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Happy start to a short week. Stocks are up slightly, Greg Abel is a US citizen, and America is gearing up for a hot vacation with air conditioning.
Here are five important things investors need to know to start their trading day.
1. Comcast Plot Spinoff
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA – 07/18/2019: Comcast sign logo on the wall of the Universal Studios building. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket, Getty Images)
Roberto Machado Noah | Light Rocket | Getty Images
Spin-offs: Not just for industry. comcast plans to spin off its NBCUniversal and Sky media operations into a new publicly traded company separate from its traditional cable operations, sending the media and communications conglomerate’s stock price soaring.
The company said the spinoff is expected to be completed within a year and will result in Comcast shareholders owning stock in both Comcast and NBCUniversal.
2. Weak Armistice Agreement
An oil tanker and cargo ship remain anchored off the coast of Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman, on June 21, 2026.
Elke Scoliers | Getty Images
The United States and Iran agreed on Sunday to suspend hostilities and allow commercial ships to freely pass through the Strait of Hormuz after military exchanges threatened to derail negotiations.
The United States struck Iranian military targets over the weekend in retaliation for Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump then threatened to annihilate Iran in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, saying, “U.S. aircraft just attacked Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar facilities in violation of the ceasefire agreement!”
Both U.S. and global oil prices started the week higher as traders waited to see if the ceasefire would hold.
3. Exports heat up China’s economy
A cargo ship loaded with containers departs from Qingdao Port in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, on December 4, 2025.
Cost Photo | Null Photo | Getty Images
According to the study: China’s economy is heating up due to increased exports to the US. China Beige Book, an independent research organization that tracks Chinese companies, said on Monday that “manufacturing has shown the clearest improvement. Retail sales have recovered well.”
The survey, which covered 1,321 businesses from June 1 to 22, found that luxury goods sales also rose, but tourism-related spending fell, Anique Bao and Evelyn Chen write.
“The second quarter is ending on a better note than it started, but this performance will need to be repeated in July and August to have a legitimate cause to celebrate,” the report said.
4. Return Kohl’s to retail glory
July 22, 2025 at a Kohl’s store in Sun Valley, California.
Alisha Jusevich | Bloomberg | Getty Images
can kohls Back on track? CEO Michael Bender told CNBC’s Raya Neelakandan that it’s important to know your customers and “make sure you choose your lane.” Over the past five years, Kohl’s stock has lost nearly 70% of its value as the retailer reported weak sales.
Bender said while there are signs of recovery, this is just the first step on a long road to a “neighborhood” of growth.
5. It’s not a cottage industry
Hudson Williams and Connor Story star in HBO Max’s “Heated Rivals.”
Provided by: Sabrina Lantos | HBO Max
The popular ice hockey romance “Rivals” is driving a boom in interest in movies, shows and books that center on love stories between men, with women leading the ratings, CNBC’s Alex Harring reports.
HBO, the show’s U.S. streaming platform, said about two-thirds of the series’ viewers were women, while Nielsen data showed that women were in the majority for several related titles.
daily dividend
Here’s what we’re monitoring this week:
Tuesday: May job openings and turnover data. April home price data. Consumer confidence data for June. Nike and Constellation Brands Revenue (After Bell)
Wednesday: June ADP employment statistics
Thursday: June non-farm payrolls report
Friday: Market closed for Independence Day
—CNBC’s Azhar Shukri, Aneek Bao, Evelyn Chen, Garrett Downs, Elsa Oren, Raya Neelakandan and Alex Harring contributed to this report.
Zoe Pearce edited this version.
