Two fires burned for six consecutive days, 14,000 people were evacuated urgently, and 1.7 trillion institutional funds fled the stock market.

Firefighters worked to control wildfires raging in France and Spain this past Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Two fires have been burning for six days south of the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France, forcing the evacuation of about 14,000 people, including many who were preparing to holiday in campsites.

In Spain, firefighters supported by the Armed Forces Emergency Rescue Team are working to extinguish more than 30 forest fires across the country. In Portugal, the pilot of a firefighting plane died when it crashed on Friday.

360 people died from the heat between July 10 and 15, according to Spain's Carlos III Institute, which records temperature-related deaths every day. That compares with 27 temperature-related deaths in the previous six days.

In terms of the stock market, although U.S. stocks rose sharply last Friday, according to the Wall Street Journal, based on an analysis of public order flow data as of July 5, JPMorgan Chase estimates that institutional investors have US$258 billion has been withdrawn from the stock market, equivalent to more than 1.7 trillion RMB.

Wildfires rage across Europe

Firefighters struggled to control wildfires raging across France and Spain on Sunday. Just south of the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France, two fires have been burning for six days, destroying pine forests and forcing the evacuation of about 14,000 people, including many preparing to holiday in campsites.

In Spain, firefighters supported by the Armed Forces Emergency Rescue Team are working to extinguish more than 30 forest fires across the country. Spain's defense ministry said "most" of its firefighting aircraft have been deployed. Many areas are rugged and mountainous terrain, making access difficult for ground crews.

Dry conditions in the Iberian Peninsula make it particularly vulnerable to wildfires, some started by lightning, some accidental, and even some after large amounts of hot air blew out of Africa last week caused.

In Portugal, the pilot of a firefighting plane died when it crashed on Friday. In Spain, the second heat wave of the summer has kept temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas, often reaching peaks of 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit).

360 people died from the heat between July 10 and 15, according to Spain's Carlos III Institute, which records temperature-related deaths every day. That compares with 27 temperature-related deaths in the previous six days.

In France, a fire broke out in La Teste-de-Buch near the Atlantic coast, forcing 10,000 people to flee the popular seaside resort of Arcachon. The Gironde regional government said on Sunday that "the situation remains unfavorable" as gusty winds combined with hot and dry weather triggered more fire outbreaks overnight. This has led to a protracted fight to protect the campground.

A second fire broke out near the town of Landillas, south of Bordeaux's vineyard valley, and authorities were forced to evacuate 4,100 people last week, including about 1,900 on Saturday. Authorities said one side had been controlled by dumping of white sand along a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) stretch of the road. The other flank, however, remained unchecked.

Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the region, with Monday expected to be the hottest day of extreme weather in July.

Some of Spain's most worrying fires are concentrated in the western regions of Extremadura and Castile and Leon. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marasca announced a joint command that will take over coordinating efforts to combat active fires in neighboring areas. Firefighters were unable to stop a fire near the city of Cáceres that threatened the Monferrague National Park and prevented 200 people from returning to their homes. Another fire near the city of Malaga in southern Spain forced the evacuation of another 2,500 people.

The largest reservoir in the United States has dried up

The situation in the United States is not optimistic either. Wildfire seasons are getting longer, blazes are more intense, scorching temperatures are breaking records, and lakes are shrinking. A megadrought in the American West is worsened by climate change, and the Colorado River, the nation's largest reservoir, has dried up.

The Associated Press writes: Low tide at Lake Mead National Recreation Area has revealed countless dried fish, as well as forgotten and stranded boats. Houseboats, sailboats and motorboats were stranded, creating a surreal scene in an otherwise rugged desert landscape. The buoys that once marked the no-boat zone sit in the dirt, not a drop of water anywhere in sight. Even a sunken World War II-era ship that once patrolled the lake surfaced from the low tide.

The mighty Colorado River that separates Nevada from Arizona once flowed beneath the walls of Black Canyon until the Hoover Dam was erected in 1935 for irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power. The reservoir is now below 30% of capacity. Since reaching high water in 1983, its water level has dropped 170 feet (52 meters), leaving a bright white deposit along the brown canyon walls.

Most of the boat ramps have been closed and the docks moved into deeper water. A sign marking the 2002 water level uncannily stands above a road that descends to a boat slip in the distance.

Falling water levels have consequences not only for cities that rely on future water sources, but also for boaters who must navigate shallow waters and avoid islands and sandbars lurking just below the surface.

1.7 trillion institutional funds fled the stock market

Extreme weather and complex political and economic situations are testing investors in this market all the time.

JPMorgan estimates that institutional investors have withdrawn $258 billion from the stock market this year, based on an analysis of public order flow data through July 5. BlackRock Inc., the world's largest asset manager, recently warned investors not to try to "buy the dip" or buy stocks that are on sale.

After three years of double-digit gains, the market will face a scarred 2022. Decades of high inflation are hurting businesses and households, and investors worry the Fed's move to raise interest rates will only tip the U.S. into recession. The S&P 500 recently ended its worst first half in more than 50 years.

Many people are growing concerned when checking their 401(k)s. Some people sell their stocks at a loss and put their money in cash. Others can only watch as their portfolio assets dwindle.

But some amateur investors saw an opportunity, according to the Wall Street Journal. Morgan Stanley, which owns E*Trade, saw its number of retail trading clients increase from 7.6 million at the end of March to 7.8 million at the end of June. They conduct an average of 880,000 transactions per day.

In March, individual investors bought a net $28 billion in U.S.-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds, the largest monthly amount recorded since Vanda Research began tracking data in 2014. Between April and June, that number slipped to an average of about $25 billion per month, although that's still well above pre-pandemic levels. For example, from April 2019 to June 2019, this number averaged $3 billion per month.

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