Alan Long

TradingKey - Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday showed that the U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) was flat month-on-month in July, coming in below market expectations of a 0.2% gain. Year-on-year, it rose 4.7%, marking a notable slowdown from 5.5% in June and below market forecasts of 4.9%, indicating that producer-side inflationary pressures in the U.S. are cooling.

TradingKey - On Thursday, August 13 (ET), futures on the three major U.S. stock indices rose slightly in pre-market trading as markets awaited the U.S. July Producer Price Index (PPI) and initial jobless claims data. In the previous session, mild CPI figures and AI earnings reports propelled a rally in U.S. stocks, bringing the S&P 500 Index close to a record high. However, ahead of the PPI release, investors remained cautious as they evaluated the balance among inflation, interest rates, and AI valuations.

TradingKey - Billionaire investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square revealed in its latest disclosure that the firm initiated a new position in Netflix (NFLX) in the second quarter, while also buying Visa (V), Mastercard (MA), S&P Global (SPGI), Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and Alcon (ALC), adding a total of six companies.

TradingKey - As of the Asian session on August 13, gold prices (XAUUSD) pulled back intraday after yesterday's CPI pushed them up near $4,450, with the latest price trading around $4,380. This indicates that the market remains cautious ahead of the PPI data release, as profit-taking by some investors has driven the pullback in gold prices.

TradingKey - Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday showed that the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% month-over-month in July, rebounding significantly from a 0.4% decline in June, and increased 3.4% year-over-year, down from 3.5% in June. Both figures were largely in line with market expectations, indicating that U.S. inflation continues to cool slowly, though the overall level remains well above the Federal Reserve's 2% long-term target.

TradingKey - On Wednesday (August 12) Eastern Time, futures on the three major US stock indexes rose slightly in pre-market trading as the market awaited the release of US July CPI data. Strong AI earnings reports boosted risk appetite in tech stocks, with CoreWeave, Super Micro Computer, and Lumentum surging in pre-market action, driving Nasdaq 100 futures to lead the gains. However, oil prices remained hovering at high levels, and energy inflation risks stemming from geopolitical tensions remained a primary concern for the market.

TradingKey - As of August 11, Eastern Time, CoreWeave (CRWV) reported its second-quarter financial results after the market close. Driven by revenue beating expectations, a narrower-than-expected loss, and an order backlog surpassing $100 billion, CRWV's shares surged over 15% at one point in after-hours trading.

TradingKey - SpaceX (SPCX) CEO Elon Musk recently stated that the artificial intelligence business is set to replace rocket launches and Starlink as the company's most important revenue source. In an internal meeting lasting approximately 30 minutes, Musk projected that SpaceX's AI revenue could sur

TradingKey - As of US pre-market trading on August 11, SpaceX (SPCX) last closed at $138.74, up 4.2% in the previous trading session. Since hitting a low of $104.83 on August 3, SPCX has rebounded by approximately 28% and reclaimed its IPO price of $135, showing a marked improvement in its short-term technical structure.

TradingKey - On August 11, international crude oil prices surged before retreating. Driven by uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations and supply risks in the Strait of Hormuz, WTI crude (USOIL) briefly rose above $84 during intraday trading, while Brent crude (UKOIL) reached a high of $90. However, as Pakistan signaled that the US and Iran were "close to reaching some kind of arrangement," the market renewed bets on an easing of tensions, and oil prices subsequently pulled back significantly from their intraday highs.

TradingKey - On Tuesday, August 11, Eastern Time, futures tied to the three major US stock indexes rose in pre-market trading as the market remained cautious ahead of the release of the US July CPI data. Oil prices continued to climb due to limited progress in negotiations regarding the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting inflation concerns. Meanwhile, Nvidia's AI financing plan and Intel's additional share offering led to mixed pre-market sentiment among tech stocks.

TradingKey - As of the European session on August 11, gold prices (XAUUSD) briefly topped $4,400 intraday, peaking at $4,435.2 to mark a new high since June 5. However, the gains narrowed significantly later, with gold pulling back to near $4,360. The recent sustained strength in gold has been primarily driven by market expectations of further Federal Reserve rate hikes weakening following a cooling U.S. labor market. Nonetheless, intraday gains in crude oil prices reignited inflation concerns, causing gold to face notable profit-taking above the $4,400 level.

TradingKey - As of August 10, Eastern Time, Rocket Lab (RKLB) released its second-quarter financial report after the market close. Although revenue reached a record high and its order backlog expanded further, the company reported a loss per share of 8 cents, higher than the expected 6 cents. Combined with uncertainty surrounding the timing of the Neutron rocket's maiden flight within the year, RKLB's after-hours stock price fell by more than 7% at one point.

TradingKey - As of pre-market on August 10 ET, Micron Technology (MU) was trading at $877.57, with its pre-market share price down nearly 1%. Wall Street institutions have recently shown divergence in their price forecasts for Micron; Mizuho Securities recently raised its price target for Micron to $1,375, while Citi lowered its target from $1,400 to $1,150.

TradingKey - On Monday, August 10, Eastern Time, the three major U.S. stock index futures were mixed in pre-market trading, with Nasdaq 100 futures leading the gains. The market has entered a wait-and-see mode following last week's strong rally, as U.S. CPI, PPI, and retail sales data for July are scheduled for release this week. Investors are focused on whether inflation will once again push up Federal Reserve rate hike expectations. Meanwhile, market sentiment remains cautious as oil prices rebound and Iran sets new conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

TradingKey - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 8:30 ET on August 12. Following an unexpected decrease of 23,000 in July non-farm payrolls and the market's significant downward revision of Federal Reserve rate hike expectations for September, this CPI reading will be key data in determining the Fed's next policy direction.

TradingKey - As of the Asian session on August 10, gold prices (XAUUSD) extended last week's upward trend following a sharp rally. Gold was recently trading near $4,345, up approximately 0.2% intraday. Last week’s weak U.S. July non-farm payrolls report pushed gold prices to a seven-week high, and the metal remains stable above $4,300. Market focus this week shifts to the upcoming CPI and PPI data, which will further determine whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in September and serve as key catalysts for gold's next directional phase.

TradingKey - In the upcoming week (August 10 to August 14), the global market focus will shift from employment back to inflation. The United States will release July Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), and retail sales data. Against the backdrop of significant divergence in expectations for a rate hike at the Federal Reserve's September meeting, these three data points may become key factors determining the next phase of movement for US Treasury yields, the US dollar, and US equities.

TradingKey - As of August 6, Eastern Time, Western Digital (WDC) shares plummeted 13% following the release of its latest earnings report. Although the company’s fourth fiscal quarter revenue, profit, and gross margin all achieved significant growth—benefiting from rising storage demand driven by AI data centers—the stock still experienced a pullback. The market has begun to reassess the sustainability and future growth potential of the AI storage rally.

TradingKey - Palantir (PLTR) shares surged recently following the release of its latest earnings report, with the stock price soaring nearly 30% on Tuesday. The company's latest quarterly results showed sustained expansion in demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), as both U.S. commercial and government businesses maintained rapid growth. Meanwhile, the company raised its full-year revenue guidance, prompting investors to further upgrade their expectations for PLTR's long-term growth prospects.