…Earnings season heats up. Companies affected by trade war. Farmers get $12 billion bailout. It’s hot outside. Financial Review by Sinclair Noe for 07-24-2018 DOW + 197 = 25,241 SPX + 13 = 2820 NAS – 1 = 7840 RUT – 18 = 1680 10 Y – .02 = 2.95% OIL + .87 = 68.76 GOLD + .10 = 1225.10     The S&P 500 index rose to its highest since early February, and to within 2 percent of its late-January record. The Nasdaq hit a new record high. Alphabet jumped over 3.8% following a very strong earnings report that beat both top and bottom line estimates. After accounting for record EU antitrust fine, Alphabet earnings beat expectations by more than $2 a share. A big beat for Biogen; earnings were up in the second quarter and sales climbed 9%. That’s in part thanks to strong demand for spinal atrophy treatment Spinraza, one of the world’s most expensive drugs. A single dose costs upwards of $125,000. Biogen says 20% more patients in the US are now using the drug. AT&T added a net 46,000 postpaid mobile phone subscribers in the second quarter, beating Wall Street estimates. On an adjusted basis, the company earned 91 cents per share. Analysts had expected adjusted earnings per share of 85 cents. Total operating revenue fell about 2 percent, missing estimates. Shares gained 2%. But the big news for AT&T is that they won court approval last month to close its $85 billion acquisition of ...