U.S. stocks closed higher, led by the Nasdaq 100’s 2.21% gain, while the S&P 500 rose 1.13% and the Dow added 1.55%. Palantir, Zebra Technologies and Caterpillar advanced after reporting results that topped expectations and lifting full-year guidance, boosting technology and industrial shares. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 4 basis points to 4.64% as June factory orders declined 0.3% month over month, weaker than expected.

Major U.S. stock indexes advanced, with the S&P 500 up 0.6% and nearing its all-time closing high, while the Dow rose 658 points (1.2%) to a record and the Nasdaq gained 1.1%. Palantir surged after reporting 93% year-over-year revenue growth, and Caterpillar climbed after quarterly sales topped $20 billion for the first time and results beat expectations. The gains were driven by strong earnings among index constituents, underscoring how improving corporate fundamentals can lift broad benchmarks.

Philip Morris International reported Q2 FY2026 results on July 22, with net revenues rising 10.4% year over year to $11.2 billion and adjusted EPS increasing 15.2% to $2.20. The stock climbed 3.3% on the day following the earnings release. The company said growth was driven by both its smoke-free alternatives business, including heated tobacco, and its traditional combustible segment. The results outperformed the S&P 500 Index and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) over the same period.

USDA on Friday reported daily U.S. soybean export sales of 252,000 MT. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect June U.S. corn ethanol grindings of 466 million bushels, up 4.4% from a year earlier. Following those developments, December corn, November soybeans, and September SRW and HRW wheat futures set two- or three-week lows. For the week, the contracts fell 23 1/4 cents, 66 cents, 38 3/4 cents and 37 3/4 cents, respectively.

Dell Technologies reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter revenue of $43.84 billion, up 88% year over year, and adjusted earnings of $4.86 per share, well ahead of expectations. The company sharply lifted its full-year forecast, including AI server revenue to $60 billion, total revenue to $165 billion–$169 billion, and adjusted EPS to $17.90. The results pointed to robust AI data-center demand and helped drive a 32.8% one-day rise in DELL shares, taking its year-to-date gain to 237.3%.

October NY world sugar #11 (SBV26 ) closed up +0.35 (+2.39%) on Monday, and October London ICE white sugar #5 (SWV26 ) closed up +7.90 (+1.71%). Sugar prices settled sharply higher on Monday, with NY sugar posting a 3-week high and London sugar posti...

Favorable harvest weather in Brazil is expected to lift 2026/27 global coffee output to a record 189.7 million bags, up 6.0% year over year, with arabica production seen rising 12%. Brazil’s harvest progress was reported at 64% as of July 15, still behind 77% a year earlier, but the USDA attributes the outlook mainly to improved growing conditions in Brazil. September ICE arabica futures settled down 3.79% on Monday, reflecting expectations of looser supply.

Concerns over Ghana’s cocoa production outlook helped lift September ICE cocoa futures in New York and London by more than 9% in a single session. Early crop assessments for the new season starting in September 2026 put expected output at 1.8 MMT, down 18% year over year. Ivory Coast port arrivals for the current season are up 20% year over year and Nigeria’s June exports rose 30%, but supply worries continued to drive sentiment. The shift in perceived supply conditions is feeding directly into cocoa futures pricing.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) said it will acquire electronic credit trading platform MarketAxess (MKTX), sending the shares up 29% on July 30. As of July 31, MKTX was trading around $162 with a market capitalization of $5.77 billion. The company generates 86.8% of its revenue from commissions while expanding post-trade services and data tools. Its board also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share, to be paid in September.