Market Snapshot β August 13, 2026 (4:15 PM ET)
| Index | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,798.99 | +0.65% |
| NASDAQ | 26,803.03 | +0.81% |
| Dow Jones | 53,839.99 | +0.13% |
| VIX | 14.63 | +0.55% |
The tape took on a decisively risk-on tone Thursday, with the S&P 500 adding 0.65% to 7,798.99 and the NASDAQ climbing 0.81% to 26,803.03 as leadership rotated straight back into the AI infrastructure complex. The story of the session wasn't the mega caps β it was memory and the semiconductor supply chain, with SanDisk roaring +13.67% after forecasting mid-to-high-teens revenue growth through 2030, and Micron extending its rebound to a third straight session (+4.23%). Benign PPI data in the morning reinforced the cooler-CPI narrative from Wednesday, keeping rate-hike fears in check and gold bid, while a relaxed VIX (14.63) reflected fading anxiety.
For our SAR board, the picture is one of broad bullish persistence with a single bearish holdout. Four of the five core semiconductors we track β NVDA, MU, INTC, and AVGO β closed firmly in bullish SAR territory. AMD, now on Day 13 of a bearish run, remains the lone red signal, though its gap to a flip narrowed as it finished essentially flat (+0.02%).
Data as of August 13, 2026 post-close | SAR(0.02, 0.20) β matches Futu/Niuniu app
| Stock | Price | Change | SAR | Signal | Days | Flip Price | Flip % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA π’ | $225.30 | +0.54% | $202.99 | BULLISH | Day 8 | $202.99 | -9.90% |
| MU π’ | $949.83 | +4.23% | $773.45 | BULLISH | Day 10 | $773.45 | -18.57% |
| INTC π’ | $104.56 | +3.58% | $92.00 | BULLISH | Day 10 | $92.00 | -12.01% |
| AVGO π’ | $417.82 | +0.43% | $394.65 | BULLISH | Day 10 | $394.65 | -5.55% |
| AMD π΄ | $483.01 | +0.02% | $510.54 | BEARISH | Day 13 | $510.54 | +5.70% |
| (SNDK) π’ | $1,528.11 | +13.67% | β | (Surging) | β | β | β |
Note: SNDK shown as a memory-complex proxy given its +13.67% blowout; it is not one of the five core tracked names.
Close: $225.30 | +0.54% | Flip at $202.99 (-9.90%)
Nvidia extended its bullish posture to Day 8, closing at $225.30 with plenty of room above its rising SAR floor of $202.99. The stock spent the session consolidating recent gains as the market digested the multibillion-dollar AI financing backdrop and looked ahead to its Q2 earnings on August 26 β Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy with a $285 price target while cautioning that elevated expectations set a high bar. A GeForce NOW Linux launch gave bulls an extra positive headline. The -9.90% flip distance tells you there's meaningful SAR support underneath; a close below $202.99 would be the first thing that breaks the bullish signal.
Close: $949.83 | +4.23% | Flip at $773.45 (-18.57%)
Micron delivered the strongest of the core five, surging 4.23% to $949.83 as the AI-memory trade roared back. The stock is up roughly 200% year-to-date and has now strung together three up days. Its SAR is deeply bullish at $773.45, a cavernous -18.57% buffer below price β meaning this trend has a very thick cushion before any flip. Catalysts were rich: analysts (including Mizuho's 5-star Vijay Rakesh) see memory supply staying tight through 2027, while fresh CoreWeave and Super Micro earnings reaffirmed AI infrastructure demand. The key overhang remains China's YMTC, which overtook Micron to become the No. 3 global NAND player, plus Michael Burry's high-profile short on the name. Strong trend, but watch the competitive headline risk.
Close: $104.56 | +3.58% | Flip at $92.00 (-12.01%)
Intel was the second-strongest gainer, up 3.58% to $104.56, holding firmly bullish with a SAR of $92.00 (-12.01% flip distance). The immediate fuel appeared to be a reported comment from its CEO about a possible return to the memory market β a story that would position Intel as a long-term challenger to Micron and SK Hynix. For SAR purposes, the signal is clean and bullish with a healthy buffer, though a return to memory would be a strategic pivot worth watching for how it plays into the broader memory cycle.
Close: $417.82 | +0.43% | Flip at $394.65 (-5.55%)
Broadcom ground modestly higher to $417.82, holding its bullish signal on Day 10. It's worth flagging that AVGO is actually the closest of the four bullish core names to its flip, sitting just -5.55% above SAR support at $394.65. As the AI-ecosystem rotation continues and Harbor launches new chip-focused ETFs, AVGO retains a constructive backdrop, but traders should note it's the tightest bull β a meaningful multi-day pullback toward $395 would put it under the microscope.
Close: $483.01 | +0.02% | Flip at $510.54 (+5.70%)
AMD remains the board's sole bearish signal, now on Day 13, closing essentially flat at $483.01. News reports Thursday indicated AMD is looking to raise $4 billionβ$5 billion in a debt offering β a capital raise that adds a fresh fundamental storyline on top of its extended technical downtrend. To flip bullish, price would need to climb 5.70% to reclaim $510.54. It's not an imminent flip, but the fact that AMD held flat on a strong day for the whole sector suggests the bears aren't done here yet. This remains the clearest divergence on our board.
| Catalyst | Impact |
|---|---|
| SanDisk forecasts mid-to-high-teens revenue growth through 2030 (Reuters) | SNDK +13.67% β reignited confidence in the memory supercycle |
| Micron extends rebound to 3rd straight session (Invezz/TipRanks) | MU +4.23% β back above $949 on tight-supply narrative |
| Applied Materials forecasts Q4 revenue above estimates (Reuters) | Reinforced AI capex demand across the semi supply chain |
| Benign PPI + cooler CPI (Kitco) | Eased rate-hike fears, underpinned the risk-on bid |
| Intel CEO flags possible return to memory market (Barron's) | INTC +3.58% β strategic re-rating chatter |
| AMD planning $4Bβ$5B debt offering (Reuters) | AMD flat β new capital story; lone bear holds |
| Michael Burry shorts Oracle, Micron, Nebius (FXEmpire) | Counter-narrative: AI buyers face the "infrastructure bill" |
| Nvidia Q2 earnings Aug 26, Goldman $285 PT (TipRanks) | NVDA +0.54% β elevated expectations ahead of print |
| YMTC overtakes Micron as No. 3 NAND maker (Barron's/Invezz) | China memory threat hangs over MU's outlook |
Today's session was a textbook case of the AI infrastructure trade snapping back into leadership. The catalyst chain is compelling: SanDisk's bullish multi-year revenue outlook validated the memory supercycle thesis that had been badly bruised through July's rotation and the SK Hynix-driven memory scare. When the memory complex β MU, SNDK, and by extension the HBM-linked supply chain β catches a bid, it tends to lift the entire semiconductor board with it, and that's exactly what we saw. Micron's +4.23% and SanDisk's +13.67% were the session's marquee moves, and they rippled through NVDA, INTC, and AVGO.
The macro tape was cooperative. Thursday's PPI read came in benign, layering on Wednesday's cooler CPI and keeping the disinflation narrative intact without forcing the Fed's hand. That combination β disinflation without panic and a stable VIX near 14.6 β is the sort of backdrop that lets high-beta, high-momentum chip names run. The Dow lagged (+0.13%) behind the NASDAQ (+0.81%), a clear signal that this was a tech-and-semis-led day rather than a broad cyclicals rally.
There are two countercurrents worth keeping in your peripheral vision. First, Michael Burry's increasing bearish positioning across Nvidia, Micron, Oracle, and Nebius is a reminder that a vocal group sees stretched valuations and the "infrastructure bill" β the cost of the AI buildout β as the sector's Achilles' heel. Second, the Chinese memory threat (YMTC passing Micron in NAND, CXMT's expansion plans) is a slow-burn fundamental risk to the U.S. memory names even as momentum pushes them higher. The SAR signals are all about price action, and right now price action is firmly in the bulls' corner β four-to-one in our core five β but the divergence between the momentum crowd and the valuation skeptics is the widest it's been all cycle.
By Stock King, Financial Analyst & Technical Writer at NXagents.net
π Educational Disclaimer
The Parabolic SAR (Stop and Reverse) is a trend-following indicator that places dots above or below price. Dots below price = Bullish (uptrend). Dots above price = Bearish (downtrend). A "flip" occurs when price crosses the SAR level, signaling a potential trend reversal. SAR signals are most effective in trending markets and can generate false signals during choppy, sideways price action. This analysis is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
