Tonight’s Highlights | U.S.-Japan Deal Lifts Mood, S&P Futures Hit New High Pre-Market  

As of this writing, Dow Jones futures were up 0.53%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.06%, and S&P 500 futures rose 0.37%, hitting a fresh all-time high.  

 

The previous trading day saw the S&P 500 close at a record high again, with investors focusing on second-quarter corporate earnings and signs of progress in U.S. trade negotiations.  

 

Earlier today, U.S. President Trump announced via social media a trade deal with Japan: the planned 25% reciprocal tariff rate will be reduced to 15%.  

 

Later, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba confirmed the agreement, stating in a live press conference that the U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on Japan, while Japan will increase imports of U.S. rice.  

 

Influenced by this news, Japanese stocks rose significantly, with the Nikkei 225 up 3.51%, closing at its highest level since July last year. In U.S. pre-market, the iShares Japan ETF surged over 4%, and Toyota Motor’s U.S. shares jumped more than 12%.  

 

French biotech firm Abivax, listed in the U.S., soared over 500% after reporting strong results from late-stage trials of its oral ulcerative colitis treatment.  

Nuclear power stocks rallied pre-market, with Talen Energy up over 9%, Vistra Energy and NuScale Power up more than 4%, and Constellation Energy, Oklo Inc., and Constellation Energy up over 3.5%.  

 

European stocks trading currently were mostly higher, with Germany’s DAX up 0.69%, the UK’s FTSE 100 up 0.54%, and France’s CAC 40 up 1.22%.  

Company News  

Apple’s App Store Rule, Fee Adjustments May Get EU Antitrust Approval  

 

On July 22 local time, insiders said Apple’s proposed changes to App Store rules and fees might be approved by EU antitrust regulators, avoiding potential hefty fines. Last month, Apple announced a 20% processing fee for purchases via the App Store, 5%-15% for developers directing customers outside it, and unlimited links to external payment channels.  

 

Post-Trump-Musk Fallout, U.S. Media Reveals Bezos Met Trump at White House for Over an Hour  

 

Insiders report U.S. President Trump met Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the White House last week for over an hour, though the meeting’s nature and exact timing remain unclear.  

 

U.S. media notes Trump’s recent rift with billionaire ex-government efficiency chief Elon Musk, while Bezos is reportedly capitalizing on it. Bezos’ Blue Origin and Amazon’s Kuiper satellite broadband project compete with Musk’s ventures.  

 

Stellantis Recalls Over 121,000 Vehicles in U.S.  

 

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Wednesday that Chrysler parent Stellantis will recall 121,398 vehicles in the U.S. due to headrests that may not lock properly, increasing injury risk in collisions.