The Trading Addict · Issue No. 55 · Monday August 10, 2026

CPI Week
+ AI Race Enters Orbit

Wednesday's inflation report resets rate expectations. SpaceX moves into CoreWeave's turf. Plus the full Aug 10–13 earnings list and a Stock Joke you'll want to send to a friend.

The Trading Addict Newsletter · by Maria Helmick

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Issue No. 55 • Monday August 10, 2026

The Trading Addict Newsletter by Maria Helmick

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Market Pulse · What to Expect This Week

CPI Is the Week's First Big Test

A soft payroll headline eased immediate tightening fears. Wednesday's inflation report has to show that price pressure is cooling — without confirming a deeper growth problem.

July CPI Release

Wednesday · 8:30 AM ET

Friday's jobs report was soft: payrolls declined by 23,000 in July while unemployment held at 4.1%. That is enough to make inflation — not employment — the market's next decisive test.

It follows an unusually divided Fed meeting. On July 29, the FOMC held the federal-funds target range at 3.50%–3.75% by a 9–3 vote; all three dissenters preferred a quarter-point increase. Wednesday's CPI will help determine whether that hawkish minority gains support.

Wednesday's July CPI release arrives at 8:30 AM ET. June's headline CPI fell 0.4% month over month but remained 3.5% higher year over year. Core CPI was flat for the month and up 2.6% year over year.

Why the number matters for stocks

CPI changes the expected path of interest rates. A cooler reading can pull Treasury yields lower, reduce the discount rate applied to future earnings and support higher-multiple shares. A hotter reading can do the reverse — lifting yields, tightening financial conditions and making distant profits less valuable today.

Cooler / Benign

Lower yields could support growth stocks, small caps and homebuilders — provided the report doesn't intensify recession fears.

Hotter

Sticky core inflation could revive the hike debate, pressure yields higher and squeeze rate-sensitive sectors.

Maria's Bottom Line

Wednesday's CPI is the single most important number of the week. I'm not trying to guess the print — I'm sizing so that either outcome is manageable. A cool number is a gift; a hot number is a stress test. Have your plan for both before 8:30 AM ET, not after.

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AI Infrastructure · Competitive Landscape

The AI Race Just Entered Orbit

What SpaceX's compute push could mean for CoreWeave — and the same expensive race for GPUs, power, financing and AI customers.

AI compute is becoming the new frontier

Every major AI company needs more computing power. That demand has been a powerful tailwind for neoclouds such as CoreWeave, which gives customers access to Nvidia-powered infrastructure.

SpaceX is building AI infrastructure and intends to use Nvidia systems. If it secures major GPU supply and sells compute capacity, it could compete directly with CoreWeave for chips, power, financing and customers.

Where the pressure could show up

GPU access: A large SpaceX allocation could leave CoreWeave paying more — or waiting longer — for the newest Nvidia systems.

Capital race: SpaceX has access to enormous capital. CoreWeave already carries considerable debt and must keep financing expansion.

Customers: SpaceX could pursue the same AI labs and technology companies that buy capacity from CoreWeave.

CoreWeave may have to reweave its strategy

CoreWeave's growth has been impressive, but building that growth is expensive. A stronger competitor could pressure its financing, margins and expansion. SpaceX does not need to destroy AI demand to hurt CoreWeave — it only needs to make GPUs, customers and capital more expensive to secure. The threat is not immediate, but CoreWeave's room for error is getting smaller.

Maria's Bottom Line

The opportunity before us is getting more interesting every month. All the companies involved remain compelling. SpaceX's push into AI computing is another sign of how quickly this industry is growing, changing and evolving.

This market is still in its infancy. AI demand is expanding so rapidly that there may be enough room for SpaceX, CoreWeave, Nebius and others to grow and profit. It may also be worth considering more space-and-compute names as the story develops.

The Week Ahead