[August 13, 2026] US Stock Market Premarket Briefing — Nasdaq Futures Edge Higher on Tame CPI & AI Earnings Momentum

Thursday, August 13, 2026

US Stock Market Premarket Briefing
— Nasdaq Futures Edge Higher Amid Tame CPI & AI Earnings Momentum

Pre-market analysis for US equity markets — August 13, 2026

📈 KEY SUMMARY

Futures are ticking higher Thursday morning after Wednesday’s tame CPI print matched estimates, relieving near-term inflation fears. Nasdaq 100 futures lead at 29,876 (+0.08%), S&P 500 futures at 7,787.75, and Dow futures at 54,050. VIX remains calm at 14.48 and the Fear & Greed Index sits at 62 (Greed). Focus today shifts to weekly jobless claims, PPI data, and key tech earnings.

▶ Futures Market

Nasdaq 100 Futures

29,876

▲ +0.08%

S&P 500 Futures

7,787.75

▲ +0.22%

Dow Futures

54,050

▲ +0.33%

📊 8 Key Market Indicators

VIX (Fear Index)

14.48

▼ Low — Calm market

Fear & Greed Index

62

Greed Zone

WTI Crude Oil

~$74 (est.)

US-Iran tensions elevated

DXY Dollar Index

99.86

Stable; slight uptick

MOVE Index (Bond Vol)

~90 (est.)

Treasury vol easing

HY Credit Spread

~280bp (est.)

Risk-on environment

10Y Treasury Yield

~4.35% (est.)

Yields dip on CPI miss

Russell 2000 (Prev)

3,045

▲ +0.61%

📰 Today’s Top 5 Stories

1 CPI TAME — INFLATION RELIEF

July CPI +0.1% MoM, Core +0.2% — in line with expectations

Inflation data matched estimates, easing pressure on the Fed. Markets rallied Wednesday as the tame print reduced near-term rate hike fears and supported risk-on positioning into Thursday.

2 AI EARNINGS MOMENTUM

CoreWeave, SMCI, Rocket Lab top earnings watch list this week

AI infrastructure names led gains Wednesday. CoreWeave is the most anticipated print of the week; strong guidance could extend the AI rally through Friday.

3 FUTURES TICK HIGHER

Asian markets climbed on AI enthusiasm; US futures follow overnight gains

WSJ reports Asian equity momentum spilling into US premarket. S&P 500 futures up modestly; yields dipping supports growth stocks and tech-heavy Nasdaq.

4 OIL & GEOPOLITICS

US-Iran impasse keeps oil elevated; energy sector in focus

WTI crude remains elevated on Middle East tensions. Cboe data shows the WTI implied-realized vol spread at 14pts, down from 30. Energy stocks may outperform if oil holds above $74.

5 FED POLICY STEADY

Wells Fargo: Fed likely on hold through year-end 2026

Wells Fargo outlook cites durable US economy and energy-driven inflation bump as reasons for the Fed to hold rates. Schwab echoes: CPI data “may keep the Fed on hold.”

🎯 Today’s Trading Strategy

Bias: Cautiously Bullish. The CPI trifecta (tame print + AI earnings + stable VIX at 14.48) supports modest upside. However, with S&P near all-time highs and the Fear & Greed at 62 (Greed), avoid chasing breakouts without catalyst confirmation.
• Tech/AI: Stay long quality AI infrastructure names ahead of CoreWeave print. Watch SMCI and RKLB for momentum plays.
• Energy: Elevated oil provides a hedge; consider XLE or OXY for geopolitical risk exposure.
• Bonds: With yields dipping and 10Y ~4.35%, rate-sensitive REITs and utilities may see a bounce.
• Key risk: PPI data and jobless claims at 8:30 AM ET — any upside surprise could reverse futures gains quickly.

📅 This Week’s Earnings Calendar (Aug 10–14)

TODAY — Thursday, Aug 13

NBIS

After

Nebius AI (CoreWeave)

After market close

Most anticipated print of the week — AI cloud infrastructure

SMCI

After

Super Micro Computer

After market close

AI server demand & margin guidance key

RKLB

After

Rocket Lab USA

After market close

Launch cadence & Neutron rocket update

MSGS

Before

Madison Square Garden Sports

Before market open

Q4 2026 earnings announcement

EARLIER THIS WEEK

CAVA

Tue/Wed

CAVA Group — EPS est. $0.18

Fast casual growth story; comp-store sales key metric

📈 Today’s Economic Data Releases

HIGH IMPACT US PPI (Producer Price Index) — July

⏰ 8:30 AM ET  |  Consensus: +0.2% MoM
Key: Pipeline inflation signal; will influence Fed rate path

HIGH IMPACT Weekly Jobless Claims

⏰ 8:30 AM ET  |  Consensus: ~225K
Key: Labor market resilience check; spike could rattle bond market

MEDIUM Fed Speakers

⏰ Throughout the day
Key: Post-CPI commentary on rate trajectory; watch for dovish/hawkish signals

✅ Investor Checklist

✅ Monitor PPI and Jobless Claims at 8:30 AM ET for early session direction
✅ Watch CoreWeave, SMCI, and Rocket Lab earnings releases after the close
✅ Track WTI crude — sustained above $74 supports energy trade thesis
✅ VIX below 15: favorable for risk assets; a spike above 18 signals caution

🔢 Previous Session Sector Performance (Wed Aug 12)

💻 Technology

+1.4%

🤖 AI & Semiconductors

+1.8%

⛽ Energy

+0.6%

🏠 Real Estate

+0.9%

💊 Healthcare

-0.3%

🌎 Consumer Staples

-0.2%

💰 Financials

+0.5%

⚡ Utilities

+0.7%

⚠ Key Risk Factors

• PPI upside surprise → could reignite rate hike expectations and pressure tech valuations
• Jobless claims spike → labor market cracks would signal growth slowdown risk
• AI earnings miss (NBIS/SMCI) → sentiment reversal risk for entire AI-linked sector
• Geopolitical escalation (US-Iran) → oil spike >$80 could dampen consumer confidence
• VIX spike above 18 → would signal institutional hedging & risk-off rotation

Disclaimer: This briefing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. All market data is sourced from Yahoo Finance API and public news sources. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. Futures and indicator data as of premarket August 13, 2026 (KST 22:05).