CNBC Daily Open: The U.S. economy does not look down and out
Add to that a solid start to earnings season, and you've got a recipe for record highs: both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched fresh peaks.
So, is the economy truly resilient in the face of the Trump administration's shifting trade winds? Or are we simply in the eye of the storm, with August 1 — the Trump tariff deadline — looming on the horizon?
Remember, economic data is always a step behind. The real impact of tariffs may not show up for months, especially if businesses and consumers are stockpiling ahead of time and foreign exporters are cutting their prices.
Even when the new tariffs hit, the effects might be muted at first as inventories clear.Still, for now, investors can take comfort in the fact that markets are being lifted by fundamentals — not just fear or speculation.
And yes, to borrow a line from Starship: the U.S. economy is still built on rock-solid data… not on rock and roll.
Arbitrage versus market manipulation. The line between arbitrage and market manipulation has long been one of the grayest areas in financial markets — and India's recent action against high-frequency trading giant Jane Street has brought that murky boundary into sharp focus. Experts tell us the difference between the two.
S&P and Nasdaq storm to new records. U.S. stocks climbed Thursday due to solid earnings and economic data, with the S&P 500 up 0.54% for a record close of 6,297.36 — its ninth this year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.75% for its tenth record close of 2025, ending at 20,885.65. In Asia, Australian equities notched a record high as other markets traded mixed.
Trump AG seeks release of Epstein's jury transcripts. President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony related to the criminal prosecution of the notorious pedophile.
Japan inflation eases. Core inflation cooled to 3.3% in June, coming down from a 29-month high of 3.7% as rice inflation showed signs of easing. The increase in rice prices eased slightly, rising 100.2% year over year, compared with the 101.7% jump in May.
[PRO] The U.S. consumer pushes back on recession fears. U.S. consumers appear to prove economic pessimists wrong this summer as they flex their spending muscle, according to June's retail sales report. But some alternative data suggests that the consumer is hanging in there.
Travelers to the US must pay a new $250 'visa integrity fee' Visitors to the United States will need to pay a "visa integrity fee," according to a provision of the Trump administration's recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The fee applies to all visitors who need non-immigrant visas to enter, and cannot be waived.
However, travelers may also be able to get the fees reimbursed, according to the provision.
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Veteran fund manager who predicted Nvidia stock rally resets forecast on China shock
Veteran fund manager who predicted Nvidia stock rally resets forecast on China shock originally appeared on TheStreet. The move off the early April lows is impressive. The S&P 500 dropped 10% following President Trump's tariff announcement on April 2, so-called "Liberation Day," but has since recaptured all its losses and made new highs. The S&P 500's spring sell-off was fast and unexpected, sparking fear that trade war uncertainty would serve as a catalyst for stagflation or outright recession. As a result, many investors sold top performers, including Nvidia, before a massive post-sell-off run higher. An 82% rally in Nvidia's stock price since its early April low likely surprised many, and investors who missed the buy-the-dip move are likely shaking their heads, wondering if it's too late to buy. 💵💰💰💵 One who wasn't caught flat-footed by Nvidia's move is veteran Wall Street fund manager Dan Niles. 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Is Quantum Computing Stock a Buy for Less Than $20?
Key Points Quantum computing technology is forecast to be a multitrillion-dollar opportunity and has even received high praise from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Quantum Computing trades for $18 per share, giving the appearance of a cheap stock in a hot market. More thorough valuation analysis is required in order to understand Quantum Computing's potential as a long-term investment. 10 stocks we like better than Quantum Computing › Over the last several months, artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiasts have become intrigued by an emerging technology known as quantum computing. Although quantum applications are not yet operating at scale, industry research suggests the technology could be a game changer. Management consulting firm McKinsey & Company forecasts that quantum computing could add trillions in economic value in the coming decades, signaling this technology could revolutionize the AI megatrend over the long run. One company that has received quite a bit of attention in the quantum arena is Quantum Computing (NASDAQ: QUBT). Quite an apropos name, if you ask me. With shares trading just below $20 as of this writing, is now a good time to scoop up shares of Quantum Computing stock? What's with all the hype around Quantum Computing stock? Over the last year, shares of Quantum Computing have risen by 2,480% -- handily outperforming the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. With such tantalizing gains, Quantum Computing's business must be on a roll, right? Well, not quite. Over the last 12 months, Quantum Computing has only generated about $385,000 in revenue. To me, the meteoric rise in Quantum Computing's share price can be attributed to a number of macro-oriented narratives as opposed to anything company-specific. For example, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has spoken favorably about the prospects of quantum computing on multiple occasions. Considering how important Nvidia's technology stack is for the broader AI narrative, investors likely find it encouraging that the visionary CEO appears bullish on the quantum computing opportunity. On top of that, some economists think an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve could be on the horizon. Diminishing rates could be viewed positively by investors, and growth stocks such as Quantum Computing would likely be particular beneficiaries of renewed investor enthusiasm. Assessing Quantum Computing's valuation Per the chart below, Quantum Computing boasts a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio over 5,200. When you assess Quantum Computing from this perspective, the company's nominal revenue levels really come into focus. How can a company generating only a few hundred thousand dollars in sales achieve a multibillion-dollar market cap? In my eyes, Quantum Computing stock is largely trading on a bullish narrative at the intersection of AI and quantum applications. To drive home how silly Quantum Computing's valuation really is, consider the following: Dot-com bubble: During the most euphoric days of internet hype during the late 1990s, companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Cisco witnessed peak P/S multiples in the range of 31 to 43. COVID-19 bubble: In more recent history, companies such as Zoom Communications and Peloton Interactive witnessed stratospheric valuations as investors bought into the narrative that these companies would capitalize on remote work trends and the at-home economy. Zoom's P/S peaked at around 124 while Peloton's high was roughly 20. Is Quantum Computing stock a buy right now? According to recent company filings, Quantum Computing recently issued 14,035,089 shares at a purchase price of $14.25 in an effort to raise capital. Considering the company barely generates revenue and is unprofitable, it was only a matter of time before Quantum Computing faced a liquidity crunch. I see this share issuance as a sign that management understands how stretched the company's valuation has become; therefore, it took strategic advantage of current inflated prices. While Quantum Computing stock might appear cheap at $18 per share, the valuation analysis explored above underscores that the company is trading well past the point of a bubble. Furthermore, the recent stock issuance could subtly imply that management does not believe the current valuation is sustainable. To me, Quantum Computing is a highly speculative opportunity that is best avoided for now. Do the experts think Quantum Computing is a buy right now? The Motley Fool's expert analyst team, drawing on years of investing experience and deep analysis of thousands of stocks, leverages our proprietary Moneyball AI investing database to uncover top opportunities. They've just revealed their to buy now — did Quantum Computing make the list? When our Stock Advisor analyst team has a stock recommendation, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is up 1,048% vs. just 180% for the S&P — that is beating the market by 867.59%!* Imagine if you were a Stock Advisor member when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $652,133!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,056,790!* The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Nvidia, Peloton Interactive, and Zoom Communications. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Quantum Computing Stock a Buy for Less Than $20? was originally published by The Motley Fool
