01 Stock Market
As of Aug 27, U.S. stock index futures performed as follows: Dow contracts were little changed, dipping about 0.01%, while S&P 500 futures firmed 0.42% and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.93%, reflecting renewed enthusiasm for semiconductor and cloud-software names. Traders positioned for a tech-led open after a wave of upbeat corporate updates, even as investors weighed mixed moves in other cyclical pockets.
Notable Stock Movers: Semiconductor bellwether NVDA up 6.22% at $222.70 after projecting robust AI-driven sales growth. Leverage fund SOXL up 7.15% at $124.94 mirrored the rally across chip makers. Cloud leader CRM up 10.22% at $226.63 surged on a stronger profit outlook and deepened AI partnerships. In contrast, megacap handset maker AAPL down 0.92% at $310.56 eased as investors digested mixed hardware launch chatter. ETF heavyweight QQQ up 0.90% at $717.78 signaled broader strength across growth stocks, while semiconductor supplier MRVL up 3.95% at $254.80 benefited from guidance tied to data-center demand.
Sector Pulse: Enthusiasm around artificial-intelligence hardware and cybersecurity lifted several leveraged and thematic vehicles, with NVDL up 12.12% and TQQQ up 2.64%. Memory specialist MU up 3.91% and contract chip giant TSM up 1.27% added to tailwinds for the Philadelphia SOX complex. Retail names painted a mixed picture: discount chain sentiment improved after guidance hikes, yet discretionary tech retailers showed cautious price action, underscoring continued divergence between AI beneficiaries and consumer-facing stocks.
02 Other Markets
• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 0.08%, to 4.66%.
• U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.06% to 99.20.
• WTI crude oil futures rose 0.27% to 82.45 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures fell 0.50 USD/ounce to 4 652.80 USD/ounce.
03 Key News
1. Moderna launched a private placement of up to $2.3 billion in convertible senior notes, targeting oncology expansion. The unsecured 2032 notes give initial buyers an additional $300 million option, with proceeds slated for capped-call transactions, pipeline investments, and debt repayment. Shares eased after the sizable capital raise signaled near-term dilution.
2. Best Buy lifted full-year revenue and earnings targets, banking on AI-driven hardware upgrades. Management now sees sales of $42.3 billion–$42.8 billion and adjusted EPS of $6.70–$6.90, citing demand for next-generation PCs and smartphones plus growth in advertising and marketplace services.
3. Dollar General increased its 2026 same-store-sales outlook to 2.5%–2.9% amid resilient budget shopping trends. Second-quarter comps rose 3.5% as traffic and average basket size improved, sending the discount chain’s pre-market shares higher.
4. Dollar Tree exceeded second-quarter revenue estimates and boosted annual profit guidance. Affordable essentials drove a 7% sales rise to $4.89 billion; management now anticipates full-year EPS of $7.70–$8.05, aided by tariff-related refunds.
5. Salesforce posted an 11% revenue jump and expanded its AI partnership with Anthropic. Quarterly sales reached $11.35 billion, while annual recurring revenue for AI and data products neared $4 billion, underpinning renewed confidence in second-half acceleration.
6. NVIDIA is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire open-source AI platform Hugging Face for around $13 billion. The move would consolidate NVIDIA’s position at the core of both proprietary and open AI ecosystems, leveraging its dominance in GPU computing.
7. Baozun returned to profitability as second-quarter revenue rose 7.5% to RMB 2.74 billion. Operating margin improved to 2.3%, supported by brand-management growth and early AI automation, prompting management to raise its 2028 earnings target.
8. Lotus Technology narrowed its half-year operating loss by 63% and integrated its U.K. unit under “One Lotus.” Revenue grew 23% to $268 million, aided by new hybrid SUV deliveries and cost controls, while Geely provided $128 million of additional funding.
9. Bilibili’s second-quarter net profit jumped 55% as advertising sales accelerated. Gross margin improved to 37.2%, and management highlighted rising daily user engagement and ongoing share repurchases to support shareholder returns.
10. Apple scheduled an early-September product event, fueling speculation about a foldable iPhone debut. Industry analysts anticipate the unveiling of iPhone 18 Pro models and potential new form factors, marking the first keynote under CEO John Ternus and setting the stage for the critical holiday cycle.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.
