Bulls, Bears and the Bell: August 13, 2026 PM Post-Market Research Report

This post-market research report details a historic trading session on Thursday, August 13, 2026, highlighted by the S&P 500 clawing its way to its 27th record close of the year at 7,798.99. Bolstered by a flat (0.0%) July Producer Price Index (PPI) print that cemented an easing inflation narrative, high-growth sectors like Communication Services (+1.56%) and Information Technology dominated the session.The day's market narrative was driven by massive corporate developments, including an 18.8% to 25% surge in Workday (WDAY) on reports that private equity giant Silver Lake is in buyout talks at a $43 billion valuation. Additionally, SanDisk (SNDK) leaped 13.67% following its highly optimistic 2026 Investor Day. In the after-hours session, semiconductor giant Applied Materials (AMAT) delivered a stellar "beat and raise" earnings report driven by relentless AI infrastructure demand. Conversely, the market demonstrated a ruthless focus on execution, punishing Cerebras (CBRS) with a 14% plunge following a top-line revenue miss, despite the company powering OpenAI's new GPT-5.6 Sol.This report is compiled for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. All information is derived from the post-market research materials provided for "Bulls, Bears and the Bell" on August 13, 2026. Investing in financial markets involves high risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult with a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.