Stocks opened cautiously as investors await Nvidia earnings and delayed U.S. economic data. S&P 500 futures were mixed, Nasdaq showed tech-led rotation and the Dow lagged as financials cooled. Volatility remains elevated, with AI names and energy moving markets and bond yields drifting lower ahead of Fed‑sensitive data.
Ukraine sealed a major air-power deal with France as Kyiv seeks to rebuild its air force; the pact signals large-scale Western military support and a long-term upgrade of Ukraine’s strike and defence capabilities.
8,178 BTC — Number of bitcoins MicroStrategy bought this week (~$835.6 million).
The FAA is restoring normal flight operations after shutdown-related curbs; the transport department says controllers have returned and airlines can resume full schedules ahead of peak travel.
Strategy/MicroStrategy resumed large bitcoin buys this week, adding thousands of BTC and committing hundreds of millions of dollars — a sign of continued institutional appetite even as crypto volatility surges.
Merck Sees $5B Plus Market for Cidara’s Flu Drug — Upside for Pharma
Merck projects more than $5 billion in commercial potential from Cidara’s flu therapy, underscoring blockbuster upside and strengthening Merck’s infectious‑disease pipeline.
More on reuters.com
Berkshire’s surprise stake in Alphabet sent Google shares higher and shook up megacap positioning; markets are parsing Buffett’s move as a signal on the AI-era valuation gap.
Emirates placed a multi-billion dollar order for 777‑9 jets, prompting Boeing to study a larger 777 variant — the deals underline airlines’ long‑haul growth bets amid an evolving market for big widebodies.
Logitech Data Breach — Zero‑Day Attack Exposes Customer Data
A zero‑day hack forced Logitech to disclose a data leak and website compromise, raising fresh security and reputational risks for the peripherals maker.
More on go.theregister.com
Johnson & Johnson moved to expand its oncology pipeline with a cash takeover of Halda/Halda Therapeutics in a deal worth about $3.1 billion—an M&A play to bolster drug development capabilities.
Deutsche Bank unveiled a three‑year plan raising revenue and payout targets, sharpening its strategy to lift returns and reassure investors after years of restructuring concerns.
FAA lifts shutdown-era flight caps at 40 airports; EU explores use of Russian frozen assets for Ukraine funding with new financing options; China proposes antitrust rules to curb AI-driven price manipulation.
China slowed purchases of US soybeans even as domestic stockpiles rose — a fresh strain in trade rhetoric that complicates claimed progress under previous deals and highlights lingering frictions.
Sino‑Japanese tensions spiked after Tokyo officials raised intervention scenarios on Taiwan; China’s travel advisories hit Japan’s tourism sector and prompted diplomatic outreach to defuse fallout.
“AI firms must be crystal clear about risks — otherwise we risk repeating industry’s deadliest mistakes.”
— Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic
Nvidia’s upcoming earnings are the central market catalyst as analysts test AI demand; Wall Street is reassessing targets while strategists warn results could set the tone for global equities.
Crypto funds posted sharp outflows as investors fled amid macro jitters; bitcoin has surrendered recent gains, underscoring a wider liquidity and sentiment correction in digital assets.
Brussels set out options to plug a €135–140 billion Ukraine funding gap, warning markets would need reassurance if Russian frozen assets are used—raising questions on Europe’s fiscal and financial risks.
Fed policy is facing a new split as officials debate the timing and scale of cuts; markets are bracing for an uncertain path as sticky data and divided Fed views cloud the outlook.
Private credit’s rapid growth is prompting warnings about rising systemic risks even as alternatives swell into a multi‑trillion dollar asset class; investors and regulators eye leverage and liquidity concerns.
Russian supply disruptions and port restarts moved oil markets; Brent initially slid after a key Novorossiysk terminal reopened, keeping energy traders focused on global logistics and geopolitical risk.
A rising number of US consumers are falling behind on utility bills, with a large cohort facing severe arrears — a consumer‑stress signal that could reverberate through credit, collections and household spending.
Project Prometheus — a heavily funded AI startup backed by Bezos and others — signals a new wave of big‑money bets; Bezos is reported to take an operational role as co‑CEO, highlighting tech titans’ deepening AI commitments.
The Gulf’s defence tech ties are strengthening as the UAE partners with Anduril on drone programs and Qatar inks analytics deals to modernize fleets — the Middle East is racing to adopt advanced US tech.