US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Edge Higher On Softer Inflation And Housing Jitters

The Morning Bull – US Market Morning Update Thursday, Aug, 20 2026

US stock futures are pointing slightly higher this morning, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures both edging up as investors weigh softer inflation signals against signs of housing weakness. US 10 year Treasury yields are drifting lower ahead of Federal Reserve meeting minutes, which can hint at slightly cheaper borrowing costs over time for households and companies. At the same time, pending home sales fell 2.3% in July and housing starts dropped 12.4%, which shows buyers and builders are pulling back. The key question now is whether easing rate pressure can offset a cooling housing market for bank stocks and real estate focused sectors.

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Top Movers

• Moderna (MRNA) surged 176.97% after positive Phase 3 melanoma vaccine data and multiple analyst upgrades.
• BioNTech (BNTX) gained 21.96% as investors reacted to fresh attention on cancer vaccine developers.
• Estée Lauder Companies (EL) rose 16.30% following full year earnings and a higher price target from Goldman Sachs.

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Top Losers

• Nebius Group (NBIS) fell 9.87% after announcing a multi billion dollar convertible notes offering and secondary share sale.
• SiTime (SITM) declined 9.02% despite a fresh Buy initiation and optimism around precision timing demand.
• Seagate Technology Holdings (STX) slipped 7.87% following weakness across US memory chip stocks.

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On The Radar

Earnings from Walmart, Alibaba and Deere will shape how investors think about global consumer and industrial demand today.

• Walmart (WMT) reports Q2 2027 results today, giving a fresh read on US shopper budgets and store traffic.
• Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) posts Q1 2027 results today pre-market, updating views on Chinese online spending trends.
• Deere (DE) releases Q3 2026 earnings today, highlighting demand patterns for equipment tied to farming and construction activity.
• US 10 year Treasuries react to FOMC minutes today, shaping expectations for borrowing costs across mortgages and corporate debt.

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Don’t Just Read The News, Use It

Look beyond headline moves and focus on companies quietly doing the financial heavy lifting, because strong balance sheets rarely stay overlooked for long. Consider 78 resilient stocks with low risk scores that aim to pair resilience with measured risk when markets feel uncertain.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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