Markets are being driven by strong AI investment, cloud growth and improving earnings as companies continue expanding digital infrastructure. Plus, defense spending is accelerating across Europe, lifting demand for aerospace and security while digital transformation creates new opportunities in emerging markets. Later, investors weigh ETF driven volatility, geopolitical tensions and higher energy prices as they look beyond Big Tech for the next phase of market leadership.<br><br>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AI leadership broadens as defense and markets evolve 7/31/26

Morning Call

What made you confident that you could do something that hadn't been done before? I have no fear of failure. Trailblazing women changing the game. One of my favorite pieces of advice, think about what your boss's boss needs. Leadership can look in many, many different forms. It really does come down to just trusting yourself. Life is short and you just gotta think big to accomplish big things. Julia Boorstin hosts CNBC Changemakers and Power Players. New episodes every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.

The Chip Trade roars back. I'm Morgan Brennan and this is your Morning Call. Good Friday morning. Let's get a check on U.S. stock futures, which are in the green. This is following yesterday's sharp rebound of the Nasdaq breaking a six-day losing streak. All three indices are seeing their best day in just over a month yesterday.

You can see those gains are poised here to continue pre-market. S&P is poised to open up about 23 points, Dow 220 points. NASDAQ, the big mover to the upside this morning, poised to open higher to the tune of 235 points. Keep in mind, mixed picture for the week, but all of the major averages are poised for losses for the month of July. Because, yes, we are at the end of July. The Dow is on pace to break a three-month winning streak.

It's just about flat right now, slightly lower. NASDAQ, though, that's looking at second straight month of losses. The NASDAQ 100 is facing its worst monthly performance since March of last year, on pace for losses right now of 7% for the month of July. Two big stock stories today, though, and two very different stock moves. Apple and Amazon on the back of earnings.

AI leadership broadens as defense and markets evolve 7/31/26

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

AI leadership broadens as defense and markets evolve 7/31/26

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.