--- title: "☕️ [Task Coins Giveaway] Daily Market Talk — Moderna Soars 177% on Landmark Cancer Vaccine Win" type: "Topics" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/topics/100000000861905.md" description: "Moderna had its best day ever Wednesday: shares soared 177% after its melanoma vaccine, developed with Merck, became the first mRNA cancer therapy to succeed in a Phase 3 trial. Merck rose alongside i..." datetime: "2026-08-20T03:05:20.000Z" locales: - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/topics/100000000861905.md) - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/topics/100000000861905.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/topics/100000000861905.md) author: "[Captain's Watch](https://longbridge.com/en/profiles/24747427.md)" generator: "portal-rs" --- # ☕️ [Task Coins Giveaway] Daily Market Talk — Moderna Soars 177% on Landmark Cancer Vaccine Win Moderna had its best day ever Wednesday: shares soared 177% after its melanoma vaccine, developed with Merck, became the first mRNA cancer therapy to succeed in a Phase 3 trial. Merck rose alongside it. Memory chips split hard on the same day, with SanDisk and Micron rising on SK Hynix's record buyback news while Western Digital, Seagate, Lumentum, and Coherent all fell. Let's dig in 👇 **💬 Moderna nearly tripled overnight: would you chase it, or is this one to sit out?** ## 📊 Quick Recap — What Moved & Why ### 🇺🇸 US — Moderna Soars 177% on Landmark Cancer Vaccine Win **🔑 Key Event:** $Moderna(MRNA.US) surged **177%** to $174.38, its best day ever, after its mRNA vaccine with Merck's Keytruda cut melanoma recurrence risk 49% in a Phase 3 trial, the **first mRNA cancer vaccine to succeed at that stage**. Its market cap jumped from $25B to $69B; $Merck(MRK.US) rose **10.6%** to $149.52. US indices snapped a losing streak, with $S&P 500(.SPX.US) up **0.21%** to 7,707.98, $NASDAQ Composite Index(.IXIC.US) up **0.16%** to 26,331.09, and $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US) up **0.22%** to 53,463.05, after the Treasury said it would double long-bond buybacks. **👀 Other to Watch** - **Memory chips split hard** → $Sandisk(SNDK.US) rose **5%** and $Micron Tech(MU.US) **3%** on SK Hynix's record **$29B** buyback plan, while $Western Digital(WDC.US) fell **6.2%** on weak margins and $Coherent Corp.(COHR.US) fell **12%** on profit-taking. - $Marvell Tech(MRVL.US) → jumped about **12%** after Google took a warrant for up to **$12.2B** of its stock in an expanded custom AI-chip deal; $Broadcom(AVGO.US), Google's previous main chip partner, fell over **5%** on the competitive threat. - **Fed's July minutes** → showed an unusually hawkish split: the FOMC held rates 9-3, but the three dissents all wanted a **hike**, not a cut, and minutes showed broader sentiment that tightening may be needed if inflation doesn't fall. - $Target(TGT.US) **&** $Lowes(LOW.US) → Target beat on comp sales (**+3.8%**) but fell about 1.6% premarket on "sell the news"; Lowe's beat on EPS but trimmed full-year guidance on soft home-improvement demand, falling about 2%. - $Nebius(NBIS.US) → fell **10-14%** after announcing a **$4.5B** convertible-note offering, its third billion-dollar-plus raise in under a year. ### 🇸🇬 Singapore — STI Drifts Lower, Tracking Global Weakness **🔑 Key Event:** $FTSE Straits Times Index(STI.SG) has drifted lower for three straight sessions, from Monday's 5,768.46 to about **5,660** by Thursday morning, tracking global market weakness rather than any distinct Singapore catalyst. **👀 Other to Watch** - $DBS(D05.SG) **&** $OCBC Bank(O39.SG) → trading near record highs after strong Q2 results, OCBC's profit up **22%** to a record S$2.22B; $UOB(U11.SG) has lagged on softer fee-income guidance and rising Greater China bad loans. - $SATS(S58.SG) → Q1 net profit rose **6%** to S$75.1M, with revenue up 11.3% to S$1.7B on stronger cargo volumes. ### 🇭🇰 HK/China — AIA Beats as HK Holds Steady While A-Shares Crash **🔑 Key Event:** $AIA(01299.HK) posted H1 2026 operating profit up **11%** to $4.16B, beating estimates, with its interim dividend up 10% to HK$0.539, driven by growth across 17 of its 18 Asian markets. Hong Kong's own market held roughly flat, with $Hang Seng Index(00HSI.HK) up **0.09%** to 25,495.07, even as mainland China's markets suffered a severe rout on the same US Treasury-yield spike, with the Shanghai Composite down **2.4%** and ChiNext down over **6%**. **👀 Other to Watch** - $HKEX(00388.HK) → posted record H1 2026 results on strong Stock Connect and derivatives trading, helping support Wednesday's HSI close. - $CKH HOLDINGS(00001.HK) → launched international arbitration against Panama, seeking over **$1.5B** in damages over its lost port investments there. - China's central bank kept short-term liquidity tools at zero for a 7th straight day while easing housing-fund withdrawal rules from next month, a mixed signal on policy support. ### 🌍 Other - 🇺🇸 US federal debt crossed **$40 trillion** for the first time, up from $39T just five months earlier. - 🌍 Bitcoin neared $70,000 and gold hit a two-month high near $4,480/oz, both on dollar weakness after the Treasury's buyback announcement. - 🇺🇸 Trump announced what he called the "most crushing" economic sanctions ever on Iran, targeting any country or entity that helps it evade existing measures. ## 📅 Key Events Tonight / This Week | **When (SGT)** | **What** | | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Today, Thu 20 Aug** | 🇺🇸 $Walmart(WMT.US) earnings 🇺🇸 Weekly jobless claims 🇨🇳 $BABA-W(09988.HK) & $NTES(09999.HK) both report Q2/FY2027 earnings after HK close tonight 🌍 SK Hynix's $29B buyback program begins (runs through 19 Nov) | | **Fri 21 Aug** | 🇺🇸 Flash Manufacturing & Services PMIs | 👇 Drop your take (20+ words) & click "Repost" to earn 288 Task Coins ✨ 🚫 No duplicates · ⏰ Deadline: Aug 20, 2026, 11:59 PM SGT Not investment advice, just market talk 🙏 ### Related Stocks - [01299.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/01299.HK.md) - [AAGIY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAGIY.US.md) - [81299.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/81299.HK.md) - [NBIS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NBIS.US.md) - [.DJI.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/.DJI.US.md) - [STI.SG](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/STI.SG.md) - [O39.SG](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/O39.SG.md) - [00HSI.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/00HSI.HK.md) - [00388.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/00388.HK.md) - [80388.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/80388.HK.md) ## Comments (31) - **Dacai · 2026-08-20T12:54:10.000Z**: Wow, the surge in Moderna’s price is impressive but it’s probably too late to chase. I will resist the temptation of FOMO. Better to miss out than be trapped bag holding. - **NewUser_oPJWOU · 2026-08-20T10:21:40.000Z**: The 3 local banks have stabilised a little following the previous few days of down sessions for the whole SG market. This is good for the longer scheme of things as historical statistics show that steep rise s n share prices are more likely than not followed by steep drawbacks afterwards. Let them c - **Victor y · 2026-08-20T09:16:13.000Z**: Moderna’s 177% surge highlights the power of major healthcare catalysts, though chasing such sharp moves comes with significant volatility risk. US markets remained relatively stable while AI chip and semiconductor stocks stayed selective amid new deals and rising competition. Jobless claims remain - **NewUser_CkrdqW · 2026-08-20T08:18:14.000Z**: Moderna shares jumping by 177% after its melanoma vaccine, developed by Merck, became the first mRNA cancer therapy to succeed in a Phase 3 trial, just shows the exact risk-benefit schema of investing in pharmaceutical companies. A brilliant breakthrough like the abovementioned could set new histori - **koolgal · 2026-08-20T07:34:23.000Z**: 🌟🌟🌟As the Straits Times Index drifts lower today, do you hunt for value or flee the storm? If you are a patient long term investor, this is a great time to accumulate $STI ETF(ES3.SG). The STI isn't a speculative tech bubble. It is an index dominated by massive, cash rich banking monopolies and - **Shyon · 2026-08-20T07:00:25.000Z · 👍 2**: I’d be very cautious chasing Moderna after a 177% one-day surge. The Phase 3 result is genuinely significant and could reshape the long-term cancer treatment market, but the stock has already priced in a huge amount of optimism. I’d rather wait for the initial excitement to cool and see how the comm - **dingdongbell · 2026-08-20T06:59:40.000Z · 👍 1**: Yay! US has shown their intent and are telling the bond market not to have ideas as they will defend yields no matter what FUD the narratives are. - **Tiffany lover · 2026-08-20T06:33:04.000Z · 👍 1**: Bitcoin nears $70,000 and gold hits a two-month high of ~$4,480/oz, both driven by a weaker US dollar following the Treasury's repo announcement.Will Bitcoin's rebound provide an opportunity for the crypto market?As a safe-haven asset, gold should play a stabilizing role. - **Lemonade · 2026-08-20T06:25:34.000Z · 👍 1**: The +177% rally in $Moderna is a massive clinical milestone for mRNA tech, but chasing a parabolic move at this level carries significant downside risk.While long-term growth for oncology mRNA therapies with $Merck looks promising, short-term profit taking and insider selling are real risks after su - **Valenxis · 2026-08-20T05:43:08.000Z**: didnt manage to scalp and trade the Moderna stock. what a waste. but well, it is still a good news for holders and the world - **NewUser_ThinkSwim · 2026-08-20T05:04:43.000Z · 👍 1**: Modena stock not certain if its a pump and dump after the news and upside yesterday but generally if you want to invest in healthcare or even in the bio field can consider etf with Modena in it for long term investment. Do not all in money, DCA slowly and see if its temporary demand and expectations - **Fattycat · 2026-08-20T04:54:06.000Z · 👍 3**: Today is a big day for Alibaba shareholders. Its 1Q27 earnings will be announced after the HK market close. Are you confident in the results? Let’s pray for the best.Beyond that, I have strong confidence in the People’s Bank of China’s policies. They have plenty of tools to boost the economy and the - **Heroic Lifesaver · 2026-08-20T04:35:41.000Z · 👍 3**: It was just a few days ago I mentioned the likelihood of yield curve control and that the US will not sacrifice the stock market at the expense of the bond vigilantes. There were the usual skeptics and rightly so because the textbooks teach you certain things. But the real world is not textbook and - **Fattycat** (2026-08-20T05:43:45.000Z): Yes sir . Market is always evolving. Cannot follow text book. Text book never teach Scott bessent to buy more bonds to suppress the yield rate. Follow text book will get killed easily. Same as working - **Heroic Lifesaver** (2026-08-20T07:08:09.000Z): Haha well said. Real life is never the same as what they teach you in school. That’s why veterans are paid so much compared to new grads. You cannot buy ‘wisdom and experience’. Either you learn fast - **TheRaccoonAnalysis · 2026-08-20T04:34:07.000Z · 👍 3**: Markets are increasingly differentiating between strong AI-related demand and funding or margin concerns. Semiconductor moves highlight shifting competitive dynamics in custom AI chips, while the Fed minutes reinforce uncertainty over the inflation path and potential policy tightening. Consumer resu - **FaithAnchor · 2026-08-20T04:27:15.000Z · 👍 2**: MRNA just went vertical. A 177% one-day jump after its personalised cancer vaccine hit a major Phase 3 milestone is huge. The science is getting interesting, but the valuation has run ahead of fundamentals. I’d Hold, not chase. Let the dust settle before adding. - **Ally · 2026-08-20T04:26:44.000Z · 👍 1**: Wow what exciting news from Moderna ! So happy to hear that science is evolving and Moderna is one of the key spearheads in the industry. - **Fattycat** (2026-08-20T05:29:07.000Z): May be Pfizer will come out with something to compete with Moderna 😆. - **win win · 2026-08-20T04:18:29.000Z · 👍 2**: Modena, a famous COVID-19 vaccine maker. Yesterday it's share price jumping up to 170%. anyone here able to make profit after yesterday jump of it's share price? - **Fattycat** (2026-08-20T05:34:43.000Z): Take a look at Pfizer. Temasek is the main shareholder 😉. Don’t chase the boat when it left the port. I believe Pfizer or Novavax will come out something to compete with Moderna. The expectation is th - **LazyCat · 2026-08-20T03:39:51.000Z · 👍 2**: During Fed chair Warsh's press conference after the Jul meeting, he repeated pointed to the elevated bond yields as a market driven tightening and hence Fed could fold their hands for the moment. However, Treasury secretary Bessent just served the tennis ball back when he announced yesterday that bo - **Fattycat** (2026-08-20T04:42:51.000Z): Fed minutes reveal deep rifts over stubborn inflation.Rates kept at 3.50%–3.75% , no change, by 9–3 vote and three officials pushed for an immediate hike. I read the news saying that more policymakers - **TheCollector · 2026-08-20T03:39:00.000Z · 👍 1**: Congrats to all Moderna shareholders.. it's like striking lottery. On the flip side, a continuously weakened USD is really not much help to my entire portfolio. Whether to stay invested in USD or to stay clear is a growing conundrum for me. - **Vt3 · 2026-08-20T03:37:49.000Z · 👍 2**: 📌 Last session is not considered 🎢 as I could see all turned 💚 pre-market, after that then plunged into ❤️ I was expecting SKYH to shine but instead MRVL shone its way 🆙 coupled with SNDK and MU while NBIUS hitting downward trend. Intel don seem to work out after the CEO said 🆕 INTL, however am hold --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**