On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, MSCI's global equities index rose following a softer-than-expected US inflation report and continued strong earnings from major companies, even as tensions between the US and Iran intensified.

The US Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand fell by 0.3% in June, contrary to forecasts predicting no change. This decline, alongside consumer price data released the previous day, indicated that inflation was easing before the recent escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Despite the inflation data supporting stock gains, Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Jersey, noted that investors appeared to be overlooking concerns about Iran and the fact that June's inflation figures do not account for recent rises in oil prices. He stated, "We're in a market phase where bad news doesn't seem to hurt the market and bad news that isn't quite as bad as we thought it would be really helps the market."

Meanwhile, the US launched a new series of strikes targeting Iran's coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites after reinstating a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran responded by threatening to cut off additional regional energy exports.

Corporate earnings also bolstered market sentiment. Morgan Stanley reported an increase in second-quarter profits driven by strong mergers and acquisitions activity.

By 1545 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had risen 172.89 points (0.33%) to 52,681.16, the S&P 500 increased by 12.74 points (0.17%) to 7,556.33, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 86.70 points (0.33%) to 26,193.95. Treasury yields fell, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury note on track for its first consecutive daily decline in nearly three weeks, reflecting easing price pressures for the second straight day.

Sources

CNA Latest News