Ford Motor shares declined after second-quarter vehicle sales dipped, a move the company attributed to the phaseout of legacy models ahead of an electric pickup truck launch. Tesla mirrored this downward pressure despite a 25% year-over-year surge in global deliveries, which reached 480,126 units. Conversely, Rivian shares outperformed, finding support as rising energy costs drove renewed interest in their electric vehicle lineup.

The retreat was most pronounced among firms tethered to the AI boom. Corning, a critical supplier of optical fiber for data centers, saw its stock price slide alongside Caterpillar and Innio, both of which manufacture generators essential for high-capacity computing facilities. Amid this volatility, AeroVironment emerged as a notable gainer, climbing after securing a $500 million U.S. defense contract focused on counter-unmanned aerial systems.