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Markets opened mixed as the S&P 500 hesitated, the Nasdaq fell on AI and tech weakness, and the Dow held up on industrial strength. Volatility spiked into central bank meetings; AI, China growth data and rate guidance are the main catalysts. Investors rotated into defensives and cyclicals while trimming big-cap tech exposure.
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach has been declared a terrorist attack, prompting a national security and policing response. Authorities say two gunmen carried out the attack, deepening scrutiny on extremism and public-safety gaps.
153 – Russian forces launched 153 drones overnight against Ukraine, Kyiv reports.
A shooting at Brown University left two students dead and multiple injured during finals week, prompting a swift police response and campus lockdown. Authorities detained a person of interest as the community mourns and examines campus security.
Ukraine signals willingness to drop NATO membership in exchange for formal Western security guarantees as peace talks progress. The diplomatic shift illustrates Kyiv’s search for pragmatic paths to end the war with Russia.
Eli Lilly posts blockbuster sales as weight-loss drugs fuel growth
Eli Lilly reported another quarter of blockbuster sales from its weight-loss drugs, validating its leadership in the sector and boosting investor confidence in its growth runway.
More on finance.yahoo.com
China’s economy shows fresh signs of strain with weaker factory output and retail sales and mounting investment declines. The soft data add urgency to calls for stimulus as policymakers confront a deepening property slump.
The Central Bank of Russia has launched huge legal claims against Euroclear and related entities over frozen assets, escalating a feud that risks complicating Europe-Russia financial ties. Parallel filings seek multibillion-euro damages and raise political tensions in Brussels.
Sanofi’s MS drug fails primary endpoint, pipeline hit
Sanofi disclosed that a key multiple sclerosis candidate missed its primary endpoint and a related trial failed, dealing a material blow to its neurological pipeline and near-term outlook.
More on bloomberg.com
ServiceNow is in advanced talks to buy cybersecurity firm Armis in a deal that could top $7 billion, underscoring consolidation in security software. The potential takeover would shift exit plans and deliver windfalls for existing investors.
Chipmakers are racing to secure AI talent and hardware as Intel pursues SambaNova and Nvidia’s H200 export moves reshape compute dynamics. The deals and policy shifts highlight escalating competition over AI supply chains and geopolitics.
UK to bring crypto into regulatory perimeter by 2027; EU re-evaluating 2035 combustion-car ban amid automaker pressure; Canada activates grocery-code enforcer to police retail conduct.
iRobot, maker of the Roomba vacuum, has filed for Chapter 11 after years of pressure from competition and a failed acquisition. The restructuring aims to transfer control to creditors and suppliers while trying to reassure customers.
China has granted conditional approvals for L3 autonomous vehicles even as Tesla tests robotaxis without safety drivers in Austin. Regulators and firms are racing to commercialize self-driving tech amid safety and policy scrutiny.
The president’s opinion would have no weight on Fed decisions.
— Kevin Hassett
Major central banks are diverging: the BOJ signals it may hike as wage momentum improves while the Bank of England faces a tight vote on cuts. Investors brace for policy decisions that could reset global rate expectations.
Tech stocks wobbled after mixed earnings and AI trade concerns, triggering a sharp selloff and volatile futures trading. Traders scrambled to buy the dip amid rotating leadership and risk-off flows ahead of key data.
Palantir renewed a multi-year contract with France’s domestic intelligence agency, extending a high-profile tie to European security services. The deal underscores the firm’s growing role in government analytics and surveillance tech.
UK regulators have probed EY over its audit of Shell, raising questions about audit independence and oversight. The inquiry joins wider scrutiny into Big Four practices as regulators tighten enforcement.
Alphabet stands to book another paper gain as SpaceX valuation rises, while SpaceX interviews banks ahead of a possible IPO. The moves highlight private-tech markups reshaping public holders’ balance sheets.
Hong Kong crypto exchange HashKey priced a sizable IPO in Hong Kong, signaling investor appetite for regional crypto listings. Meanwhile XRP spot ETFs are drawing steady inflows, reflecting shifting flows within digital-asset markets.
Clashes on the Thailand-Cambodia border have escalated, with Cambodia accusing Thailand of bombing near Siem Reap. Thailand pressed ahead with a February election despite the security crisis, heightening regional instability risks.
Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial’s U.S. push was rewarded with inclusion in the Nasdaq-100, marking a rare listing for an IBEX firm. The move reflects broader cross-border index reshuffling and corporate globalization.
Hong Kong’s High Court has convicted media tycoon Jimmy Lai in a landmark national security trial, a verdict that investors and rights groups say underscores Beijing’s tightening control. The case deepens political risk for Hong Kong.
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