The market was closed Friday for the 250th anniversary of American independence, but investors still had plenty to digest from a surprising week.

Blue chip stocks finally came alive as companies like Apple, McDonald’s, Walmart, and Johnson & Johnson gained ground. Technology and memory chip stocks struggled, while the Dow extended its winning streak to four consecutive weeks. Despite the rotation, all three major indexes finished the week higher.

James breaks down the June jobs report, the drop in the unemployment rate, changing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rates, falling oil prices, Bitcoin trading near $60,000, and why strong corporate earnings could continue supporting the market.

The episode also explains why falling technology stock prices may create long term opportunities, why share prices can behave like a voting machine in the short term but a weighing machine over time, and why consistently investing in the S&P 500 may be the most reliable path for the average investor.

Quote of the Day: “Everyman is my superior that I may learn from him or her”.Hosted by James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC®, and Brandon West, CPA, co-owners of West & Walters Tax and Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and tax firm based in Carlsbad, California. Our goal is to share market insights, investing tips, tax strategies, and straightforward financial education to help viewers make smarter financial decisions. All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.