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August 13, 2026 at 5:30 AM ET

Markets Recap for August 12, 2026

U.S. Inflation Holds Steady as Earnings Disappoint

What's in the markets today?

U.S. inflation data released Tuesday showed the annual rate holding firm at 3.4%, matching its previous reading and signaling price growth remains contained for now. Cisco Systems posted weaker results with an EPS of 0.81, falling short of estimates and highlighting pressure on legacy tech hardware makers. Coherent also reported a steep earnings miss, pointing to continued softness in industrial technology demand. The S&P 500 rose 0.26% as the latest macro and earnings data kept overall equity benchmarks on a tight trajectory. Meanwhile, WTI crude oil fell 1.42% on the day, bringing some relief on the input cost front for energy-dependent sectors.

Benchmark Moves

The S&P 500 rose 0.26% as US inflation data came in steady, keeping rate expectations in check and supporting equities. WTI crude oil fell 1.42%, with no clear new catalyst for the move based on the available data. Stable energy prices help shield US corporate margins, reinforcing the positive effect of muted inflation on stocks this week.

S&P 500
SPX
S&P 500
7,748.50
+20.30+0.26%
Nasdaq 100
NDX
Nasdaq 100
29,742.60
+217.13+0.74%
Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJI
Dow Jones Industrial Average
53,775.39
-22.00-0.04%
US Dollar Index
DXY
US Dollar Index
99.97
-0.01-0.01%
VIX
VIX
VIX
14.55
-0.73-4.78%

Market data as of Aug 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET.

Apple
AAPL
Apple
302.25
-2.66-0.87%
Microsoft
MSFT
Microsoft
492.43
-11.38-2.26%
NVIDIA
NVDA
NVIDIA
224.09
+6.59+3.03%
Amazon
AMZN
Amazon
267.28
-4.99-1.83%
Alphabet
GOOGL
Alphabet
343.54
-0.26-0.08%

Market data as of Aug 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET.

Commodities & Crypto

Detailed View →
Gold
GC
Gold
4,428.80
-38.70-0.87%
Silver
SI
Silver
64.69
-1.02-1.54%
WTI Crude Oil
CL
WTI Crude Oil
82.09
-1.18-1.42%
Natural Gas
NG
Natural Gas
2.80
-0.01-0.29%
Bitcoin
BTCUSDT
Bitcoin
63,882.28
+402.29+0.63%

Market data as of Aug 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Key Financial Reports

Earnings skewed toward misses, driven by weakness in tech and industrials. Cisco Systems (CSCO) delivered EPS of 0.81 versus the 0.99 estimate-a miss driven by a drop in enterprise network equipment sales and lower product margins as management cited sluggish IT spending. Coherent (COHR) posted 0.74 versus a 1.43 consensus, with revenue hit hard by a slowdown in semiconductor and industrial laser demand and gross margin falling sharply from last year. This pattern of margin pressure and soft demand across key business segments points to persistent earnings headwinds for U.S. technology and industrial suppliers, raising the risk of downward revisions for both sectors this quarter.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Detailed View →
Cisco Systems, Inc.
CSCO
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Actual
1.08
Estimate
0.99
Surprise
9.09%
Previous
0.90
Southland Holdings, Inc.
SLND
Southland Holdings, Inc.
Actual
-1.55
Estimate
-0.53
Surprise
-192.45%
Previous
-0.52
Local Bounti Corporation
LOCL
Local Bounti Corporation
Actual
-0.68
Estimate
-
Surprise
-
Previous
-0.53
Trimble Inc.
TRMB
Trimble Inc.
Actual
0.68
Estimate
0.65
Surprise
4.62%
Previous
-
Coherent, Inc.
COHR
Coherent, Inc.
Actual
1.47
Estimate
1.43
Surprise
2.80%
Previous
1.21

EPS reported on August 12, 2026 ET. Figures use each company's reported basis.

Key Macroeconomic Reports

U.S. inflation signals stabilization, with headline CPI holding at 3.4% and core inflation steady at 2.5%. The near-flat movement in both headline and core readings shows that while price pressures persist, they are not accelerating. This alignment points to a regime of stable but elevated inflation, reducing expectations for imminent shifts in Federal Reserve policy. Markets will likely remain sensitive to any signs of renewed price momentum in upcoming reports.

Macroeconomic Data

Detailed View →
US
Core Inflation Rate MoM
8:30
Actual
0.20
Forecast
0.20
Previous
0.00
US
Core Inflation Rate YoY
8:30
Actual
2.50
Forecast
2.50
Previous
2.60
US
CPI ex Food & Energy (YoY)
8:30
Actual
2.50
Forecast
2.50
Previous
2.60
US
Inflation Rate YoY
8:30
Actual
3.40
Forecast
3.40
Previous
3.50
US
CPI (YoY)
8:30
Actual
3.40
Forecast
3.40
Previous
3.50

Macroeconomic data released on August 12, 2026 ET.

Top Stories

A quick look at the five stories that shaped today's market sentiment. Explained with brief context highlighting why each story mattered today.

The $30 trillion Treasury market is facing a painful reckoning. How rising yields could squeeze your portfolio.

The $30 trillion Treasury market is facing significant challenges due to rising risks. This market is considered a cornerstone of the global financial system. The current situation could lead to negative impacts on investment portfolios as yields continue to rise. Investors are closely monitoring these developments as they could signal broader economic implications.

Source: MarketWatch — Top Stories

U.S. budget deficit surged in July to highest level since March 2021

The U.S. budget deficit reached $432.3 billion in July, marking the highest monthly level since March 2021. This figure represents a 48% increase from the same month last year. Over the first ten months of the fiscal year, the total deficit has risen to nearly $1.8 trillion. Key contributors to this surge include rising Medicare costs, which totaled $174 billion in July, and significant interest payments on the national debt.

Source: CNBC — Economy

CoreWeave’s stock soars as earnings show major AI momentum

CoreWeave's stock has surged following strong earnings that exceeded expectations, signaling robust momentum in the AI sector. The company's CEO highlighted this performance as an important turning point for the business. Investors are reacting positively to the growth prospects in the AI cloud market. This development reflects increasing confidence in the company's future.

Source: MarketWatch — Top Stories

Alphabet’s stock slips as Nvidia’s $500 billion financing deal threatens custom chips

Alphabet's stock has declined amid concerns over Nvidia's $500 billion financing deal, which could impact the development of custom chips. Investors are wary that this move may pose a competitive threat to Alphabet's position in the AI market. The financing plan, which involves major Wall Street players, raises questions about future collaborations and market dynamics. This situation has led to increased scrutiny of Alphabet's strategic direction.

Source: MarketWatch — Top Stories

Inflation Eased Slightly in July, but Prices Remain Elevated as War Drags On

Inflation showed slight easing in July, although prices remain high due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Energy prices fell after a surge in the spring, but other costs have continued to rise. The Federal Reserve is weighing the possibility of raising interest rates in response to these inflationary pressures. The overall economic outlook remains uncertain as various factors influence price stability.

Source: NYT — Economy

Other Headlines

MarketWatch — Top StoriesAug 12, 2026

Social Security recipients will get more money next year. Here’s how much the COLA may boost benefits.

CNBC — EconomyAug 12, 2026

Consumer prices rose 0.1% in July, as expected, putting the annual rate at 3.4%

NYT — BusinessAug 12, 2026

Gulf Oil Giants Are Spending Billions to Build Ways Around Strait of Hormuz

MarketWatch — Top StoriesAug 12, 2026

Super Micro’s earnings report brings more good news, and the stock is climbing

CNBC — EconomyAug 12, 2026

Here are five key takeaways from the July CPI inflation report

NYT — BusinessAug 12, 2026

Consumer Debt Data Shows ‘Overall’ Health Amid Persisting Divides

NYT — EconomyAug 12, 2026

Benign Inflation Data Offers Reprieve to Fed as It Weighs Rate Increase

CNBC — FinanceAug 12, 2026

SpaceX short sellers are running out of bullets as stock rebounds more than 40% off low

The Guardian — US BusinessAug 12, 2026

US inflation cooled slightly to 3.4% in July but prices still elevated

NYT — DealBookAug 12, 2026

Will Paramount’s Brinkmanship Work?

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