts Caution
July 29, 2026, 4:36 AM EDT. The AI sector accounts for more than 40% of the S&P 500, matching the tech concentration witnessed during the dot-com bubble. Leading firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet are projected to invest $410 billion on AI infrastructure this year, with total global AI spending on track to hit $4 trillion by 2030. Even as investment surges, 61% of fund managers identify an AI bubble as the main market threat. The S&P 500’s Shiller CAPE Ratio has climbed above 40, a threshold reached only during the 1999 bubble, underlining a call for caution when selecting quality stocks.
Experts Are Sounding the Alarm Over an AI …
Gold Holds Lower Ahead of Fed Decision, Analysts Split on Outlook
July 29, 2026, 4:35 AM EDT. Gold (XAU/USD) hovers close to $4,045, under pressure before the US Federal Reserve’s July 29, 2026 policy meeting, as markets weigh a potential rate increase. Analyst projections are mixed: BeInCrypto signals a possible decline to $2,575, while Goldman Sachs sees prices reaching $4,900 by the end of the year. Crescat Capital anticipates $20,000 within four years, and both LiteFinance and RoboForex set intermediate technical targets ranging between $3,600 and $4,700.
Gold Price Forecast | Fed Decision and Dol…
Brady (NYSE:BRC) Posts Strong Q1, Topping Safety & Security Services Sector
July 29, 2026, 4:34 AM EDT. Brady (NYSE:BRC) topped the safety & security services sector in Q1 with revenues of $435.2M, rising 13.8% year-over-year and surpassing analyst expectations by 7.2%. The sector as a whole reported a 2.5% revenue beat, and shares have climbed 27.9% following results. Brady’s stock gained 35.8% after the earnings release, recently trading at $96.37. Sector momentum is fuelled by increased security needs and AI adoption, although regulatory concerns remain.
Safety & Security Services Stocks Q1 Earni…
Merchants Bancorp (MBIN) Tops Q2 2026 Earnings Estimates, Valuation Remains Low
July 29, 2026, 4:33 AM EDT. Merchants Bancorp (MBIN) posted Q2 2026 earnings and revenue that surpassed analyst forecasts, helped by robust gains in loan servicing and asset management fees. With shares trading on a P/E of 11.9x, the stock remains below the peer median of 14x and the sector mean of 15.3x, pointing to undervaluation. The SWS DCF model assigns a fair value of $137.51 compared with the current share price of $48.77, suggesting strong upside potential even as mortgage volume and funding cost risks persist.
Merchants Bancorp (MBIN) Beat Expectations…
Fujiya (TSE:2211) Sees Higher Revenue, Swings to Q2 Loss as Profit Margin Narrows
July 29, 2026, 4:32 AM EDT. Fujiya posted Q2 2026 revenue growth, rising to ¥29,852m from ¥28,635m a year earlier, but reported a net loss of ¥104m, reversing from a ¥52m profit. Basic EPS moved from earnings of ¥2.02 to a loss of ¥4.03 per share, with the trailing net margin narrowing to 0.9%. While shares have advanced and the P/E stands at 57.6x, profitability pressures point to potential risks around valuations and earnings stability.
Fujiya (TSE:2211) Stock Sees Revenue Growt…
System ResearchLtd (TSE:3771) Q1 2027 Results: Revenue Rises, Profit Declines
July 29, 2026, 4:31 AM EDT. System ResearchLtd posted Q1 2027 revenue of ¥7,431.12m, representing a 7.1% increase from a year earlier, while net income slipped by 11.7% to ¥390.16m and basic EPS fell 11.8% to ¥23.52. Shares are valued at 12.1 times trailing earnings and offer a 3.75% dividend yield. Margins edged up to 8.7%, but earnings growth lost pace, prompting scrutiny of project schedules, pricing pressures, and cost management amid continued demand in the sector.
System ResearchLtd (TSE:3771) Stock Looks …
Australian Retail Investors Track 3 Leading AI Healthcare Stocks
July 29, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT.AI healthcare stocks in Australia are attracting retail investor attention as they advance data-driven diagnostics and personalised treatments. Among them, ImExHS (ASX:IME) stands out, operating from Sydney with a focus on cloud medical imaging and radiology, mainly earning revenue in Latin America and holding a market cap of A$15.1 million. Singular Health Group (ASX:SHG) produces AI-enabled 3D medical imaging technology, reporting approximately A$1 million in revenue and a market cap of A$64.1 million.
3 AI Healthcare Stocks Retail Investors Ar…
Futures Gain Slightly Before Fed Decision
July 29, 2026, 4:29 AM EDT. Stock futures rose modestly with traders awaiting the Fed rate decision and keeping watch on Meta & Microsoft earnings.
Stock index futures edge higher ahead of F…
Korea Moves to Curb Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs Amid Volatility Concerns
July 29, 2026, 4:20 AM EDT. In July 2026, Korea became one of the first top markets to restrict single-stock leveraged ETFs, seeking to tackle worries about their possible role in increasing market volatility.
Do Leveraged ETFs Make Markets More Volati…
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi's mounting political woes dent investor confidence
July 29, 2026, 4:19 AM EDT. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is caught in an intensifying political cycle, as weak polling erodes her capacity to implement planned tax cuts. Her declining political strength hinders her administration’s response to yen and bond market pressures, adding to market volatility.
Japan PM's political doom loop worsens her…
Kospi Drops 6% as AI Concerns Hit Chipmakers; Brent Oil Climbs on Middle East Tensions
July 29, 2026, 4:18 AM EDT. The Kospi index in South Korea slid 6% to 5,663.24, pressured by a 9.4% fall for SK Hynix and a 4.8% loss in Samsung Electronics following fresh doubts over AI investments. Tokyo’s Nikkei declined 1.5%, whereas Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 1.8% and Shanghai Composite edged up 0.4%. Meanwhile, Brent crude gained 3.1% to $84.58 and U.S. crude rose 3.6% to $82.14 with escalating Middle East worries.
South Korea's Kospi share index falls 6% a…
Greggs H1 2026 Sales Rise 7.2%, Operating Profit Jumps 23%
July 29, 2026, 4:17 AM EDT. Greggs LSE:GRG recorded a 7.2% increase in total sales to £1.10 billion and a 23% surge in operating profit to £86.5 million for the first half of 2026. The food-to-go chain grew its customer visit market share to 8.7%, added 34 outlets, and introduced new formats including ‘bitesize Greggs’ and ‘Greggs Express.’ The company continues to invest in supply chain and product development as margin challenges persist.
Greggs Reports Higher Profit and Market Sh…
Market Moves July 29, 2026: Gold slips, Silver steady, Macy's soars, Centrica rises, UK stocks pressured
July 29, 2026, 4:15 AM EDT. On July 29, 2026, Gold (XAU/USD) hovered around $4,034 and stayed under pressure below major EMAs, while Silver (XAG/USD) managed to sustain support as markets watched the Fed. Macy’s shares jumped 24.6% even as it announced store closures and falling EPS, prompting questions about its forward P/E ratio of 10.5×. Oil climbing above $100 benefitted Centrica. UK equities such as Barclays and Tesco came under strain as inflation is projected to reach 3.8% by early 2027.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 29.07.202…
CSL Shares Gain 3.5% After Update on Clinical Trials
July 29, 2026, 4:14 AM EDT. CSL Limited ASX:CSL shares rose 3.5% to nearly A$123.68 in early trade after the biotech company disclosed new clinical trials planned to validate the Horizon 2 trial pathway.
CSL shares rise as Horizon 2 clinical tria…
Gold, Silver Forecast: Fed Rate Call Shapes XAU/USD, XAG/USD Moves
July 29, 2026, 4:03 AM EDT. Gold (XAU/USD) trades close to $4,034 within a symmetrical triangle, maintaining a short-term bearish bias under the 50-EMA ($4,058) and 100-EMA ($4,071). The RSI at 43 suggests weakening bearish pressure, with resistance found at $4,066 and support at $4,011. Silver (XAG/USD) holds its triangle support while bulls look to recover, as attention centers on the Fed’s policy announcement.
Gold (XAU/USD) & Silver Price Forecast: Fe…
How to Invest in Semiconductor Stocks and ETFs
July 29, 2026, 4:02 AM EDT. VanEck, established in 1955, is a global asset manager overseeing $161.7 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025. The firm provides ETFs, mutual funds, and a range of investment products, concentrating on semiconductor ETFs and stocks by capitalizing on emerging trends outside conventional markets to develop significant investment opportunities.
Investing In Semiconductor ETFs And Stocks
3 Reasons Macy's Shares May Be Overvalued – and a Stronger Alternative
July 29, 2026, 4:01 AM EDT. Macy’s shares jumped 24.6% over six months, outpacing the S&P 500 by 18.3% after robust quarterly earnings. But store closures (663 locations with a 3.2% drop yearly), lackluster same-store sales indicating tepid demand, and a 17.8% average annual decline in EPS over three years raise concerns about future performance. With a forward P/E of 10.5×, Macy’s could be trading above fair value, and investors may find better prospects elsewhere-such as a fast-growing restaurant franchise highlighted as an alternative.
3 Reasons to Sell M and 1 Stock to Buy Ins…
Centrica Gains as Oil Rises, Inflation Pressure Hits UK Shares Like Barclays and Tesco
July 29, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT. Oil trading above $100 per barrel and inflation in the UK anticipated to reach 3.8% by early 2027 are producing mixed fortunes for major stocks such as Barclays LSE:BARC and Tesco LSE:TSCO. Barclays continues to earn strong profits but faces credit risks as persistent inflation and high interest rates linger, while Tesco maintains a widespread retail presence. Centrica emerges as a standout, viewed as potentially advantaged by these broader economic trends influencing the UK market.
