Palantir and Caterpillar Rally on Strong Earnings; Nasdaq 100 and Copper Firm | MarketReader Minute

Global equity indices rise as U.S. trade deficit narrows and investors await key labor market reports.

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Below are AI-generated insights on today's premarket moves, powered by MarketReader technology.

Tuesday, August 04

Noteworthy macro moves today: Nasdaq 100 Index (US) +0.9%. Copper +1.7%. US 2Y Treasury Bond Index +0.1%. Noteworthy US mega-cap moves today: Broadcom Inc (AVGO) +2.7%. Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) -2.3%. Microsoft Corp (MSFT) -2.0%.

Global equity indices are trading higher today, with the Nasdaq 100 Index up by approximately 0.9%. This positive sentiment follows a strong performance in U.S. markets yesterday, where major averages surged due to easing oil prices and optimistic manufacturing data, as reported on August 3.

In the U.S., economic data released today showed that exports fell to a four-month low of $314.7 billion in June, down by $2.9 billion or 0.9% from May. The trade deficit narrowed to $73.3 billion in June from $77.6 billion in May, indicating that imports declined more sharply than exports.

Additionally, Canada's imports hit a record high of C$73.6 billion in June despite declines in nine of the eleven major product categories, driven primarily by a significant increase in electronic and electrical equipment imports.

Market participants are also awaiting upcoming labor market reports later this week, including the JOLTs Job Openings report expected to show around 7.45 million job openings and the Non-Farm Payrolls report forecasting an addition of approximately 83k jobs.

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) [+3.7%]
The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is trading higher in pre-market hours, reflecting a notable rise since Monday's close. This upward movement comes despite a significant decline of 5.12% in the KOSPI index, primarily driven by losses in technology and energy stocks, although automobile producers provided some support. Contributing positively to the ETF's performance were holdings such as POSCO Holdings, which rose by 2.63%, and SK Telecom, which gained 9.07%. Additionally, the Dow Jones Index has increased by 1.05%, which may be influencing investor sentiment towards EWY. Earlier in the session, the ETF experienced a low of -0.01% before rebounding significantly, highlighting volatility in today's trading.

VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) [+3.3%]
Pre-market trading for VanEck Semiconductor ETF has shown a notable increase, attributed to a significant drop in crude oil prices following U.S. President Trump's decision against military action in the Middle East. This development has fostered optimism in equity markets. The strong performance of technology stocks, buoyed by positive earnings from companies like ams OSRAM, further supports this upward movement. Additionally, several top holdings within the ETF, including NVIDIA and Micron Technology, have made substantial contributions to its performance. The Nasdaq 100 Index's rise also aligns with this trend, reflecting a strong historical correlation with the ETF. Overall, the VanEck Semiconductor ETF is advancing significantly since Monday's close.

Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX) [+3.3%]
Global X Copper Miners ETF is experiencing a notable advance during pre-market hours, driven by a significant rebound in oil prices, with Brent crude rising by 2.7% to $86 per barrel amid geopolitical tensions involving Iran. This situation may influence global economic conditions and copper demand. Additionally, the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $73.3 billion in June, suggesting improved trade flows that could bolster commodity markets like copper through increased manufacturing activity. The ETF's performance is further supported by strong contributions from its top holdings, including TECK, BHP, and HBM, which have returned 5.22%, 4.19%, and 4.42%, respectively. Copper prices have also increased by 1.68%, reflecting a high correlation with the ETF's movement. Earlier in the session, COPX pulled back from a session high but remains positioned for gains since Monday's close.

CAT | +11.5% | +52.2B
Caterpillar Inc | Industrials

Caterpillar Inc reported second-quarter results that significantly exceeded expectations, with revenues of $20.5 billion, a 24% increase year-over-year. This marks the first time the company surpassed $20 billion in a single quarter. Adjusted earnings per share were $8.17, well above analyst estimates of $6.20. The strong performance was driven by a 35% increase in the Construction Industries segment and a 17% rise in the Power & Energy segment, supported by demand from data center projects. Additionally, Caterpillar raised its annual revenue growth forecast to the mid-to-high teens percentage range and recorded a backlog of $72.1 billion, up 92% from the previous year. These results have positively influenced investor sentiment, contributing to significant gains during pre-market hours.

PLTR | +15.1% | +48.9B
Palantir Technologies Inc | Information Technology

Palantir Technologies reported exceptional second-quarter earnings, with revenue of $1.94 billion, a 93% increase year-over-year, and net income of $1.06 billion, or 41 cents per diluted share, surpassing analyst expectations. The company raised its full-year guidance to between $8.15 billion and $8.16 billion. U.S. commercial revenue surged 149% to $764 million, while U.S. government revenue grew 90% to $809 million. Following these results, Deutsche Bank upgraded its rating to Buy with a price target of $200, and Piper Sandler reiterated an Overweight rating. These developments have contributed to a significant rise in the stock price during pre-market trading, reflecting strong investor sentiment.

W | +18.9% | +2.4B
Wayfair Inc | Consumer Discretionary

Wayfair reported strong second-quarter results, exceeding earnings expectations with an EPS of $0.95, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.87. Revenue reached $3.52 billion, ahead of the $3.45 billion forecast, reflecting a 7.5% year-over-year growth. CEO Niraj Shah noted significant gains in specialty retail brands and Perigold, with growth rates of nearly 20% and over 35%, respectively. The company anticipates Q3 revenue growth in the high single digits and gross margins between 29.5% and 30.5%. These positive developments contributed to Wayfair's shares trading sharply higher in pre-market hours, recovering from an earlier dip and reflecting investor optimism following the earnings report.

ZBRA | +13.7% | +2.3B
Zebra Technologies Corp | Information Technology

Zebra Technologies Corp reported strong second-quarter results, with adjusted EPS of $6.35, surpassing estimates of $4.36, and revenues of $1.557 billion, exceeding expectations of $1.497 billion. The company raised its full-year 2026 sales growth forecast to between 14% and 16%, up from a previous range of 10% to 14%. Additionally, it increased its adjusted EPS guidance for the full year to a range of $20.75 to $21.25, from an earlier outlook of $18.30 to $18.70. These robust earnings and positive guidance have contributed to a sharp increase in share price during pre-market trading today.

AEIS | +12.8% | +1.6B
Advanced Energy Industries Inc | Information Technology

Advanced Energy Industries Inc experienced a significant uptick in pre-market hours following a reiteration of the Buy rating by Needham, which maintains a price target of $400. This endorsement follows the company's robust second-quarter results, reported on August 3, 2026, where revenue reached $574 million, exceeding expectations and marking a 30% year-over-year increase. The non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.74 also surpassed estimates by 23.8%. Additionally, management's optimistic guidance for third-quarter revenue at $640 million, well above consensus forecasts, has bolstered market sentiment. Shares are trading sharply higher since Monday's close, reflecting positive investor response to these developments.

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