Bulls, Bears and the Bell: Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough & The Fed’s Fractured Front

Tune into this episode of the Bulls, Bears and the Bell podcast for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, as we break down a historic session on Wall Street defined by a monumental biotech breakthrough and growing division at the Federal Reserve.In this episode:The Moderna Miracle: Moderna (MRNA) skyrockets 125.9% in its "best day ever" following landmark Phase 3 trial success for its mRNA cancer vaccine (Intismeran) for melanoma. Development partner Merck (MRK) gains 11.2%, helping propel the Dow into positive territory.The Fed's Fractured Front: Newly released minutes from the July FOMC meeting reveal a deeply "fractured" committee. Despite a 9-3 vote to hold rates at 3.5%–3.75%, three hawkish dissenters are actively pushing for more hikes if inflation doesn't cool by October.The Bond Market Bailout: The 10-Year Treasury yield cools to 4.65% as the Treasury Department steps in, doubling its debt buyback program to $4 billion to keep long-end liquidity flowing.The Chip Civil War: Marvell (MRVL) jumps 9.8% after securing a massive custom AI chip deal with Alphabet, while dominant rival Broadcom (AVGO) slides 4.1% under pressure.The Retail Litmus Test: Target (TGT) climbs 3.8% on strong Q2 results and a clear return to discretionary spending.S&P 500: 7,715.42 | ▲ +0.31% (snapping a 3-session losing streak)Dow Jones Industrial Average: 53,408.85 | ▲ +0.12%Nasdaq Composite: 26,342.29 | ▲ +0.20%The Market Scoreboard for Wednesday, August 19, 2026Subscribe to Bulls, Bears and the Bell on Spotify or your favorite podcast app to never miss an update!DisclaimerBulls, Bears and the Bell is for educational and informational purposes only. No information presented in this podcast constitutes financial, investment, tax, or medical advice. Always consult a licensed financial advisor or healthcare professional before making any investment or medical decisions.