U.S. equities closed mixed to lower for the week after a risk-off stretch tied to higher energy prices, rising Treasury yields earlier in the week, and fresh scrutiny on earnings quality and AI spending discipline. By Friday’s close, the S&P 500 finished at 7,411.02, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 52,072.92, and the prior session showed the Nasdaq Composite at 25,137.69 and the Russell 2000 at 2,940.16 as investors rotated away from some higher-beta growth exposure and reassessed inflation risk. The tone of the tape was not outright bearish, but it was more selective. Reuters noted that July trading was increasingly shaped by surging crude prices and inflation sensitivity, while broader market leadership appeared less forgiving of aggressive capital spending narratives, especially across technology and semiconductor names.

Macroeconomic Commentary

The macro backdrop improved on the inflation front, at least in the backward-looking June data. U.S. consumer inflation slowed to 3.5% year over year in June from 4.2% in May, while producer prices unexpectedly fell 0.3% month over month, suggesting price pressures had been easing before the latest Middle East-driven energy spike. Labor data also reinforced the view that the economy remains resilient. Initial jobless claims fell by 22,000 to 187,000 for the week ended July 18, the lowest level since 1969 according to Reuters, a sign that layoffs remain limited even as markets debate whether growth is beginning to cool more unevenly across sectors. That combination, softer inflation but still-tight labor conditions, leaves the Federal Reserve in a difficult position. Reuters reported that elevated inflation had already pushed about half of policymakers at the June meeting to project at least one rate hike by year-end 2026, so investors are now balancing better June inflation data against the possibility that higher oil could re-ignite price pressures into late summer.

Rates, Oil, and Risk

Treasury yields remained central to market sentiment this week. Mid-July readings showed the 10-year Treasury yield near 4.555% and the 2-year near 4.145% after the June inflation reports, underscoring that bond investors have not fully priced out additional Fed tightening. Energy was the swing factor. Reuters said Brent crude moved above $100 per barrel on Thursday for the first time in two months and was still up more than 30% in July by Friday morning, reinforcing the market’s concern that geopolitical risk and higher fuel costs could interrupt the recent disinflation trend. That matters because rising oil changes the market narrative quickly. When energy prices move high enough to threaten consumer spending, transportation margins, and inflation expectations at the same time, equity investors tend to reduce risk first and sort fundamentals second.

Index Performance

Friday’s closing levels provide a clean benchmark for the week’s positioning.

Index	Friday close	Commentary
S&P 500	7,411.02	Large-cap benchmark held above 7,400, but the week reflected fading momentum and more defensive positioning.
Dow Jones Industrial Average	52,072.92	The Dow showed relative resilience as investors favored more cyclical and defensive blue chips over crowded growth trades.
Nasdaq Composite	25,137.69	Tech remained the pressure point as elevated capex expectations and higher yields weighed on sentiment.
Russell 2000	2,940.16	Small caps gave back ground as higher rates and macro uncertainty tempered risk appetite.

Stocks in Focus

Several public companies helped define the week’s tone. Intel (INTC) drew attention after delivering a stronger AI-related outlook, while Micron Technology (MU) benefited earlier in July from a major U.S. investment plan tied to AI memory demand.. At the same time, investors became more demanding across mega-cap and growth-heavy areas, especially where spending commitments appeared ahead of monetization. Reuters also highlighted Meta Platforms (META) in the broader earnings-season conversation, while market commentary pointed to pressure on semiconductor-linked leadership as investors reassessed return-on-capital expectations. The most important takeaway is that macro is back in the driver’s seat. Even strong company-specific stories can get temporarily overwhelmed when oil, yields, inflation expectations, and Fed uncertainty all move at once.

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 $10.81, +.37% on Friday.

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP)

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP, $15.38, +3.43% on Friday) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific’s unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space.

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX)

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX, $5.81) 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, $2.51), a commercial-stage medical device company preparing for the commercial launch of its next-generation Pivot™ tubeless patch pump, today (July 22) announced the formation of its Pivot Innovation Council, a cross-functional group of leading clinicians and healthcare experts established to help guide the company’s clinical and commercial strategy. Diabetes care expert Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, FACP was appointed as chair of the Pivot Innovation Council. The council will provide insights on target patient populations, support optimization of clinical workflows, inform evidence-generation initiatives, and help refine the Pivot product roadmap and go-to-market approach, as the Company continues to scale its differentiated offering.

Modular released findings (July 15) from an independent market research study demonstrating positive receptivity to its FDA-cleared Pivot™ tubeless patch pump due to its differentiated design, streamlined user experience, and potential for reimbursement through the pharmacy channel.

Modular Medical announced (July 14) announced positive findings from a new comprehensive diabetes patient research initiative further supporting its commercialization strategy. The Company will share these findings and showcase its Pivot™ tubeless insulin patch pump at the upcoming Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio, August 7-10, 2026. Key findings from the assessment of 100 individuals utilizing multiple daily injections revealed significant unmet needs and strong interest in simplified insulin pump technology: 1) 97% of participants stated they would be interested in insulin pump therapy and expressed openness to alternative treatment options, 2) Among the 43% of participants who reported being hospitalized due to hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), nearly half reported experiencing such events two or more times annually, & 3) 55% of participants reported finding themselves in environments that were not convenient or private for administering insulin injections at least twice per week, while 31% experienced these situations more than four times per week.

Modular Medical (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.

Similarweb Ltd. (NYSE: SMWB)

Similarweb Ltd. (NYSE: SMWB, $6.29, +3.80%), 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 $206.84. QumulusAI (Nasdaq: QMLS), a neocloud infrastructure provider purpose-built for the AI computing era, today (July 22) announced a signed two-year agreement, valued at more than $32 million, to supply NVIDIA Blackwell B300 capacity to an AI inference platform provider focused on generative AI applications. The agreement includes renewal options, with capacity expected to come online in the fall of 2026.

The InterGroup Corporation (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 $33.97.

LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL)

LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LPL, $3.17) has spent the last few years doing something many hardware companies talk about but few execute well: turning a technology pivot into a full‑blown business transformation that everyday investors can actually follow. Instead of chasing commoditized LCD TV panels in a race to the bottom, LPL is leaning into Gaming OLED, CES‑worthy innovation, and premium automotive displays – and the press trail tells a surprisingly investor‑friendly story.

Yatsen Group (NYSE: YSG)

Yatsen Group (NYSE: YSG, $3.32, +.61%), a world-class beauty innovation pioneer, announced (July 8) a landmark collaboration to bring its flagship brand, Perfect Diary, to Sephora in China. This partnership integrates Yatsen’s rigorous scientific infrastructure with the world’s leading prestige beauty retailer, marking a significant milestone in Yatsen’s continuing evolution into a global beauty technology powerhouse.

Doximity, Inc. (NYSE:DOCS)

Doximity (NYSE: DOCS, $20.42) is the leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals. The company’s network members include more than 85% of U.S. physicians across all specialties and practice areas. Doximity provides its verified clinical membership with digital tools built for medicine, enabling them to collaborate with colleagues, stay current on medical news and research, manage their careers and on-call schedules, streamline documentation and administrative paperwork, and conduct virtual patient visits.

Doximity, Inc. will report financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2026 after market close on August 6, 2026. Doximity will host a conference call and webcast at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) to discuss the financial results. To listen to a live audio webcast, please visit the Company’s Investor Relations page at https://investors.doximity.com/.

Sable Offshore Corp. (SOC)

Sable Offshore Corp. (SOC, $4.71, +1.07%) is rebooting a controversial but strategically important offshore-pipeline system under federal DPA orders, targeting meaningful production from Platform Hondo while juggling financing needs that could run into the billions and regulatory battles that could reshape California’s energy landscape.

IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX)

IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX, $43.38, +10.52% over the last 5-days) reported (July 23) strong financial results for the second quarter of 2026, demonstrating the value of its unique global entertainment platform and broad content portfolio.Underscoring the power of its global platform, IMAX exceeds consensus expectations and posts strong year-over-year growth for the second quarter across key metrics: Revenue of $103 million, up 12% year-over-year, Strong operating profitability with Net Income margin of 15.5% and Adjusted EBITDA(3) margin of 46.6%, Net income per diluted share of 27 cents, up 35% year-over year and record Q2 Adjusted EPS(2,3) of 43 cents, up 65% year-over-year, & Year-to-date Cash from Operating Activities of $36 million, up 19% year-over-year.

The Sources