According to Business Insider on July 18, Citadel Securities strategist Scott Rubner found that 9 of 10 key stock market indicators he tracked significantly improved over the past two weeks, signaling positive momentum in U.S. equities. Rubner noted that retail investors have resumed substantial net buying, with July showing zero net-selling days on Citadel's platform and average daily inflows reaching approximately 3.2 times the historical monthly average.
Rubner identified Q2 earnings as the primary near-term risk, with market consensus expecting earnings per share to grow 22.4% year-over-year—potentially marking a record post-recession recovery level if realized. Earnings-related volatility is expected to remain elevated throughout July and August.