U.S. equities extended their AI-fueled winning streak on Wednesday, May 6, with the major indices pushing deeper into record territory as chip stocks, easing oil ($95.63/bbl,-6.49%), and a budding “peace premium” outweighed lingering rate and inflation worries.
Indices and risk tone
- The S&P 500 finished at 7,365.12, up 1.46% on the day, notching yet another all‑time closing high as AI-heavy growth leadership remained firmly in place.
- The Nasdaq Composite added roughly 2.02%, extending its own record run as semiconductors and AI infrastructure names continued to draw heavy flows (building on Tuesday’s 25,326.13 record close).
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed about 1.2.4% to 49,910.59, participating in the rally but still taking its cues from big tech and chips rather than classic cyclicals.
- Volatility stayed contained, with VIX futures continuing to drift lower, consistent with a market that is leaning into the upside despite increasingly stretched valuations and crowded positioning. The CBOE Volatility Index closed art $17.39, +.06%.
Macro data and Fed narrative
- The latest private-payrolls and labor indicators continued to support a “slow but steady” growth backdrop: job creation is moderating but not collapsing, with services still carrying most of the load.
- That profile keeps the Fed squarely in “higher for longer but not necessarily higher from here” mode, with futures now pricing only a slim chance of a cut this year and a reduced probability of a renewed hiking cycle after oil’s recent pullback.
- Upcoming data (CPI, PPI, and Friday’s nonfarm payrolls) are therefore pivotal: any upside surprise on inflation or wages could quickly revive discussion of another hike, while softer prints would reinforce the case for a long plateau in policy rates.
Earnings, AI capex, and sector moves
- Earnings season remains the market’s main buffer against macro worries, with beat rates strong and forward estimates drifting higher; growth is heavily concentrated in megacap tech and communication services.
- AI spending is the center of gravity: hyperscalers and chipmakers continue to talk up multi‑year capex plans for data centers, accelerators, and optical connectivity, reinforcing the idea that this is an AI infrastructure super‑cycle rather than a one‑off bubble.
- AMD’s latest results and guidance helped spark another leg higher in semiconductors, with its shares hitting record territory and lifting the broader chip complex globally. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock jumped +18% higher on Wednesday.
- Cyclical beneficiaries of cheaper crude—airlines, travel, and select consumer names—caught a bid as oil slid, while energy equities lagged on the back of that same 7–10% downdraft in prices from recent peaks.
Geopolitics, oil, and the “peace premium”
- Headlines pointing to progress toward a U.S.–Iran framework and a potential de‑escalation in the conflict helped unwind some of the prior “war premium” in crude, with traders now more comfortable that a path to normalized supply exists over a multi‑quarter horizon.
- The combination of softer oil, a modestly weaker dollar, and slightly lower long-end Treasury yields effectively eased financial conditions, amplifying the wealth effect coming out of AI- and tech-driven equity gains.
- Strategists warn that a renewed spike in crude would quickly resurrect stagflation fears and could sap enthusiasm for high-multiple AI names, but for now that tail risk receded and the market leaned into the upside.
Big picture
- Several research shops are now openly discussing the prospect of an AI-led “melt-up,” with some pointing to the possibility of 20–30% upside in the S&P 500 if AI capex and earnings revisions maintain their current trajectory.
- At the same time, late-cycle signals—narrow leadership, elevated retail participation in hot themes, and an uptick in “this time is different” narratives—are becoming harder for institutional investors to ignore.
- For now, though, the scoreboard rules: with the S&P 500 up more than 7.59% year-to-date, the Nasdaq up 11.17%, and AI the undisputed star of the show, the path of least resistance remains higher—at least until the data or oil remind everyone that macro gravity still exists
VP Watchlist Updates
Below is an update‑style snapshot on the VP Watchlist names for the week, focused on recent catalysts, positioning, and narrative rather than precise price moves.
GameStop (GME, $25.17, +3.88%) & eBay (EBAY, $108.15, +2.73%)
GameStop (GME) is trying on a new costume: from mall-based meme stock to would‑be e‑commerce juggernaut. The company has lobbed a roughly $55–56 billion cash‑and‑stock offer for eBay (EBAY), proposing $125 per share, a premium to where eBay traded before the news hit. For a retailer whose own market cap is a fraction of its target’s, the move lands somewhere between bold strategic pivot and capital‑markets tightrope act.
Amwell® (NYSE: AMWL, $7.22, +13.52%)
Amwell® (NYSE: AMWL), a leading provider of a comprehensive SaaS-based technology-
enabled healthcare platform, announced (May 5) financial results for the first quarter ended Mar. 31, 2026.
“Entering 2026, Amwell’s main focus was to consolidate our platform to fulfill the unmet needs of our Payer and Provider customers. The Technology-Enabled Care infrastructure we have developed to fill that gap in the market continues to gain traction as customers recognize its clear advantages: lower costs, better outcomes, stronger market share and an increased level of control and agility. Our platform is performing well and built to leverage the latest AI-powered innovations, positioning it as essential infrastructure for tech-enabled care delivery,” said Dr. Ido Schoenberg, Chairman and CEO of Amwell. “We are seeing powerful validation of the platform with significant pipeline growth and a number of meaningful renewals. With this momentum and the favorable regulatory tailwinds, Amwell is well-positioned for continued strong execution this year and to reach our goal of positive cash flow from operations in the
fourth quarter.”
FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC, $14.80)
FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) reported (April 29) first quarter 2026 results above guidance with Adjusted EBITDA above high end of range, reaffirms full-year outlook. Their first quarter 2026 revenue of $759 million, down 4 percent versus first quarter 2025. First quarter 2026 revenue, excluding India, was $762 million, down 4 percent versus first quarter 2025, which included India. On a GAAP basis, the company reported a loss of $2.25 per diluted share in the first quarter, a decrease of $2.13 versus first quarter 2025. First quarter adjusted loss per diluted share of $0.23 was down 41 cents versus first quarter 2025. FMC Corporation also announced today that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 8 cents per share, payable on July 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2026.
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (EPRX, $7.58, +4.26%)
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging its proprietary Diffusphere™ technology designed to optimize local, controlled drug delivery for applications with significant unmet need, announced (May 5) the first Eosinophilic Esophagitis Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS) data from its ongoing Phase 1b/2a part of the RESOLVE trial evaluating EP-104GI for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (“EoE”). These data were also presented at the ongoing Digestive Disease Week (“DDW”) conference in Chicago. “The EREFS is an important, validated visual index of severity of EoE disease in the esophagus of patients. It measures edema, rings and strictures and other visible markers of disease often associated with symptoms. Today’s data demonstrated improvement in two key outcomes with EP-104GI in the treatment of EoE: first, that a full injection protocol of 20 injections resulted in more pronounced improvement than a protocol with fewer injections and less coverage area within the esophagus; second, with the higher number of injections, a consistent response in both the inflammatory and fibrotic sub scores of EREFS was observed,” said Dr. James A. Helliwell, Chief Executive Officer of Eupraxia. “This EREFS data being reported at DDW is consistent with the improvements we have seen in EoE symptoms and tissue health (EoEHSS) and suggests improvement in inflammation, fibrosis and the associated narrowing of the esophagus.”
Eurpraxia announced on Friday, May 1, the appointment of Dr. Jeymi Tambiah as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as well as the retirement of Dr. Mark Kowalski, Eupraxia’s current CMO. Dr. Jeymi Tambiah (MB ChB, FRCS, MS, FAPCR, FFPM), is a Board Certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon physician scientist who practiced at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals prior to entering the biopharmaceutical industry in 2008. Dr. Tambiah brings over 18 years of experience in clinical development, medical and regulatory strategy, and product commercialization across pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations.
Eupraxia recently co-hosted a Tribe Public www.TribePublic.com, CEO Presentation & Q&A Webinar event, Wednesday, April 1 titled “Turning EOE Into a Once-a-Year Appointment.” The event featured James A. Helliwell, M.D., Co‑founder and CEO of Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: EPRX), who discusses the company’s precision drug‑delivery platform, its approach to Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), and broader pipeline priorities, followed by a focused 5–10 minute Q&A. You may watch it now at this Youtube link.
Modular Medical (MODD, $3.825)
- Modular Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:MODD), a leader in innovative, patient-centric insulin delivery, saw (May 1) CEO Jeb Besser join Tribe Public’s members to unpack a simple question with big implications: what happens when an “almost‑pumper” market finally meets an FDA‑cleared device built for the rest of us, not just the superusers? Tribe Public hosted its CEO Presentation and Q&A Webinar, “From FDA Wins to Scaling Manufacturing – What Investors Should Watch,” on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET. In keeping with Tribe’s reputation for efficient programming, the session ran approximately 30 minutes, pairing a focused prepared talk with a 5–10 minute live Q&A segment that allowed investors to drill into timelines, capital needs, and commercial strategy. Besser’s formal remarks were framed under the title “From FDA Wins to Scaling Manufacturing – What Investors Should Watch,” setting the tone for a discussion that sat at the intersection of regulation, innovation, and recurring‑revenue hardware. By registering, attendees also joined Tribe Public’s membership base, ensuring they will receive future invitations to CEO briefings, sector spotlights, and investor wish‑list events.
- Modular Medical announced (APRIL 19) the pricing of a registered direct offering consisting of 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an offering price of $4.50 per share. The gross proceeds to the Company from the Offering are estimated to be approximately $3.4 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 21, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
- Modular Medical’s latest regulatory milestone upgrades the narrative: the company has now (April 9) secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its Pivot tubeless insulin patch pump, moving from “launch‑ready” to “launch‑approved” in the heart of the fast‑growing diabesity market. The FDA has cleared Modular Medical’s Pivot patch pump as a tubeless, removable insulin delivery system, formally validating the device’s design and performance for commercial use in U.S. adults living with diabetes. The clearance converts what had been a Q1 2026 launch “subject to FDA response” into a tangible commercial pathway, giving the company permission to sell into an insulin pump market that has been estimated at roughly 8 billion dollars globally. Pivot is engineered as a simplified, two‑part patch pump with a 3‑milliliter removable reservoir, no need for battery recharging, and the ability to bolus without a dedicated controller, aiming squarely at patients who have stayed on multiple daily injections because traditional pumps felt too complex, cumbersome, or costly. By clearing Pivot, the FDA is effectively endorsing Modular Medical’s attempt to make advanced insulin delivery feel less like adopting a gadget and more like upgrading a daily habit.
The InterGroup Corporation (INTG, $39.32)
- InterGroup Corporation delivered (Feb. 17) a notably stronger quarter, highlighted by a 20% jump in total revenue to $17.3 million and a 27% surge in hotel revenue as renovated rooms returned to service and travel demand improved. The company swung from a prior-year net loss to $1.0 million in net income, with operating income more than doubling to $2.0 million, underscoring better cost control and improved operating efficiency. Management further enhanced liquidity and sharpened strategic focus by selling a non-core 12‑unit Los Angeles multifamily property, generating a meaningful gain and additional working capital while maintaining stable performance across its real estate portfolio.
Volato Group, Inc. (SOAR) & M2i Global, Inc. (MTWO)
- M2i Global Inc (OTC:MTWO), along with Volato Group (NYSEAMERICAN:SOAR), announced (May 5) it has been awarded a Tenant Use Agreement by The Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada to develop and operate a critical mineral repository, as the companies advance a proposed merger. The Hawthorne Army Depot, located in Mineral County, is the world’s largest ammunition storage facility, spanning nearly 150,000 acres with more than 400 buildings and over 2,000 munitions bunkers.
- M2i Global, Inc., a company specializing in the development and execution of a complete global value supply chain for critical minerals, announced (April 28), in connection with the the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of July 28, 2025, by and among M2i Volato Group, Inc. (“Volato”) (NYSE American: SOAR), and Volato Merger Subsidiary, Inc., , that the sole holder of M2i’s Series A Super Voting Preferred Stock, entitled to 10,000 votes per share of voting stock, voted by written consent in favor of the Company’s merger with Volato whereby M2i will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volato. At the closing of the merger, the name of Volato will change to M2i Global.
- Volato Group, Inc. (April 16) announced that it will hold a special meeting of shareholders on May 7, 2026 to vote on the previously announced proposed merger with M2i Global, Inc. (“M2i Global”). Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 17, 2026 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. The Company expects the merger to close shortly after the meeting, subject to shareholder approval and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Under the terms of the merger agreement, M2i Global will merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of Volato, with M2i Global continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Volato. Upon completion of the transaction, existing M2i Global shareholders are expected to own approximately 85% of the combined company, while Volato shareholders are expected to own approximately 15%, on a fully diluted basis (excluding warrants). The combined company is expected to leverage M2i Global’s capabilities across mining, refining, and recycling of critical minerals alongside Volato’s expertise in software, data systems, and operational execution, creating a scalable, technology-enabled platform focused on strengthening domestic supply chains.
- Volato Group, Inc. and M2i Global, Inc. (April 13) announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-292132) relating to Volato’s proposed merger with M2i Global, formally advancing the transaction into its shareholder approval and closing phases. Volato is proceeding with distribution of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and a special meeting of shareholders is expected to be held on May 7, 2026. Shareholders of record as of April 17, 2026 will be entitled to vote on the proposed transaction.
Nokia (NOK, $13.19)
- Inseego’s (INSG) planned acquisition of Nokia’s fixed wireless access business is shaping up as one of those rare telecom deals where both sides can plausibly claim they got the better end of the bargain—and the market, at least for now, seems inclined to agree. Layer in Jim Cramer’s very public embrace of Nokia as a “winner” that’s “back,” and you get a story that reads less like a turnaround pitch deck and more like a quietly confident comeback chapter in global connectivity.
- Nokia recently served Wall Street a quietly confident Q1, the kind of quarter that doesn’t light up the meme feeds but does make long-only portfolio managers reach for their notebooks instead of the antacids.
NVIDIA (NVDA, $207.67, +5.68%)
NVIDIA will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 20, at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) to discuss its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, which ended April 26, 2026. The call will be webcast live (in listen-only mode) oninvestor.nvidia.com.
McDonald’s (MCD, $284.04)
- Morgan Stanley (April 21) has adjusted its price target on McDonald’s (MCD) to $334, maintaining an Equal Weight stance on the stock . The firm’s analyst highlighted consumer strength heading into first-quarter results, noting that earnings quality will likely vary across the restaurant and food distribution landscape . While some operators may face headwinds, the underlying consumer backdrop remains robust, which could support McDonald’s performance as one of the industry’s quality players positioned to navigate the current environment .
Tesla (TSLA, $398.53, +2.37%)
Reportedly, Tesla recently and unexpectedly swung to positive free cash flow in the first quarter, a neat trick for a company many on Wall Street still expected to be busily torching cash. The electric-vehicle maker has yet to fully open the spending spigots on artificial intelligence and added manufacturing capacity, suggesting the real splurge is still to come.
Reportedly, Ross Gerber of Gerber Kawasaki believes that combining Tesla and SpaceX could create a Berkshire Hathaway–style powerhouse focused on artificial intelligence.
Serina Therapeutics (NYSE: SER, $1.84, +2.22%)
Serina Therapeutics (NYSE: SER) (www.serinatx.com) seems to have have just traded itself into Wall Street’s good graces, pairing fresh capital with a late-session pop that suggests investors are finally starting to connect the dots between polymer chemistry and portfolio returns. In Huntsville, Alabama, Serina Therapeutics announced definitive agreements for a private placement of common stock and pre-funded warrants that could bring in up to 30 million dollars in gross proceeds. The first 15 million dollar tranche is expected to close on March 20, 2026, with a second tranche of up to 15 million dollars anticipated by April 30, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
What makes the deal stand out in a biotech tape crowded with discounts is the pricing: the securities are being sold at about 2.25 dollars per share, a roughly 68 percent premium to Serina’s March 17 closing price, signaling that insiders are willing to pay up for exposure to the company’s clinical agenda. The financing also adds board-level heft, with director Greg Bailey, M.D., stepping into a Co-Chairman role as he leads the investment, a move that effectively puts the capital and the governance on the same optimistic page. Learn more here.
Intel (INTC, $113.01, +4.46%)
Intel’s latest rally is more than just another chip stock pop; it’s the market’s way of voting “yes” on a reshuffled AI and manufacturing order in which Intel (INTC), Apple (AAPL, $284.18, +2.64%)), and Nvidia (NVDA) are quietly rehearsing for a new ensemble performance. Beneath the headlines about exploratory talks and record highs is a deeper story about supply chains, national strategy, and a former laggard that suddenly finds itself back on center stage.
The Sources
- Yahoo Finance – “Stock market today: Dow jumps 600 points, S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit records as AI trade fuels rally”
https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/live/stock-market-today-dow-jumps-600-points-sp-500-and-nasdaq-hit-records-as-ai-trade-fuels-rally-231128214.htmlfinance.yahoo - Zacks – “Stock Market News for May 6, 2026”
https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2915734/stock-market-news-for-may-6-2026zacks - Reuters – “Stocks jump and oil slides after Iran peace deal report”
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/global-markets-wrapup-1-2026-05-06/reuters - Euronews – “European stocks rally, oil falls on hopes of US-Iran deal”
https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/05/06/oil-slips-on-renewed-peace-hopes-as-ai-boom-fuels-stock-market-rallyeuronews - Yahoo Finance – S&P 500 (^GSPC) Historical Data
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EGSPC/history/finance.yahoo - Investing.com – “S&P 500 Historical Data (SPX)”
https://www.investing.com/indices/us-spx-500-historical-datainvesting - Nasdaq – Nasdaq Composite Index History (COMP)
https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/Index/History/COMPindexes.nasdaqomx - St. Louis Fed – “NASDAQ Composite (NASDAQCOM)”
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NASDAQCOMfred.stlouisfed - Reuters – “AMD shares hit record high, spark global chips rally on AI …”
https://www.reuters.com/business/amd-forecast-sparks-aidriven-rally-us-chipmaker-stocks-2026-05-06/reuters - Business Insider – “Why the Stock Market Is Hitting Record Highs Even As Oil …”
https://www.businessinsider.com/oil-price-impact-on-stock-market-crude-shortage-ai-earnings-2026-5businessinsider - Axios / Reuters wrap (via global markets piece) – easing oil and Iran headlines
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/global-markets-global-markets-2026-05-05/reuters - Charles Schwab – “Schwab Market Update” (daily U.S. market snapshot)
https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/stock-market-update-openschwab
