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Houston... SpaceX Has A Short Problem
Plus, Google delays, M&A activity, top stories, earnings, and more.
Justin Giles
July 20, 2026
Happy Monday! SpaceX went from one of Wall Street’s darlings to short sellers’ biggest target almost overnight, with an unprecedented wave of bearish bets piling in. Read on to uncover what’s fueling the selloff and whether SpaceX can regain altitude.
Wall Street’s favorite AI trades are breaking down as chip stocks hit a historic slump while software stages an unexpected comeback. Discover what triggered the reversal and which side of the AI trade could win next.
Plus, if you’re looking to stay ahead of the biggest trends shaping fintech and crypto, check out Benzinga’s Future Finance newsletter.
In Today's Edition
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TOP STORY
SpaceX went from a Wall Street darling to one of the market’s biggest short targets almost overnight, as bearish investors pile into a historic bet with roughly 29% of the float now sold short.
With shares slipping below key milestones — sinking below its $135 IPO price — the battle between SpaceX bulls and short sellers is heating up. Read on to uncover what’s fueling the selloff and whether the stock can regain altitude.
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MARKET RECAP
| Averages & Assets | ||||
| Asset | Close 07/17/26 | Price Change | ||
| $7,457.69 | -1.01% | ||
| $25,520.24 | -1.40% | ||
| $52,146.42 | -0.77% | ||
| 4.55% | -0.02 bps | ||
| $368.98 | +9.22% | ||
| $345.42 | -14.15% | ||
| $63,977.95 | +0.29% | ||
| $1,839.03 | -1.29% | ||
| $1.09 | +0.93% | ||
Last Week: U.S. indexes finished lower last week, with the major indexes Dow (-0.9%), S&P 500 (-1.6%), and Nasdaq (-2.9%) all tumbling as escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran weighed on investor sentiment and pushed oil prices higher. Chip stocks led the decline — down nearly 10% this month — extending July's tech selloff after the semiconductor sector's record second-quarter rally (88%). Investors also remained focused on the conflict in the Middle East, as concerns over geopolitical risks and potential disruptions to global energy markets continued to drive market volatility.
On Our Radar: Looking ahead, Wall Street will be paying attention to today’s U.S. leading economic indicators report for fresh clues on the direction and momentum of the economy. On the earnings front, all eyes will be on Northrop Grumman (NOC), General Motors (GM), and 3M Company (MMM) which will report before the market opens tomorrow.
MARKET HEATMAP
Top Gainers: AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), Travelers Companies (TRV), Seagate (STX), Lumentum (LITE), Nebius (NBIS), Humana (HUM)
Top Laggards: Netflix (NFLX), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), Coca-Cola (KO), Synopsys (SNPS), Robinhood (HOOD), Applied Materials (AMAT)
But these weren’t the only companies making big moves. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Friday.
Discover how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap. Filter by market cap, or click on any box to explore specific sectors or assets in more detail.
FIVE ZINGERS
Bulls & Bears: Here’s a look at some of the most notable stocks (Paypal, Netflix, UnitedHealth, TSMC, IBM, SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, etc.) making headlines over past week. Catch up on all the top movers now.
Gemini Glitch: Google’s AI ambitions are facing a new challenge as delays surrounding its next-generation Gemini model spark concerns on Wall Street. See what’s behind the setback and what it means going forward.
New Lows: Some of the biggest names in the market — Netflix and Intuitive Surgical — just hit new 52-week lows. Read on to see why they are falling and if they’re buying opportunities, or something you should stay aware from.
Deal, Or No Deal: M&A activity is heating up as some of the biggest names are making moves behind the scenes. Discover who’s buying, who’s selling, canceled deals, and what it means for your portfolio.
Stock Of The Day: Shares of Rocket Lab are coming back down to Earth after a sharp pullback, and traders are watching for a potential reentry point. Read on to see where shares are likely headed next.
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