Global stock markets presented a mixed picture on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as investors focused on upcoming inflation data and a flurry of corporate earnings reports. U.S. stock futures were slightly higher in early trading, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures gaining 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively, ahead of the release of the July Consumer Price Index (CPI). Economists expect headline CPI to show a 3.4% year-over-year increase, with core inflation at 2.5%.
Tech and AI Stocks Lead Pre-Market Movers
In pre-market trading, several tech and AI-related stocks saw significant gains. Nebius Group (NASDAQ:NBIS) surged 34% after reporting second-quarter revenue of $582.3 million, a staggering 454% increase from the same period last year. The company also announced a $9 billion prepayment wave, which alleviated concerns about its capital expenditure requirements. CoreWeave and Super Micro Computer also jumped 19.28% and 19.02%, respectively, on strong earnings and acquisition speculation.
Asian Markets: Mixed Results on Margin Pressures
In Asia, Port Inc. (TSE:7047) posted a 38% year-over-year increase in Q1 2027 revenue to ¥9,092 million, but its shares fell 15% over the past month. The company's net margin improved only slightly to 8.8% from 7.9%, and a low P/E ratio of 10.4x has not eased investor concerns about earnings quality and competitive challenges in several markets.
Sagami Holdings (TSE:9900) saw its shares surge 25% to ¥2,192, trading at a rich 44.2x P/E. While Q1 2027 revenue rose to ¥9,824.66 million from ¥9,400.51 million a year earlier, net income dropped to ¥476.46 million from ¥599.65 million, and basic EPS fell to ¥15.82 from ¥19.91. Same-store sales growth moderated to 6.6% from 9.5%, raising questions about margin sustainability at such a high valuation.
Tokio Marine Holdings (TSE:8766) reported Q1 2027 revenue of ¥2,201.2 billion, unchanged from a year earlier, but net income fell sharply to ¥264.3 billion from ¥466.8 billion. Basic EPS declined to ¥138.26 from ¥243.46. Despite returning capital to shareholders, including ¥196.6 billion in buybacks, the company continues to face margin headwinds from its traditional underwriting focus, weighing on profitability as shares trade at a high P/E.
European and North American Highlights
In Europe, Adyen shares jumped 9.3% after the Amsterdam-based payments firm posted robust first-half results, lifting investor sentiment. The strong financial performance underscored the company's resilience in a competitive payments landscape.
In Canada, Empire Company Limited (TSE:EMP.A) traded above its 200-day moving average of C$48.68, advancing to C$49.78. Analysts at BMO Capital Markets and Desjardins raised their price targets to C$58.00 and C$56.00, respectively, with recommendations upgraded from Buy to Outperform. The company reported Q2 EPS of C$0.94 and revenue of C$7.81 billion, and increased its dividend to $0.2425 from $0.22, offering a 2.0% yield.
Timbercreek Financial Corp. (TSE:TF) slipped below its 50-day moving average, reaching C$6.14, as analysts at Canaccord, Raymond James, TD, and National Bank trimmed price targets to a range of C$6.25-C$7.25 while maintaining Hold or Outperform ratings. The consensus price target stands at C$6.62, with a dividend yield of 11.2%.
Commodities and Regulatory News
Gold prices advanced to $4,379, climbing past the 50-day EMA ($4,223) and 100-day EMA ($4,322), signaling medium-term upward momentum. The precious metal now tests resistance at $4,448, with additional barriers at $4,575 and $4,666. The RSI remains firm at 65, reinforcing a bullish outlook.
In regulatory news, Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) is under investigation by New York City officials over its prediction-market operations, which generate more than $100 million in projected annual revenue, about 2% of its Q2 total revenue of $1.22 billion. The inquiry focuses on potential misleading advertising and hidden influencer compensation, drawing comparisons to Robinhood's 11.9% revenue attribution from event contracts. Coinbase has denied any misconduct and maintains it operates within legal boundaries.
Investors are also awaiting the July Producer Price Index (PPI) report, fresh jobless claims, and new details about the Federal Reserve's balance sheet, all of which could influence monetary policy expectations. Upcoming earnings from Applied Materials, Tapestry, and Nu Holdings are also on the radar.
