U.S. stock futures little changed as investors ponder the Fed's next move
U.S. stock-index futures were little changed on Sunday after a quiet week on Wall Street, as investors await hints from the Fed concerning the outlook for interest rates.
Market News
Stock Futures to Begin Trading Ahead of Retail Earnings
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the week down 0.6% on Friday, snapping a two-week winning streak.
S&P500: Big Changes Spark A Bullish Outlier (Technical Analysis)
The S&P 500 (SPY) has delivered extraordinary 2026 earnings growth, with Q2 EPS up 50.8% and technicals remaining ultra-bullish. Much of the EPS beat stems from non-operating investment gains, while real growth is driven by AI-related CapEx.
A historic shortage is squeezing an American dinner staple and relief could be years away
Tyson Foods closes beef facilities as America's cattle herd hits a 75-year low, driven by persistent drought that forced ranchers to sell early.
Red Cat: Big Order Promises Intact
Red Cat Holdings maintains a bullish outlook despite mixed Q2'26 results and market hesitancy. The drone company reaffirmed FY guidance of $150–$180M revenue, but reaching this target requires a significant ramp in 2H sales. The Dept. of War is long overdue to place major drone orders while Red Cat has built a large manufacturing base to support a pipeline topping $1 billion.
Volatility Trends in NDX Options & Relationship to SPX
Always keep an eye on options even if you don't use them, says Kevin Davitt of @nasdaq. He turns to index data tied to straddles and volatility to help explain why bullish activity in options is vastly outweighing downside risks in the current market environment.
Fed's Internal Rate Debate Faces New Scrutiny
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting will offer a closer look at the debate that produced three dissents in favor of a quarter-point rate increase, an unusually visible split as policymakers contend with elevated inflation and mixed economic data. Joining Joe Mathieu and Carol Massar on Bloomberg This Weekend, BMO Capital Markets Senior Economist Jennifer Lee expects the Fed to remain patient, with the firm forecasting no rate move until late 2027, when it expects the central bank to begin cutting.
Beef Prices Stay High as US Cattle Supply Shrinks
Tyson Foods is cutting beef-processing capacity as the US cattle herd nears a five-decade low driving up livestock costs and contributing to persistent losses in beef business. Bloomberg News Agriculture Reporter Ilena Peng is on Bloomberg This Weekend and explains to hosts Joe Mathieu and Carol Massar that consumers are also pushing back against record prices, but meaningful relief may take years as the herd rebuilds, while a planned resumption of some cattle imports from Mexico could provide limited near-term help.
The S&P 500 May Be Heading For A Major Volatility Shift This Week
Implied volatility, as measured by the VIX, has dropped to multi-year lows amid a tightly range-bound S&P 500. Options-gamma positioning and dealer hedging flows have suppressed both realized and implied volatility, but this may shift post-options expirations.
Most Gulf bourses gain despite stalled Iran talks, Hormuz disruption
Most Gulf stock markets rose on Sunday despite ongoing regional uncertainty, with peace talks showing no signs of progress and oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz yet to fully resume.
Inflation Scare Takes A Breather
U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record highs as a second straight month of encouraging CPI and PPI data eased Fed-hike fears, despite higher oil prices and softer retail sales. The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, while the Nasdaq 100 rose 1.1% as AI infrastructure winners led again. Energy surged nearly 8%, while Consumer Discretionary lagged on consumer-spending concerns. REITs were mixed as higher long-term yields offset a strong conclusion to earnings season. The Equity REIT Index gained 0.4%, led by Data Center and Cell Tower REITs.
Bill Ackman Is Buying These 4 Stocks: I Ranked Their Moats
Bill Ackman is accumulating positions in Netflix, Visa, Mastercard, and S&P Global, targeting wide-moat businesses at compressed valuations. Pershing Square views NFLX as having won the streaming wars, with a robust global subscriber base and improving free cash flow; expected EPS compounding is ~19% annually. V and MA are described as financial 'toll roads' with unmatched network effects, high margins, and double-digit EPS growth, both rated with a 10/10 moat score.
Wall Street Week Ahead
Wall Street will get a series of fresh reads on the health of the U.S. consumer next week, with earnings from Walmart, Target, and Home Depot taking center stage during a relatively quiet stretch for economic data.
German companies cut US investment to three-year low, data show
German companies slashed investments in the United States to a three-year low in the first half of 2026, as Trump administration policies fed uncertainty between the transatlantic trading partners.
Financial Institutions: Still A Cautious Buy With Improved Outlook
Financial Institutions, Inc. remains a Buy, supported by improved profitability, stronger capital ratios, and positive FY 2026 guidance revisions. FISI's net interest margin rose to 3.70% in Q2 2026, driven by lower funding costs and anticipated higher-yielding loan replacements. Asset quality is stable but requires monitoring, particularly in nonperforming loans and consumer indirect auto loan exposure.
Stock-Picking Funds Are Performing as Poorly as Ever
Just 13% of U.S. large-cap funds have outperformed indexes over the past decade, new data show.
Big Manufacturers Find New Demand in Equipping AI Data Centers
Companies such as Caterpillar and Cummins are pivoting to feed a booming market for once-prosaic power equipment.
AI's Laser Shortage: My Favorite Bottleneck To Buy
The optical industry's two largest laser chip suppliers confirmed this week that laser chips are facing a severe, structural supply crunch complicated by rising demand for optical solutions in AI. The demand for laser chips is so elevated that large customers are rushing to other fringe players that can urgently provide them with laser chips that are needed for AI.
The 1-Minute Market Report, August 15, 2026
In a slow week for the market, there were pockets of strength in Energy and Cyclicals. The S&P 500 reached a record high on Thursday, the 27th this year.
AI inflation is putting even more pressure on the Fed. Could higher interest rates be next?
One thing the Federal Reserve could always count on to keep inflation low was falling prices for computers, cell phones and other high-tech stuff — but not anymore.
