July 31 market wrap: Nasdaq gains as Amazon surges, Apple slides
The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.00% on July 31, 2026, versus 0.70% for the S&P 500 and 0.53% for the Dow. The VIX fell to 15.99 as Amazon jumped 15.32% and Apple dropped 7.35%.
YieldCove Desk
2 min read
S&P 500
7,489.72
+0.70%
Nasdaq Composite
25,373.85
+1.00%
Dow
52,485
+0.53%
Cboe VIX
15.99
−6.44%
A higher close with a sharp single-stock split
U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, July 31, 2026. The S&P 500 finished at 7,489.72, up 52.09 points, or 0.70%. The Nasdaq Composite gained 251.67 points, or 1.00%, to 25,373.85, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 277 points, or 0.53%, to 52,485. The official Cboe and Nasdaq closing feeds confirmed each level and its previous close.
| Market | Close | Daily move |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,489.72 | +0.70% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 25,373.85 | +1.00% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 52,485 | +0.53% |
| Cboe VIX | 15.99 | −6.44% |
Volatility fell as Treasury yields moved higher
The Cboe Volatility Index closed at 15.99, down 1.10 points, or 6.44%, from 17.09 on July 30. The U.S. Treasury’s official daily curve put the 2-year par yield at 4.28%, five basis points above 4.23%, and the 10-year at 4.75%, seven basis points above 4.68%. The combination describes a calmer broad-equity volatility gauge alongside higher government-bond yields; it does not imply that every stock’s options became less expensive.
Wheel lens
The VIX is an index-level measure, not a quote for an AMZN or AAPL option. Single-stock implied volatility can remain elevated around earnings even when the VIX falls. For educational comparison, rebuild the option quote in a broker and check expiry, strike, bid/ask width, open interest, collateral and assignment exposure.
Wheel watch: Amazon jumps while Apple falls
Amazon closed at $271.58, up $36.08, or 15.32%, from $235.50. Amazon’s SEC-filed second-quarter release reported $200.6 billion in net sales, up 20% year over year, and said AWS sales increased 37%. Those issuer-reported figures provide the verified earnings context for Friday’s large move without turning the close into an entry signal.
Apple moved in the opposite direction, closing at $308.91, down $24.52, or 7.35%, from $333.43. Apple’s SEC-filed fiscal third-quarter release reported $109.4 billion in revenue, up 16%, and diluted earnings per share of $2.02. The contrast with Amazon shows why broad-index direction and the VIX cannot replace company-specific event-risk checks.
What the close changes—and what it does not
Friday’s index gains, lower VIX, higher Treasury yields and two large earnings gaps are verified features of the session. They do not establish a favourable strike, premium or entry. Option prices remain per share, one standard contract represents 100 shares, and any educational wheel review still depends on current broker quotes and full collateral planning.
Sources
- [1]S&P 500 delayed closing quote — July 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [2]Nasdaq Composite closing quote — July 31, 2026 — Nasdaq · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [3]Dow Jones delayed closing quote (DJX) — July 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [4]Cboe VIX delayed closing quote — July 31, 2026 — Cboe Global Markets · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [5]Daily Treasury par yield curve rates — 2026 — U.S. Department of the Treasury · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [6]Official U.S. stock screener closing data — July 31, 2026 — Nasdaq · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [7]Amazon historical prices — July 29–31, 2026 — Nasdaq · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [8]Apple historical prices — July 29–31, 2026 — Nasdaq · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [9]Amazon second-quarter 2026 results — Amazon / SEC EDGAR · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
- [10]Apple fiscal 2026 third-quarter results — Apple / SEC EDGAR · Accessed 2026-07-31 · Tier 1
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Options involve risk and are not suitable for every investor. Do your own research before trading.
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