Markets traded mixed as AI and bank earnings set the tone: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose on strong tech and financial reports while the Dow lagged. Volatility remains elevated amid tariff headlines and geopolitical risk. Banks and AI infrastructure stocks led gains, while safe-haven flows pushed gold to record highs as investors priced potential Fed easing and trade uncertainty.
A blockbuster $40 billion takeover of Aligned Data Centers by a consortium of finance and tech giants reshapes the AI infrastructure landscape. The deal vaults data-center assets into the spotlight as strategic targets for firms racing to secure capacity.
40B – Value (USD) of the Aligned Data Centers acquisition led by BlackRock, Nvidia and Microsoft.
The White House confirmed covert action authority for the CIA in Venezuela, signaling a sharper U.S. posture in the region. Officials hinted at potential strikes and broader pressure on Maduro-aligned networks.
Federal courts have intervened to block or pause planned Trump administration layoffs tied to the government shutdown. Judges granted temporary restraints, creating a legal standoff over workforce reductions.
Morgan Stanley posts biggest earnings beat in years – revenue surges
Morgan Stanley reported record quarterly revenue and a large profit beat, driven by a dealmaking surge that underpins confidence in Wall Street’s recovery.
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U.S. officials publicly condemned China’s rare-earth moves and floated policy levers including tariffs and a possible extension of a tariff truce. Washington and Beijing appear to be negotiating through a mix of threats and conditional pauses.
AI firms are building bespoke power plants to meet massive electricity demand while the U.S. military explores micro-nuclear reactors to secure base power. The push highlights power supply strains from compute-hungry infrastructure and defense needs.
HPE cuts guidance, stock tumbles on weak 2026 forecast
Hewlett Packard Enterprise issued below-consensus fiscal 2026 guidance, sending shares lower amid investor concern about near-term demand and margin pressure.
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Major banks posted blockbuster results as dealmaking and trading revenues surged, lifting market sentiment. Financials’ strong quarter underpins a broader rally in equities even as some economic uncertainties persist.
ASML beat expectations on orders tied to AI-driven chip demand but warned Chinese sales could fall next year. The outlook underscores the split between global AI investment and geopolitical supply risks.
OCC grants conditional approval to Erebor Bank, signaling regulator openness to crypto-native charters; federal regulators are weighing a cut in community bank leverage from 9% to 8%; EPA delays on PFAS push states to impose their own rules amid federal hold-ups.
Apple updated its top-tier products around a new M5 chip designed to accelerate AI workloads across MacBook, iPad and Vision Pro. The product refresh signals Apple’s bet on hardware-driven AI performance.
Walmart doubled down on agentic commerce by embedding ChatGPT shopping features, moving the retailer closer to personalized, AI-driven checkout. The move propelled the stock and reshuffles retail competitive dynamics.
We will neither be commanded nor controlled.
— Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary
Binance closes its long-pursued Gopax deal as it eyes a South Korea comeback amid regulatory scrutiny. Meanwhile, global crypto enforcement hit headlines with a massive government seizure of illicit bitcoin.
New lawsuits allege major banks enabled or profited from ties to Jeffrey Epstein, opening legal and reputational risks. Litigation could prompt further scrutiny of banks’ historical compliance practices.
Regulators signaled openness to new crypto-native banks as the OCC conditionally approved Erebor, a bank aimed at serving crypto and AI firms. The moves mark a regulatory tilt toward integrating digital-asset services into the banking system.
Healthcare labor action escalated as tens of thousands of Kaiser workers struck over pay and staffing, intensifying pressure on providers. Broader federal worker pain from the shutdown compounds labor and service risks across the economy.
Gold jumped to fresh records as the dollar softened on expectations of Fed easing and geopolitical risk. Investors piled into safe havens even as equities oscillated on tariff and AI-cycle headlines.
The IMF warned global government debt is on track to top 100% of GDP by 2029, urging fiscal consolidation. The Fund singled out major economies for urgent action to avoid debt risks and market strains.
A major breach at F5 Networks exposed source code and customer data, prompting urgent security warnings across enterprises. U.S. cyber officials urged immediate patching and flagged nation-state involvement.
Anthropic launched a scaled-down Haiku AI model aimed at cheaper, faster inference for businesses, intensifying competition in lightweight LLMs. The release underscores the push for cost-effective enterprise AI.
Stellantis shifted production plans, moving Jeep Compass output to the U.S. and sparking a diplomatic and legal backlash from Canada. Ottawa threatened legal action while the automaker pledged a major U.S. investment to offset tariff impacts.