U.S. stock indexes posted modest losses on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as investors held back from major moves ahead of the upcoming second-quarter earnings reports from Big Tech — the leading U.S. technology conglomerates.
Markets Tread Cautiously
With Wall Street bracing for the start of the Big Tech earnings season, major indexes failed to sustain gains and ended the session slightly in the red. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped marginally by 0.01% to close at 52,219 points. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.57% to 25,690, while the broader S&P 500 declined 0.13% to 7,499.
Bond Yields Rise Amid Geopolitical Tensions
In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.663%, and the 2-year yield climbed to 4.306%.
Iran Conflict Escalates Global Concerns
Mounting tensions between Tehran and Washington — marked by daily strikes and threats — are fueling investor anxiety not only in the U.S. but worldwide. The World Bank has issued a stark warning: without an immediate resolution to the conflict in Iran, the global economy faces even more severe headwinds. Among its projections for 2026, the Bank forecasts global inflation at 4.5% and GDP growth slowing to just 1.3%, down from 2.9% in 2025.