US stocks rise as investors look to close out strong month of gains

• US stocks traded higher early Monday as investors look to wrap up a strong month of gains.
• All three indices rose by at least 3% in July, amid cooling inflation and a strong earnings season.

US equities rose on Monday morning as investors looked to finish off a month of ample gains, driven by strong earnings and cooling inflation.

So far in July, the S&P 500 rose 3%, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 3.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which enjoyed a 13-day winning streak this month, gained 3.1%.

More earnings are coming this week, with tech giants Apple and Amazon set to publish results on Thursday.

Meanwhile, as Wall Street starts to gain more confidence in a soft landing for the economy, the Labor Department will release monthly payroll data on Friday.

Here's where US indexes stood shortly at the 9:30 a.m. ET opening bell on Monday:

• S&P 500: 4,587.08, up 0.11%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 35,476.94, up 0.05% (17.65 points)
• Nasdaq Composite: 14,355.12, up 0.27%

Here's what else is happening this morning:

• The stock market's fear gauge has dropped to a 42-month low. It's left Boaz Weinstein wondering why investors aren't more concerned.
• A boom in the secondary market for luxury watches has reverted to a two-year low amid the Fed's fight with inflation.
• The 60/40 portfolio is set for a comeback, as valuations point to improved outlooks.
• The inverted yield curve doesn't guarantee a recession, Ed Yardeni told Insider.

In commodities, bonds and crypto:

• West Texas Intermediate crude oil moved up 1.21% to $81.41 per barrel. Brent crude, oil's international benchmark, climbed 1.03% to $85.59.
• Gold edged up 0.08% to $1,959.63 per ounce.
• The yield on the 10-year Treasury declined 1 basis point to 3.959%.
• Bitcoin rose 0.49% to $29,460.82.