U.S. stocks rose to fresh records after cooler-than-expected inflation and solid earnings, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq leading gains while the Dow lagged. Volatility eased but geopolitical shocks — tariffs on Canada and China trade talks — and AI-related hardware bets kept sector rotation active, boosting semiconductors and cloud names.
Hurricane Melissa accelerated rapidly over the Caribbean, prompting urgent warnings for Jamaica, Haiti and nearby islands. Meteorologists expect further strengthening and heavy rain, heightening risks of catastrophic flooding and storm surge.
10% – Additional tariff on Canadian imports announced by the U.S.
President Trump has announced a 10% tariff increase on Canadian imports after an Ontario TV ad sparked a diplomatic row. The move raises trade and economic risks as it coincides with a major presidential trip to Asia.
U.S. and Chinese officials began high-stakes trade talks as groundwork for a planned Trump-Xi summit. Both sides signaled constructive engagement even as tough issues—tariffs, tech and critical minerals—remain unresolved.
Nvidia rallies as AI demand lifts chipmakers
Nvidia shares pushed higher amid renewed investor appetite for AI hardware, underpinning gains across semiconductors and fueling optimism for next-quarter earnings.
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The U.S. is flying surveillance drones over Gaza to monitor a fragile ceasefire while envoys press for de-escalation. U.S. lawmakers and mediators say intelligence sharing uncovered a recent threat linked to the truce talks.
ExxonMobil has launched multiple lawsuits challenging California climate disclosure laws, arguing they violate free-speech and other rights. The suits mark a high-profile corporate pushback against state-level environmental reporting rules.
Chrysler to recall 291,000 vehicles – safety probe dents automaker
NHTSA-ordered recall of over 291,000 Chrysler units raises repair costs and reputational risk for the automaker as regulators scrutinize instrument-panel defects.
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Recent Amazon Web Services outages have exposed gaps in cloud reliability and sparked industry debate about resilience. Analysts warn that repeated failures could erode AWS’s lead as customers demand stronger SLAs and contingency plans.
Crypto markets show varied momentum: JPMorgan sees potential in Coinbase’s Base token while a new U.S. spot XRP ETF quickly amassed assets. The moves underline investor appetite for token-linked infrastructure and institutional products.
DHS will require photographs of all noncitizens entering and exiting the U.S.; California climate disclosure laws face company legal challenges; EU to consult on critical-minerals stockpiles amid China supply limits.
SoftBank approved a major tranche of its OpenAI investment while OpenAI is reported to be developing new generative tools. The funding and product bets show continued private capital backing for AI expansion.
Markets hit records amid cooler inflation data and earnings beats, while Wall Street firms anticipate a bumper bonus pool. The rally reflects easing macro fears but keeps investors watchful for Fed signals and geopolitical shocks.
“I can play dirtier…”
— President Donald Trump
The Pentagon accepted a $130m private donation to pay troops amid the government shutdown, and reporting identified Timothy Mellon as the donor. The episode raises questions about private funding for federal operations in crisis periods.
China’s curbs on rare earths and other trade measures have triggered an EU and US response aimed at securing supplies. Brussels is racing to shield its industry with measures to reduce dependence on Chinese materials for green and defence tech.
Analysts warn that Russia’s wartime economy, now more focused on disposable goods, is straining and facing recession risks from new sanctions. Parallel market routes for sanctioned oil are emerging, complicating enforcement.
Venezuela’s president says thousands of Russian-made missiles have been deployed along the coast as tensions spike with U.S. naval activity nearby. Caracas accused Washington of fabricating threats, raising regional security concerns.
A Sino-Dutch spat over chipmaker Nexperia threatens automotive supply chains, highlighting geopolitical risk in semiconductors. Industry watchers say any disruption could ripple through car production and parts sourcing.
Fresh CPI readings and Fed positioning have left policymakers navigating a narrow path between cooling inflation and growth risks. Investors parsed the data for rate-cut cues even as earnings supported equity gains.
Hormel Foods is recalling nearly 4.9 million pounds of frozen, boneless chicken over contamination concerns, prompting supply and retail impacts. The recall raises food-safety questions and potential cost pressures for retailers.
Amazon faces scrutiny over datacenter disclosures while expanding services abroad, balancing growth with environmental and regulatory scrutiny. Leaked internal planning on water use adds to scrutiny as Amazon expands UAE operations.
AI is reshaping the cyber threat landscape as attackers prepare automated, scalable attacks, and new AI browser agents raise security questions. Firms and regulators warn of a growing risk that AI-driven tools will amplify cybercrime rapidly.