Stocks Retreat as Investors Grapple With Rising Rates and Oil Prices 

The benchmark indexes closed lower last week, snapping a multi-week winning streak. Despite a rally last Friday, stocks retreated in response to elevated Treasury yields, rising crude oil prices, mixed corporate earnings and weakness in key tech and mega-cap shares. Among the market sectors, only Health Care, Materials and Energy closed the week higher. Bonds experienced a sharp sell-off, particularly in long-term Treasuries, driven by growing fiscal deficit concerns, stubborn energy-driven inflation risks and heavy debt issuance. 

Trade Prices Retreat in July Despite Strong Year‑Over‑Year Gains 

U.S. import prices decreased 0.4% in July following a 0.3% decline in June. Lower prices for fuel imports more than offset higher prices for nonfuel imports in July. Despite the monthly decline, prices for U.S. imports increased 5.9% for the 12 months ended July 2026. Prices for U.S. exports decreased 1.3% in July after falling 0.7% the previous month. Over the past year, U.S. export prices increased 8.2%. 

Eye on the Week Ahead 

Most of the attention will be focused on the latest report on gross domestic product and on the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, an important measure of inflation.