Top market movers — week of Aug 3 – Aug 9, 2026

“Blanche formally rescinds plan for ‘weaponization’ fund, in deal to advance AG nomination - The Washington Post Blanche formally rescinds plan for ‘weaponization’ fund, in deal to advance AG nomination The Washington Post”

💡 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded a controversial 'weaponization' fund plan, clearing the path for his AG nomination, which reduces political uncertainty and is broadly positive for market sentiment.

• LONG $SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust conf 6/10 ▲ +0.2% expected tracking…
• LONG $QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust conf 6/10 ▲ +0.2% expected tracking…

“Scott Bessent Says America 'Delivers' for 'Trusted Partners' as US, Japan Confirm Joint Yen Intervention - Benzinga Scott Bessent Says America 'Delivers' for 'Trusted Partners' as US, Japan Confirm Joint Yen Intervention Benzinga”

💡 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed joint US-Japan yen intervention, which should strengthen the yen and potentially impact export-oriented Japanese companies.

• SHORT $7203.T Toyota Motor Corporation conf 6/10 ▼ −0.8% expected tracking…
• SHORT $6758.T Sony Group Corporation conf 5/10 ▼ −0.6% expected tracking…
• SHORT $EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF conf 5/10 ▼ −0.5% expected tracking…

“Bessent ready to repeat joint yen intervention, urges bigger Fed backstop - Reuters Bessent ready to repeat joint yen intervention, urges bigger Fed backstop Reuters”

💡 Treasury Secretary Bessent's comments on potential yen intervention and a larger Fed backstop could strengthen the yen and impact U.S. banks and the broad market.

• NEUTRAL $SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust conf 5/10 no clear move tracking…
• NEUTRAL $XLF State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF conf 5/10 no clear move tracking…

“Elon Musk's AI Data Centers Need So Much Power He's Buying Gas Turbine Companies -- Who Else Benefits? - The Motley Fool Elon Musk's AI Data Centers Need So Much Power He's Buying Gas Turbine Companies -- Who Else Benefits? The Motley Fool”

💡 Elon Musk's reported acquisition of gas turbine companies for AI data centers suggests increased demand for natural gas power generation, benefiting gas turbine manufacturers and natural gas producers.

• LONG $CAT Caterpillar Inc. conf 7/10 ▲ +1.2% expected tracking…
• LONG $GE GE Aerospace conf 6/10 ▲ +1.2% expected tracking…
• LONG $CVX Chevron Corporation conf 4/10 ▲ +0.6% expected tracking…
• LONG $XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation conf 4/10 ▲ +0.5% expected tracking…

“Pete Hegseth doubles down on Trump's 'World War' threat saying US is 'locked and loaded' - AOL.com Pete Hegseth doubles down on Trump's 'World War' threat saying US is 'locked and loaded' AOL.com”

💡 Secretary Hegseth's 'locked and loaded' comment, echoing Trump's 'World War' threat, signals heightened geopolitical risk, likely boosting defense stocks and oil prices while weighing on broader market sentiment.

• LONG $USO United States Oil Fund, LP conf 7/10 ▲ +2% expected tracking…
• LONG $LMT Lockheed Martin Corporation conf 6/10 ▲ +1.2% expected tracking…
• LONG $RTX RTX Corporation conf 6/10 ▲ +1% expected tracking…
• LONG $GD General Dynamics Corporation conf 6/10 ▲ +1.1% expected tracking…
• LONG $SH ProShares Short S&P500 conf 6/10 ▲ +0.9% expected tracking…

“The Fed Held Interest Rates Steady for a 2nd Straight Meeting Under Kevin Warsh, With 3 Officials Dissenting. Here's What Investors Should Expect Next. - The Motley Fool The Fed Held Interest Rates Steady for a 2nd Straight Meeting Under K”

💡 The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the second consecutive meeting, as expected, with three dissenting votes, indicating potential future shifts.

• NEUTRAL $SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust conf 6/10 no clear move tracking…
• NEUTRAL $TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF conf 6/10 no clear move tracking…
• NEUTRAL $XLF State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF conf 6/10 no clear move tracking…

“U.S., Japan confirm coordinated yen intervention, signal readiness for more - CNBC U.S., Japan confirm coordinated yen intervention, signal readiness for more CNBC”

💡 The U.S. and Japan confirmed coordinated yen intervention, signaling readiness for further action, which is bullish for the Japanese yen and potentially bearish for the U.S. dollar.

• LONG $FXY Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust conf 8/10 ▲ +1.5% expected tracking…
• LONG $EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF conf 7/10 ▲ +0.8% expected tracking…