Námi sledované indexy v asijsko-pacifickém regionu se obchodují smíšeně. Zatímco japonské trhy zůstaly dnes kvůli svátku zavřené, jihokorejský index Kospi se po pátku (kdy se kvůli státnímu svátku neobchodovalo) propadl až o 5,1 %. Hlavní tíhu tohoto poklesu nesli výrobci paměťových čipů, především Samsung Electronics (-4,1 %) a SK hynix (-3,9 %).
Naopak hongkongské akcie dokázaly po propadu z minulého týdne zamířit vzhůru. Trh pozitivně reagoval na oznámení dvou hlavních státních fondů o nových nákupech a také na blížící se schůzky regulátorů s klíčovými účastníky trhu. Tento růst je navíc podpořen silnými zprávami z oblasti umělé inteligence. Pozornost poutá zejména společnost Moonshot AI, stojící za modelem Kimi K3, která investorům sdělila, že chystá vstup na burzu již za šest měsíců. Její nejnovější model totiž zcela převrátil dosavadní vnímání čínských schopností v oblasti AI. Z tohoto technologického optimismu těží i akcie společnosti Alibaba (+3,9 %). Ta posiluje po vydání zkušební verze svého vlajkového modelu Qwen3.8 Max, který společnost sebevědomě označila za druhý nejlepší na trhu, hned po modelu Fable 5 od americké firmy Anthropic.
Hongkongský Hang Seng +1,86 % na 25019,02 b.
Čínský Shanghai Composite -0,11 % na 3759,9669 b.
Jihokorejský Kospi -4,46 % na 6516,27 b.
Australský S&P/ASX 200 -0,06 % na 8791,3 b.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.40%) is a stock that has greatly divided investors over the years. The biggest reason for this is its valuation, as the stock trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of around 41 times 2026 analyst estimates and a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of nearly 90 times. Despite those high valuation metrics, though, the stock looks like it could be a top stock to own for the long term.
Top growth stocks rarely trade cheaply, and Palantir has proven to have one of the best growth stories for a large-cap stock not involved in the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom. The company has seen its revenue growth accelerate for 11 consecutive quarters, with growth of 85% in the first quarter. Meanwhile, its growth is being led by a combination of new customer additions and rapid expansion from existing customers.
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A unique offering with a long runway of growth What makes Palantir special is its unique solution, which is becoming an integral part of the AI ecosystem. Instead of trying to build the next great AI model, Palantir turned to its roots in data gathering and analytics to develop an application layer that makes AI more useful for enterprises in the real world.
Its solution gathers information from a variety of disparate sources and then organizes it into an ontology, where it links data to physical assets and real-world processes. This gives AI models a single source of truth grounded in real objects and tasks, greatly reducing AI hallucinations and helping organizations apply AI to solve the actual problems they face.
Being AI-model agnostic is a big plus, as it doesn't tie its customers to one company's models. This gives its customers flexibility that reduces risks and allows it to sell its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) solution across a wide array of industries. The use cases for its solution are enormous, as is its growth runway.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Palantir's solution has been a hit with its customers, and its net revenue retention (NRR), which measures revenue growth from existing customers who have been with the company for a year or longer, is a testament to how important its solution becomes once it gets a foothold in an organization. Over the past 12 months, Palantir's NRR is a whopping 150%, which essentially means customers who have been with Palantir for a year or more are increasing their spending with the company at a 50% annual clip.
That's remarkable. At the same time, Palantir's AI bootcamps, where it helps potential clients solve an actual issue they are facing within seven days, have become a strong selling point that greatly speeds up sales cycles.
While the stock is not cheap, this all provides the foundation for Palantir potentially becoming one of the largest companies in the world over the next decade, making it a top AI stock to own.
Micron Technology (MU) is rated Buy, with upside driven by expanding HBM demand beyond Nvidia, particularly from hyperscaler custom AI accelerators. MU targets maintaining a ~22% HBM market share, matching its DRAM share, as custom ASICs become a larger HBM demand source. Micron's HBM4 is in volume production, with qualification samples sent to multiple customers, but a named non-Nvidia win remains a key inflection point.
Wendell Huang, CFO of TSMC says the company's additional $100 billion investment in the U.S. is beneficial to the U.S. as it further fosters the development of U.S. semiconductor ecosystem, strengthens the supply chain, and helps create more high-tech, high-paid jobs in the country.
UK flag carrier opts for game-changing geared architecture
, /PRNewswire/ -- Farnborough International Airshow – Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, announced today that British Airways has selected GTF engines to power 33 firm and 30 option Airbus A320neo aircraft. Pratt & Whitney will also provide maintenance for the engines through a 12-year EngineWise® Comprehensive services agreement, ensuring optimized fleet efficiency and cost of ownership. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.
"Today marks a pivotal moment and a strong vote of confidence in the GTF engine as the UK's flagship carrier, British Airways, becomes the newest GTF customer," said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney. "As the most fuel-efficient choice for the A320neo aircraft, the GTF engine will help British Airways achieve its international fleet expansion goals and enhance the travel experience for passengers."
The GTF delivers 20% lower fuel consumption and a 75% smaller noise footprint compared to the prior generation of engines. Over 2,800 GTF-powered aircraft are operated globally by more than 90 customers, and the order backlog of over 8,000 GTF engines reflects strong market demand for its proven benefits. The GTF Advantage engine, which will enter into service later this year, will provide operators up to twice the time on wing, industry-leading fuel efficiency and even more range capability.
About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units for military, commercial and civil aviation customers. Since 1925, our engineers have pioneered the development of revolutionary aircraft propulsion technologies, and today we support more than 90,000 in-service engines through our global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
About RTX
With more than 180,000 global employees, RTX pushes the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia
For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected]
, /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the introduction of the PAC-3® Adapted Capability Effector (PAC-3 ACE™), a low-cost interceptor built to defeat a wide range of air and missile threats for less than half the cost of a PAC-3 MSE per unit.
A rendering of Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 ACE interceptor. PAC-3 ACE will give allied forces a rapidly fielded, complementary air defense effector option that can be deployed in record time. To achieve this, Lockheed Martin will collaborate with American and European industry partners and suppliers, enhancing the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base worldwide.
THE BIG PICTURE
Built on the proven PAC‑3 fire‑control system and fully linked to the Patriot weapon system and the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), PAC‑3 ACE speeds up development, testing and deployment far beyond traditional programs. It also ensures allied forces can field a common interceptor and bolster the PAC‑3 network at the same time.
WHY IT MATTERS
Cost-effective performance: Significantly lowers the cost-per-kill against a wide range of threats, with the reliability PAC-3 is known for, while providing magazine depth the current global climate necessitates. Rapid fielding: Uses highly effective and battle-proven PAC-3 software and IBCS integration to shorten development cycles and achieve rapid initial production. Multi-threat coverage: Designed to counter airbreathing threats, cruise missiles, close-range and short-range ballistic missiles within a single platform. Allied resilience: Joint development and production with European partners creates a shared, interoperable interceptor that strengthens transatlantic defense posture. EXPERT PERSPECTIVE
"American and allied warfighters need a solution that is battle-tested and budget-smart, and PAC-3 ACE delivers exactly that by building on the unrivaled performance of the PAC-3 MSE," said Tim Cahill, president, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "As we look to partner with our allies, we can further enhance resiliency and ensure our forces can swiftly counter emerging threats today and tomorrow."
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.
A man looks at a Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) model by Lockheed Martin at an international military fair in Kielce, Poland September 7, 2017.... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
SummaryCompaniesACE would cost less than half as much as the PAC-3 interceptor, Lockheed saidPatriot interceptors are in high-demand due to Ukraine, Gulf conflictsLockheed said the missile could reach initial production within 36 monthsFARNBOROUGH, England, July 20 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), opens new tab announced a lower-cost Patriot interceptor on Monday as militaries seek cheaper ways to counter drones and missiles, while defense contractors face competition from startups making low-cost weapons that can be produced at scale.
Lockheed said its new PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector, or ACE, missile would cost less than half as much as its PAC-3 MSE interceptors, which cost roughly $4 million per missile, according to U.S. Army budget documents.
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Initial production could start within 36 months, the company said, adding that it plans to develop and manufacture the weapon with U.S. and European industry partners.
"American and allied warfighters need a solution that is battle-tested and budget-smart," Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a statement at Britain's Farnborough Airshow.
The location of the announcement underscores efforts by U.S. defense companies to tap a European rearmament boom fueled by Russia's war in Ukraine, even as European governments seek to reduce dependence on American suppliers and expand local defense manufacturing.
The Patriot system has become one of the world's most sought-after air-defense weapons since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv credits Patriot batteries with helping defend cities against Russian ballistic missile attacks, while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly appealed for more launchers and interceptors as Moscow intensifies air strikes.
Demand has also been driven by missile exchanges between Iran, the United States and Israel and wider instability in the Gulf, stretching supplies of advanced air-defense weapons and exposing production bottlenecks throughout the Western defense industry.
The launch of a cheaper interceptor by Lockheed underscores how established defense contractors are responding to mounting competition from Silicon Valley-backed startups that promise to deliver weapons faster, in greater numbers and at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems.
Reporting by Joe Brock; Editing by Sharon Singleton
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Joe Brock is Reuters' aerospace and defense editor, based in Los Angeles, where he leads a global team of reporters covering airlines, aerospace, weapons manufacturers, and the space industry. Joe has previously worked in Singapore, Johannesburg, Abuja and London as a reporter and bureau chief. He has received several awards for his investigative journalism, including from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and The Society of Publishers in Asia.
Bitcoin traded sideways while several altcoins saw strong price swings. A handful of tokens posted solid weekly gains, while others extended their losses after failing to hold key support levels.
Overall, the week was driven by technical rallies, profit-taking, and continued rotation into select altcoins.
Lido DAO [LDO] nears a key resistance zone Lido DAO [LDO] led this week’s movers with a 16% rally. Notably, this comes after two straight weeks of upside, pushing LDO’s total gains to 25%. In just 21 days, the token has delivered a solid 40%+ recovery.
Why does this matter? Despite the recent move higher, LDO’s RSI is still far from the extreme overbought zone. This shows the rally has not yet entered a crowded phase, leaving room for further upside if momentum continues.
Technically, this suggests LDO’s move is more than just a random pump. The rally follows a sharp June sell-off, where LDO dropped toward $0.20 and broke below its Q1 lows. The current recovery shows buyers are stepping back in and attempting to reverse the previous downtrend.
Source: TradingView (LDO/USDT) If this momentum continues, a breakout toward the $0.40 resistance zone could be on the table.
For context, LDO faced heavy selling pressure around this level during Q1, making it a critical area for bulls to reclaim. A successful breakout could strengthen the recovery narrative, while another rejection may trigger a period of consolidation as traders reassess the next move.
Is Pump.fun [PUMP] still far from reaching full FOMO? Pump.fun [PUMP] emerged as the second-biggest weekly winner with a 13% rally. While the RSI remains neutral and PUMP has seen strong trading volume in recent sessions, calling this a full-fledged breakout setup may still be too early.
For over two months, PUMP has been trading below the key $0.002 resistance zone, making this the most important level for bulls to reclaim. However, every weekly push higher has so far been followed by a sharp cooldown phase, showing that accumulation is still not strong enough to support a larger breakout.
In short, though, PUMP is showing early signs of recovery, the structure still needs confirmation. Until buyers can consistently defend higher levels and break through the $0.002 resistance, the token remains in a consolidation phase rather than a confirmed breakout trend.
Venice Token [VVV] sees a much-needed weekly relief rally Venice Token [VVV] took the third spot this week with a 12.3% rally. For VVV, this could be one of its most significant weeks since mid-Q2. From a technical standpoint, VVV has been stuck in a consistent downtrend over the past eight weeks, with every weekly close ending in the red.
However, this week’s gains have clearly pushed VVV back into the spotlight. More importantly, the recovery came right after VVV broke below the key $10 support level, suggesting buyers stepped in at a critical zone. In this context, the rally looks more strategic, with bulls attempting to defend lower levels and build a recovery base.
If this trend holds, VVV could have started its recovery phase. The next key challenge sits around $15, which will determine whether this rebound can turn into a stronger reversal or remain just a short-term relief rally.
Other notable winners Outside the majors, altcoin movers also stole the spotlight this week.
IOTA [SN9] led the market with a staggering 5,267% gain, followed by Akedo [AKE], which surged 874%, while TENDIES [TENDIES] climbed 615%, rounding out the week’s top performers.
Weekly losers Lighter [LIT] enters a textbook cooldown phase Lighter [LIT] led this week’s losses with a 16% decline. While LIT has seen similar pullbacks after strong weekly rallies since its mid-May breakout, this correction could be slightly different.
Notably, LIT’s drop comes after three straight weeks of upside, where the token rallied over 60% and reached a new all-time high of $2.70. More importantly, the breakout followed a successful retest of the $2 resistance zone, showing bulls were stepping in at key levels, a trend that has supported LIT’s Q2 rally.
However, this time, the RSI had climbed above 70, signaling an overheated move. The pullback toward 52 shows momentum has cooled, but it also suggests the market is resetting rather than losing strength.
Source: TradingView (LIT/USDT) Technically, however, this marks LIT’s strongest RSI pullback since its Q2 rally. In essence, this cooldown could become an important setup for LIT’s next move. If buyers step back in and the RSI starts recovering, this reset could fuel another upside attempt.
Otherwise, this could be the first real sign that LIT has formed a local top.
Pi Network [PI] broke below a key support zone Pi Network [PI] emerged as the second-biggest loser this week with a 2.7% decline. While the drop looks modest compared to Lighter’s double-digit losses, PI’s chart looks much weaker, pointing to a stronger bearish bias.
Notably, this marks PI’s fourth straight week of losses. More importantly, the token broke below the key $0.10 support level, putting any near-term bounce under renewed selling pressure and printing a fresh all-time low.
Technically, PI remains firmly in a bearish structure. While the RSI has dropped into oversold territory, that alone doesn’t guarantee a recovery. Unless buyers reclaim the $0.10 level, any bounce could simply be a short-term relief rally rather than the start of a trend reversal, keeping PI as one of the weaker charts in the market right now.
Are Arbitrum [ARB] bulls losing their upper hand? Arbitrum [ARB] took the third spot among this week’s biggest losers. Unlike PI, however, ARB’s chart hasn’t fully shifted into a bearish structure. The pullback comes after two straight weeks of gains, during which the token rallied more than 25%.
However, this week’s decline followed ARB’s failure to break above the key $0.10 resistance zone, a level that has capped price since the early May cycle. The rejection shows bulls are still struggling to reclaim this area, allowing sellers to regain short-term control.
Technically, ARB is at an important inflection point. If bulls can reclaim the $0.10 resistance zone, the recent pullback could turn into a healthy retest. Otherwise, continued rejection at this level may keep ARB stuck in a broader consolidation phase and hand bears the upper hand in the near term.
Other notable losers In the broader market, downside volatility hit hard.
Cash Cat [CASHCAT] led the losers with a 72% decline, followed by LAB [LAB], which fell 66.5%, while ETHGas [GWEI] dropped 53.3% as bearish momentum intensified.
Conclusion This week was a rollercoaster for crypto. Big pumps, sharp dips, and nonstop action. As always, stay sharp, do your own research, and trade smart.
Final Summary Lido DAO [LDO], Pump.fun [PUMP], and Venice token [VVV] led the week in gains. Lighter [LIT], Pi network[PI], and Arbitrum [ARB] saw significant declines.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Segro has rejected the second sweetened takeover proposal from Prologis , valuing the British warehouse landlord at £13.5 billion ($18.18 billion), the U.S. logistics giant said on Monday.
USD/CAD extends its losses for the second successive day. trading around 1.4010 during the Asian hours on Monday. The technical analysis of the daily chart indicates the pair is moving downward within the descending channel, suggesting an ongoing bearish bias.
The USD/CAD is holding beneath both the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and the shorter-term nine-day EMA, which keeps the pair in a mildly bearish near-term stance after its recent pullback from the highs.
The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) has cooled to about 36, suggesting fading bullish momentum but not yet oversold conditions, which hints that sellers retain control while downside extension may still unfold in a more measured fashion.
The USD/CAD pair tests the lower boundary of the descending channel around 1.4000. A break below the channel would strengthen the bearish bias and put downward pressure on the pair to navigate the region around 1.3481, the lowest since October 2024.
On the upside, the USD/CAD pair may rebound toward the nine-day EMA of 1.4075, followed by the upper boundary of the descending channel around 1.4110. Further advances would cause the bullish emergence and support the currency cross to approach the 15-month high of 1.4248, reached on June 24.
USD/CAD: Daily Chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Canadian Dollar Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Canadian Dollar (CAD) against listed major currencies today. Canadian Dollar was the strongest against the Euro.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.01%-0.12%-0.02%-0.07%-0.14%-0.16%0.01%EUR0.01%-0.08%-0.02%-0.08%-0.12%-0.17%0.02%GBP0.12%0.08%0.07%0.01%-0.05%-0.08%0.08%JPY0.02%0.02%-0.07%-0.04%-0.11%-0.10%0.02%CAD0.07%0.08%-0.01%0.04%-0.06%-0.06%0.06%AUD0.14%0.12%0.05%0.11%0.06%-0.01%0.16%NZD0.16%0.17%0.08%0.10%0.06%0.00%0.13%CHF-0.01%-0.02%-0.08%-0.02%-0.06%-0.16%-0.13% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Canadian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent CAD (base)/USD (quote).
United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) Quek Ser Leang sees EUR/USD consolidating with a slight downside bias intraday, expecting moves within 1.1405–1.1450. Over 1–3 weeks, the Euro is still viewed with an upside bias as long as 1.1405 holds, though momentum toward 1.1520 remains uncertain. On a multi-week horizon, a break below 1.1390/1.1410 would target 1.1210.
Euro holds range with mild upside risk"24-HOUR VIEW: When EUR was at 1.1445 last Friday, we stated that “the current price movements are likely part of a consolidation phase between 1.1420 and 1.1465.” Our view of consolidation was not wrong, even though EUR traded within a narrower range than expected (1.1424/1.1452). EUR traded on a soft note after opening today, but the slight increase in downward momentum is not sufficient to indicate a continued decline. Overall, EUR could edge lower today, but any decline is likely to be contained within a 1.1405/1.1450 range."
"1-3 WEEKS VIEW: Last Thursday (16 Jul, spot at 1.1470), we highlighted that while EUR “is likely to trade with an upside bias, it is too early to determine whether there is sufficient momentum for EUR to reach the significant resistance level at 1.1520.” We added, “a breach of 1.1405 (‘strong support’ level) would indicate that EUR has reverted to a range-trading phase.” EUR has not been able to make any headway on the upside, but we will continue to hold the same view as long as 1.1405 is not clearly breached."
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)
Blackstone has invested in Futronic, a supplier of high-precision actuators serving automotive and industrial robotics sectors, the world's largest alternative asset manager said on Monday.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Leading cryptocurrencies moved sideways on Sunday as U.S. strikes on Iran continued into their “ninth consecutive night.”
Crypto Market CoagulatesBitcoin hovered between $64,000 and the low $65,000 range, even as trading volume surged 12% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum was stuck in the $1,800 zone, while XRP and Dogecoin also moved sideways
Nearly $120 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with bearish short traders bearing the brunt of the losses, according to Coinglass data
Bitcoin’s open interest fell 0.42% over the last 24 hours. That said, retail and whale derivatives traders on Binance remained long on the apex cryptocurrency.
"Fear" sentiment prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.22 trillion, up 0.44% over the last 24 hours.
Iran Tensions Pressures Stock FuturesStock futures were mixed in overnight trading on Sunday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures were down 16 points, or 0.03%, as of 8:51 p.m. EDT. Futures tied to the S&P 500 gained 0.08%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.32%.
Geopolitical tensions kept investors on edge as the U.S. military said it had struck Iran for the “ninth consecutive night” in an effort to degrade Iranian military capabilities further.
Iranian strikes on Friday killed two U.S. service members in Jordan and left another missing. The total U.S. death toll in the war now stands at 16
Why $69,000 Is Key For BitcoinAli Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, noted Bitcoin trading below the previous cycle’s all-time highs. Historically, reclaiming this level has marked the transition from a “bear market back into a sustained bull trend,” they added
“If BTC can successfully reclaim $69,000 and hold it as support, it would be another strong piece of evidence suggesting that the next major uptrend could already be underway,” the analyst said.
Michaël van de Poppe, another popular cryptocurrency commentator, anticipated a “big week” for cryptocurrency ahead, forecasting Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) and ETH as “clear plays” over Bitcoin.
“I assume that these will outperform when Bitcoin breaks that $65,000 area,” Van De Poppe projected.
Photo courtesy: Wirestock Creators on Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Trump Confirms Attendance at World Cup Final at 3:00 a.m. on the 20th; U.S. Activates Highest-Level Security
The US-Canada-Mexico World Cup final will be held at 3:00 a.m. on July 20 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. U.S. President Trump has confirmed he will attend the match in person, and the U.S. has activated a "Level One" special security operation. F-16 fighter jets, military snipers, and thousands of FBI agents will be deployed on site, and temporary flight restrictions and no-fly zones will be enforced over the New York and New Jersey areas. Road closures and traffic control will be in effect around the stadium on match day. Fans are advised to arrive four hours before kickoff, and media must complete entry and security screening by 12:30 p.m. ET on July 19.
South Korea Releases Won Internationalization Roadmap: Plans to Issue Won-Denominated Stablecoin and Launch Government Bond Tokenization Pilot Next Year
The South Korean government today released its "Korean Won Internationalization Roadmap," aiming to transform the won from a regulated currency into a freely convertible currency and build an offshore won settlement network. The Bank of Korea will launch the "Offshore Won Settlement Network" (tentative name), which is expected to begin trial operations in September this year and officially launch in January next year. At the same time, it will build digital asset payment infrastructure to lay the foundation for the issuance, distribution, and trading of won-denominated stablecoins, with plans to launch a pilot project next year to promote the tokenization of government bonds linked to the Bank of Korea's central bank digital currency (CBDC). Additionally, South Korea will formally join "Agora," a cross-border digital payment project led by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) involving eight central banks.
Data: ZRO, KAITO, H and Other Tokens to See Large Unlocks Next Week, with ZRO Unlock Value Exceeding $20 Million
Token Unlocks data shows that ZRO, KAITO, H and other tokens will undergo large unlocks next week, including: LayerZero (ZRO) will unlock approximately 25.71 million tokens at 7:00 p.m. Beijing time on July 20, representing about 4.6% of circulating supply and worth roughly $20.9 million; KAITO (KAITO) will unlock approximately 17.6 million tokens at 8:00 p.m. Beijing time on July 20, representing about 4.3% of circulating supply and worth roughly $16 million; Humanity Protocol (H) will unlock approximately 266 million tokens at 8:00 a.m. Beijing time on July 25, representing about 8.6% of circulating supply and worth roughly $15.5 million; Plasma (XPL) will unlock approximately 88.89 million tokens at 8:00 p.m. Beijing time on July 25, representing about 3.44% of circulating supply and worth roughly $7.3 million; SoSoValue (SOSO) will unlock approximately 23.46 million tokens at 5:00 p.m. Beijing time on July 24, representing about 6.78% of circulating supply and worth roughly $6.9 million; aPriori (APR) will unlock approximately 31.88 million tokens at 8:00 a.m. Beijing time on July 23, representing about 11.28% of circulating supply and worth roughly $6.8 million; SOON (SOON) will unlock approximately 20.24 million tokens at 4:30 p.m. Beijing time on July 23, representing about 3.91% of circulating supply and worth roughly $3.3 million; MBG By Multibank Group (MBG) will unlock approximately 27.15 million tokens at 8:00 p.m. Beijing time on July 22, representing about 6.96% of circulating supply and worth roughly $3.3 million; Undeads Games (UDS) will unlock approximately 2.15 million tokens at 8:00 a.m. Beijing time on July 21, representing about 1.11% of circulating supply and worth roughly $2.4 million.
David Sacks Criticizes Using Regulation to Create FUD to Suppress Open-Source AI Competition
David Sacks, co-chair of the U.S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, retweeted and responded to OpenAI Strategic Future head Dean W. Ball's views on Chinese open-source AI models. He argued that if the government issues regulatory guidance lacking sufficient basis to deliberately create uncertainty (FUD) and force regulated companies to abandon Chinese open-source models, it would undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for future regulatory abuse. Sacks stated that regulatory decisions should be based on facts, logic, and evidence, not on intentionally amplifying fear and uncertainty. He also noted that AI policy has entered a critical phase, with leading closed-source model companies attempting to leverage government power to undermine open-source competition, and called on Silicon Valley to support open competition.
Kimi: Pauses New Subscriptions to Protect Existing User Experience
Kimi K3 has seen a surge in demand over the past 48 hours, with GPU compute capacity approaching its current ceiling. To protect the experience of existing subscribers, Kimi has temporarily stopped accepting new subscriptions and is prioritizing compute allocation for current members, with services for existing subscribers unaffected. The company said it is accelerating capacity expansion and will open new subscription slots in batches. Meanwhile, the membership system will be split into two categories: "Kimi Membership" for Web, App, and Work scenarios, and "Kimi Code Membership" for code workflow scenarios, to more precisely match compute resources.
BANK Foundation Suspected of Transferring 84 Million BANK Tokens to Aster
On-chain data shows that 84 million BANK tokens were transferred from the BANK Foundation Wallet (0xEde6…3B11a) to a new address (0x5721…22Bd8), which subsequently moved the relevant tokens into an Aster deposit address (0x1284…87974). Market data shows: The BANK token price has surged significantly in the past few days, with gains exceeding 3x, currently quoted at around $0.16. The market is highly volatile, and investors should manage risks carefully.
Abraxas Capital Deposits 3 Million USDC to Hyperliquid, Increases BTC and ETH Short Positions
Abraxas Capital deposited 3 million USDC into Hyperliquid, further adding to its short positions of 796.4 million BTC (worth approximately $51.5 million) and 31,640 ETH (worth approximately $59.2 million). Since its last disclosure two days ago, both its BTC and ETH short positions have increased markedly.
Analyst: Bitcoin Could Drop to $50,000 in August, with a True Bottom Not Until October
Analyst Noname tweeted that Bitcoin will not hit a bottom this quarter. Sideways consolidation represents indecision, and at these price levels, indecision often breaks to the downside before it breaks to the upside. At least one more quarter is needed before the market becomes clear. His predictions for the 2026 trend are as follows: July: False stability. Bear market trap rally. Market shakes out weak hands. August: The real crash begins. First test of the $50,000 area. September: Sustained pressure. W-shaped bottom structure begins to form. October: The true bottom. Accumulation zone. Personally will adopt aggressive strategies in this phase. November: Signs of recovery emerge; bottoming rebound begins. December: First breakout above the $100,000 mark since the bear market started.
A Whale Increases BTC Long Position to $108 Million, Currently Sitting on $1.38 Million in Unrealized Profits with 40x Leverage
A whale further added to their position 50 minutes ago, raising their BTC long position to a value of $108 million (1,662.5 BTC). The whale's average long entry price is $63,958, with current unrealized profits of $1.38 million. Due to the high leverage ratio (40x), the liquidation price is at $63,142.
Bitvavo Withdraws 3.89 Million LINK Worth Approximately $32.59 Million from Coinbase Prime
Bitvavo withdrew 3.89 million LINK (approximately $32.59 million) from Coinbase Prime and transferred the funds to a new wallet.
Cross-chain bridge Allbridge Core attacked, losses may exceed $1.1 million
The cross-chain bridge protocol Allbridge Core suffered a security incident. The team has paused the protocol for investigation and advised users holding affected LP tokens to withdraw funds immediately. The incident caused an imbalance in liquidity pools, creating temporary arbitrage opportunities. The team urges arbitrageurs to return the funds to compensate affected liquidity providers (LPs). According to Onchain Lens monitoring, Allbridge Core has lost over $1.1 million.
Mystery whale creates new wallet, bets $1.95 million on Spain winning 2026 World Cup, makes $1.35 million in hours
A mystery whale created a new wallet 10 hours ago and bet $1.95 million at 59.1% odds on Spain to win the 2026 World Cup. After Spain won, the whale made $1.35 million in just a few hours.
Crypto KOL Ansem Buys PUMP
Crypto KOL Ansem tweeted that he bought PUMP at around $0.001675. He believes Pump.fun maintains monthly revenue of $30-40 million even in a bear market, and if Solana once again dominates retail activity this cycle, Pump.fun could be a major beneficiary. If the team conducts a large airdrop (e.g., over 300 million), it could boost trading volume, attention, and platform activity similar to Jito and Jupiter in late 2023. Additionally, Pump.fun competes with Hyperliquid and Polymarket as the most profitable crypto protocols, and the team holds a large amount of tokens that have just begun to unlock. The core business revolves around retail speculation, giving them an incentive to push token performance. During the unlocking sell-off, the token value could be wiped out at the low of $0.0014.
Vitalik: Developed a Demo of a Moderated Anonymous Message Board on Aztec
Vitalik posted on Farcaster that he developed an experimental demo of a 'moderated anonymous message board' on Aztec using Vibe Coding. Users can deposit ETH on L1, post messages anonymously on L2, then withdraw ETH back to L1. All posts are completely anonymous; the public call data does not reveal the sender's address, nor is it linked to the L1 deposit account. Vitalik said the project is still in early stages and can achieve some 'interesting and unusual' features.
PeckShield: Allbridge Core loses about $1.65 million, attacker moves funds from Solana to Ethereum
The cross-chain bridge protocol Allbridge Core was hacked, with a loss of approximately $1.65 million. The attacker has moved the stolen funds from Solana to Ethereum.
Analyst: Binance and Bybit see over $2.3 billion in stablecoin outflows in 30 days, Bitcoin liquidity dries up, market sentiment pessimistic
CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost wrote that Binance and Bybit have seen a combined stablecoin outflow of over $2.3 billion in the past 30 days, and Bitcoin liquidity is drying up. Bitcoin has been testing the key $60,000 level for nearly 165 consecutive days. Although it briefly broke above $80,000 in May, it failed to hold or reignite Bitcoin's upward momentum. One reason for this situation is the lack of new liquidity flowing into the market. Whether for direct Bitcoin investment or the broader crypto market, new demand is hard to materialize. Looking at changes in exchange stablecoin reserves, things have been particularly bad since the beginning of the year, with an almost continuous decline, reflecting that outflows significantly exceed inflows. In the past 30 days alone, Binance's stablecoin reserves have drained by $1.55 billion, and Bybit's by $786 million. The decline in reserves sends a clear signal: demand and liquidity are shrinking, and investors seem inclined to withdraw stablecoins from exchanges or even exit the market entirely. Therefore, it is precisely this persistently overly pessimistic market sentiment that continues to deprive Bitcoin of the resources needed to break out of the current consolidation range.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Aurora, the Ethereum-compatible blockchain layer built on NEAR Protocol, went dark at 02:16 UTC on July 20, 2026. Hours later, the network remains completely unavailable, with no official statement from Aurora Labs explaining what happened or when service might resume.
For a network that once locked up $2.5 billion in total value, this would have been a five-alarm fire. Today, with Aurora’s TVL sitting at roughly $4.65 million, the outage reads more like a quiet alarm going off in an increasingly empty building.
What we know so far On-chain monitoring flagged the outage shortly after it began in the early morning hours UTC. Aurora’s mainnet, which allows developers to deploy Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and decentralized applications at lower costs than Ethereum mainnet, has been completely inaccessible since.
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The @auroraisnear account has not issued any public explanation. No root cause has been identified publicly, and there’s no estimated timeline for restoration.
The long decline of Aurora’s TVL When Aurora launched in 2021, it had genuine momentum. The project raised $12 million from a roster of over 100 investors that included Pantera Capital and Electric Capital. It was positioned as the bridge between Ethereum’s massive developer ecosystem and NEAR Protocol’s scalable architecture.
By 2022, things were looking solid. Aurora’s TVL peaked at approximately $2.5 billion, and the broader NEAR ecosystem initiated a $90 million developer fund, allocating 25 million AURORA tokens to boost DeFi activity on the platform.
From $2.5 billion to roughly $4.65 million represents a drop of about 99%. The month preceding the outage was unremarkable. Aurora had been quietly pushing routine updates related to its Virtual Chains and Intents features, but nothing that suggested a major technical crisis was brewing.
What this means for investors and developers For anyone still holding positions on Aurora or building applications on the network, this outage demands a serious reassessment. Extended downtime without communication from the team is one of the clearest warning signals in crypto infrastructure.
A 99% decline in TVL tells you that capital has already voted with its feet. An unexplained, multi-hour mainnet outage tells you that operational resilience may also be deteriorating.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
The FIFA World Cup has come to a close, with FIFA generating over $9 billion in revenue.
According to CNBC, the largest and most talked-about World Cup in history has come to a close. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy, the highest honor in international football. Off the pitch, FIFA is undoubtedly the biggest winner of this tournament. As the global governing body of football, FIFA hosted the most lucrative sports event in history. According to its own projections, the 2026 World Cup will generate over $9 billion in revenue. This World Cup is also the first in history to expand to 48 participating teams, a significant increase from 32 teams four years prior; the number of matches has risen from 64 to 104, and the tournament schedule has been extended from 4 weeks to 6 weeks. More matches mean more content to sell to broadcasters, more tickets to sell to fans, and more commercial partnership opportunities for advertisers, while also attracting a larger global audience. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been a core figure driving the commercialization of the World Cup. As the tournament’s scale expands further, FIFA is maximizing the World Cup’s commercial value in an unprecedented manner.
20 minutes ago
【Whale Tracking】 $107 million BTC long position reduced by 40%, remaining position placed with a break-even sell order.
According to Hyperinsight monitoring, the largest BTC long position holder, who previously held $107 million worth of BTC long positions, has started taking profits via position reduction and placed a break-even stop-loss order for remaining positions near their entry cost. Over the past hour, the entity sold a total of 903.4 BTC through 10 limit sell orders, generating approximately $58.424 million in trading volume at an average execution price of ~$64,666.1, realizing a profit of $554,400. Minor additional positions added during the period resulted in a net position reduction of 668.2 BTC. As of press time, the whale still holds 994.2 BTC in long positions, valued at ~$64.195 million, with an average entry price of $64,052 and an unrealized profit of $510,000. Its liquidation price has fallen to $61,604.3. The whale has set stop-loss orders for all remaining long positions: a break-even liquidation will trigger if BTC drops below $64,050—meaning it will lock in the $554,400 realized profit and exit if the price falls back to entry cost; if the price continues to rise, it will hold for further gains, making this setup overall defensive. Previous update: [Whale Alert] A whale opened BTC long positions worth $107 million, becoming the largest BTC long holder.
20 minutes ago
China Software International rises more than 30%
According to Bitget's market data, China Software International rose more than 30%. As reported today, the company announced it has signed a token revenue sharing and joint innovation cooperation agreement with Moonshot.
20 minutes ago
Circle's CEO has sold CRCL shares 10 times since the company's IPO, cashing out over $30 million.
According to Form 4 filings, Circle President Heath Tarbert has sold CRCL shares 10 times in total since June 2025, netting roughly $30.77 million in proceeds with no additional stock purchases made. Earlier reports noted that Tarbert recently told Fox Business Network, "the company’s stock price will take care of itself," while emphasizing "Circle is in it for the long haul."
20 minutes ago
South Korea's KOSPI Index plummeted 5% intraday.
According to Bitget market data, South Korea's KOSPI index plunged 5% intraday, currently trading at 6479.20 points.
20 minutes ago
Prediction markets now account for 27% of total World Cup sports betting transactions, marking the first time traditional betting giants have seen their market share significantly eroded.
According to Bloomberg, during this unprecedentedly popular World Cup, trading volume on prediction markets surged sharply, growing far faster than traditional sports betting platforms, further highlighting the competitive threat that prediction market platforms like Kalshi pose to the sports betting industry. As a leading player in the space, Kalshi broke its own trading records multiple times during the World Cup. Its peak trading volume not only doubled the mark set in the week before the World Cup and during the New York Knicks’ playoffs, but also reached nearly 10 times its average trading level for most of early this year. Research firm H2 Gambling Capital estimated, based on public data from the first month of the World Cup, that prediction market trading volume now accounts for roughly 27% of total U.S. legal sports betting volume, up sharply from 9% at the start of the year. While this comparison is not entirely precise—due to differing trading metrics used by prediction markets and traditional bookmakers, and as bookmakers have not yet released their latest internal data—it still reflects that prediction markets are rapidly eroding market share from traditional sports betting. Another clear sign of the shifting competitive landscape is that, per Apptopia data, Kalshi’s mobile app daily active users (DAU) surpassed those of the two largest U.S. online sports betting platforms, DraftKings and FanDuel, during the World Cup, demonstrating that prediction market platforms are rising rapidly and posing direct competition to traditional sports betting giants in user scale.
British Pound holds steady near 1.3450 as US-Iran strikes intensifyThe GBP/USD pair trades on a flat note around 1.3450 during the early Asian session on Monday. Traders continue to assess the developments surrounding US-Iran tensions after the US said that a third American troop was killed in the past two days. The UK employment report will be in the spotlight later on Tuesday.
The US reported the death of another American service member, who was killed in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. US Central Command (CENTCOM) also said on Sunday that it has located unidentified remains in Jordan, where a separate Iranian attack left two US troops dead and one missing in action, per Bloomberg. Read more...
British Pound slips for second straight day as Oil spike revives inflation fearsThe Pound Sterling retreats during the North American session, down 0.22% against the Greenback, as geopolitical tensions remained high, triggering a jump in Oil prices and heightening fears of a reacceleration of inflation. The GBP/USD trades at 1.3449 after peaking near 1.3480.
Hostilities in the Middle East continued with the US attacking Iranian infrastructure, according to Iran’s army spokesperson, who warned that attacks on Oil facilities could trigger retaliation, saying that “either all countries in the region can export Oil or no one can.” As tensions rose, Oil prices jumped, with WTI, the US crude Oil benchmark, gaining over 1.50% to $80.78 per barrel. Read more...
British Pound: Burnham policy hopes underpin Sterling against US Dollar – ScotiabankScotiabank’s Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret notes GBP/USD is lower on the day and well off its one-year high reached on optimism that incoming PM Burnham will pursue market-friendly policies. Despite late-week slippage, that view remains. The new government is expected to allow new North Sea drilling and bring Thames Water back under public control, while trend oscillators stay bullish and analysts look for firm support near 1.34.
"Sterling is down on the day and well off the 1-year peak seen earlier this week around optimism that Burnham—who takes over as PM next week—will follow market friendly policies. Despite the pound’s late week slippage, that outlook appears to remain intact." Read more...
Gold prices remained broadly unchanged in United Arab Emirates on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 474.81 United Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED) per gram, broadly stable compared with the AED 474.54 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold was broadly steady at AED 5,538.14 per tola from AED 5,534.89 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in AED
1 Gram
474.81
10 Grams
4,748.14
Tola
5,538.14
Troy Ounce
14,768.37
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in United Arab Emirates by adapting international prices (USD/AED) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices remained broadly unchanged in Philippines on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 7,970.46 Philippine Pesos (PHP) per gram, broadly stable compared with the PHP 7,970.33 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold was broadly steady at PHP 92,962.48 per tola from PHP 92,964.33 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in PHP
1 Gram
7,970.46
10 Grams
79,701.88
Tola
92,962.48
Troy Ounce
247,909.40
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Philippines by adapting international prices (USD/PHP) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices remained broadly unchanged in Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 485.18 Saudi Riyals (SAR) per gram, broadly stable compared with the SAR 485.27 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold was broadly steady at SAR 5,659.15 per tola from SAR 5,660.13 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in SAR
1 Gram
485.18
10 Grams
4,851.88
Tola
5,659.15
Troy Ounce
15,090.98
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Saudi Arabia by adapting international prices (USD/SAR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
The EUR/USD pair trades in positive territory around 1.1445 during the early European trading hours on Monday, bolstered by a hawkish tone from the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB is expected to hold interest rates on ThThursday butill hike for the second time this year in September as a renewed energy price surge raises the risk of more intense inflation pressures, according to Reuters.
However, escalating tensions in the Middle East could boost safe-haven flows, supporting the US Dollar (USD) against the Euro (EUR). Bloomberg reported that the US has launched the ninth night of Iran strikes, with Washington saying that airstrikes on Sunday aimed to "punish" Iran over the first US military deaths since renewed hostilities with the Islamic Republic began.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz will not be safe for petrochemical products or 'single drop of oil and gas' transit as long as US actions in the region continue.
In the daily chart, EUR/USD keeps a bearish near-term tone as it holds beneath the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). Price sits just under the upper Bollinger Band near, hinting that the latest bounce is running into overhead supply, while the middle Bollinger Band offers nearby dynamic support. The Relative Strength Index (14) at roughly 48 remains below the neutral 50 line, suggesting only modest upside momentum and reinforcing the idea of a capped recovery while the pair trades under its longer-term average.
On the topside, immediate resistance is located at the upper Bollinger Band around 1.1470, with a stronger barrier higher up at the 100-day SMA near 1.1585, where selling interest is likely to re-emerge if tested. On the downside, initial support is seen at the middle Bollinger Band around 1.1415, followed by the lower Bollinger Band near 1.1358; a clear break below this lower band would open the door to a continuation of the broader decline.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Euro FAQs The Euro is the currency for the 20 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).
The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.
Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.
Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.
Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.
Gold prices remained broadly unchanged in India on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 12,475.40 Indian Rupees (INR) per gram, broadly stable compared with the INR 12,463.91 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold was broadly steady at INR 145,510.50 per tola from INR 145,376.60 per tola on Friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in INR
1 Gram
12,475.40
10 Grams
124,753.90
Tola
145,510.50
Troy Ounce
388,037.30
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in India by adapting international prices (USD/INR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices rose in Pakistan on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 35,945.31 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) per gram, up compared with the PKR 35,906.22 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to PKR 419,258.50 per tola from PKR 418,803.20 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in PKR
1 Gram
35,945.31
10 Grams
359,453.10
Tola
419,258.50
Troy Ounce
1,118,025.00
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Pakistan by adapting international prices (USD/PKR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold (XAU/USD) reverses a modest Asian session dip to the $3,983-$3,982 area and is now looking to build on Friday's bounce from the monthly low. The intraday uptick is sponsored by a softer US Dollar (USD), which tends to benefit the commodity. That said, rising geopolitical tensions and expectations of higher US interest rates favor the USD bulls, warranting caution before positioning for any meaningful appreciation for the non-yielding bullion.
In the latest developments surrounding the Middle East crisis, the US said that it had completed a ninth straight night of strikes against Iran on Sunday after announcing the death of another American service member in Iraq. US President Donald Trump said that the latest strikes were being carried out in honor of US service members killed in recent days. Moreover, the US Central Command stated on X that the strikes are aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran fired ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones targeting US allies in the region, with Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Iraq reporting a new wave of attacks.
This raises the risk of a broader regional war and prompts traders to continue pricing in the geopolitical risk premium. Adding to this, the US recently resumed a naval blockade of Iranian ports and restricted an earlier oil-selling license. On the other hand, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is aggressively monitoring and attempting to restrict vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This, in turn, lifts crude oil prices to the highest since June 12, fueling inflation worries and bolstering bets for a Fed rate hike in 2026. Furthermore, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack argued on Friday that rates may need to rise to beat back persistent inflation, which should support the USD and warrants caution for Gold bulls.
In the absence of any relevant market-moving US economic releases on Monday, the fundamental backdrop makes it prudent to wait for strong follow-through buying before confirming that the XAU/USD pair has formed a near-term bottom. That said, comments from influential FOMC members could provide some impetus to the USD. Apart from this, the incoming geopolitical headlines should infuse some volatility in financial markets and contribute to producing short-term trading opportunities around Gold.
XAU/USD daily chart
Gold’s bearish setup warrants caution before positioning for any meaningful upsideFrom a technical perspective, the precious metal is holding within a downward-sloping channel and below the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) near $4,495.79. This keeps the broader tone bearish despite some recent stabilisation. The XAU/USD pair currently sits just under the channel’s upper boundary around $4,056.51, suggesting rallies remain capped within the corrective structure.
Meanwhile, a modestly positive Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) hints that the latest bounce carries some, but not dominant, upside momentum as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) lingers below the 50 line in mildly negative territory. Hence, a decisive break above the trend-channel hurdle is needed to open the way for a more convincing recovery toward the distant 200-day SMA at roughly $4,495.79.
On the downside, the lower boundary of the descending channel near $3,662.99 forms the next significant support, and a move back toward this zone would reinforce the prevailing bearish structure, exposing further weakness if broken.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Fed FAQs Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
Gold prices rose in Malaysia on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 529.13 Malaysian Ringgits (MYR) per gram, up compared with the MYR 528.55 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to MYR 6,171.72 per tola from MYR 6,164.87 per tola on Friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in MYR
1 Gram
529.13
10 Grams
5,291.31
Tola
6,171.72
Troy Ounce
16,457.60
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Malaysia by adapting international prices (USD/MYR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold Technical Analysis: Bearish Momentum Tests $4,000 Support XAUUSD Daily Chart: Weak Rebound Keeps Downside Risk Alive The daily chart for spot gold shows that the price is consolidating in the strong support zone of $3,900 to $4,000. This support zone is defined by the October 2025 lows. The price may trigger a rebound from this support zone. But the $4,150 level protects the rally.
A break above $4,150 may push spot gold to $4,250, which is defined by the 50-day SMA. A break above the 50-day SMA may push the spot gold to the 200-day SMA at $4,500. Overall, the rebound from $4,000 is quite weak which indicates further downside in the short term. The RSI indicator also remains below the midpoint, which points to further pressure.
The 50-day SMA remains below the 200-day SMA, which points to the negative trend in the gold market. A recovery above $4,500 in spot gold may change the overall outlook and initiate a rally to $5,000.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 19, 2026) - Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU) between May 24, 2023 and May 27, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 25, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Futu securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Futu class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/futu-holdings-limited/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 25, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Futu was not in compliance with the requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the "CSRC"), including because Futu continued to conduct securities business, public fund sales business and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval; (2) as a result, Futu was reasonably likely to face regulatory penalties, including the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and other penalties; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Futu's financial results were overstated; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Futu's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Futu class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/futu-holdings-limited/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305747
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
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Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 5.43%), or SpaceX for short, has been an absolute roller coaster since going public roughly a month ago. Despite the stock rocketing to $225 and then dropping back down to roughly $125, some Wall Street analysts still see big things ahead. Adam Jonas, an analyst overseeing Morgan Stanley's coverage of SpaceX, set his base case for the stock at $300 per share.
That target signals massive upside, more than double the stock's current share price. But such an ambitious price target depends on SpaceX becoming far more than a space stock. It's a bet on unprecedented vertical integration in arguably the world's most significant economic opportunity since the industrial revolution: artificial intelligence (AI).
SpaceX's upside lies in AI more than in space Morgan Stanley expects SpaceX to grow at a breathtaking pace for the foreseeable future. The research assumes that SpaceX's revenue will grow from $18.7 billion in 2025 to $319 billion by 2030 and to $3.3 trillion by 2040. The bulk of that comes from artificial intelligence, where Morgan Stanley is counting on SpaceX building out orbital infrastructure for global connectivity and AI.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Elon Musk agrees. The company's S-1 filing pegged its total addressable market at approximately $28.5 trillion, with all but $2 trillion of that tied to AI. SpaceX intends to unleash a massive constellation of AI satellites called Starmind, essentially building data centers in orbit. The company hopes to launch its first AI satellites on Starship sometime next year.
Looking at the big picture, rockets are essentially a means to build out SpaceX's AI empire in orbit.
Today's Change
(
-5.43
%) $
-7.12
Current Price
$
123.99
That upside comes with immense risk Space is truly the next frontier, especially for AI. Data centers have become very controversial in the United States, where citizens have begun pushing back hard. New York recently became the first state to impose a moratorium on new hyperscale data center builds. SpaceX successfully establishing AI infrastructure in space would be a true game changer, as no company currently seems close to replicating that model.
Elon Musk in the White House Oval Office. Image source: The White House.
At the same time, these goals are as risky as they are ambitious. That's even reflected in Morgan Stanley's research, where the bull case is as high as $600 and the bear case as low as $75. The reality is that right now, the stock's valuation reflects a lot of success that hasn't happened yet. SpaceX is trading at about 94 times last year's revenue, even after its recent slide to a $1.7 trillion market cap.
SpaceX will need to live up to Morgan Stanley's growth projections for the stock to sustain its valuation, let alone double in value. As a result, SpaceX will likely remain very volatile as time reveals where the company lands in this wide range of possibilities.
Apple (AAPL +0.26%) is likely to report critical information that investors will not want to miss.
*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of July 16, 2026. The video was published on July 18, 2026.
Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Apple stock NASDAQ:AAPL has become Wall Street’s latest test of whether the artificial intelligence trade is moving beyond data-centre builders and towards businesses capable of selling AI to consumers.
The iPhone maker briefly overtook Nvidia as the world’s most valuable company, reaching about $4.88 trillion as Nvidia fell 3.5%.
The switch may prove temporary, but it captured a change in investor thinking.
Apple stock has gained 23% this year as confidence grows that it can distribute AI without matching hyperscalers’ spending.
For much of the generative AI boom, Apple was criticized for moving slowly.
Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta committed heavily to models, chips and data centres, while Nvidia became the clearest winner from the infrastructure buildout.
That contrast once made Apple look behind the curve. It now appears attractive as investors question how quickly huge AI budgets will generate returns.
Apple can adopt proven models, integrate them into devices and retain control of the customer relationship, with less pressure to justify infrastructure investment.
“Apple was seen as a laggard in the AI race because it wasn’t spending to develop models, but now sentiment has changed,” Toni Meadows, head of investment at BRI Wealth Management, told Reuters.
Meadows said Apple was less exposed to capital-intensive development and better positioned to monetize AI through services, hardware upgrades and its ecosystem.
The company waited for the technology to mature before pushing it through familiar products.
Apple’s advantage is distribution. The company said in January that its installed base had surpassed 2.5 billion active devices, providing a consumer network few technology businesses can match.
HSBC analyst Nicolas Cote-Colisson upgraded Apple to Buy from Hold and lifted his price target to $366 from $260.
He described the company as being at an “operational turning point,” arguing that restrained spending and its product pipeline could support the AI cycle.
The opportunity differs from Nvidia’s.
Nvidia earns when companies add computing capacity, but Apple could benefit downstream by persuading customers to replace devices, use more paid services and remain within its ecosystem.
A more capable Siri is central to that thesis because it could place generative AI before mainstream users without requiring a separate chatbot.
Citi analyst Asiya Merchant raised her target to $365 from $315 and retained a Buy rating, citing opportunities from Apple Intelligence, premium devices and market-share growth.
The initial payoff may come through engagement and services revenue rather than an immediate iPhone supercycle.
Apple must still prove its AI features can change customer behaviour.
Apple’s move above Nvidia is symbolically important, but it does not mark the end of Nvidia’s leadership.
The companies occupy different parts of the same value chain. Nvidia supplies computing power, while Apple offers a route into consumers’ lives.
Nvidia remains essential to AI infrastructure and could reclaim the market-value lead.
Apple also faces tests as its revamped Siri must work reliably, reach key markets and turn distribution into measurable revenue.
A large installed base provides opportunity, not guaranteed monetization.
Valuation is another risk. Apple’s rally has lifted expectations, leaving the shares vulnerable if device demand or services growth disappoints.
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) between May 1, 2025 and January 28, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important August 11, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Microsoft common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Microsoft class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/microsoft-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 11, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Microsoft’s Copilot family of products had experienced significant brand positioning, user experience, usage, data siloing, computational capacity, organizational, and interoperability problems; (2) Microsoft’s flagship proprietary AI model ranked well below competitors on a number of benchmark tests; (3) Microsoft needed to increase by billions of dollars its capital expenditures and divert graphics processing unit (“GPU”) and central processing unit (“CPU”) capacity away from fulfilling demand for its profitable Azure services in order to improve the competitive positioning of its critical Copilot family of products and increase its AI-related research and development (“R&D”); and (4) as a result, Microsoft had failed to convert a significant percentage of its commercial Microsoft 365 users to paid Copilot subscriptions and Microsoft’s Copilot offerings had lost market share to rival products, a trend that was increasing. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Microsoft class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/microsoft-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com
I believe Microsoft is on the cusp of being re-rated back towards 52 week highs, as Azure and Copilot growth help shape the narrative back to "AI Winner." Current valuation is near multi-year lows, reminiscent of late 2022 before a significant rally, suggesting potential upside. MSFT's aggressive CapEx is seen as strategic long-term investment, not value destruction, paralleling Amazon's approach.
Attendees talk at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 22, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SummaryCompaniesAirbus and Boeing could secure around 300 aircraft orders, sources told ReutersDefence companies will account for half of the show's record 1,600 exhibitorsIncoming British PM Burnham may appear at July 20 to 24 AirshowFARNBOROUGH, England, July 20 (Reuters) - Farnborough Airshow opens on Monday with Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab and Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab pursuing aircraft deals and defence firms vying for a share of booming military budgets fuelled by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Planemakers are expected to announce a string of deals during the week, although industry sources say total orders are likely to fall well short of some analyst forecasts of 800 aircraft or more, reflecting supply-chain constraints that continue to limit production.
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At the same time, defence companies are arriving in force as governments boost military spending and seek lessons from conflicts that have highlighted the importance of drones, missile defence systems and artificial intelligence.
Monday's opening also coincides with the first day in office of Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham, who could make an appearance at the July 20 to 24 event.
Organisers say defence companies will make up half of a record 1,600 exhibitors at the show, highlighting a shift from the commercial aviation roots of an event that began in 1948 as a showcase for British aerospace technology.
The shift reflects how conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East have transformed spending priorities and accelerated demand for new defence technologies, including unmanned fighter jets, kamikaze drones and autonomous AI software.
On the eve of the event, the head of Boeing's commercial airplane unit said the company is focused on increasing and improving aircraft production, "not order announcement."
Sources told Reuters Airbus and Boeing are together expected to secure a little over 300 aircraft orders unless last-minute negotiations produce additional deals.
Among the expected announcements is an order for around 100 narrowbody aircraft from each manufacturer by Irish leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital, the sources said. Bloomberg News first reported the potential deal. None of the companies involved commented.
Other airlines discussing orders include Riyadh Air and Philippine Airlines.
However, there were no immediate signs of a breakthrough in talks between Turkish Airlines and engine makers over long-term maintenance agreements that the carrier has linked to a planned purchase of 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets.
Reporting by Joanna Plucinska, Dan Catchpole, Tim Hepher, Joe Brock and David Shepardson; Editing by Sharon Singleton
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Joanna reports on airlines and travel in Europe, including tourism trends, sustainability and policy. She was previously based in Warsaw, where she covered politics and general news. She wrote stories on everything from Chinese spies to migrants stranded in forests along the Belarusian border. In 2022, she spent six weeks covering the war in Ukraine, with a focus on the evacuation of children, war reparations and evidence that Russian commanders knew of sexual violence by their troops. Joanna graduated from the Columbia Journalism School in 2014. Before joining Reuters, she worked in Hong Kong for TIME and later in Brussels reporting on EU tech policy for POLITICO Europe.
Picture a 54-year-old who spent 25 years in a corporate office, got the layoff call this spring, and is watching his severance calendar tick down. He is too young to retire, too experienced to be cheap, and has been ghosted by half the recruiters on LinkedIn.
Then he reads that JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM | JPM Price Prediction) CEO Jamie Dimon is pushing hard on American shipbuilding, that the country needs roughly 300,000 workers in the trade, that these jobs can pay around $100,000 without a college degree, and that JPMorgan is putting about $24 million into training programs in Philadelphia. Suddenly a welding certificate looks less like a step down and more like a lifeline.
You can find versions of this guy all over the internet: former IT manager asking whether a union apprenticeship at 55 is crazy, ex-marketing director wondering if his knees can handle a shipyard. The financial dynamics are more compelling than most people realize, because a strong late-career trade income can permanently lift his Social Security check on top of covering the monthly bills.
Why the Highest 35 Years Rule Is the Whole Ballgame Here Social Security calculates your benefit from a wage-indexed average of your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked fewer than 35 years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) plugs in zeros for the missing years. If you had lean periods, say a stretch of self-employment that flopped or gap years raising kids, those low numbers drag the benefit down.
Here is where a $100,000 shipbuilding job in your mid-50s does real work. Every new year of strong earnings knocks out the lowest year in the calculation. If our 54-year-old has a couple of $15,000 years from an early career slump or an outright zero from a gap between jobs, each year at the shipyard replaces one of those in the top 35. Do that for six or seven years and you are rebuilding the benefit in a meaningful way.
To make it make sense: a worker whose benefit at full retirement age (FRA) would have been about $2,400 a month based on a patchy record could easily see that climb by $200 to $400 a month after several years of six-figure covered earnings. Over a 20-year retirement, that is real money, and it is inflation-adjusted through the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA), which came in at 2.8% for 2026.
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How the Trade Income Interacts With the Rest of the Picture A shipbuilding paycheck is W-2 income subject to Social Security payroll tax, so it lands directly on his earnings record. He should log in to my Social Security at ssa.gov and pull his statement to see exactly which years are dragging the average down. That single page tells him how much runway he actually has.
One caveat if he later claims benefits before FRA while still working: the earnings test can temporarily withhold part of his Social Security check if wages exceed the annual limit. Those withheld dollars are credited back later, but the cash flow hit is real. The cleanest path is usually to keep working and delay claiming, which also grows the benefit by roughly 8% per year between full retirement age and 70.
The broader labor market is on his side. Unemployment sits at 4.2% as of June 2026, job openings are at 7.59 million as of May, and median full-time weekly earnings ran $1,235 in Q1 2026. A $100,000 trade wage stands well above that median, which is precisely why a late-career pivot into a shortage sector can outrun the wage curve rather than chase it.
What to Think Through Before Making the Jump Two factors matter more than most people expect:
Pull the earnings record first. If the 35-year history is already full of solid years, extra high-income years still help but the lift is smaller. If it has zeros or lean years, the leverage is enormous and that changes how urgently he should chase the training. Match the claiming age to the body. Shipbuilding is physical. Planning to work to 70 sounds great on a spreadsheet, but the real question is how many years his back and shoulders can realistically bank. A shorter work horizon at high wages can still rebuild the benefit, as long as the claiming decision reflects reality, including the Medicare eligibility gap if he stops working before age 65. The hardest mistake to undo is claiming early out of panic, locking in a permanently reduced check, and only later discovering that a few more covered years would have moved the needle. One conversation with a fee-only planner who can pull the actual numbers is usually worth more than a year of forum reading.
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They pair you with a fiduciary (required by law to put YOUR interest first) with questions related to taxes, estate planning, retirement, insurance analysis, and more. See you who you match with today, and get the answers you need.
Picture a 66-year-old retired bookkeeper in rural Mississippi. She worked 40 years, raised two kids, and finished her career earning about $49,500 a year, almost exactly the national median wage. Her 401(k) balance is zero because her employers, mostly small local businesses, never offered one. Her checking account holds a few thousand dollars. Her monthly Social Security deposit is her entire retirement plan.
Her situation is not unusual. Roughly 46% of Americans have no retirement savings at all, and for many in the bottom half of American households by wealth, Social Security provides most, and often nearly all, of retirement income. The same $2,000 monthly check that a wealthier retiree treats as a bonus on top of a brokerage account is, for millions of others, the rent, the groceries, the Medicare Part B premium, and the electric bill.
According to Federal Reserve Distributional Financial Accounts data, the top 0.1% of U.S. households hold many times the wealth of the entire bottom 50% combined. JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM | JPM Price Prediction) CEO Jamie Dimon, discussing rising anti-wealth sentiment this summer, said it succinctly: “We have, in fact, left the lower-income folks behind.” One half has portfolios. The other half has a check from the Social Security Administration.
Why the Claiming Decision Is Higher Stakes at the Bottom When Social Security is a supplement, taking it at age 62 versus 70 is a lifestyle question. When it is the whole floor, it is the single most important financial decision a person will ever make. Claiming at 62 permanently lowers a recipient’s benefit by about 30% compared with waiting until full retirement age (FRA) of 67. Waiting until 70 adds roughly 24% on top of the FRA. On a $2,000 full-retirement-age benefit, that is the difference between about $1,400 a month for life and about $2,480 a month for life.
For a retiree with a 401(k), that spread might mean an extra vacation. For our bookkeeper, it is the difference between covering rent alone and needing SNAP and heating assistance every winter. Because the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 2.8%, that gap compounds every year for the rest of her life. A higher starting benefit means a bigger COLA raise, forever.
For couples, a surviving spouse can step up to the higher earner’s benefit, which is why the higher earner in a couple delaying to 70 also buys longevity insurance for the widow or widower. The earnings test, which temporarily withholds benefits from workers under FRA who earn above roughly $24,480 in 2026, catches many lower-income retirees who try to claim early and keep working part-time.
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How the Rest of the Picture Fits For bottom-half earners, there is no meaningful drawdown strategy because there is little to draw down. The Saver’s Credit at the IRS can add up to $1,000 back to a still-working low-income saver who puts even $50 a month into an IRA. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) tops up benefits for those with very low income and assets. Medicare Savings Programs, run through each state Medicaid office, can pay the Medicare Part B premium (about $202.90 a month in 2026 for most enrollees), which alone represents a meaningful raise for someone living on $2,000.
As of Q1 2026, the national savings rate has fallen to 3.9%, down from over 6% just two years ago. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index hovers at recessionary levels. Households are not building the buffer that would ease reliance on the check.
What to Actually Do If Social Security will be most of your income, the highest-leverage moves are simple:
Delay if you possibly can. Waiting from 62 to FRA adds up to a permanent 30% increase, and each additional year worked past full retirement age up to 70 adds roughly 8% more. That raise is inflation-adjusted and lasts as long as you or a surviving spouse live. Coordinate as a couple. The higher earner delaying to 70 protects the survivor. This one decision often outweighs every other choice a lower-income couple will make in retirement. Claim the help you already qualify for. SSI, Medicare Savings Programs, LIHEAP, and SNAP have low take-up rates because people assume they will not qualify. Many do. The hardest mistake to undo is claiming early out of anxiety and locking in a permanently smaller check. The guaranteed, inflation-adjusted, lifelong nature of Social Security is exactly what makes it the right backbone for a household with no other cushion. For a fuller walk-through of the tradeoffs at each age, our team’s Social Security Decision report lays out the claiming math in one place. A quick sit-down with a benefits counselor at your local Area Agency on Aging can catch details a general article never will.
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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 19, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) between February 26, 2025 and February 24, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 24, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased First Solar securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the First Solar class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/first-solar-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 24, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants had overstated First Solar's capacity to manage the impact of U.S. tariff policy on First Solar's business; (2) defendants understated the extent to which its responses to U.S. tariff policy, including the intentional underutilization of production facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam, and attempted relocation of production to the U.S., were likely to negatively impact First Solar's projected performance in the 2026 fiscal year; and (3) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the First Solar class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/first-solar-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305744
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
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Joseph Gebbia, a Director at Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB 1.20%), sold 236,601 shares of Class A Common Stock on July 15, 2026, and July 16, 2026, for a total transaction value of $35.5 million, according to this SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$35.5 millionShares sold (indirectly held)236,601Post-transaction shares2,096,256Post-transaction shares (directly held)2,738Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)2,093,518Post-transaction value$309.83 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($150.17); post-transaction value based on July 16, 2026, market close ($147.80).
Key questionsWhat was the primary mechanism for this disposition?
The sale was executed according to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on Feb. 27, 2026. These plans allow insiders to schedule stock trades in advance to mitigate concerns regarding the use of material non-public information.How does this affect Joseph Gebbia's remaining exposure?
Following the sale of ~237,000 shares, the director continues to hold ~2.1 million shares. The vast majority of these holdings, totaling 2,093,518 shares, are held indirectly via the Sycamore Trust, while a residual 2,738 shares are held directly.What is the current valuation context for the transaction?
The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $150.17, while Airbnb shares were priced at $147.80 as of the July 16, 2026, market close. The company's stock had delivered an 8% return over the 12 months preceding the transaction.What are the fundamental characteristics of the company?
As of the transaction period, Airbnb reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $12.6 billion and net income of $2.5 billion. The San Francisco-based travel services company maintains a market capitalization of $86.6 billion and employs approximately 8,200 people.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-16)$147.80Market Capitalization$86.6 billionRevenue (TTM)$12.7 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.5 billionCompany SnapshotAirbnb operates a global digital marketplace that enables hosts to list accommodations ranging from private rooms and primary residences to vacation homes, generating revenue through booking commissions and service fees from guests worldwide.The company's business model leverages a two-sided platform that connects supply (hosts offering accommodations) with demand (guests seeking lodging), capturing value through transaction-based fees on each completed booking.Airbnb's primary customers include leisure and business travelers seeking alternative accommodations, as well as property owners and hosts looking to monetize residential spaces in a global market.Airbnb operates as a leading global digital marketplace for short-term lodging and experiences, with a market capitalization of $86.6 billion and TTM revenue of $12.6 billion. The company's competitive advantage derives from its expansive network of hosts, proprietary technology platform, and brand recognition in the travel services sector. As of the most recent period, Airbnb maintains a strong financial position with TTM net income of $2.5 billion, demonstrating the profitability of its asset-light, commission-based business model.
What this transaction means for investorsIt would be more encouraging if Airbnb’s largest shareholders were keen to retain all their shares. That said, this insider sale probably isn’t anything to get worked up about. It was conducted through a trading plan set in motion nearly five months earlier. The important thing to remember about these plans is that they can usually be terminated if an insider believes that great news could become public knowledge in the near future.
Airbnb will release results from the second quarter of 2026 after the market closes on Aug. 6, 2026. During the first quarter, the online reservation business reported gross booking value that soared 19% year over year, or 13% excluding the benefits of a weaker dollar.
It looks like the jump in booking value came on the heels of significant price increases or a shift toward higher-priced accommodation. The number of nights and seats booked rose just 9% year over year to 156.2 million.
Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Airbnb. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Semiconductors have been one of the best-performing industries this year. The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX 1.64%), which closely tracks the industry, is up a staggering 73.1% year-to-date (YTD) but is down over 20% from its June 22 all-time high.
Here's why semiconductor stocks are selling off, and why the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT 1.00%) is a better buy than the iShares Semiconductor ETF.
Image source: Micron.
The memory chip bottleneck The all-time high in the iShares Semiconductor ETF occurred when many memory chip stocks, including Micron Technology (MU +0.04%) and Sandisk, hit all-time highs. Those rallies have been fueled by surging earnings growth.
Micron's stock price is up 629% in the past year. To the company's credit, its earnings are also up 483% -- with analysts projecting more room to run.
MU data by YCharts
AI workflows require massive amounts of computing power from logic chips such as graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), and custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) such as Alphabet's Tensor Processing Units. But high-powered AI computing clusters won't perform at optimal levels without memory chips such as high-bandwidth memory, a form of dynamic random-access memory.
The memory shortage has given Micron and others incredible pricing power that has fueled margin expansion and an earnings surge. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said the following on Micron's June earnings call:
AI systems are powered by GPU, ASIC, and CPU designs from an increasingly broad set of suppliers. However, they all share one important characteristic -- AI system performance is architecturally dependent on memory subsystem performance and capacity. This has given rise to a more complex memory hierarchy that is providing greater differentiation opportunities for Micron than at any time in our history. It has also elevated the role of memory in the AI world to a strategic asset.
The rapid increase in memory chip stocks has pole-vaulted Micron to one of the largest holdings in the iShares Semiconductor ETF, with a 7.6% weighting. Semiconductor equipment makers Applied Materials, KLA Corp., Lam Research, and ASML collectively make up 17.3% of the ETF, with all four stocks more than doubling in the past year.
In sum, the iShares Semiconductor ETF is heavily weighted toward stocks that have recently surged. But concentration is a double-edged sword, as high allocations to hot stocks have accelerated the sell-off in the iShares Semiconductor ETF over the last month.
iShares Trust - iShares Semiconductor ETF
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A better-structured growth stock ETF The semiconductor industry has also been a driving force behind the sustained outperformance of the tech sector relative to the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.01%) and the Nasdaq-100 in recent years. In fact, semiconductors, semiconductor materials, and semiconductor equipment now make up 46.4% of the Vanguard Tech ETF, an ultra-low-cost ETF that tracks the broader tech sector.
There are plenty of reasons to buy the Vanguard Tech ETF over the iShares Semiconductor ETF. For starters, it sports a lower expense ratio of just 0.09%, compared with 0.34% for the iShares Semiconductor ETF.
Second, the Vanguard Tech ETF provides investors with exposure to key tech stocks such as Apple and Microsoft that aren't in the iShares Semiconductor ETF. And although other industries, such as software and hardware, have been lagging somewhat as of late, they have provided the Vanguard Tech ETF with greater diversification than the iShares Semiconductor ETF.
If the memory bottleneck is solved and a balance between supply and demand is restored, margins will compress for memory chip companies like Micron. The value could shift to companies building and using AI tools, rather than the companies providing AI computing, memory, networking, and infrastructure. So long-term investors may prefer to get exposure to the entire tech sector rather than betting on sustained momentum from semiconductor companies alone.
The size of non-semiconductor stocks such as Apple and Microsoft helps balance out the weightings of Vanguard Tech ETF components. Whereas rapid run-ups in certain stocks can shift the iShares Semiconductor ETF's balance. For example, Intel now holds a 5.4% weighting in the iShares Semiconductor ETF -- ahead of Taiwan Semiconductor at 4.4% -- even though Intel's market cap is $477.7 billion, compared with $2.07 trillion for Taiwan Semiconductor.
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A more balanced way to bet big on semiconductor stocks Investors seeking maximum semiconductor exposure may prefer the iShares Semiconductor ETF over the Vanguard Information Technology ETF. But given nearly half of the Vanguard Tech ETF is in semiconductor stocks, it stands out as a better buy for investors looking for a more balanced growth stock alternative with lower fees.
It's worth noting that the Vanguard Tech ETF still has significantly larger exposure to the memory chip boom than the Nasdaq-100 or S&P 500. Micron, for example, now makes up 5% of the Vanguard Tech ETF, compared with 4.3% of the Nasdaq-100 and 1.4% of the S&P 500.
All told, the Vanguard Tech ETF is an excellent way to get heightened exposure to semiconductor stocks without diving in headfirst with a pure-play industry fund like the iShares Semiconductor ETF.
Daniel Foelber has positions in ASML. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Applied Materials, Intel, KLA, Lam Research, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and iShares Trust-iShares Semiconductor ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TSM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX) between October 30, 2025 and April 30, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important August 7, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Roblox common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Roblox class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/roblox-corporation-2026/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 7, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Roblox’s organic growth potential; notably, that Roblox would see a significant slowdown in its growth rates as enrollment in the age verification rollout would quickly taper, compounding the resulting slowdown in on-platform communication, resulting in app store rating reductions and a swift reduction in organic growth. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Roblox class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/roblox-corporation-2026/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com
