Major big tech companies driving the U.S. stock market are simultaneously announcing their second-quarter earnings. With global investors' attention focused on them, companies' scorecards and forward guidance are cited as key variables that will determine the direction of the recently volatile market.

■ Kicks Off with Tesla on the 23rd… Runs for Over a Week Until Apple on the 31st

Based on Korean time, Tesla opens the floodgates on the 23rd. Intel takes the baton on the 24th, and on the 30th, Microsoft and Meta will release their earnings side by side. Finally, on the 31st, Amazon and Apple will announce their results, wrapping up the big tech earnings season.

■ Key Points to Watch: 'AI CapEx, Cloud, and Guidance'

This earnings season, beyond simple revenue and net income, the key points to watch are ▲ capital expenditures driven by expanded artificial intelligence (AI) investment, ▲ the growth trajectory of cloud businesses, and ▲ forward earnings guidance. In particular, as AI competition intensifies, companies' strategies for large-scale investments and their ability to manage profitability become the market's evaluation criteria.

■ Volatile Market Conditions, Big Tech Earnings Serve as a 'Watershed'

Recently, the U.S. stock market has seen widening fluctuations due to various concerns, including geopolitical risks in the Middle East, interest rate outlook, and the burden of AI investment. Attention is focused on whether these big tech earnings will serve as a catalyst for improving investor sentiment or as a factor that further increases volatility.

The market expects that not only the earnings themselves but also future business outlook and executives' remarks will have a significant impact on stock prices. Some analyses suggest that due to the highly volatile market conditions, it is necessary to closely monitor the immediate market reaction following the earnings announcements.

[※ This article was written for the purpose of providing information that may serve as a reference for investment decisions, and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any specific stock. The final responsibility for investments lies with the investor.]