Market Summary
Markets turned cautious as AI stocks tumbled, dragging the Nasdaq down sharply while the S&P 500 and Dow also slipped. Oil rallied on geopolitical headlines around Venezuela, boosting energy shares even as tech and AI tropes sparked volatility. Bitcoin whipsawed near $90k, and bond markets digested fresh CPI and jobs data, keeping volatility elevated.
President Trump ordered a naval blockade and stepped up pressure on Venezuela, rattling oil markets and raising geopolitical tensions. The move has immediate market effects and broad diplomatic implications for energy supply chains.
Figure of the Day
66% – Micron’s Q1 revenue jump year‑over‑year as memory demand for AI surges.
California regulators are moving to clamp down on Tesla over allegedly misleading Autopilot/FSD marketing. Legal rulings and administrative threats could force branding changes or even temporary sales suspensions in a key state market.
Reuters and other investigations show Chinese teams have prototyped advanced chipmaking equipment, signalling a push to close the AI chips gap. The developments intensify tech rivalry and raise export‑control dilemmas for the West.
Bullish
Hut 8 Seals AI Deal — Shares Surge on Anthropic Backing
Hut 8 inked a long‑term AI data‑centre lease with Anthropic and partners, plus a Google backstop, sending the miner’s shares sharply higher and marking a pivot to stable enterprise revenue.
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Memory demand tied to AI infrastructure is tightening supply and boosting pricing. Micron’s upbeat results and warnings of persistent shortages are reshaping semiconductor supply chains and server costs.
Oracle’s big data‑centre project has hit financing turbulence, stoking investor worry about rising tech debt. Market reaction underscores fragility in the AI infrastructure funding chain.
Bearish
Rad Power Bikes Files Chapter 11 — Bankruptcy Hits EV Supply Chain
Rad Power Bikes’ Chapter 11 filing underscores distress in consumer EV makers and risks for suppliers and creditors as funding tightens amid a brutal market reset.
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Coinbase is broadening beyond crypto into stocks and prediction markets to become an ‘everything exchange.’ The moves reposition the company amid evolving regulatory scrutiny and competition from brokers.
Medline’s blockbuster IPO drew heavy investor demand, becoming the largest U.S. offering since 2021 and sending the stock sharply higher on debut. The deal highlights appetite for steady healthcare supply businesses amid market volatility.
Regulatory Impact
Regulators are tightening crypto custody rules (SEC guidance requiring broker custody controls) while the Fed rescinded 2023 limits on ‘novel’ crypto experiments — and California regulators are threatening sanctions against automakers over deceptive ADAS marketing.
BP replaced its CEO amid operational and strategic pressure, naming Woodside’s Meg O’Neill in a rare Big Oil leadership change. The move signals a push to steady strategy and reassure shareholders after a turbulent period.
Warner Bros. Discovery is battling hostile bids, urging shareholders to reject Paramount’s offer and backing a Netflix proposal. The takeover fight could reshape Hollywood’s M&A landscape and fees for advisers.
Quote
“Rates could be cut by as much as a full point.”
— Fed Governor Christopher Waller
AI‑themed stocks slid sharply as investors re‑price the data‑centre and chip investment cycle, hitting major names and rattling markets. The rout underscores the fragility of the AI hype trade.
Cryptocurrency markets remain volatile as bitcoin gyrates around key levels and institutional flows impact prices. Traders and miners react to ETF dynamics and aggressive spot buying.
Congressional fights over health‑care subsidies reached a boiling point as the House passed a GOP plan while moderates and Democrats maneuver to force votes. The outcome will affect millions facing subsidy expiration.
Wall Street awaits fresh inflation data and is digesting a delayed jobs report showing cooling payrolls and a higher unemployment rate. Markets are pricing in Fed policy implications as CPI and jobs shape 2026 rate expectations.
Rapid data‑centre buildouts are stressing local grids and prompting petitions and moratoria. Lawmakers and communities are debating the trade‑off between AI growth and energy reliability.
China’s property sector remains under stress as Vanke seeks creditor concessions and ratings agencies downgrade debt. The episode heightens contagion risk across Chinese developers and global markets.
U.S. prosecutors unsealed charges in a sweeping fraud tied to a collapsed subprime auto lender, exposing large lender losses and potential criminal penalties for executives. The case highlights risks in specialty finance.
Regulators are sharpening crypto custody and experimentation rules while the Fed eases prior restrictions — signalling a changing U.S. regulatory stance on digital assets. The moves alter compliance for brokers and banks engaging with crypto.
OpenAI and Amazon are in talks on massive funding and chip deals as big tech jockeys for AI leadership. Potential multi‑billion dollar investments would reshape hardware supply and cloud relationships.