Capital market news today

Here are some of the top capital market news stories from around the world today:

Global Markets

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both rose to record highs yesterday, driven by strong earnings reports and optimism about the US economy. (Source: CNBC)
• The European Central Bank (ECB) kept interest rates unchanged at its policy meeting yesterday, but hinted at potential rate cuts in the future. (Source: Reuters)
• Asian markets were mixed today, with the Nikkei 225 in Japan falling 0.2% and the Shanghai Composite in China rising 0.3%. (Source: Bloomberg)

Company News

• Tesla (TSLA) shares rose 4.5% after the company reported a surprise profit in its latest quarterly earnings report. (Source: The Verge)
• Amazon (AMZN) announced a new line of affordable smart home devices, including a $25 smart plug and a $50 smart speaker. (Source: CNET)
• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported a 14.5% increase in quarterly earnings, driven by strong sales of its pharmaceuticals and medical devices. (Source: CNBC)

Economic News

• The US Commerce Department reported that the country's trade deficit widened to $55.5 billion in June, driven by a surge in imports. (Source: The Wall Street Journal)
• The European Union's statistics agency reported that the region's economy grew at a 1.2% annual rate in the second quarter, slightly slower than expected. (Source: Reuters)
• The Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at its policy meeting yesterday, but warned that the UK economy is facing significant risks from Brexit and global trade tensions. (Source: The Financial Times)

Regulatory News

• The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it has charged a former investment banker with insider trading. (Source: The New York Times)
• The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) warned that the region's financial markets are at risk of being disrupted by the use of cryptocurrencies. (Source: Bloomberg)
• The Chinese government announced plans to relax restrictions on foreign investment in its financial markets, in an effort to attract more foreign capital. (Source: The South China Morning Post)