Markets Pre-Open (Aug 13, 2026 | 8:30 AM ET)
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,768 | +0.26% |
| Dow 30 | 53,895 | +0.23% |
| Nasdaq | 26,588 | +0.54% |
| Russell 2000 | 3,045 | +0.61% |
| VIX | 14.44 | -0.76% |
Futures: Tracking modestly positive ahead of Initial Jobless Claims (8:30 AM ET, consensus 209K vs. prior 199K).
Overnight:
- Asia: KOSPI +3.56%, Nikkei +1.16%, Shanghai -0.50%, Hang Seng -0.17%
- Europe: STOXX 50 +0.36%, DAX +0.28%, FTSE -0.36%
Geopolitical Intel
THINKCREATEINTEL // GLOBAL THREAT INTERCEPT
[2026-08-13 13:30 UTC]
Priority Intelligence
[LVL 9/10] — Taiwan briefly slows its mobile internet to text-only speed as part of defense drill
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:18:43 -0400 — NPR, 2 sources
Taiwan conducted a nationwide defense readiness test, temporarily throttling mobile data to simulate wartime communications disruption. This is the highest-priority event of the day — watch for semiconductor sector sensitivity (TSM, AMAT).
Coords: 35.861, 104.195
[LVL 4/10] — Tropical Cyclones
Three active storms (HERNAN-26, CRISTOBAL-26, NANGKA-26) — no Category 1+ wind exposure to populated areas. Low economic impact.
[LVL 3/10] — Putin can no longer claim victory in Ukraine, Nobel Peace Prize winner tells BBC
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:55:58 GMT — BBC, 3 sources
Diplomatic signal: international consensus shifting against Russian territorial claims. Monitor defense sector (RTX, LMT).
[LVL 3/10] — Falling Danube flow forces shutdown of Romania’s sole nuclear plant
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:30:08 +0000 — AlJazeera
Europe’s climate-driven energy vulnerabilities continue. Watch uranium/nuclear (CCJ, UEC) and European energy equities.
[LVL 3/10] — Ebola outbreak in Congo
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:02:03 +0000 — NYT
Patient death in Congolese Ebola ward. Low immediate market impact, but biotech/pharma (MRNA, BNTX) could see demand if outbreak spreads.
Defense Stocks (Live from ThinkCreate Global Markets Panel)
| Ticker | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| RTX | $222.76 | -0.49% |
| LMT | $606.72 | +1.50% 🟢 |
| NOC | $577.32 | +0.28% |
| GD | $394.21 | +0.59% |
| BA | $231.20 | -0.87% |
| PLTR | $171.04 | -2.23% |
Analyst Note: Lockheed Martin gaining on Taiwan defense drill headlines — strongest performer in the basket. PLTR pullback may be profit-taking after recent run.
Live Data Snapshot
- Commercial flights: 4,900 | Military: 291 | Private: 2,052
- Tracked/flagged aircraft: 1,377
- Vessels (carriers/mil/cargo): 11
- Active satellites: 540
- GPS jamming events: 9
- Earthquakes (24h): 36
- Global incidents (GDELT): 869
SIGINT scanner feeds unavailable — backend API nominal, frontend data incomplete.
Commodities & Currencies
Energy
- WTI Crude: $81.05 (-2.65%) 🔻
- Brent: $86.90 (-2.34%)
- Natural Gas: $2.74 (-2.32%)
Narrative: Oil pulling back despite Hormuz geopolitical overhang. Iran’s recent transit toll compensation framework signaling potential diplomatic path forward.
Metals
- Gold: $4,449.90 (-0.39%)
- Silver: $65.38 (-0.49%)
- Copper: $6.62 (+0.14%)
Crypto
- Bitcoin: $63,506 (-0.41%)
- Ethereum: $1,886 (-0.73%)
- Solana: $76.00 (-0.20%)
Bonds
- 10Y Treasury: 4.645% (-0.79%)
- 30Y: 5.22% (-0.57%)
- 2Y: 3.693% (-0.38%)
Yield pullback suggests flight-to-quality or Fed rate cut pricing — watch for ECB/Fed commentary.
Earnings — TODAY (Aug 13)
| Symbol | Company | Time | Est EPS | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMAT | Applied Materials | AMC | $3.39 | $435B 🔥 |
| NU | Nu Holdings | AMC | $0.19 | $66B |
| JD | JD.com | BMO | $5.61 | $43B |
| TPR | Tapestry | BMO | $1.28 | $31B |
| BAP | Credicorp | AMC | $7.36 | $30B |
| QXO | QXO Inc. | AMC | $0.08 | $16B |
| BN | Brookfield Corp | BMO | $0.31 | $100B |
Key Watch: AMAT — semiconductor capital equipment leader, Taiwan exposure. Given Taiwan defense drill headlines, this will be the most watched print tonight.
Earnings — TOMORROW (Aug 14)
71 total earnings scheduled for Friday (Aug 14). No mega-caps reporting. Watch for small/mid-cap post-earnings movers.
Economic Calendar
- 8:30 AM ET: Initial Jobless Claims (Est. 209K, Prior 199K)
- 10:00 AM ET: UMich Consumer Sentiment Prelim (Friday Aug 14, Prior 55.2)
Bottom Line
Taiwan defense drill (LVL 9) is the headline risk — semiconductor supply chain sensitivity in focus. Applied Materials earnings tonight will be the real test. Oil pullback and declining yields suggest markets aren’t pricing panic, but defense sector outperformance (LMT +1.5%) says geopolitical hedging is live. Watch for any escalation rhetoric from Beijing — that changes the game.
Published: August 13, 2026 | 8:30 AM ET
Data sources: Yahoo Finance, ThinkCreate Intel (backend API), GDELT, Broadcastify