U.S. equities traded defensively on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, as investors digested fresh macro surprises and escalating geopolitical risk tied to the end of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump, keeping risk assets on the back foot and volatility elevated.

Market at a glance – risk-off tone

U.S. stock futures pointed lower in early trade, extending Tuesday’s broad selloff as investors continued to de-risk amid headlines of renewed U.S. airstrikes on Iran and disrupted shipping lanes. The prior session saw all three major indices close in the red, with breadth weakening and the number of stocks carving out 52‑week lows rising sharply relative to new highs. Internationally, risk-off sentiment was visible across Asia and Europe, with India’s Sensex and Nifty 50 closing sharply lower and additional stress appearing in emerging markets exposed to energy and shipping.

Macroeconomic and policy backdrop

The macro narrative today is dominated by geopolitics rather than scheduled data, with investors repricing the path of growth, inflation, and Fed policy through the lens of renewed Middle East conflict and higher risk premiums. Trump’s declaration at NATO that the Iran ceasefire is “over,” along with reports of strikes on multiple ships, has elevated concerns about supply-chain disruption, energy shocks, and a potential drag on global trade. In parallel, global fuel price movements are mixed: gasoline prices in Thailand eased modestly, highlighting that regional policies and demand trends can partially offset headline risk even as crude-sensitive markets brace for volatility.

Sector and single-stock moves

Defense-related names and energy producers drew renewed attention as market participants rotated toward perceived geopolitical hedges, while more cyclical exposures underperformed amid growth concerns. In housing-related tech, Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) held near the mid‑$4 area in heavy turnover, as investors weighed its asset‑light model against rising macro uncertainty and rate‑path questions. Analyst activity remained robust, with fresh Wall Street calls spanning industrials, energy, financials, and consumer names such as Alcoa (NYSE:AA), Commercial Metals (NYSE:CMC), DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR), Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), Pinterest (NYSE:PINS), Snap (NYSE:SNAP), and Travelers (NYSE:TRV), signaling ongoing stock‑specific opportunity even in a risk‑off tape.

Global markets and crypto

Outside the U.S., Indian equities saw an aggressive downdraft, with the Sensex and Nifty 50 breaking through key technical levels as renewed U.S.–Iran hostilities rattled foreign and domestic investor confidence. Regional policy responses, including moves to lower gasoline prices in Thailand, underscore how governments are trying to cushion households and businesses from external shocks while markets recalibrate to higher geopolitical risk. In digital assets, crypto flows showed tentative stabilization, with U.S. Bitcoin ETFs ending a 10‑day outflow streak even as central banks such as the Bank of Russia push ahead with plans for a state‑backed digital ruble, reinforcing the bifurcation between decentralized and sovereign digital money narratives.

VP Watchlist Updates

Amwell® (NYSE: AMWL)

Amwell® (NYSE: AMWL) a leading provider of a comprehensive SaaS-based software platform for technology-enabled healthcare, closed at $8.67.

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX)

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX, $6.92 +4.06%), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging its proprietary Diffusphere™ technology designed to optimize local, controlled drug delivery for applications with significant unmet need, announced (July 7) the appointment of Robert Bazemore, Amy Pottand Dr Helen Thackray to the Board of Directors. “We are delighted for Robert, Amy and Helen to join our Board of Directors at a pivotal stage for the company.”   said Dr. James A. Helliwell, Chief Executive Officer of Eupraxia. “Their collective expertise across late-stage drug development, commercial strategy, and global product launches will be invaluable as we execute on several key upcoming milestones for EP-104GI and continue to expand our pipeline. Their appointments reflect the commitment of Eupraxia to advancing and expanding our gastroenterology assets in an efficient and effective manner. I also want to thank Paul Geyer and Michael Wilmink for all of the support and contributions they have made to Eupraxia over the last decade as we proved the function and potential of the Diffusphere technology.”

Eupraxia 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.”

Modular Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: MODD)

Modular Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: MODD, $4.10), a leader in innovative, patient-centric insulin delivery, today (June 30) announced that the first patients have completed onboarding and training and are now actively using the Pivot™ tubeless insulin patch pump in real-world settings. This milestone marks the transition of the Pivot pump from development into active patient use and represents a significant step in Modular Medical’s commercialization strategy. The Company will now begin collecting real world utilization data and user feedback to support broader adoption and continued product deployment optimization.

MODD announced ( June 26) that the Pivot™ tubeless insulin patch pump is now shipping to physician offices for training. Upon completion of training, these pumps will be presented to potential patients in the next few days and weeks. The Company intends to expand the roster of practices that offer Pivot over the coming months. This is another significant milestone in the deployment of Pivot. Modular Medical looks forward to updating the market when these first patients are using the pump to deliver insulin. The Pivot pump is purpose-built for adults with diabetes on daily injections who have faced cost, complexity, and usability barriers with traditional pump systems. This group represents an estimated 70% of insulin-dependent adults who remain on multiple daily injections, a multi-billion-dollar opportunity within the diabetes technology market.

MODD announced (June 24) that the Pivot™ tubeless insulin patch pump is now commercially available. This marks the start of real-world patient use, and the Company’s transition to a commercial-stage medical device company. As only the second fully electronic, tubeless insulin pump available in the United States, Pivot is designed to make pump therapy simpler to learn and easier to live with. Its removable two-part design and 3 mL reservoir, intuitive interface, and flexible, wearable form factor support everyday activities, such as showering and sports, with no battery recharging required – all while maintaining clinical accuracy and connectivity. “Reaching commercial availability is a transformational milestone that marks Modular Medical’s transition from a development-stage company to a revenue-generating commercial business,” said Jeb Besser, Chief Executive Officer of Modular Medical. “As only the second fully electronic tubeless pump on the U.S. market, Pivot is positioned to serve a large, underserved ‘almost-pumper’ population. With first shipments beginning this week, we are focused on disciplined execution, as we scale adoption and seek to build long-term value for patients and shareholders.”

On (June 4) the launch of PivotPump.com, a patient-focused website designed to support individuals seeking a simpler path to insulin pump therapy. This launch follows the Company’s receipt of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) clearance in April 2026 for its Pivot™ insulin delivery system. The FDA clearance represents a significant milestone in Modular Medical’s strategy to expand access to insulin pump technology, particularly among individuals historically underserved by existing solutions. The Company remains on track for commercial launch in the fall of 2026. Pivot is designed for people living with diabetes who rely on daily insulin injections, as well as those who have encountered technological, usability, or cost-related barriers with traditional pump systems. The system emphasizes simplicity and ease of use for the patient and full access to clinical information for the clinician to reduce adoption friction. The PivotPump.com website provides accessible, educational content on insulin pump therapy and highlights the Company’s focus on real-world usability and supporting patients in evaluating and adopting pump-based diabetes care.

Similarweb Ltd. (NYSE: SMWB)

Similarweb Ltd. (NYSE: SMWB, $6.18), a leading digital data and analytics company powering critical business decisions, announced (June 15) that it has surpassed $300 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and signed two multi-year enterprise contracts, each representing seven-figure ARR commitments. Collectively, these contracts represent approximately $47 million in Total Contract Value to be recognized over the next three years and were signed during the second quarter of 2026.

NVIDIA (NVDA)

NVIDIA (NVDA) closes at $204.12, +3.65%)

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB)

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB, $83.35), a global leader in launch and space systems and Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM, $50.48) a leading provider of global voice, data, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite services, announced (June 29) they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium. Rocket Lab will acquire all the outstanding shares of Iridium common stock for $54 per share in a cash and stock transaction. This represents an enterprise value for Iridium of approximately $8.0 billion.

The InterGroup Corporation (NASDAQ: INTG)

The InterGroup Corporation (NASDAQ: INTG), a diversified holding company with interests in hospitality, real estate, and marketable securities. InterGroup consolidates its majority‑owned subsidiary Portsmouth Square, Inc., which owns the Hilton San Francisco Financial District hotel and related facilities, closed at $45.19.

The Sources
[1] Here Are Wednesday’s Best Wall Street Analyst Research Calls: Alcoa, Commercial Metals, DTE Energy, Dollar Tree, Occidental Petroleum, PayPal, Pinterest, Snap, Travelers, and More https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/08/here-are-wednesdays-best-wall-street-analyst-research-calls-alcoa-commercial-metals-dte-energy-dollar-tree-occidental-petroleum-paypal-pinterest-snap-travelers-and-more/
[2] Stock Market News for July 8, 2026 https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-news-july-8-095100764.html
[3] Thai Enquirer News Summary – July 8, 2026 https://www.thaienquirer.com/71836/thai-enquirer-news-summary-july-8-2026/
[4] Opendoor Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:OPEN) stock analysis: heavy volume tests the housing-market bet https://ts2.tech/en/opendoor-technologies-inc-nasdaqopen-stock-analysis-heavy-volume-tests-the-housing-market-bet/
[5] Share Market Today: Nifty 50, Bank Nifty | July 08, 2026 https://blog.liquide.life/share-market-today-sensex-crashes-1-677-points-nifty-closes-below-23-900/
[6] Crypto News: Bitcoin ETFs End 10 Day Outflow Streak https://investingnews.com/cryptocurrency-market-recap/
[7] The Capital Breakdown Morning Macro Brief: July 8, 2026 https://www.moomoo.com/community/feed/the-capital-breakdown-morning-macro-brief-july-8-2026-116883879690245
[8] 7/7/2026 Market Summary: 120 Stocks Hit Lows Including 1 S&P 500 Components https://www.trefis.com/data/companies/%5ERUA/no-login-required/HvEiUcNZ/7-7-2026-Market-Summary-120-Stocks-Hit-Lows-Including-1-S-P-500-Components
[9] 7/7/2026 Market Summary: 37 S&P 500 Stocks Hit Highs https://www.trefis.com/data/companies/%5ESPX/no-login-required/WFmabBDF/7-7-2026-Market-Summary-37-S-P-500-Stocks-Hit-Highs-
[10] Stock Market Mid-Day Report, July 8, 2026: Sensex, Nifty Decline Further at Midday; Iran-US Hostilities Rattle Investors https://hdfcsky.com/news/stock-market-mid-day-report-july-8-2026-sensex-nifty-decline-further-at-midday-iran-us-hostilities-rattle-investors