Bulls, Bears and the Bell | Quantum Hardware Wars & Wholesale Inflation

Welcome back to Bulls, Bears and the Bell—your high-octane "First Intelligence" to gain an edge before the opening cross.In this pre-market edition for Thursday, August 13, 2026, co-anchors Joe (The Macro Architect) and Jane (The Market Pulse) break down the crucial overnight developments, macro pivots, and corporate drivers shaping today’s trading session.What's Driving the Markets Today:The Quantum Hardware War: We dive deep into the aggressive overnight action in Lumina Quantum Systems after their massive breakthrough 4,000-qubit announcement. With shares spiking 14% in pre-market trading, Lumina has cracked the error-correction code years ahead of schedule. We discuss what this means for the "Post-Silicon Era" tech stack and why it could trigger a sector-wide re-rating for cybersecurity firms and the C-SEC ETF.Macro Outlook & The "PPI Pivot": With markets digesting a benign CPI report, all eyes turn to the critical 8:30 AM ET PPI release. We explore whether wholesale costs (expected at 7.2% YoY) will confirm the inflationary cooldown or if supply chain pressures are leaking back in. Plus, we preview the 8:30 AM Jobless Claims data.Global Map & Overnight Action: Tech-driven momentum sent Japan’s Nikkei 225 vertical, surging 1.67% overnight while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped a massive 3.78%. Meanwhile, European markets edge up slightly on technology strength, though London lags due to weak North Sea energy exports.Yen Intervention Watch: USD/JPY is hovering near the critical 160.00 mark. We decode the escalating rhetoric from Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and analyze why a joint US-Japan intervention could trigger intense, immediate volatility in the currency markets.Commodities & Corporate Tickers: WTI Crude is holding between $83 and $88 under OPEC demand pressure. We also look ahead to today's WASDE report at 4:00 PM ET, SanDisk's Investor Day, and Apple's $0.27 quarterly dividend payable today.Never miss an opening bell. Subscribe to Bulls, Bears and the Bell on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app to get our daily broadcast run sheets delivered directly to your feed.⚠️ DisclaimerBulls, Bears and the Bell is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed on this podcast constitutes investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Under no circumstances does any mention of a specific security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy constitute a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All trading and investment decisions involve risk, including the loss of principal. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.