Market Open: Stocks Higher After Weak Jobs Report, Lyft & Airbnb Rise After Earnings 8-7-2026

Summary

Stocks opened higher after a much weaker-than-expected July jobs report. Sarah Malik, chief investment strategist, saw the data as opening the door for the Fed to hold rates steady in September, which she views as positive for equities, though Middle East tensions remain a risk. Any geopolitical improvement could spark the next leg up for markets. Among individual movers, Lyft and Airbnb gained on earnings, while Under Armour fell on a weak sales forecast.

• US stocks opened higher after July jobs report showed a surprising loss of 23,000 jobs versus an expected gain.
• Sarah Malik believes the weak jobs data and prior soft CPI make a September Fed rate hike unlikely, a positive for markets.
• She notes Middle East war overhang as a risk; any positive movement there could trigger the next leg up.
• Lyft shares rose over 1% despite a profit miss, as revenue exceeded expectations.
• Airbnb shares surged about 7% after beating both top- and bottom-line estimates.
• Under Armour fell over 6% after guiding for a steeper annual sales decline than expected.