📊 Alain’s Holdings — July 27, 2026
Symbol	Name	Price	Change	Change %
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	679.31	+0.17	+0.03%
QQQ	Invesco QQQ Trust	682.12	-2.11	-0.31%
XIU.TO	iShares S&P/TSX 60 ETF	53.15	+0.41	+0.78%

Markets began one of the busiest weeks of the quarter with a mixed performance as investors balanced falling oil prices against renewed pressure on AI-related technology stocks.

Closing Performance

• 🟢 Dow Jones: +0.5%
• ➖ S&P 500: Little changed
• 🔴 Nasdaq: -0.2%

The week ahead could prove pivotal, with earnings from Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon, along with Wednesday’s Federal Reserve interest rate decision.

AI Trade Faces Another Test

Technology stocks remained under pressure after investors continued questioning whether massive AI investments will generate sufficient returns.

Nvidia fell more than 4%, extending last week’s weakness as investors reassessed valuations across the semiconductor sector.

ASML dropped over 5% after reports that a Chinese state-backed company has begun mass-producing a critical chipmaking tool, raising fresh concerns about long-term competition in the semiconductor industry.

The market continues to ask the same question that emerged after Alphabet’s earnings:

When will AI spending translate into sustainable profits?

Oil Prices Plunge

One of Monday’s biggest stories came from the energy market.

Signs that the fighting between the United States and Iran has paused boosted hopes that diplomatic negotiations could resume.

As geopolitical tensions eased, Brent crude oil fell more than 9%, slipping below US$88 per barrel.

Lower energy prices could help ease inflation pressures, an encouraging development for consumers and policymakers alike.

Federal Reserve in Focus

Investors are now turning their attention to Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting.

Markets widely expect the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged, but uncertainty remains unusually high as policymakers continue weighing inflation risks against signs of slowing economic momentum.

Every word of Chair Jerome Powell’s statement will be closely scrutinized for clues about the path of future interest rates.

Earnings Week Begins

This week features one of the most important earnings calendars of the year.

Investors will hear from:

• Microsoft
• Meta Platforms
• Apple
• Amazon

More than headline earnings, Wall Street will focus on:

• AI monetization
• Capital spending (CapEx)
• Free cash flow
• Cloud growth
• Profitability of AI investments

Following last week’s disappointing reaction to Alphabet and Tesla, investors are demanding evidence that AI spending is creating measurable financial returns.

Bottom Line

Monday reflected a market searching for direction.

Falling oil prices provided relief and improved the inflation outlook, but continued weakness in chip stocks reminded investors that enthusiasm for AI is no longer enough.

This week’s earnings reports and the Federal Reserve meeting are likely to determine whether markets regain momentum or extend last week’s volatility.