U.S. stocks closed sharply lower as investors digested a steady Federal Reserve, persistent inflation pressure, and renewed concern that higher oil prices could keep monetary policy tighter for longer. The session turned risk-off across the board, with selling pressure broadening into the major index complex and leaving no clear safe haven within large-cap equities. The decline reflected a combination of macro caution, rate uncertainty, and a market that remains highly sensitive to any sign that earnings growth may not fully offset higher borrowing costs. Indeed, Wall Street finished the session with a cautious tone as traders digested the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep rates unchanged and looked ahead to the next policy signal. The macro backdrop stayed centered on inflation, energy, and the durability of AI spending, all of which kept risk appetite selective rather than broad-based. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.19% to 51,594.14, the S&P 500 dropped 1.52% to 7,316.15, the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.74% to 24,442.94 and is now in correction territory, & the small caps on the Russell 2000 closed at 2,906.31, -1.61%.

Macro Backdrop

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate in the 3.50% to 3.75% range, reinforcing the idea that policymakers want more evidence before moving again. For markets, that stance is supportive in the near term, but it also means borrowing costs remain high enough to pressure valuation-sensitive sectors and rate-sensitive balance sheets. Oil remains a major swing factor. Brent crude was quoted around $89.53 per barrel early in the day, and broader market commentary tied the energy move to geopolitical risk and a tighter inflation narrative. Higher energy prices tend to complicate the Fed’s job because they can keep headline inflation sticky even if growth starts to cool.

AI And Cloud

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT, $425.90, +9.05% in the aftermarket) remains one of the clearest beneficiaries of enterprise AI and cloud investment. Its latest cloud performance showed Intelligent Cloud revenue up 28%, with Azure and other cloud services up 40%, underscoring that AI infrastructure spending is still translating into meaningful top-line growth. That kind of result matters well beyond one company because it supports the broader thesis that hyperscale cloud and AI buildouts are still in an expansion phase. For the market, the key question is no longer whether AI spending is real; it is whether the pace of investment can keep justifying the valuations attached to the sector.

Sector Setup

Financials, industrials, and energy-related names are likely to keep benefiting from the market’s preference for earnings visibility and inflation resilience. By contrast, long-duration growth stocks may stay sensitive to any further rise in yields, oil, or Fed messaging that reinforces “higher for longer” expectations. The current mix still leaves room for selective upside in quality megacap tech, but it argues for a more disciplined approach across the rest of growth. In practical terms, investors appear to be paying for earnings durability, not just narrative momentum.

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 $10.77, -2.89%.

AMWL will report second quarter 2026 operating results after stock market trading hours on Tuesday, August 4. Following the distribution of the earnings release via wire services, the Amwell management team will host a live conference call and webcast at 5 p.m. ET to review the company’s operating results and provide a general business update. The live audio webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of the company’s website. 

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP)

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP, $13.98) 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.

HPP will release second quarter financial results before market open on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The company will hold a conference call to discuss the results at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET the same day. The conference call will be available via live audio webcast on the Investors section of the company’s website at HudsonPacificProperties.com. .

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX)

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX, $6.10) 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, $2.08), 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, $7.16), a leading digital data and analytics company powering critical business decisions, will release second quarter 2026 financial results for the period ended June 30, 2026, before the market opens on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss the Company’s business and financial results. A live webcast of the call can be accessed from Similarweb’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.similarweb.com. 

SMWB 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.

LG Display Co., Ltd. (LPL)

LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LPL, $2.79) 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, $3.38), 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, $21.63, +.89%) 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, $4.36, +5.31%) 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, $48.66 +2.90%) 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.

AMC Theatres (NYSE:AMC, $2.75, +3%) announced that The Odyssey has delivered the highest IMAX box office revenue ever recorded at its cinemas during the first two weekends of a film’s release.

The Sources

1. Reuters — Stock Market Today: Dow Closes Down
2. Federal Reserve — FOMC statement/news page
3. Yahoo Finance — Current price of oil as of July 29, 2026
4. Microsoft Investor Relations — FY26 Q4 earnings release / call
5. TradingEconomics — U.S. Stock Market Index
6. Federal Reserve — Monetary Policy Report, July 2026
7. Bloomberg Brief — Oil Rises after Iranian Attacks; Big Tech Earnings; Fed Decision
8. Federal Reserve — FOMC statement (prior reference)