Market news archive — page 39

KKR will assume control of a South Korean renewables platform valued at about $1.3 billion, with SK Group support as demand for AI power tools and data infrastructure grows, coinciding with a government-pushed wave of major investment projects

KKR to acquire EDF’s North American renewable operations for about $4.2 billion, with reports noting a broader plan to develop a Korean energy platform in collaboration with SK Group.

Markets watchers report a surge of inflows into AI-related ETFs during the first half of 2026 as investor appetite shifts away from other late-2025 favorites.

Japan's manufacturing sector extended its growth streak to six months in June, while China's official and private PMIs showed divergent momentum and Australia reported a sharp drop in building permits, underscoring mixed regional activity.

British investors pursue a roughly $200 million claim against Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao over losses tied to derivatives before restrictions were imposed

Japan’s manufacturing PMI for June rose to 54.8, extending six months of expansion and marking the strongest quarterly run since early 2014, aided by demand linked to artificial intelligence applications

The U.S. Department of Commerce reportedly lifted export controls on Anthropic's Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models, a move reported by CNBC and Investing.com.

Oil prices rise modestly amid ongoing uncertainty over U.S.-Iran diplomacy, with investors awaiting potential developments that could affect geopolitical risk and energy demand

Australian manufacturing activity improved in June, with the final PMI edging higher to a five-month high, though the underlying pace of output softened despite the headline expansion.

Trump’s annual financial disclosure tallies crypto-related gains well into the billions, with a notable Bitcoin position highlighted among holdings

Annual financial disclosure reveals substantial crypto earnings and modest gifts, with a line noting net proceeds from token sales managed by a financial entity

Second-quarter surge in chip shares lifted combined market value of Micron, Intel and AMD by about $2 trillion as the AI boom broadened to more suppliers.

The SEC opened a comment period to gather feedback on regulation of novel ETF structures and strategies as issuers roll out specialized products, with crypto-sector ETFs among the considerations.

Anthropic rolls out Claude Sonnet 5, presenting improved capabilities at a fraction of the price of higher-end models, while export controls keep Fable and Mythos sidelined

Blue Origin plans a shift to a hybrid launch approach and redesigned pad configuration following a rocket incident, with aims to resume flights by late 2026.

Boeing begins formal contract talks on July 1 with SPEEA, which represents about 17,000 Puget Sound engineers and technical workers across two agreements expiring October 6; the union reported a positive early response as both sides agreed to bargain earlier than planned.

Starting July 1, Medicare will cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for the first time through a temporary pilot, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, offering eligible Part D beneficiaries medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for a $50 monthly copay through the end of 2027, with about 3.8 million estimated eligible.

Blue Origin said it will rebuild its destroyed New Glenn launchpad at Cape Canaveral with a new "horizontal/vertical hybrid" design rather than restore the original, aiming to return the heavy-lift rocket to flight by year-end after a May explosion as it chases SpaceX and supports NASA's lunar plans.

Coffee bean costs have tumbled from 2026's record highs on a healthier Brazilian harvest outlook, and Nestlé has signaled the cheaper inputs should lift its margins and could eventually ease prices for consumers, though long supply chains mean any retail relief is likely to lag.

The US Supreme Court agreed to hear Apple's appeal of a contempt ruling in its antitrust fight with Epic Games over App Store fees, taking up the narrow question of whether Apple can be held in contempt for violating the "spirit" of an injunction; arguments are set for the term beginning in October.

Nasdaq will distribute its TotalView depth-of-book equity data through the Pyth Network's blockchain-based marketplace — the first on-chain distribution network it has chosen for proprietary data — extending institutional-grade feeds to DeFi and tokenized-asset apps as TradFi and blockchain converge.

Bitcoin fell below $60,000 toward $58,000, its lowest since 2024 and about 50% off its October 2025 record, as the dollar hit a 40-year high versus the yen, quarter-end de-risking and record June ETF outflows compounded a hawkish-Fed backdrop.

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, a voting FOMC member, said insatiable demand for AI data-center infrastructure is helping fuel inflation and that rates may need to rise if price pressures persist — a view at odds with Chair Kevin Warsh's that AI will prove disinflationary.

Crude oil is on track for its biggest quarterly decline in about six years, with Brent in the low-$70s and WTI near $70, as Hormuz shipping workarounds, softer Chinese imports and US-Iran de-escalation unwind the historic supply crunch that drove prices above $110 earlier in 2026.

US airline stocks rallied about 20% in June, with Delta and United near records, as jet fuel fell well below its April peak alongside crude's slide toward $70 and strong summer travel demand lifted second-half profit expectations, though analysts cautioned the macro-driven move may cool into Q2 earnings.

Major names see new July 15 option series launch across Apple, Amazon and Alphabet, with additional long-dated and sector-linked activity reported by multiple outlets

Open USD, a rival stablecoin network promoted by Open Standard, attracts backing from major crypto and fintech players, pressuring Circle’s USDC while highlighting a shift in stablecoin competition

Regulators authorized Philip Morris to advertise Zyn nicotine pouches as a less risky alternative to smoking, a move welcomed by the company amid ongoing debates about youth use and public health concerns

Amazon's AWS is establishing a dedicated AI-embedded engineering unit backed by a $1 billion investment to deploy with customers over short timelines.

June consumer confidence rose modestly according to the Conference Board, but the reading came in below economists’ expectations, with the widely watched index and related measures showing divergence.

The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and struck down an Executive Order related to citizenship for children born to undocumented parents, according to reports from CNBC and ForexLive.

MetaMask introduces a Money Account on Monad that combines self-custody, stablecoin yield, and card-based spending, offering up to 4% APY on mUSD balances with DeFi-powered vault yields, excluding the UK and EU.

Joby Aviation and Toyota Motor Corporation announced the start of the initial phase of a strategic manufacturing alliance aimed at developing joint production capabilities.

Lands' End appoints Charlie Cole as chief executive after Andrew McLean's departure, with shares reacting to the leadership change as the company confirms the replacement.

Canada posted a 0.5% rise in real GDP in April, outpacing expectations of 0.4% and marking a rebound from March’s decline, with gains spread across goods and services sectors

Analysts at Piper Sandler flag a strategy to grow revenue and cut costs as a catalyst for stronger profits and potential multiple expansion in a leading payments company

News agencies report Comcast’s plan to spin off NBCUniversal has prompted upgrades from Rosenblatt and Deutsche Bank, with Deutsche Bank signaling an attractive setup for the stock.

A strong start to 2026 has positioned small-cap equities for a rare first-half outperformance, while leading S&P 500 stocks have delivered triple-digit gains, underscoring broad strength across U.S. equities.

As USD/JPY climbs to a fresh multi-decade high, traders focus on potential Japanese government intervention timing rather than levels, while broader market narratives link the move to carry-trade dynamics and cross-asset correlations.

A Bitcoin mining company linked to Celsius is pursuing a Nasdaq direct listing as it shifts its mining assets toward AI and high-performance computing workloads.

Warren Buffett has postponed his annual contribution to the Gates Foundation while a review of its associations with Jeffrey Epstein continues, according to reports from CNBC and Investing.com referencing WSJ coverage.

AUD/USD retreats despite hawkish RBA minutes as traders reassess the path of policy, while regional data from New Zealand and broader market factors temper risk appetite around the currency pair

Indian equities were expected to start on a cautious footing while investors monitored renewed Iran-US dialogue and shifting oil prices

Official manufacturing activity improved modestly in June, while export orders rose, though a stronger headline may mask ongoing domestic demand weakness according to analysts.

The Japanese yen weakened to its lowest level against the dollar since 1986, with markets on alert for possible intervention by Japanese authorities amid persistent depreciation pressures.

June PMI data show Chinese manufacturing expanding modestly, helped by demand for tech exports, with services and the composite index also improving.

Australia's competition regulator sues Amazon, alleging Prime membership terms compel a monthly fee to avoid ads with no refunds option, prompting legal action and scrutiny of streaming ad practices

The White House authorizes a temporary suspension of certain duties on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco, according to reports from Investing.com and ForexLive.

The collaboration between Uber and Waymo to run autonomous taxi services in Phoenix has ended, with Waymo vehicles still deployed for autonomous deliveries through DoorDash as part of ongoing operations.

Markets reacted to weekend Iran clashes and a subsequent halt in hostilities, with stocks showing Monday strength as investors weigh implications for energy flows and geopolitical risk