Wall Street Edges Higher Amid Tariff Tensions and Earnings Anticipation

Wall Street stocks closed slightly higher on Monday, with investors holding back amid renewed U.S. tariff threats and ahead of key economic data and earnings reports. President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions by announcing a 30% tariff on most imports from the EU and Mexico starting August 1, pressuring both parties into last-minute negotiations. The EU responded by pausing its retaliatory measures until early August, while the White House confirmed that talks with the EU, Canada, and Mexico are ongoing.

Despite the headline risk, market reaction was limited as investors have grown accustomed to Trump’s unpredictable trade stance. The Dow Jones rose 88.14 points (0.20%) to 44,459.65, the S&P 500 added 8.81 points (0.14%) to 6,268.56, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 54.80 points (0.27%) to a record 20,640.33—its seventh record close since June 27.

Trading volume remained light at 15.43 billion shares, below the 20-day average of 17.62 billion. Communication services led gains among S&P sectors, up 0.7%, boosted by Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. In contrast, the energy sector dropped 1.2% as crude oil prices fell 2.2% following Trump’s threat of tariffs on Russian oil buyers.

Crypto-related stocks advanced as Bitcoin crossed the $120,000 mark. Coinbase rose 1.8%, while MicroStrategy surged 3.8%. Investor focus now shifts to Tuesday’s consumer price index, expected to show a June inflation uptick, and Wednesday’s producer and import price data. The second-quarter earnings season begins Tuesday, led by major Wall Street banks.

Meanwhile, Waters Corp plunged 13.8% after announcing a $17.5 billion merger with Becton Dickinson’s biosciences unit, marking one of the largest lab equipment deals in recent years.