Pre-market briefing Pre-Market Briefing for August 5, 2026
Today at a Glance
Previous Session Recap
On the 4th, the three major New York indexes all closed at record highs. The S&P 500 rose 1.79% to 7,736.52, breaking above 7,700 for the first time, while the Nasdaq gained 2.59% and the Dow climbed 1.71%. The technology sector surged 4.98% to lead the market, while utilities and energy lagged modestly.
Current Market Tone
Pre-market futures are mixed. S&P 500 futures are up 0.30% and Dow futures are up 0.27%, but Nasdaq 100 futures are little changed near flat. Treasury Secretary Bessent said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is drawing close, pushing oil prices down for a third straight day, which is acting as a tailwind for the broader indexes. On the other hand, $AMD shares fell 8% in after-hours trading despite strong results, putting a brake on the tech tilt. The biggest variable today is the ADP employment report, due at 9:15 p.m. Korea time.
Pre-Market News Roundup
Today's Events
Macro Calendar
This indicator tracks hiring at private companies. The consensus is 70,000 and the prior reading was 98,000, with consensus leaning toward a slowdown in hiring pace. Because it acts as a preview of the official government jobs report, a meaningful surprise can instantly reprice rate-cut expectations and move both equities and Treasury yields.
This indicator measures the pulse of the services sector, which makes up the bulk of the U.S. economy. The forecast is 54.5 versus the prior 54.0; a reading above 50 signals expansion. A print above expectations would offer reassurance that the economy is holding up, but if the prices component also comes in hot, it could push back rate-cut expectations.
Dividend Watch
Stocks in Focus
Eli Lilly's relative strength index, a gauge that shows the strength of recent gains versus losses on a scale from 0 to 100, sits at 40.2, below neutral, and the $1,115.68 share price has broken below the lower Bollinger Band. With expectations now reset lower ahead of the print, an upward revision to full-year guidance could spark a meaningful rebound, while the opposite outcome could extend the downside breakout.
Palantir surged 29.35% the prior day to close at $162.53, with an RSI of 72.8. Readings above 70 are typically viewed as overbought, and the stock has also punched through the upper Bollinger Band, putting short-term pullback risk at an elevated level.
Broadcom rose 6.58% to $418.04 and broke above the upper Bollinger Band, yet the RSI at 61.7 does not yet signal an overheated zone. With $SNDK and $WDC reporting after today's close, the stock is likely to move in tandem with any re-confirmation of AI semiconductor demand.
Today's Action Guide
Stay calm out there and have a good day.
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