Markets Rally on a Deal. Now Read the Fine Print.

Trade truces spark optimism, Fed audit calls grow louder, and AI's hype meets reality. Your daily dose of market maneuvers.

Not a fan of Fred? Click here for a one-click opt-out experience.
One-Click Unsubscribe here.
 

Markets Rally on a Deal. Now Read the Fine Print.

A 15% tariff deal averts disaster, yet skeptics wonder if it's just delaying the inevitable trade skirmish. July 28, 2025
MorningBullets is the fastest way to catch up on the market and political news that matter most to your money. Quick takes, sharp insight, and curated opportunities—served fresh every weekday morning.
A stylized chessboard with tariff percentages as pieces, Trump and von der Leyen as kings, overlooking a fluctuating stock market graph in the background, evoking strategic tension and economic uncertainty.
Trade chess: Trump's EU deal moves the pieces, but the board's still volatile.

Good morning, folks. Wall Street’s toasting a shiny new U.S.–EU trade “deal.” But hold the cork, when diplomacy outpaces the paperwork, someone’s left picking up the tab.

Sure, markets love a good tariff truce. But we’ve seen this before: headline highs with a side of whiplash.

Still, not all fluff. Cooler heads in boardrooms are using the breather to hedge smarter, spend leaner, and plan longer.

Let’s get into today’s Morning Bullets.

– Truly yours, Fred Frost


📈 Yesterday's Market Recap

Markets closed higher as Trump's surprise EU trade framework injected a dose of certainty into an otherwise jittery week. The deal's 15% tariff cap and massive EU investment pledges boosted investor confidence, though lingering US-China talks kept gains in check. Overall, a welcome rebound, but remember, trade 'wins' often come with long-term strings attached.


  • S&P 500 Hits Record Close: Up 0.4% to 6,388.64, driven by tariff relief and strong earnings previews. → AP News

  • Dow Climbs Amid Trade Optimism: Gains 0.5% to 44,901.92, with energy stocks like Cheniere surging on EU purchase commitments. → StockTwits

  • Nasdaq Edges Higher: Rises 0.2% to 21,108.32, buoyed by tech amid AI spending forecasts. → FX Empire

  • European Markets Rally: DAX up 0.3%, CAC 40 gains 0.6% on averted tariff hike. → CNBC


📈 Daily Performance Snapshot

Index/Asset Closing Value Change
S&P 500 6,388.64 +0.4%
Nasdaq 21,108.32 +0.24%
Dow Jones 44,901.92 +0.47%
Gold $3335.80 +0.01%
Crude Oil $65.86 +1.07%
Bitcoin $118,760 +0.42%
10-yr Treasury Yield 4.386% -0.5%

Sponsored Content

🚨 Trump’s Crypto Shockwave

While crypto dips, Trump’s team is quietly engineering a massive wealth transfer. Don’t miss this explosive setup. Act before the market wakes up.

Get the Full Trump-Crypto Playbook

By clicking the link above, you consent to receive future updates from our sponsor.


🔭 What to Watch Today

With trade deals dominating headlines, keep an eye on central bank signals and earnings that could sway sentiment – remember, government interventions often create more volatility than they solve.

  • US-China Talks in Stockholm: Negotiations aim to extend truce; outcomes could impact tariffs and global supply chains. → ABC News
  • Mag 7 Earnings Kickoff: Reports from tech giants like Tesla and Meta; AI spending trends in focus. → CNBC
  • India Manufacturing PMI (8:30 AM ET Equivalent): Data could signal demand shifts amid regional market dips. → StockTwits

  • 💡 Opportunity Watch

    Trade pacts are opening doors, but smart investors look beyond the headlines to sectors poised for real gains – like domestic resources and AI infrastructure, where self-reliance trumps government handouts.

    • Copper Mining Revival (IE): Ivanhoe Electric's Arizona project eyes 2028 production amid US shortage; tariffs could boost domestic plays. → Fox Business
    • AI Infrastructure Boom (FLEX): Flex's pivot to AI power solutions positions it for data center growth; 25% of business now AI-tied. → AInvest
    • Private Credit Expansion (ARES): Ares Management targets $750B AUM by 2028; rising demand as firms skip IPOs. → Fortune

    Sponsored Content

    🚀 Fastest Way to Catch Breakout Stocks

    Missed Alarum's 2,100% run? Get our next FREE stock alert via SMS—before Wall Street catches on. Beat the crowd. Seize the momentum. Start now.

    📈 Click Here to Discover the Market’s Next Hidden Gem

    By clicking the link above you agree to receive periodic updates from our sponsor.


    🔥 The Big Bullet

    Markets Cheer a Tariff Truce, But the Bill’s Still Coming

    What happened: Over the weekend, U.S. and EU officials unveiled a fresh trade framework designed to sidestep escalating tariffs, restore market confidence, and move both blocs off the economic cliff edge. The deal cuts previously threatened U.S. tariffs nearly in half, while the EU agreed to commit billions toward U.S. energy and defense imports. Stocks reacted with textbook optimism—Dow futures up, and risk appetite flickering back to life ahead of a crowded earnings calendar. For now, the market is treating détente as resolution. → MarketWatch


    Why it matters: On the surface, this was a policy win. But markets aren’t pricing in the structural givebacks—Europe’s industrial base is being nudged into American hands, while U.S. tariffs remain a hanging threat under the fine print. Investor euphoria looks premature given the Fed’s hawkish undertone and August’s looming inflation data. Institutional confidence may rise, but underneath, this is less a peace treaty than a pause button. The same players, same tactics—just with better PR and quieter tweets.

    What’s next: Investors should treat this week as a litmus test. With Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft reporting, we’ll get clarity on whether AI hype has legs—or just generous accounting. Watch for Fed commentary on balance sheet tightening, not just rate holds. And if Friday’s PCE or jobs data surprise north, expect volatility to snap back fast. Position defensively where margins matter. This rally is skating on freshly poured confidence, not fundamentals.


    Sponsored Content

    2 AI Stocks Under $15 Poised to Surge

    Markets are shaky, but innovation doesn’t pause. Get the full scoop on two overlooked AI plays thriving in volatility—your free report is one click away.

    Get the AI Stock Report

    **By clicking link you are subscribing to Premium Market News’s Newsletter and may receive up to 2 additional free bonus subscriptions. Unsubscribing is easy. Full disclosures found here.


    🧭 Policy & Market Ripples

    • Fed's Bank Bonanza Under Fire: $186B in interest payments to banks spark audit calls; why subsidize lenders when taxpayers foot the bill? → Fox Business
    • Bezos Cashes Out $5.7B: Amazon founder's stock sales, including on his wedding day, fund philanthropy amid insider trading safeguards. → Fortune
    • AI Hype Check: Alibaba founder warns 90% of current apps won't survive; focus on core tech over fleeting trends. → StockTwits
    • Skills-First Shift: Companies eye AI-driven talent models; could empower workers, but beware over-reliance on tech fads. → Fortune
    • Nvidia Snubs China Event: Absent from Shanghai AI confab despite H20 chip hopes; Huawei steps up with local alternatives. → CNBC

    📜 This Day in History – July 28

    History reminds us that markets and policies cycle like seasons – today's trade deals echo past booms and busts, urging caution against overreliance on government fixes.

    1914 – The 12th Tour de France ends, with Belgian Philippe Thys claiming victory, showcasing early international sports marketing and European brand exposure.

    1980 – Beatrix is inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands, reflecting Europe's modern constitutional monarchies as stable institutional brands.

    1984 – 1984 Los Angeles Olympics open, boosting local economy through private funding – a model of free-market spectacle over taxpayer burdens.

    1965 – LBJ escalates Vietnam troop levels, inflating deficits and teaching a hard lesson on unchecked government spending's long-term costs.

    The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit.
    — Milton Friedman
    That's your briefing – stay vigilant, question the spin, and invest with an eye toward self-reliance.

    Stay sharp,
    Fredrick Frost
    Editor, MorningBullets

    Reply

    or to participate.