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Equities traded choppy as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq flirted with early gains before retreating, while the Dow lagged on industrial weakness. AI-led tech strength powered intraday rallies, but safe-haven flows drove gold and silver to records; Treasury yields slipped, boosting rate-cut hopes and keeping volatility elevated across sectors.
Congressional Republicans failed again to pass a stopgap funding bill, prolonging the US government shutdown. A federal judge separately blocked planned federal layoffs, adding legal limbo and uncertainty for markets and workers.
22% – Hyperscale data centres to consume 22% more grid power by end of 2025.
President Trump has announced further in-person talks with Vladimir Putin, raising geopolitical stakes ahead of coordinated diplomacy on Ukraine. The moves fuel market and policy uncertainty amid fragile global negotiations.
Implementation of the Gaza ceasefire is faltering as Hamas says more time is needed to recover remains and Israel accuses Hamas of violating parts of the deal. The dispute imperils the fragile diplomatic progress and reconstruction plans.
Deel raises $300M — valuation climbs to $17.3B
HR-payroll platform Deel closed $300m in funding, lifting its valuation to $17.3bn and backing rapid global expansion of its remote-hiring services.
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Beijing and the US traded barbs after China tightened rare-earth controls, sparking a coordinated G7 response to counter supply risks. Markets and manufacturers are reassessing supply-chain exposure to critical minerals.
TSMC posted blowout results as AI chip demand surged and signalled accelerated US production of advanced nodes. The beats and guidance underpin the semiconductor rally and reshape supply-chain geography.
Beyond Meat collapses after debt deal — stock crashes
Beyond Meat’s stock plummeted following a debt restructuring that wiped out shareholder value and signalled deeper distress for the alternative-protein company.
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Nestlé unveiled a sweeping cost-cutting plan including 16,000 job cuts as its new CEO targets profitability, sending shares higher. The move signals deeper turnaround pressure at the world’s largest food group.
A major stablecoin provider accidentally minted an astronomical amount of tokens, triggering a scramble to burn the supply and regulatory scrutiny. The error highlights plumbing risks in crypto stablecoin systems.
GENIUS Act stablecoin framework enacted with gaps flagged by Fed; Transportation Dept. to withhold $40m from California over trucker English rule enforcement.
Regional bank stocks slumped after fresh charge-offs and fraud allegations raised doubts about asset quality. Investors are reassessing lending risks across smaller banks and brokerages.
Regulators and industry are racing to fill gaps in the new stablecoin framework while big asset managers design products to serve issuers. The debate will shape how stablecoins integrate with traditional cash management.
“The shutdown is starting to cut into muscle and could be costing the economy billions a day.”
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
Ripple continues aggressive expansion into corporate finance with a string of treasury-focused acquisitions. The moves underscore crypto firms’ push upmarket into enterprise cash and FX workflows.
Experts warn AI’s electricity appetite could stress grids as hyperscalers expand data centres. Utilities and policymakers face mounting pressure to resolve capacity and reliability risks fast.
Safe-haven metals hit fresh records as investors price in Fed easing and geopolitical risk. Gold and silver rallies are reshaping portfolio hedging and asset allocation.
Microsoft pushed AI features deeper into Windows 11 and is phasing out older support, accelerating enterprise migration. The updates position Windows as a frontline platform for generative and assistant-style AI.
New US tariffs and trade tensions are disrupting furniture and trucking supply chains, prompting firms to reshuffle sourcing. Retailers and manufacturers are accelerating domestic production plans to blunt tariff shock.
A BlackRock- and Nvidia-backed investor group agreed a blockbuster purchase of Aligned Data Centers, reflecting fierce demand for AI-ready infrastructure. The deal underlines the strategic rush into power-hungry data hubs.
Wall Street trading desks booked bumper revenues as markets swung on AI and macro headlines. Retail and institutional flows kept volatility high but boosted bank trading profits for the quarter.
Stellantis’ U.S. production move sparked political backlash in Canada and threats of legal action as jobs shift south. The dispute highlights rising friction over cross-border industrial policy amid tariff anxieties.
Fed officials are publicly split over how fast to cut rates, underscoring market confusion on the path for policy. Mixed signals from governors fuel volatility across Treasuries and risk assets.
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