CPI cooled the markets, and now our software plays are feeling the chill from IBM's hardware pivot
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Morning brief: Oil’s gone wild, our Salesforce bet looks stellar, and now we’re just sweating the CPI teller
Oil Surges on Hormuz Blockade Fears: Brent crude spiked 9% overnight after new threats of shipping tolls in the Strait of Hormuz instantly revived macro inflation fears. Salesforce Jumps 4.84% on Upgrade: Guggenheim upgraded the stock to Buy, calling the AI bear case unrealistic as its Agentforce platform proves its rapid monetization potential. Fubo Rallies 7.08% on New CEO: Shares surged after former Disney executive Alisa Bowen officially took over as the new CEO to drive the streaming platform's profitability. Micron Drops 4.32% in Semi Selloff: A massive 15% plunge in SK Hynix shares overnight sparked aggressive profit-taking across the entire global memory and semiconductor complex. CPI Print to Test Market Nerves: June inflation data drops before the open; a hot core print combined with rising oil prices could severely punish tech stocks.
Oil Surges on Hormuz Blockade Fears
Brent crude spiked 9% overnight after new threats of shipping tolls in the Strait of Hormuz instantly revived macro inflation fears.
Salesforce Jumps 4.84% on Upgrade
Guggenheim upgraded the stock to Buy, calling the AI bear case unrealistic as its Agentforce platform proves its rapid monetization potential.
Fubo Rallies 7.08% on New CEO
Shares surged after former Disney executive Alisa Bowen officially took over as the new CEO to drive the streaming platform's profitability.
Micron Drops 4.32% in Semi Selloff
A massive 15% plunge in SK Hynix shares overnight sparked aggressive profit-taking across the entire global memory and semiconductor complex.
CPI Print to Test Market Nerves
June inflation data drops before the open; a hot core print combined with rising oil prices could severely punish tech stocks.
Posture: Defensive. Surging oil and looming CPI data have reignited inflation fears, warranting caution on tech and high-beta assets.
Upcoming earnings
Evening brief: CPI cooled the markets, and now our software plays are feeling the chill from IBM's hardware pivot
Hardware Wins as CPI Cools: Cooler June CPI lifted the Nasdaq, but IBM's warning that clients are slashing software budgets for AI hardware created a sharp tech divide. MSTR Jumps 5.95% on Stock Sale: Shares jumped 5.95% after completing a $467 million ATM offering to boost reserves without buying Bitcoin, reflecting a new flexible treasury approach. NOW Sinks 5.76% on IBM Warning: ServiceNow tumbled 5.76% amid a software sector selloff after IBM warned that enterprise customers are delaying IT deals to fund hardware purchases. Micron Rallies 4.92% on PT Hike: Micron popped 4.92% after KeyBanc raised its price target to $1,750, citing strong AI data center demand and upcoming double-digit memory price hikes. Software Must Prove Itself Soon: IBM's stark capex warning raises the stakes for ServiceNow and Alphabet earnings on July 22 to prove that enterprise software demand remains durable.
Hardware Wins as CPI Cools
Cooler June CPI lifted the Nasdaq, but IBM's warning that clients are slashing software budgets for AI hardware created a sharp tech divide.
MSTR Jumps 5.95% on Stock Sale
Shares jumped 5.95% after completing a $467 million ATM offering to boost reserves without buying Bitcoin, reflecting a new flexible treasury approach.
NOW Sinks 5.76% on IBM Warning
ServiceNow tumbled 5.76% amid a software sector selloff after IBM warned that enterprise customers are delaying IT deals to fund hardware purchases.
Micron Rallies 4.92% on PT Hike
Micron popped 4.92% after KeyBanc raised its price target to $1,750, citing strong AI data center demand and upcoming double-digit memory price hikes.
Software Must Prove Itself Soon
IBM's stark capex warning raises the stakes for ServiceNow and Alphabet earnings on July 22 to prove that enterprise software demand remains durable.
Posture: Neutral/Opportunistic. With Fear at 43 and CPI cooling, we are building cash for software dips while leaning into strong AI hardware momentum.
Tickers in focus: IBM, NOW, MU
Upcoming earnings
The day's moves on the ledger
No slate changes were logged this day.
← Monday, July 13, 2026 · Wednesday, July 15, 2026 → · Archive