1.

Investors are bracing for a volatile day on Wall Street as stock futures drop and the monthly U. S. jobs report looms. President Trump has signed an executive order that modifies tariffs on multiple countries, with updated duties ranging from 10% to 41%. While he has expressed openness to other offers, it may be too late for other nations to avoid tariffs set to go into effect next week. The market will be closely monitoring developments and you can follow live updates here.

2.

The latest jobs report for July is set to be released today at 8:30 a. m. ET, and analysts are predicting a significant slowdown in hiring. The Dow Jones consensus estimate is for only 100,000 new jobs, the smallest gain since October 2024. This comes after a 147,000 increase in June and an average of 130,000 jobs per month in the first half of the year. While a weaker jobs market may cause concern, it may not necessarily prompt action from the Federal Reserve, which opted to keep interest rates steady in its recent meeting.

3.

The concept of humans forming relationships with artificial intelligence is no longer just science fiction. CNBC’s Salvador Rodriguez has been investigating the growing trend of people forming strong bonds with AI bots, whether romantic or platonic. While this may be a reflection of AI’s increasing presence in daily life and the growing issue of loneliness, it also raises ethical and safety concerns.

4.

Investors are digesting earnings reports from major tech companies, with Apple and Amazon in the spotlight. Apple beat expectations for both profit and revenue, with CEO Tim Cook citing potential tariffs as a contributing factor to increased sales. On the other hand, Amazon’s outlook for the current quarter fell short of expectations, despite exceeding estimates for the previous three months.

5.

Southwest Airlines is making a major change to its business model by introducing seat assignments for the first time. While this may be a relief for some passengers, it comes at a cost. The price of a seat will vary depending on factors such as route, demand, and type of seat, potentially adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of a family vacation. Southwest executives are hopeful that this and other changes will lead to increased profits, similar to other airlines that have implemented seating fees.