NEW YORK — U.S. stock markets experienced a mixed performance on July 30, 2025, as investors braced for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later in the day, despite stronger-than-expected second-quarter GDP growth.
As of 9:37 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 3.08 points, or 0.01%, to 44,636.07. The S&P 500 index gained 7.53 points, or 0.12%, to 6,378.39. The Nasdaq Composite was trading higher, up 53.54 points, or 0.25%, at 21,151.83.
Strong GDP Growth Fails to Ignite Markets
The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that GDP expanded by 3.0% year-over-year, significantly surpassing the market forecast of a 2.4% increase. This marks the first upward revision for the GDP figure, which undergoes three releases: preliminary, revised, and final.
Despite this robust economic data, investor sentiment remained cautious. Market participants were keenly awaiting the Federal Reserve’s policy announcement and major corporate earnings reports, limiting the broader market’s reaction.
Fed Decision Looms, Eyes on Powell
According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the market is largely pricing in a hold on the federal funds rate, with expectations for it to remain in the 4.25% to 4.50% range at the current meeting.
The Fed’s decision is expected at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET. Investors are seeking any hints about the future direction of monetary policy from Powell’s remarks.
“Political pressure is growing, but Powell is still taking a careful approach,” said Jerry Temphredman, vice president of Mutual of America Capital Management.
Treasury Maintains Bond Issuance Size, Trump Tariffs on India
In other news, the U.S. Treasury announced it would maintain the size of its three-month government bond issuance through October. The department also reaffirmed its forward guidance, indicating no immediate changes to issuance volumes.
Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via his social media platform ‘Truth Social’ that a 25% tariff would be imposed on Indian imports starting August 1. Trump criticized India’s high tariffs, stating, “India is our friend, but the reason why there was not much trade for many years is because India’s tariffs are too high.”
Major Tech Earnings on Deck
The market is also awaiting earnings reports from tech giants Meta Platforms and Microsoft after the market close. Investors are closely watching how these results will influence the broader stock market trajectory.
Sector and Stock Performance
Sector performance showed a mixed trend. Utilities rose 0.9%, healthcare gained 0.3%, and technology was up 0.2%. Conversely, energy slipped 0.8%, and materials fell 0.5%.
Among individual stocks, Starbucks shares declined 1%, marking the sixth consecutive quarterly decrease in sales. Teldak Health, a telehealth company, saw its stock rise 0.5% after reporting second-quarter results that exceeded expectations. Semiconductor firm Kobo’s stock climbed 3% on better-than-expected quarterly performance.
European Markets and Oil Prices
Most European stocks traded higher. The Euro Stoxx 50 Index advanced 0.43%, the German DAX index was up 0.19%, and the French CAC 40 index increased by 0.60%. The British FTSE index, however, dipped 0.06%.
International oil prices also saw an increase. As of 9:38 a.m. ET, the September contract for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil was trading at $69.71 per barrel, up 0.72%. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was priced at $72.97 per barrel, up 0.63%.
