Holiday: There was no Daily Snapshot on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

• Stocks finish mixed following June employment data – Equity markets were mixed on Thursday following the June payrolls report, which showed nonfarm employment rose by 57,000, below expectations for a gain of more than 100,000, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2%. From a leadership perspective, growth sectors such as technology and communication services were among the laggards, weighing on the tech-heavy Nasdaq which declined 0.8% on the day. Contrarily, the Dow fared better, gaining over 1%, aided by strong gains in Apple and Microsoft. Additionally, defensive sectors such as utilities, health care and consumer staples outperformed, each rising by over 2%. Overseas, markets in Asia were mostly lower overnight, with Korea’s KOSPI falling nearly 8% amid weakness in semiconductor shares. European markets, however, closed firmly higher after the eurozone unemployment rate fell to 6.2%, tying a record low. In bond markets, short-term Treasury yields were modestly lower following the below-consensus job gains, while longer-term Treasury yields were little changed.
   
• Job growth slows, but labor-market conditions remain stable – Nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, falling short of economists’ expectations for a gain of more than 100,000. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2%, though the decline was primarily driven by a smaller labor force. On the payroll side, private employment accounted for most of the increase, rising by 49,000, while government employment added 8,000 jobs. At the industry level, health care and social assistance continued their recent streak of strong job growth; however, a surprising 61,000 decline in leisure and hospitality employment weighed on overall services-sector job creation. In addition, payroll growth for the prior two months was revised lower by a combined 74,000, suggesting a slower but still healthy pace of hiring. Over the past three months, payroll gains have averaged 111,000 per month. Overall, we would characterize today’s employment report as evidence of ongoing stability in labor-market conditions, which should continue to support economic activity through year-end.
   
• A strong first half has historically been followed by further gains for stocks – U.S. stocks posted solid gains in the first half of 2026, with the S&P 500 returning 10.2%, including dividends. This marks the third time in the past four years that the index has gained more than 10% in the first six months of the year. Historically, a strong first half has often been followed by additional gains in the second half. Since 1980, there have been 19 years, including 2026, in which the S&P 500 returned more than 10% during the first half.* Excluding 2026, second-half returns were positive in 16 of those 18 years, or 89% of the time, with an average return of 8.2%.* Looking at the 10 most recent instances of first-half returns above 10%, second-half returns were positive every time, with an average gain of 11%.* While there is no guarantee that history will repeat itself in 2026, we believe the fundamental backdrop for equity markets remains supportive, underpinned by strong corporate earnings growth, stable labor-market conditions, and resurgent manufacturing activity.

Brock Weimer, CFA
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data not cited: FactSet. 
Source for data cited: *Morningstar Direct, S&P 500 Total Return, Edward Jones}

• Markets start the month lower as tech stocks pull back - Equity markets closed lower on Wednesday, pressured by weakness in the technology sector. Bond yields moved higher, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield near 4.48%. In international markets, Asia finished mixed overnight, while Europe was broadly lower. In energy markets, WTI oil is below $70 per barrel, erasing most of its gains following the Strait of Hormuz disruption. If sustained, lower oil prices would likely help ease inflation concerns and help support consumer sentiment, though the geopolitical risks remain fluid and could continue to drive market volatility. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar advanced against major currencies.
• Employment report shows slower job growth – The ADP employment survey showed private-sector employment (excluding government workers) rose by 98,000 in June, down from growth of 122,000 in May and below forecasts for 110,000. Job gains were concentrated in education and health services (+48,000), trade, transportation, and utilities (+15,000) and financial activities (+14,000). Annual pay gains held steady a 4.4%, continuing to provide real income growth that is above inflation and supporting consumer spending. Overall, we view these readings as broadly consistent with other recent data showing a resilient labor market that should continue to provide growing employment and wages. Importantly, fewer job gains may be needed to keep the unemployment rate contained, in our view, given slower labor-force growth due to an aging workforce and tighter immigration enforcement. Tomorrow's employment report should provide a fuller picture, with consensus estimates calling for 100,000 job gains in June, including government workers, enough to keep the unemployment rate steady at 4.3%.
• Manufacturing indexes remain in expansion though pace slows: The final S&P U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for June declined to 53.9, compared with forecasts for 55.5. Despite the downward revision, the index remained above the key 50.0 threshold reflecting expansion for the 11th consecutive month. The headline reading was supported by gains in output and new orders, though the pace of growth moderated. Encouragingly, both input and output price inflation slowed, suggesting that some cost pressures may be stabilizing. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing PMI for June also moved lower to 53.3, below expectations for 53.9. Within ISM's components, supplier deliveries, production and new orders drove the decline, partly mitigated by improvement in inventories and employment. Overall, we view these readings positively, as manufacturing activity continues to expand, albeit at a somewhat slower pace, helping provide broader support for the economy and labor market.

Brian Therien, CFA
Investment Strategy

^{Source for all data: FactSet.}

• Stocks move higher, ending the quarter on a strong note – U.S. equities closed higher on Tuesday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading the gains after a sharp sell-off last week. More broadly, the S&P 500 closed the quarter higher by about 15%, the highest quarterly return since 2020. Underneath the surface, the technology sector has led the way higher this quarter, up an impressive 31%, followed by the industrials sector, up nearly 15%. However, more recently, over the last month, we have seen a bit of rotation, with tech and AI-driven sectors down for the month, while areas like healthcare, industrials, and financials have moved higher. In our view, this rotation into more cyclical parts of the market could have legs, especially if oil prices continue to head toward levels prior to the Iran war, and if the U.S. labor market and economic growth continue to remain resilient. We would recommend both U.S. large-cap stocks, which offer exposure to the tech and AI story, and U.S. mid-cap stocks, which could continue to do well if the broadening theme delivers.
   
• Biggest quarterly gain since 2020 - Global stocks, including U.S. equities, posted their strongest quarter since 2020. While geopolitical uncertainty drove a near-correction earlier in the year, subsequent de-escalation has helped lift sentiment and has helped reinforce already-solid economic and corporate fundamentals. In particular, strength in corporate profits has been the central driver of market resilience and gains this year. Although valuations have edged lower, with the price-to-earnings ratio contracting by about 10%, forward earnings have jumped roughly 18% since the start of the year. Solid economic growth paired with the AI investment boom and rising profitability has been the winning recipe for stocks, and that dynamic appears poised to continue as the next earnings season unofficially kicks off on July 14 with the banks. Expectations call for S&P 500 revenue growth of about 12% and earnings growth of 22%.
   
• Jobs in focus this week - The spotlight this holiday-shortened week will be a series of employment data releases, starting with May job openings on Tuesday, followed by ADP private payrolls on Wednesday, and the June payrolls report on Thursday. Taken together, the data should show a labor market that continues to improve, while not running so hot as to raise overheating concerns. Consensus is looking for 113,000 job gains, a slowdown from the prior month but still strong enough to keep the unemployment rate steady at 4.3%. Leisure and hospitality employment jumped in May, supported by the FIFA World Cup and other major events, but gains have been broad-based across sectors in recent months. Wage growth will also be closely watched, given its implications for both inflation and worker incomes, which have been pressured by rising energy prices. With oil prices down sharply over the past two weeks, there is scope for an improvement in real earnings growth, in our view. At 3.5% wage growth, conditions remain consistent with the Fed’s 2% inflation target, particularly given strong productivity gains that are keeping unit labor costs in check.

Mona Mahajan;
Investment Strategy 

^{Source for all data: Bloomberg.} 

• Stocks higher as tech rebounds - U.S. equities rose, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching a fresh record, supported by a rebound in technology stocks following last week’s AI-driven pullback. The three growth-oriented sectors—communication services, consumer discretionary, and technology—led gains. Alphabet shares rose 5% on their first trading day as a Dow member, replacing Verizon. WTI crude oil prices moved back above $70 after falling 9% last week to pre-war levels. Over the weekend, there was a flare-up between the U.S. and Iran, but both sides agreed yesterday to halt hostilities and resume talks this week, suggesting limited appetite for a renewed conflict. On the corporate front, Comcast said it plans to separate its media businesses from its cable TV and internet operations, spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky into a new publicly traded company. The stock traded up 5% on the news. Elsewhere, Treasuries were little changed after the Supreme Court reinforced the Fed's independence from the White House by ruling that Fed Governor Lisa Cook can stay in her job while lower courts continue to debate the case.
   
• On track for biggest quarterly gain since 2020 - Global stocks, including U.S. equities, are on pace for their strongest quarter since 2020. While geopolitical uncertainty drove a near-correction earlier in the year, subsequent de-escalation has helped lift sentiment and has helped reinforce already-solid economic and corporate fundamentals. In particular, strength in corporate profits has been the central driver of market resilience and gains this year. Although valuations have edged lower, with the price-to-earnings ratio contracting by about 10%, forward earnings have jumped roughly 18% since the start of the year. Solid economic growth paired with the AI investment boom and rising profitability has been the winning recipe for stocks, and that dynamic appears poised to continue as the next earnings season unofficially kicks off on July 14 with the banks. Expectations call for S&P 500 revenue growth of about 12% and earnings growth of 22%.
   
• Jobs in focus this week - The spotlight this holiday-shortened week will be a series of employment data releases, starting with May job openings on Tuesday, followed by ADP private payrolls on Wednesday, and the June payrolls report on Thursday. Taken together, the data should show a labor market that continues to improve, while not running so hot as to raise overheating concerns. Consensus is looking for 113,000 job gains, a slowdown from the prior month but still strong enough to keep the unemployment rate steady at 4.3%. Leisure and hospitality employment jumped in May, supported by the FIFA World Cup and other major events, but gains have been broad-based across sectors in recent months. Wage growth will also be closely watched, given its implications for both inflation and worker incomes, which have been pressured by rising energy prices. With oil prices down sharply over the past two weeks, there is scope for an improvement in real earnings growth, in our view. At 3.5% wage growth, conditions remain consistent with the Fed’s 2% inflation target, particularly given strong productivity gains that are keeping unit labor costs in check.

Angelo Kourkafas, CFA;
Investment Strategy 

^{Source for all data: Bloomberg.}