Markets turned volatile as trade tensions between the US and China escalated and investors digested big bank earnings. The S&P 500 and Dow slipped while the Nasdaq showed the largest premarket weakness amid tech and chip‑related flows. Safe havens—gold and government bonds—gained, and energy and materials stocks outperformed as risk appetite faded.
Oracle is accelerating a multi-vendor AI cloud strategy by locking in AMD hardware to bulk up capacity. The move signals Oracle’s push to offer differentiated AI infrastructure as competition with Nvidia heats up.
$13.5 trillion – BlackRock’s assets under management hit a record high.
OpenAI and Broadcom are deepening ties as tech players rush to secure bespoke AI silicon. Markets reacted to the deals with sharp uplifts in Broadcom’s valuation and investor chatter about custom chip wars.
JPMorgan is deploying huge capital to bolster US industrial resilience and national security-linked sectors. The bank’s multi‑year investment plans underscore a shift in finance toward strategic, policy‑sensitive deals.
Amazon to hire 250,000 seasonal workers — holiday hiring steadies
Amazon plans to recruit 250,000 seasonal staff for the holiday season, signalling confidence in consumer demand and easing retail labour pressures ahead of peak shopping weeks.
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Wall Street’s big banks posted bumper quarters as dealmaking and trading rebounded. Strong results from Goldman and JPMorgan are setting the tone for earnings season but executives warned of lingering uncertainty.
BlackRock posted hefty inflows and record assets under management as markets rallied. The asset manager’s revenue jump and AUM milestone highlight the scale of passive and ETF-driven flows this quarter.
Metro Mattress to close stores and wind down operations
Metro Mattress is shutting stores and winding down after failed restructuring — a stark example of retail troubles amid weaker consumer spending and higher costs.
A fresh round of US-China retaliation — shipping bans and port fees — sent risk assets lower and futures into the red. Markets are parsing whether this is a temporary spike or the start of a sustained trade escalation.
Beijing’s rare‑earth measures have jolted markets and sparked a rally in US miners. Policymakers and firms are racing to assess supply‑chain risks as strategic minerals become a geopolitical lever.
Major policy shifts include China’s new rare‑earth and port‑fee measures, the US and China imposing reciprocal port charges, California passing AI protections for children, and the EU tweaking corporate due‑diligence rules.
The US government shutdown is showing early economic drag, from federal layoffs to travel chaos. Businesses and consumers are starting to feel the operational fallout as the standoff stretches.
A US‑brokered ceasefire resulted in the release of hostages and eased immediate battlefield pressures, but reconstruction and long‑term stability remain unresolved. Humanitarian corridors are opening as leaders plan next steps.
“Of course OpenAI can handle a $60 billion cloud bill — just look at the rate…”
— Clay Magouyrk, Oracle co‑CEO
General Motors is scaling back EV ambitions and taking a big one‑time charge as incentives and demand falter. The write‑downs highlight the auto sector’s pivot and the costs of overinvesting into nascent EV capacity.
Data‑centre growth is booming but regulators and investors worry about energy and environmental strain. Big infrastructure deals are emerging as firms hunt cleaner power solutions for AI workloads.
SpaceX pushed Starship through another test as the company transitions to the next hardware iteration. The flight keeps SpaceX on track for its heavy‑lift roadmap and defence‑contract ambitions.
Google is accelerating investments in India to build data‑centre and AI capacity, signaling the region’s importance for hyperscalers. The spending will reshape local infrastructure and skills markets.
Johnson & Johnson will separate its orthopaedics division to sharpen focus and unlock shareholder value. The planned spinoff follows better‑than‑expected drug and device performance this quarter.
First Brands’ bankruptcy has exposed accounting issues and prompted executive change as creditors and markets seek clarity. Analysts say the case is a test for private credit and distressed financing markets.
Crypto markets remain jittery after a weekend wipeout and ETF outflows, dragging major tokens lower. Investors and platforms are debating structure, leverage and whether the selloff signals a reset.
EU regulators fined luxury labels for anti‑competitive pricing in a high‑profile enforcement action. The penalties underline Brussels’ renewed appetite to police platform and retail conduct in Europe.
The Netherlands’ takeover of Nexperia reflects widening Western interventions in China‑linked tech assets. The move underscores mounting security and export‑control tensions in the semiconductor supply chain.