CheckMan Stock Market Overview

The Iran war continues to impact the gold purchases and sales of central banks and state entities, destabilizing one of the pillars of the multi-year gold rally.On Thursday, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) announced that they had suspended selling gold in the second quarter of 2026. The fund's gold reserves totaled 178.1 tons as of the end of June, with the yellow metal representing a 31.4% share of SOFAZ's investment portfolio.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) continues to attract investor capital, with net inflows accelerating over the past month. This is happening as many advisors and investors are finally beginning to appreciate the merits of an equal-weight strategy.

The U.S. energy sector has outperformed in 2026, driven primarily by geopolitical-related supply fears, elevated oil prices, and rising demand from the AI infrastructure buildout. While broad energy funds have also surged, investors can potentially enhance exposure by targeting specific segments of the energy market.

ASML Holding N.V. delivered Q2 '26 earnings and revenue last week that came in significantly above expectations, driven by surging AI-related semiconductor demand. ASML raised its 2026 revenue outlook to €43–45 billion, implying up to 38% year-over-year growth and supporting my Strong Buy rating. Q2 saw strong revenue growth, robust gross and operating margin expansion, and a sharp rebound in free cash flow, fueled by higher lithography machine sales and pricing power.

Large-cap value funds VEIPX, NOIEX, FSTKX may offer refuge as volatility persists amid inflation, oil price and rate concerns.

Honeywell Technologies beats Q2 estimates as automation strength, higher orders and organic sales growth support results and an improved 2026 outlook.

TSCO misses second-quarter estimates as softer discretionary demand weigh on sales, prompting it to lower its 2026 outlook.

AMD is betting the future of AI inference won't rely on a single chip. A new Cerebras pact reflects a shift toward "disaggregated inference.

UFP Technologies' Growth Prospects Are Great Enough To Necessitate An Upgrade

BEDMINSTER, N.J., July 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) and Peapack Private Bank & Trust are pleased to announce the appointment of Leonard Carraturo as Senior Managing Director, Commercial Private Banker. Carraturo joins Peapack Private's experienced commercial banking team where he will deliver customized lending and banking solutions while partnering closely with clients to support growth initiatives, acquisitions, capital investments, treasury management needs, and long-term financial objectives through the Bank's relationship-driven approach.