🆕 Newsmakers — 12:30p ET, 2026-07-29 — new since last alert

📰 NEW MARKET THEMES: • A key cryptocurrency bill could flop because of Trump's crypto ventures and banks' objections The Clarity Act's progress in May helped lift the price of bitcoin, but now the measure is facing obstacles in the full Senate. — marketwatch.com · 07/29 12:03p https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-key-cryptocurrency-bill-could-flop-because-of-trumps-crypto-ventures-and-banks-objections-76b7445b • What to watch at the meeting. Kevin M. Warsh, presiding over his second meeting as chairman of the central bank, faces pressure to raise interest rates as inflation remains elevated. — nytimes.com · 07/29 12:01p https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/29/business/fed-meeting-rates-kevin-warsh/what-to-watch-at-the-meeting • Fed's "Unusual Situation" on Interest Rates & Factors Creating Lasting Volatility @CharlesSchwab's Mike Townsend talks about the "unusual situation" surrounding the Fed and whether it will hike or hold interest rates. He's in the camp that the FOMC will hold, though without forward guidance, he believes a hike is on the table and expects dissents from members. — youtube.com · 07/29 12:00p https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrmLBeyVgRw • Nasdaq Index: Oil Shock and FOMC Risk Deepen Chip Stock Selloff Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq slide as oil spikes on Iran escalation ahead of the FOMC, while chip losses and AI earnings add pressure. — fxempire.com · 07/29 11:27a https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/nasdaq-index-oil-shock-and-fomc-risk-deepen-chip-stock-selloff-1613644 • A sixfold profit surge that disappoints? That's where AI expectations now sit SK Hynix shares closed nearly 10% lower as doubts grow over whether the sector's blockbuster spending spree can justify its lofty valuations. CNBC's Arjun Kharpal has the story behind the numbers. — youtube.com · 07/29 11:24a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEbdA0LzrIc

🐘 NEW BIG-CAP MOVERS:

1. F +4% $15.52 (62B cap) Ford Q2 Earnings Beat on Pricing & Mix, 2026 EBIT & FCF View Raised F's Q2 earnings beat as stronger pricing and product mix lifted EBIT, prompting higher 2026 profit and free cash flow guidance. — zacks.com · 07/29 12:01p https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2963465/ford-q2-earnings-beat-on-pricing-mix-2026-ebit-fcf-view-raised?cid=CS-STOCKNEWSAPI-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2963465

📈 NEW GAINERS:

1. VRRM +24% $5.20 (790M cap) Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Urges Verra Mobility Corporation Investors to Act: Class Action Filed Alleging Investor Harm NEW YORK, July 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) and certain of its officers. This lawsuit seek… — globenewswire.com · 07/29 12:00p https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/29/3335451/9788/en/Bronstein-Gewirtz-Grossman-LLC-Urges-Verra-Mobility-Corporation-Investors-to-Act-Class-Action-Filed-Alleging-Investor-Harm.html

2. EXLS +17% $35.59 (5.4B cap) ExlService Q2 Earnings Call Highlights ExlService NASDAQ: EXLS reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $594.8 million, up 15.6% year over year on a reported basis and 15.9% on a constant-currency basis, as growth accelerated across each of its operating segments. Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 22.3% from a… — marketbeat.com · 07/29 12:06p https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/exlservice-q2-earnings-call-highlights-2026-07-29/

3. AVTR +14% $14.16 (9.7B cap) Avantor (AVTR) Q2 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates The headline numbers for Avantor (AVTR) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended June 2026, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-ago actuals. — zacks.com · 07/29 10:31a https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2963022/avantor-avtr-q2-earnings-how-key-metrics-compare-to-wall-street-estimates?cid=CS-STOCKNEWSAPI-FT-fundamental_analysis|nfm-2963022

— new items only (already-sent headlines filtered). Full list in the 10am/3pm digest.