XAG/USD extends its losses for the second consecutive day, trading around $56.80 per troy ounce during the European hours on Thursday. The technical analysis of the daily chart shows that the spot price of an asset remains slightly below the upper boundary of a descending channel, suggesting a persistent bearish domination. It shows that sellers are consistently stepping in exactly where they are expected to, preventing a breakout and maintaining the overall bearish structure.
The XAG/USD pair is retaining a bearish near-term bias as price holds below both the nine-day and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs). The alignment of the shorter EMA beneath the longer one, with spot trading under both, suggests downside pressure remains dominant, while the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 35 is hovering just above oversold territory, hinting at weak but not extreme selling momentum.
The XAG/USD pair may test the primary support at the seven-month low of $55.63, which was recorded on June 24. Further declines would put downward pressure on the XAG/USD pair to navigate the region around the lower boundary of the descending channel around $45.50.
On the upside, the XAG/USD pair is facing an immediate barrier at the upper boundary of the descending channel around $58.50, followed by the nine-day EMA at $58.68. A sustained break above this confluence resistance zone would cause a bullish bias and support the Silver price to explore the region around the 50-day EMA at $65.93.
XAG/USD: Daily Chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Silver FAQs Silver is a precious metal highly traded among investors. It has been historically used as a store of value and a medium of exchange. Although less popular than Gold, traders may turn to Silver to diversify their investment portfolio, for its intrinsic value or as a potential hedge during high-inflation periods. Investors can buy physical Silver, in coins or in bars, or trade it through vehicles such as Exchange Traded Funds, which track its price on international markets.
Silver prices can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can make Silver price escalate due to its safe-haven status, although to a lesser extent than Gold's. As a yieldless asset, Silver tends to rise with lower interest rates. Its moves also depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAG/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Silver at bay, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to propel prices up. Other factors such as investment demand, mining supply – Silver is much more abundant than Gold – and recycling rates can also affect prices.
Silver is widely used in industry, particularly in sectors such as electronics or solar energy, as it has one of the highest electric conductivity of all metals – more than Copper and Gold. A surge in demand can increase prices, while a decline tends to lower them. Dynamics in the US, Chinese and Indian economies can also contribute to price swings: for the US and particularly China, their big industrial sectors use Silver in various processes; in India, consumers’ demand for the precious metal for jewellery also plays a key role in setting prices.
Silver prices tend to follow Gold's moves. When Gold prices rise, Silver typically follows suit, as their status as safe-haven assets is similar. The Gold/Silver ratio, which shows the number of ounces of Silver needed to equal the value of one ounce of Gold, may help to determine the relative valuation between both metals. Some investors may consider a high ratio as an indicator that Silver is undervalued, or Gold is overvalued. On the contrary, a low ratio might suggest that Gold is undervalued relative to Silver.
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 0.61%) stock has been on a wild ride since the company went public just over a month ago. As of this writing, its share price is below its first-day opening price of $150.
But where might it be in 12 months?
A host of Wall Street analysts recently weighed in, setting a wide range of price targets for SpaceX stock, from $300 to $800. A more realistic forecast, however, based on two decades of IPO history, is that 11 months from now, its shares will be around $156.
That's right. SpaceX stock could be just 4% higher than its opening price of $150 on its initial public offering (IPO) day. Here's why.
Image source: Getty Images.
Big IPOs tend to have small returns 1 year later Reporting from Barron's last month said that large IPOs, the ones with market caps above $10 billion, usually have gains of just 3.5% after their first year of trading. The periodical looked at data compiled by Jeffries that analyzed the performances of large IPOs over the past 26 years.
If we round that up to 4%, and add it to SpaceX's opening price of $150, then the company's shares -- based on historical mega-IPO data over a quarter-century -- will likely be about $156.
Other data from the University of Florida points to disappointing IPO results as well, with an average return of just 2.9% in the first two years for IPOs between 2010 and 2024.
Reliably predicting what the share price of any company will be in a year is impossible. And there are plenty of optimistic takes out there elaborating on why SpaceX is a unique company, and should be valued accordingly.
But history should probably be our guide when considering SpaceX stock right now, especially as the company is unprofitable and is spending money hand over fist on huge bets that may not pay off.
Today's Change
(
-0.61
%) $
-0.83
Current Price
$
135.25
SpaceX will bring its own level of unpredictability to the table If newly public companies are inherently volatile, I think SpaceX will be especially so.
There are a few reasons for this, including that it is making huge bets on difficult rocket technologies and an unproven plan to deploy orbital artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
SpaceX asserts that eventually, its Starship rocket will reduce the cost of launching payloads by more than 90% compared to its current Falcon platforms. I'm optimistic about SpaceX's rocket capabilities, but if it fails to do this soon, or if there are significant setbacks in bringing Starship into commercial use, then it could cause the stock to slide.
And then there's its ambitious plan for satellite-based AI data centers. The company aims to use its rockets to deploy data center satellites into orbit on the premise that operating them where they can be powered by 24-hour solar energy will be cheaper overall than siting them on Earth. Even the most optimistic estimates put this type of technology at least several years away, and it's still uncertain whether it would be cheaper -- even if it's possible.
Any prolonged delays or missteps on the company's path toward deployment, or a pivot away from orbital data centers, could cause investors to lose faith in SpaceX.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly right now, SpaceX is spending wildly on all of this tech. Its capital expenditures were about $27 billion in 2025, and accelerated to $10 billion in the first quarter of 2026. Investors are growing increasingly skeptical of such spending. SpaceX is also unprofitable, with a net loss of $5 billion last year.
If investors see the company making progress on some of its aggressive goals, perhaps they'll put up with the high outlays for a bit longer. But many investors are already giving the side-eye to more-established tech companies that are ramping up AI spending. They likely won't give SpaceX a free pass, either.
All of which means that SpaceX stock likely won't be able to overcome the gravity of historical post-IPO trends. I think its shares will remain volatile, so investors would be better off observing the company's progress from afar for at least a year.
These days, investors have valid concerns about the stock market's valuation. The ongoing artificial intelligence boom also adds fears about possible disruption. It doesn't help that the broader economy is characterized by heightened uncertainty.
This supports the view that it's time for investors to consider opportunities that generate consistent income. If this sounds like the approach you're interested in, look at Coca-Cola (KO 0.76%).
This Dividend King stock yields 2.55%, more than double the yield of the S&P 500 index, and it just raised its dividend for the 64th straight year.
Image source: Getty Images.
Showing a firm commitment to shareholders In February of this year, Coca-Cola's board of directors gave investors a reason to cheer. The business hiked its quarterly dividend payout 4% to $0.53. This is the 64th consecutive year that such a move was made. That shows an incredible commitment to the company's shareholders.
Since the start of 2010, Coca-Cola has returned almost $102 billion to investors via dividend payments. This equals 28% of the current market cap.
If a business is able to build a monster streak like this one, it's a clear sign of its consistency and staying power. Coca-Cola has stood the test of time, operating through numerous periods of uncertainty, including wars, recessions, and technology cycles, only to continue its success. Investors have every reason to be confident that this business will still be dominating the beverage market a century from now.
Coca-Cola's impressive profits also virtually eliminate the risk of the dividend being suspended. In the past decade, the company has reported an average quarterly operating margin of 26.9%. It generates sizable cash flow, giving it the financial horsepower to continue returning capital to shareholders. Not even the black swan event of the pandemic that derailed the global economy in 2020 disrupted Coca-Cola's ability to pay its dividend.
Today's Change
(
-0.76
%) $
-0.63
Current Price
$
82.45
Set the right expectations You've now decided that adding Coca-Cola to your portfolio is the right move. This is a safe stock to buy and hold. It will certainly provide valuable peace of mind.
However, it's important for investors to set the right expectations. Coca-Cola's shares are unlikely to beat the market over the long term. In the past decade, the beverage giant produced a total return of 152%, meaningfully lagging the S&P 500 index. There's no reason to believe the future will be any different.
That's because Coca-Cola is an extremely mature company. It essentially has universal adoption, as it's in more than 200 countries and territories. This naturally limits growth potential.
Don't be discouraged, though. This is a competitively advantaged, predictable, and highly stable business that dividend investors can own with confidence.
One of Wall Street’s most dependable income stocks has quietly become a market outperformer trading close to a record high.
Its dividend yield is roughly twice that of the broader market, while its payout has increased every year for more than six decades.
The company is Coca-Cola NYSE:KO. Investors have embraced its defensive demand, pricing power and dependable cash returns during an uncertain economic period.
Yet after the shares closed at $82.45 on Wednesday, only 3.8% below their July 7 record, even bullish analysts are divided over how much upside remains.
A 64-year payout streak is only part of the storyCoca-Cola raised its quarterly dividend by about 4% in February, from 51 cents to 53 cents per share.
That marked its 64th consecutive annual increase and lifted the annualised payout to $2.12. At Wednesday’s close, the shares yielded about 2.6%.
The attraction extends beyond income. First-quarter net revenue increased 12% to $12.5 billion, organic revenue advanced 10% and global unit-case volume rose 3%.
Those figures suggest the dividend is being supported by continuing business growth rather than borrowing or financial engineering.
Coca-Cola also enjoys structural advantages few consumer companies can match.
Its brands have global recognition, management can adjust prices and package sizes across markets, and independent bottlers handle much of the capital-intensive production and distribution.
That asset-light structure helps explain why investors have favoured the company during economic uncertainty.
Consumers may postpone expensive purchases, but relatively inexpensive drinks remain accessible, giving Coca-Cola a defensive quality that many cyclical businesses lack.
Citigroup analyst Filippo Falorni delivered the most aggressive recent call on July 14, raising his Coca-Cola price target to $97 from $91 while retaining a Buy rating.
The target implies that Citi believes resilient earnings and brand momentum can justify a further valuation premium.
JPMorgan analyst Andrea Faria Teixeira is also positive, but more measured. She raised her target to $90 from $85 on July 10 and maintained an Overweight rating.
Bank of America analyst Peter Galbo has maintained a Buy rating and a $95 target.
The bank sees the FIFA World Cup as a useful near-term catalyst because the tournament creates repeated beverage-consumption occasions across homes, bars and restaurants, while giving Coca-Cola an unusually broad global marketing platform.
The tournament may support volumes and brand visibility, but it is temporary.
The longer-term case still depends on Coca-Cola protecting demand as consumers become more selective and input costs remain unpredictable.
Coca-Cola now trades at nearly 26 times trailing earnings, a demanding multiple for a mature consumer-staples company.
Its Wednesday's close was also only a few dollars below the record $85.68 reached earlier this month.
Bernstein SocGen provides the clearest cautious counterpoint.
The firm cut its target to $83 from $84 and kept a Market Perform rating, citing an uneven consumer environment, affordability spending, Mexican tax pressures and the possibility that elevated aluminium costs could weigh on bottlers in 2027 and 2028.
The broader analyst picture reinforces that tension.
Twenty-five analysts tracked by Stock Analysis carry an average target of $86.85, implying only about 5% upside, despite an overall Buy consensus.
Coca-Cola reports second-quarter results on July 28. Investors will watch organic sales, volumes, North American demand, commodity costs and World Cup-related commentary.
Founded in 2011, Delivery Hero now operates in over 60 markets and is one of the world's biggest food delivery groups . German food delivery group Delivery Hero said Thursday it has agreed to be acquired by U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber in a 12.7 billion euro ($14.6 billion) deal.
Founded in 2011, the German firm now operates in more than 60 markets and is one of the world's biggest food delivery groups.
It has also expanded beyond its traditional food business to quick commerce, delivering small packages to customers.
Uber is offering 41.50 euros per share for Delivery Hero, valuing the deal at 12.7 billion euros.
Delivery Hero's shares were down 0.5% in Frankfurt after the announcement, trading at 37.9 euros.
"Uber's global mobility and delivery platform and our shared commitment to innovation make this the right partnership to build on Delivery Hero's strengths in local food delivery and quick commerce," said Niklas Oestberg, CEO and co-founder of Delivery Hero.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said a merger would "extend affordable, reliable delivery to many millions more people in some of the world's most dynamic economies, while creating more opportunities for merchants and couriers."
Uber is acquiring Delivery Hero's businesses in 50 markets worldwide across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
A U.S. investment firm, SSW Partners, is acquiring the German group's operations in another 14 markets, where Uber and Delivery Hero compete, for around 1.4 billion euros.
Delivery Hero said its management recommends that shareholders accept the deal and that it is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2027.
Who's behind this story?
Andrew Zinin Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
Citation: Germany's Delivery Hero agrees 12.7-bn-euro takeover by Uber (2026, July 16) retrieved 16 July 2026 from https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-germany-delivery-hero-bn-euro.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Europe's top court on Thursday sided with Italy's communication authority which fined Alphabet unit Google €750,000 ($854,250) four years ago over gambling advertising on its YouTube video platform.
By You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Parallel founder Parag Agrawal. Parallel Web Systems Former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal's AI search startup, Parallel Web Systems, is deepening its partnership with the world's largest search company.
Agrawal founded Parallel over two and a half years ago to help AI agents search the web. Now, Google will offer Parallel to cloud customers who are building AI agents with the Gemini model, giving Parallel access to Google's vast clientele.
Investors like Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Kleiner Perkins back Parallel. It has raised $230 million to date, and last reported a valuation of $2 billion in April.
Agrawal said he started Parallel after becoming obsessed with the idea that AI agents would eventually search the web exponentially more than humans — and would need a different way to do so.
While traditional search engines prioritize webpages that are easy for people to read, Parallel retrieves information for AI models, including material buried deep within documents.
As AI agents take on more work, equipping them with up-to-date information has become crucial. That process, known as grounding, is what Parallel and other startups like Exa are trying to solve.
Google Cloud president and chief revenue officer Matt Renner. Google Google Cloud president and chief revenue officer Matt Renner told Business Insider the Parallel partnership reflects its strategy of giving customers choice. While Google has its own grounding tools, businesses may prefer different products depending on the use case.
Parallel is available on other clouds beyond Google, including Amazon Web Services. Agrawal said the Google relationship goes beyond distribution, marking "our deepest technical integration with a hyperscaler model lab to date."
Parallel has built much of its product on Google Cloud since day one. And in recent months, engineers from both companies have worked to bring together tools from both companies so customers don't have to build those connections themselves, Agrawal said.
Parallel has landed major customers like the legal AI startup Harvey, which uses Parallel's search tools to give its AI models access to current web information alongside customers' internal data.
Read next
Geoff Weiss You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Geoff Weiss is a senior reporter on Business Insider’s tech team, where he writes about AI startups and Y Combinator, the intersection of AI and the media industry, and workplace dynamics within top AI labs and chip companies.Previously, Geoff was on the media desk, covering YouTube and Netflix, and themes like the intersection of Hollywood and the creator economy. His work on Netflix’s video podcasting ambitions and Mr Beast’s lessons for Hollywood won second and first prize, respectively, at the 2025 LA Press Club Awards.Prior to joining Business Insider, Geoff was the senior editor of Tubefilter and a staff writer at Entrepreneur. He graduated from New York University with a degree in English Literature.He can be reached at [email protected], on Signal @geoffweiss.25, and on LinkedIn. Have a tip? Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.Selected stories:Nvidia crushed its quarter — and CEO Jensen Huang said in a leaked all-hands that 'the market did not appreciate it'Nvidia will foot the bill for Trump's new visa fees. Here's what CEO Jensen Huang told staff.Massive AI salaries and RTO are fueling a real estate boom in San Francisco: 'It's going to rain money'The AI talent wars are ricocheting across startups. Here's how they're competing with Big Tech.
Google AI Artificial Intelligence More Big Tech Innovation Startups Exclusive
An Amazon fulfillment center Bloomberg/Getty Images Amazon is testing software to decide where warehouse workers should go. Some managers keep ignoring it.
Internal planning documents show the tech giant intends to expand these labor-management systems across dozens of its North American fulfillment centers and sort centers, where they could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
However, some warehouse managers have been overriding the software recommendations, asking engineers to disable automated features, and finding other ways around the systems, according to internal Slack conversations and the documents from earlier this year.
The pushback has been enough for Amazon to conclude that software recommendations alone aren't enough to get the new technology working as designed.
"Providing managers with optimized recommendations is necessary but insufficient," Amazon said in one of the documents. "Without system-enforced guardrails, manual overrides and habits erode even the best science."
The conflict highlights a broader challenge in automating warehouse management: software can make decisions, but people still have to follow the guidance. The documents and internal communications reviewed by Business Insider suggest getting managers to trust the software, and ultimately defer to its decisions, is proving more difficult than Amazon expected.
Competing philosophiesAmazon uses a growing mix of machine learning, computer vision, and other AI tools that increasingly guide staffing decisions traditionally made by managers.
Initially, those systems functioned as advisory tools. A program called DOPLERS calculates staffing plans, Full Facility Load Balancing recommends labor moves, and Right Link Station automatically tracks and captures check-in data for support staff.
But the internal documents reviewed by Business Insider show Amazon came to see manager discretion as an obstacle.
"Algorithm accuracy cannot be meaningfully measured without enforcement," one of the documents stated.
The documents reveal two competing philosophies of warehouse management. Some managers believe warehouses are still too dynamic for algorithms to understand every situation. Amazon, however, saw that too much human judgment prevented those algorithms from working as intended.
As a result, Amazon's strategy evolved to broader tracking of overrides and stricter enforcement planned over time.
"Hard enforcement is the end goal for 2026," one planning document stated.
"Iterate on the logic"
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Bloomberg/Getty Images In an email ahead of publication, an Amazon spokesperson called this story's premise "wrong," saying the company is only piloting the technology at a small number of US facilities to help managers adjust staffing as package volumes change.
Managers still make staffing decisions, the spokesperson added, while the software system provides "better information" and is being refined based on testing and employee feedback before any broader rollout.
"As with all new systems, we continuously iterate on the logic — it takes time, testing, and iteration to get there — which is why it's inappropriate to draw broad conclusions during initial testing phases," the spokesperson said. "We always want to learn what's working for our employees, and what isn't, so we can make adjustments to get things right. That's what pilots are all about."
The spokesperson said the quotes and sentiments cited in the story came from an "early-stage planning document" that captured anecdotal observations during a pilot and "don't reflect how the system operates today." The issues were "not a widespread or ongoing concern," the spokesperson said, adding that the tools are intended to help managers make more consistent staffing decisions, not replace their judgment.
An Amazon spokesperson previously told Business Insider that broader expansion plans remain subject to change and that projected savings estimates are hypothetical because the systems are still being tested.
"Please turn if off"Still, the documents and internal communications reviewed by Business Insider suggest a deeper disagreement over who should make staffing decisions inside Amazon's warehouses.
Some managers often wanted to keep more workers assigned to their areas to maintain productivity or because they believed operations required more staffing than the software recommended, according to Slack messages from inside Amazon that were obtained by Business Insider.
Several managers overstaffed warehouse support roles and "hid hours through manual time edits," as some sites found "loopholes," Amazon said in the official internal documents.
The Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that managers make staffing decisions based on what the company has learned about shopping patterns over the years, but "there will always be variations."
Internal Amazon Slack conversations from earlier this year show some managers at the company repeatedly asking to disable some of the automated staffing controls, or give warehouse leaders authority to do it themselves.
"Please turn it off now and I will explain," one warehouse manager wrote shortly after Amazon's enforcement effort launched at an early test site.
Minutes later, an Amazon product manager replied, "We will disable enforcement for now."
Some managers argued the software often lacked the context they had on the warehouse floor, noting that the system overreacted to a brief slowdown in package volume, recommending staffing cuts that didn't reflect real-time conditions.
Other managers complained the system pulled workers away from urgent areas, prevented them from reassigning idle employees, or left workers temporarily locked out of new assignments while different systems synchronized.
One manager said automated staffing changes caused packages to repeatedly circulate through the warehouse instead of being processed the first time, prompting a request to "disable the system until it gets fixed."
Another manager questioned whether the software could account for differences between workers. "Does it understand 6 foot three Henry that weighs 250 pounds is way better at chasing than 67-year old Henrietta that weighs under 100 pounds and doesn't reach 5 foot?" this person wrote in Amazon's internal Slack.
The Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that the Slack channel included a "small handful of managers" and the comments "don't reflect the current state of the technology, since they're from a channel that was intended to provide constructive feedback on this initial pilot."
Amazon wants to double downThe conflict reveals something larger than a disagreement over warehouse software.
Historically, supervisors balanced labor using experience and local knowledge. Amazon wants software to make more of these decisions.
The official internal documents show Amazon interpreted manager workarounds less as evidence that automation had limits than as proof that recommendations alone wouldn't change behavior.
Internal Amazon roadmaps call for progressively tighter controls, including limits on how far managers can deviate from the algorithm. Amazon's own "Success Metrics" for 2026 mention a "reduction in manual staffing interventions by managers."
"Enforcement is our highest-leverage mechanism and we're doubling down," Amazon stated in one of the documents.
Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 650-942-3061. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.
Read next
Eugene Kim You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Eugene is Business Insider’s Chief Tech Correspondent, where he leads coverage of Amazon. His reporting spans the company’s retail operations, AWS, Alexa, and its secretive internal work culture.Previously, he worked at CNBC, Fortune Magazine Korea, and Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun. He holds degrees from NYU and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.In 2022, Eugene broke a story uncovering Amazon’s practice of deceptively enrolling customers in Prime and deliberately making cancellation difficult. A year later, the Federal Trade Commission sued the company, citing his reporting. That case culminated in a record $2.5 billion settlement in 2025.His reporting has earned multiple honors, including the SF Press Club’s Bay Area Journalism Award and SPJ NorCal’s Excellence in Journalism Award.Eugene lives in the Bay Area. Contact him via email at [email protected], or Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 650-942-3061. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. ExpertiseAmazon, Jeff Bezos, Andy Jassy, e-commerce, and cloud computing.Popular ArticlesAmazon:Internal Amazon emails give an exclusive look at how CEO Andy Jassy has started to run the company, with obsessive attention to the retail business and what some employees feel is micromanagingAndy Jassy will be the next CEO of Amazon. Insiders dish on what it's like to work for Jeff Bezos' successor, who built AWS into a $40 billion business.Internal documents show Amazon has for years knowingly tricked people into signing up for Prime subscriptions. 'We have been deliberately confusing,' former employee says.Inside Amazon's flailing brick-and-mortar ambitions: missed projections, pressure to cut costs, and a war with Whole FoodsInside Amazon's complex employee-review system, where workers feel left in the dark and managers expect to give 5% of reports bad reviewsAfter 28 years, 'Day 2' finally arrives at AmazonAWS, Alexa, healthcare:Inside Amazon's struggle to break into the lucrative market for SaaS business applications, including an internal pitch to buy $38 billion HubSpotInside Amazon's struggle to crack Nvidia's AI-chip dominanceAmazon's AI data center dream runs into the reality of 'zombie' facilities, higher costs, and labor shortagesAmazon is gutting its voice assistant, Alexa. Employees describe a division in crisis and huge losses on 'a wasted opportunity.'Amazon is working on a new 'Remarkable Alexa,' but internal politics and technical issues plague the projectAmazon projected huge losses from its healthcare business in 2024, but strong sales growth, internal document reveals
Microsoft (MSFT +2.70%) is scheduled to release its fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results (ended June 30) on July 29, and I think it could spark a recovery in the company's languishing stock, which is currently down 29% from its record high.
Microsoft has been a casualty of the broader sell-off in the software sector, as investors fear that the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) could render legacy software products obsolete. But the company is proving it can use this revolutionary technology to its advantage, not just in its software business but also in its booming cloud computing segment.
Microsoft stock is heading into July 29 at a very attractive price, so here's why it could be a good long-term buy before the earnings release.
Image source: Getty Images.
All eyes on Copilot adoption Microsoft developed its own AI virtual assistant called Copilot, which it embedded in the Windows operating system, Edge internet browser, and Bing search engine for free. But it's also available as a paid add-on to the 365 productivity suite, helping users rapidly create content in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.
Companies around the world pay for more than 400 million 365 licenses for their employees, and all of them are candidates for the Copilot add-on, so this move represents a huge financial opportunity for Microsoft. By the end of the fiscal 2026 third quarter, ended March 31, enterprises had added Copilot to 20 million licenses, up by an eye-popping 250% year over year.
While pure-play AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic have to acquire customers from scratch, Microsoft can sell Copilot and other AI products into its enormous existing customer base. Therefore, while some investors believe legacy enterprise software is in trouble, Microsoft is turning its product portfolio into a huge advantage in the AI race.
Copilot adoption will be closely watched by investors when the company reports its fourth-quarter results on July 29. I think further triple-digit growth could flip the opinion of some of the more bearish investors.
Today's Change
(
2.70
%) $
10.41
Current Price
$
395.34
Azure likely grew at a rapid pace, again Developing AI models from scratch requires substantial computing capacity, which is typically delivered by large data centers equipped with thousands of specialized chips. Most enterprises can't afford to build this infrastructure themselves, so they rent it from cloud computing platforms such as Microsoft Azure.
Microsoft already operates data centers worldwide, but it's working to double its footprint over the next two years to meet demand for computing power from the AI industry. In fact, as of March 31, the company had a staggering $627 billion order backlog from customers who were waiting for more infrastructure to come online, and that figure doubled from the same time last year.
Azure's total revenue increased by 40% year over year during the third quarter, an acceleration from the 39% growth it delivered three months earlier in the second quarter. But considering Microsoft thinks it can convert its entire $627 billion backlog into revenue over the next two and a half years, I think even faster growth could be ahead.
If Microsoft shows even further growth in its order backlog on July 29, that will only increase my conviction that Azure is on track for more blockbuster quarterly revenue results.
Should you buy Microsoft stock before July 29? The 29% decline in Microsoft stock from its record high has pushed its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio down to just 22.9, making it substantially cheaper than the Nasdaq-100 index, which has a P/E of 34.5. In other words, Microsoft appears to be heavily undervalued compared with a basket of its big-tech peers.
Its stock looks even more attractive when looking ahead. Based on Wall Street's earnings estimate for fiscal 2027 (which started on July 1), its forward P/E is 19.9.
Data by YCharts.
If we assume Wall Street's earnings estimate proves to be accurate, Microsoft stock would have to soar by 73% over the next 12 months just to trade in line with the 34.5 P/E ratio of the Nasdaq-100. That isn't unrealistic considering Microsoft averaged a P/E of 32.7 over the last 10 years.
Simply put, investors are getting a fantastic price for Microsoft heading into its latest quarterly report on July 29. It will probably take a series of positive results over the next year or so to rebuild investors' confidence in its software business, but the rewards might be worth the wait.
Apple has a long history with the market-cap crown. In August 2018, the iPhone maker became the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach a market cap of $1 trillion. The company added to its resume, becoming the first to reach $2 trillion and $3 trillion in August 2020 and January 2022, respectively. However, the advent of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution sparked a surge in Nvidia (NVDA +0.29%) stock, which became the first to reach $4 trillion in July 2025 and $5 trillion in October 2025.
Apple languished for much of last year, as tariff-related fears and persistent inflation weighed on investor sentiment. However, iPhone sales -- the backbone of its business -- continued to trudge higher. As a result, Apple has gained 20% thus far in 2026, doubling the 10% rise of the S&P 500.
I predict the iPhone maker will soon overtake Nvidia to once again wear the crown as the world's most valuable company. Here's why.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The AI wildcardThe persistent adoption of AI has strained the availability of flash memory and storage chips. Specifically, significant demand for dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash memory chips has far outstripped supply, sending prices for these processors soaring. The impact has gone beyond AI, reaching into the smartphone industry.
China is feeling the heat, as smartphone shipments fell 4.3% year over year, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of declines, according to a report by global market intelligence firm IDC Global. The report noted that "Rising memory and component costs pushed most Android vendors to raise prices, which cooled upgrade demand."
Customers in China, faced with higher prices for bargain smartphones, opted to upgrade to iPhones, as sales grew 24% year over year, the highest growth rate among all vendors in China, and one of only two to generate growth.
Just this week, Chinese regulators approved Apple Intelligence for deployment on iPhones in the country, marking the end of a two-year licensing process. The company joined forces with Alibaba and Baidu, part of China's requirement that foreign companies collaborate with local partners. This could attract more users to Apple's platform.
Today's Change
(
3.95
%) $
12.44
Current Price
$
327.30
A winning strategyThe company has long used its supply chain acumen to its advantage over the competition, and this instance is no different. The company has resisted price increases on its iPhones -- despite higher input costs -- thereby stealing market share from rivals, who were forced to raise prices.
China has historically accounted for 18% of Apple's sales. By delaying price increases as long as possible, Apple is gaining market share, resulting in a larger installed base for its services, apps, and accessories. Moreover, iPhone users are more likely to adopt other Apple products, in a winning strategy for the company.
Investor sentiment continues to weigh on Nvidia as concerns linger. Any suggestion that AI adoption is slowing could be devastating for the chipmaker -- despite the company's record-breaking results. As an Nvidia shareholder, I have no plans to sell, as the long-term future looks bright.
That said, I suspect strong sales in China and the dawn of Apple Intelligence are the catalysts that could help the iPhone maker overtake Nvidia's market cap to recapture the crown.
Danny Vena, CPA has positions in Apple, Baidu, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Baidu, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Nvidia’s latest Japanese collaboration may not change earnings forecasts overnight, but it offers a glimpse of where the chipmaker expects artificial intelligence to travel next.
Fujitsu is bringing together FANUC, Yaskawa Electric and Kawasaki Heavy Industries to explore a physical-AI control platform using Nvidia technology, with applications across factories, logistics networks and hospitals.
For investors, the attraction is not a robot order. It is the possibility that Nvidia can extend its dominance from data centres into machines operating throughout the physical economy.
No orders, deployment targets, or revenue commitments were disclosed.
Fujitsu will lead business discussions around a common platform designed to connect enterprise systems with autonomous robots.
Proposed uses include optimising factory production, automating warehouse material handling and deploying robots to transport medicines, specimens or patients inside hospitals.
Nvidia’s role extends beyond supplying processors. Fujitsu plans to use Cosmos world models to understand and predict real environments.
Omniverse, the Isaac robotics platform and the Newton physics engine will support digital twins, robot learning, simulation, verification and the transition from virtual testing to physical deployment.
The partners also bring experience that Nvidia cannot build alone.
Yaskawa said its MOTOMAN NEXT autonomous robot already carries Nvidia GPUs as standard, while FANUC and Kawasaki contribute established expertise in factory automation, control systems, mobility and healthcare robotics.
Still, the announcement remains exploratory. Fujitsu said the companies will begin by discussing business opportunities and formulating a roadmap for technology development and expansion.
Also read: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang hints at Korea’s next trillion-dollar AI opportunity
The investment argument is that Nvidia could capture several layers of future robotics spending.
Customers may train models on their data-centre GPUs, create synthetic environments with Cosmos, test machines through Omniverse and Isaac, and run intelligence at the edge using Nvidia processors.
That would make robotics another full-stack ecosystem opportunity, rather than a narrow chip market.
A shared development environment used by multiple manufacturers could also strengthen switching costs: the more engineers train, simulate and validate robots through Nvidia software, the harder it becomes to replace that stack.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that Nvidia remained the foundation of the physical-AI ecosystem and was four to five years ahead of serious competitors.
His comments preceded the Japan announcement, but the collaboration supports his broader argument that Nvidia’s moat increasingly spans hardware, models and development tools.
Nvidia stock NASDAQ:NVDA was recently trading around $212.50. KeyBanc analyst John Vinh this week raised his price target to $330 from $310 and retained an Overweight rating, citing strong demand and competitive barriers created by CUDA.
He viewed a slight delay in the Vera Rubin ramp as posing limited risk because additional Blackwell B300 shipments could offset the timing shift.
Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya has likewise described Nvidia’s relative underperformance as an “enhanced” buying opportunity.
Arya argues that investors are overemphasising higher memory costs and custom-chip competition while underestimating Nvidia’s pricing power, supply-chain execution and share of hyperscaler infrastructure spending.
Neither call depended on Japan robotics revenue. Wall Street’s current bull case still rests overwhelmingly on data centres, CUDA, Blackwell and Rubin.
The Fujitsu-led initiative adds longer-dated optionality rather than near-term earnings visibility.
NVIDIA to partner with Noetra Corp. to build the NVIDIA Vera Rubin AI factory with 13,750 Vera CPUs and 27,500 Rubin GPUs to deliver 140 megawatts of data center capacity based on the NVIDIA DSX platform.The initiative, supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), will provide the computing foundation for Japan’s FRONTia Project to strengthen the country’s ecosystem across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and more.AI factory to create open multimodal foundation models to develop AI agents, digital twins, robotics and physical AI applications. TOKYO, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NVIDIA today announced it is working with Noetra Corp. to launch an NVIDIA Vera Rubin AI factory with 13,750 NVIDIA Vera CPUs and 27,500 NVIDIA Rubin GPUs for national physical AI. Supported by Japan’s AI and industry leaders, the initiative marks the world’s first national AI infrastructure for physical AI, strengthening the country’s AI ecosystem across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, telecommunications and more.
The new AI factory, established by Noetra, will be architected with NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 racks using the NVIDIA DSX™ platform, connected and scaled with NVIDIA Spectrum-X™ Ethernet networking. It will enable the development of open multimodal foundation models that power AI agents, digital twins, robotics and other physical AI applications.
The NVIDIA Vera Rubin AI factory will provide the computing foundation for Japan’s FRONTia Project, which refers to the project titled, “Development of Multimodal Foundation Models with a View to AI Robotics and Physical AI,” launched by METI. The project brings together the country’s manufacturing expertise, real-world industrial data and global technology leaders to develop highly reliable multimodal foundation models for physical AI.
The pretrained weights of Noetra’s multimodal foundation models will be made broadly available to domestic model developers and enterprises alongside software such as NVIDIA Nemotron™, NVIDIA Cosmos™, NVIDIA Isaac™ GR00T open models, NVIDIA NeMo™ libraries and more. This will accelerate the development of agentic AI and physical AI applications.
“Japan invented modern manufacturing. Now, it is building the AI factories that will power the next industrial revolution,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “NVIDIA is honored to partner with Japan and its industrial leaders to build the AI infrastructure that will power the country’s industries, its economy and a new generation of innovation.”
“Japan has launched the FRONTia Project, which will serve as the core of the country’s physical AI ecosystem,” said Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. “By fostering collaboration between Japan and leading global innovators — including NVIDIA — and leveraging Japan’s strengths, such as its onsite expertise and manufacturing technology infrastructure, we will build highly reliable multimodal foundation models and contribute to solving global social challenges.”
“Bringing physical AI into the real world requires enormous computing, data and foundational technologies — challenges no single company can solve alone,” said Hironobu Tamba, CEO of Noetra. “Together with partners across Japan and around the world, Noetra will advance Japan-developed multimodal foundation models and accelerate the deployment of physical AI across Japanese industries by broadly sharing the results of our research.”
Built on the NVIDIA Vera Rubin DSX AI factory architecture, the AI factory will deliver 140 megawatts of data center capacity combined with the NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform, NVIDIA BlueField® DPUs, and tightly codesigned silicon, systems and software to provide breakthrough AI performance, lower token costs and massive scale for frontier AI training.
NVIDIA DSX provides a reference design and platform for AI factories, helping infrastructure builders accelerate time to production, increase token throughput per megawatt and operate with greater reliability and efficiency.
Advancing Japan’s Physical AI Ambitions
Japan’s AI Robotics Strategy, released in March, sets a goal for the country to capture more than 30% of the global AI robotics market by 2040, representing an estimated $133 billion opportunity. To help achieve the goal, METI is advancing a multimodal foundation model program for robotics and physical AI as part of Japan’s broader industrial AI policy.
As the AI factory expands, it will support training trillion-parameter-scale AI models, giving organizations across Japan access to one of the world’s most advanced AI environments and laying the foundation for the next era of intelligent manufacturing and robotics.
About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in AI and accelerated computing.
For further information, contact:
Kristin Uchiyama
Corporate Communications
NVIDIA Corporation [email protected]
Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: Japan building the AI factories that will power the next industrial revolution; NVIDIA to partner with Japan and its industrial leaders to build the AI infrastructure that will power the country’s industries, its economy and a new generation of innovation; expectations with respect to growth, performance, availability, and benefits of NVIDIA’s products, services and technologies, and related trends and drivers; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments, and related trends and drivers; projected market growth and trends; expectations with respect to AI and related industries; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing products and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; NVIDIA’s ability to realize the potential benefits of business investments or acquisitions; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/322eb6fb-fe24-4ea5-a123-2c076a6fa629
NVIDIA Vera Rubin AI Factory for Japan Physical AI NVIDIA today announced it is working with Noetra Corp. to launch an NVIDIA Vera Rubin AI factory wit...
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 0.61%) was one of the most sought-after stocks on the planet last month. SpaceX launched the world's biggest initial public offering -- an operation that was largely oversubscribed -- and went on to see high demand in its first days of trading. From its offer price of $135 to its peak of $225 on June 16, it rose more than 65%. And after the exercise of an overallotment option, SpaceX raised a whopping $85 billion.
The tech giants known as the "Magnificent Seven" also have experienced glory days, but over a longer period. These companies led the S&P 500's gains during the past three years amid the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Each of these players has seen their shares advance in the double- or triple-digits over that time.
So now, you may be wondering whether you should invest in SpaceX or the members of the "Magnificent Seven." Let's check out which is a better option.
Image source: Getty Images.
The case for SpaceX SpaceX soared right out of the gate as investors got excited about the company's growth businesses of rocket launches, connectivity, and AI. And some investors also liked that this is a company led by Elon Musk, known for his focus on game-changing innovations.
The company has made progress in a variety of areas in recent years. For example, it's greatly brought down the cost of rocket launches thanks to its work on reusable rockets. And SpaceX has seen the popularity of its Starlink internet service surge, with subscribers rising from 2.3 million to 10 million over just three years. All of this helped SpaceX deliver $18 billion in revenue last year, for a 33% gain.
The company has big goals, such as the development of data centers in space, and investors know that if SpaceX reaches certain milestones, earnings and stock performance could skyrocket. All of this helped propel the stock price higher during SpaceX's first days of trading, but in recent days, the stock has pulled back. In fact, SpaceX is trading lower than its debut price of $150, and some may consider this a buying opportunity.
Today's Change
(
-0.61
%) $
-0.83
Current Price
$
135.25
The "Magnificent Seven" stocks are as follows: Amazon (AMZN +2.97%), Apple (AAPL +3.95%), Alphabet (GOOG +3.57%) (GOOGL +3.15%), Meta Platforms (META +3.06%), Nvidia (NVDA +0.29%), Microsoft (MSFT +2.70%), and Tesla (TSLA 0.48%).
These players are leaders in a wide range of tech specialties, from e-commerce to chips and software, and they are all involved to some degree in the high-growth industry of AI. These companies have delivered earnings growth over time, and their earnings prospects are generally bright.
So, "Magnificent Seven" companies are on track to deliver growth from their core businesses, and on top of this, they are well-positioned to benefit from AI over time. Nvidia is the only one of the bunch that depends more heavily on AI, with more than 90% of revenue coming from its data center business. But it's important to note that Nvidia is broadening the use of AI across industries, which also expands its revenue opportunities.
Though Tesla continues to trade at a high valuation and Apple has seen its valuation climb over the past year, the other five tech giants trade for less than 29x forward earnings estimates and look very interesting at these levels.
GOOG PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts
SpaceX or the "Magnificent Seven"? So, should you put your money into SpaceX or diversify across the "Magnificent Seven"? Even though SpaceX stock has declined in recent times, it still looks pricey considering the risk that comes along with this investment. Many of SpaceX's goals involve the development of technology that hasn't yet been fully proven -- and to develop technology and advance its programs, SpaceX must heavily invest. Last year, capital expenditures drove the company to a net loss of $4.9 billion.
Meanwhile, an investment spread across the "Magnificent Seven" -- and here I would go for the five cheapest according to valuation, as shown in the chart above -- could be great for three reasons. First, these particular stocks are trading at bargain levels. Second, they are proven winners with a long track record of growth, and they are well placed to benefit from AI now and into the future. Finally, by spreading your money across several stocks, you offer your portfolio diversification.
All of this makes the "Magnificent Seven" a better buy than SpaceX right now -- for safety and growth.
Visible Alpha consensus is expecting $12.6 billion in revenue for Q2 and $51.3 billion for FY 2026. Consensus expects the operating margin to be 33% in Q2 and to be 32% for FY 2026, down from earlier expectations of 33% due to assumptions about higher expenses. According to consensus, analysts now expect the company to generate the 32% margin, on expected revenue of $51.4 billion and $16.3 billion in operating profit in FY 2026.
Coming into Thursday trading, GE Aerospace stock was up 17% year-to-date and up 36% over the past 12 months. (AFP via Getty Images)
GE Aerospace reports second-quarter results on Thursday morning—early in the earnings cycle to accommodate the coming Farnborough Air Show. Expectations are running high. Investors will want to see a beat-and-raise quarter from the bellwether aerospace company to keep sector momentum high.
Many of the most famous names on Wall Street are actively looking to capitalize on the fast-growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Cathie Wood, the CEO of Ark Investment Management, is perhaps one of the most bullish on AI. Most of the firm's top 10 holdings -- when aggregated across its entire family of ETFs -- are companies whose prospects are increasingly tied to AI. And five of them make up about 30.4% of Ark Investment's portfolio: Tesla (TSLA 0.48%), Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 0.61%), Alphabet (GOOG +3.57%) (GOOGL +3.15%), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 3.40%), and Amazon (AMZN +2.97%). Is Cathie Wood right to be betting big on these AI companies?
Image source: Getty Images.
Banking on Elon Musk Given Ark Investment's focus on innovative platforms, it's not surprising that the firm holds shares in companies led by Elon Musk, a leader in pushing disruptive technological innovation. Tesla is Ark Investment's largest holding, with SpaceX not too far behind at number four. They account for 9.73% and 4.28% of the firm's holdings, respectively, as of writing. AI is central to both companies' prospects.
Take Tesla. The electric vehicle (EV) maker is no longer valued as just a car company. Its two biggest opportunities, robotaxis and humanoid robots, can't get off the ground without AI. We could say something similar about SpaceX. Though it made its name by pioneering reusable rockets and slashing the cost of space travel -- and currently generates most of its operating profits from its satellite-powered internet connectivity business -- the company's own regulatory filings argue that AI represents the vast majority of its total addressable market.
Today's Change
(
-0.48
%) $
-1.90
Current Price
$
394.28
But is either one of these Musk-led publicly traded corporations a buy? On the one hand, they have mouthwatering opportunities ahead. At scale, Tesla's fleet of robotaxis could be highly profitable. Similarly, as SpaceX expands its internet connectivity business and moves ahead with its next-gen, fully reusable rocket, Starship, the company could see revenue and earnings grow significantly.
That said, Tesla and SpaceX sport valuations that suggest some of that success is already baked into their stock prices. That's especially true of SpaceX, a company worth $1.8 trillion despite not being profitable. I wouldn't invest in SpaceX at current levels, but Tesla, although still somewhat risky, looks much more attractive, especially for investors comfortable with volatility.
Today's Change
(
-0.61
%) $
-0.83
Current Price
$
135.25
Doubling down on the hyperscalers Alphabet and Amazon make up 4.71% and 3.6% of Ark Investment's portfolio, respectively. Both companies are already capitalizing on AI. Alphabet has incorporated AI overviews and AI mode into its search engine, leading to increased engagement. It also offers a suite of cloud-based AI tools that are helping drive strong sales growth. Alphabet is doubling down. The company plans to spend between $180 billion and $190 billion on capex this year, largely to fund its AI-related ambitions.
The company also has several growth opportunities beyond AI and cloud computing. Alphabet's core digital advertising business is still one of the largest in the world, and it is cashing in on the rise of the streaming industry. It is also building a robotaxi service through its subsidiary, Waymo. Alphabet looks like a great bet to capitalize on the AI industry.
Today's Change
(
3.57
%) $
12.76
Current Price
$
370.09
We could say the same about Amazon. The company's cloud business is seeing strong momentum -- with sales growth accelerating in recent quarters -- partly thanks to AI. The company is also implementing AI-powered initiatives across the business that could help it cut expenses and boost profits. Amazon's business is significantly diversified. It has footprints in healthcare, streaming, digital advertising, and more. Further, the tech leader boasts a moat from several sources, including switching costs, network effects, and a strong brand name. Given all these factors, Amazon could deliver outstanding long-term returns.
Today's Change
(
2.97
%) $
7.36
Current Price
$
254.85
Riding the agentic AI boom AMD is a leading player in the CPU (Central Processing Unit) market. While it also has footprints in the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) industry, and has somewhat benefited from the fact that GPUs are the workhorse of AI training, it has mostly played second fiddle (at best) to Nvidia (NVDA +0.29%), by far the undisputed GPU leader. Things may be about to change, given that agentic AI could be the next wave in the industry. AI agents can plan and execute tasks autonomously, helping companies become much more productive by automating tasks while reducing expenses.
Today's Change
(
-3.40
%) $
-18.61
Current Price
$
529.52
Since AI agents run on CPUs, there is a large opportunity for AMD to capitalize on this as demand for its products increases significantly over the next few years. AMD will face some competition, but it has been a CPU leader for decades, boasts a moat thanks to switching costs, and has arguably performed better than its main competitor, Intel (INTC 4.34%), in recent years. AMD makes up 8.10% of Ark Invest's combined portfolio. In my view, the firm is right to be bullish on the company's prospects.
IBM's bearish pre-announcement reignited fears about AI's impact on enterprise tech spending. In health care, HCA's cautious update raised fresh questions about consumer financial well-being. Preliminary earnings reports provide traders with an early read on market risks, offering key clues on corporate expectations.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. ("Baidu" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") approved a motion to pursue the voluntary conversion to dual-primary listing (the "Primary Conversion") on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"). The Primary Conversion is expected to become effective within this year. The Board also authorized the Company's management to proceed with the relevant preparatory work and undertake the necessary procedures to complete the Primary Conversion.
After the Primary Conversion, the Company will become a dual-primary listed company on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and its Class A ordinary shares and American depositary shares will continue to be traded on both stock exchanges (as the case may be) and remain mutually fungible. The Company believes that the dual-primary listing, once effective, will enhance the liquidity of its securities, broaden its investor base and provide greater flexibility in accessing both capital markets.
The Primary Conversion is conditional upon and subject to, among other things, market conditions and the obtaining of the necessary regulatory approvals. The Company will make further announcement(s) to disclose any material updates and progress with respect to the Primary Conversion in accordance with applicable laws and regulations as and when appropriate. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Company. Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888". One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "is/are likely to" and similar statements. Baidu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in announcements made on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Baidu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Baidu's growth strategies; its future business development, including development of new products and services; its ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese Internet search and newsfeed market; competition for online marketing customers; changes in the Company's revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of its revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese-language Internet search and newsfeed market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers, and general economic conditions in China and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the SEC, and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Baidu does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of the announcement, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Oracle (ORCL +3.56%) stock has trended downward since the tech giant struck a deal with OpenAI last September. The $300 billion size of the deal led to a 36% one-day gain in the stock price immediately following the deal's announcement and stoked investor optimism. Still, investors began to doubt whether OpenAI could fulfill its part of the deal.
Moreover, Oracle has borrowed nearly $130 billion as of the end of fiscal 2026 (ended May 31) to build the necessary infrastructure, a considerable burden for a company with a $43 billion book value. Consequently, the stock price has fallem 60% from that high.
Given these price swings, it is increasingly likely that the market is underestimating the massive growth potential of Oracle. These two reasons explain why investors should look at Oracle as a possible buying opportunity.
Oracle Chairman and CTO Larry Ellison. Image source: Oracle.
1. Oracle's valuation is more reasonable now The aforementioned pullback in the stock may have changed Oracle's investment thesis, particularly regarding its valuation. Last September's stock surge lifted Oracle's P/E ratio to 76. At the time, investors seemed willing to pay this premium amid the OpenAI deal.
However, a combination of the falling stock price and a 37% increase in net income during fiscal 2026 reduced its earnings multiple to 22, well below the 32 average P/E ratio for the S&P 500.
Additionally, analysts forecast a continued increase in profits, taking its forward P/E ratio to 16. Hence, despite its considerable debt, that low valuation has made Oracle stock increasingly attractive.
Today's Change
(
3.56
%) $
4.55
Current Price
$
132.49
2. RPO growth is not all tied to OpenAI deal Those rising profits are also a result of the growth in its remaining performance obligations (RPO), or backlog. At the time of the OpenAI announcement, it accounted for about two-thirds of Oracle's $455 billion RPO.
Admittedly, losing all or part of the OpenAI deal would be a huge setback for Oracle. Nonetheless, in the nine months since the announcement, its backlog has risen to $638 billion.
In other words, Oracle has booked the equivalent of 60% of an OpenAI deal, helping to justify its borrowing and the $56 billion it spent on capital expenditures (capex) in fiscal 2026. That success in attracting additional business implies that Oracle could survive losing the OpenAI deal.
A potential double for Oracle The above factors set Oracle stock up to double in value by 2028, if not before.
Thanks to a lower stock price and higher profits, its P/E ratio has fallen well below S&P averages, and its forward P/E ratio will take that multiple into the teens if the stock does not rebound soon.
Moreover, the stock sell-off implied the OpenAI deal was an end-all, be-all for Oracle's AI infrastructure business. However, the fact that it signed almost $200 billion in additional deals in nine months indicates that this business could still thrive if the OpenAI deal does not fully materialize.
Thus, investors who can handle Oracle's debt risk should consider this AI stock.
There is a lot of debate about whether the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure build-out is a bubble. The amount of money being spent building out AI data centers is astronomical, with the four largest hyperscalers -- Amazon (AMZN +2.97%), Microsoft (MSFT +2.70%), Alphabet (GOOGL +3.15%) (GOOG +3.57%), and Meta Platforms (META +3.06%) -- alone set to spend more than $700 billion this year. That's more than the gross domestic product (GDP) of all but two dozen countries last year.
Meanwhile, AI spending as a percentage of global GDP is nearing bubble levels of past cycles. Goldman Sachs projects total AI capital expenditures at around $765 billion in 2026, while U.S. GDP is expected to be around $32.4 trillion. That would be 2.4% of U.S. GDP, which is above levels seen in past innovation cycles, such as the dot-com bubble.
However, we are in a much more global interconnected economy today than 25 years ago, and from that perspective, AI spending is only about 0.6% of the 2026 projected global GDP of $126 trillion. While the big hyperscalers are U.S. companies, they have global operations and are building AI data centers worldwide.
Valuations look reasonable From a stock valuation perspective, meanwhile, the market looks very different from the dot-com era. At that time, hardware companies like Cisco and Sun Microsystems traded at huge forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples, with Cisco topping 100x at its peak in 2000.
Nvidia (NVDA +0.29%), on the other hand, trades at a modest forward P/E of 23.5 times fiscal 2027 (ending January 2027) analyst earnings estimates. Meanwhile, memory company Micron Technology (MU 7.72%) trades at a multiple of just 6.5 times fiscal 2027 analyst estimates, as investors are cognizant of memory cycles and show restraint, not being irrationally enthusiastic.
There are some outliers. Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 0.59%) IPO'd to a huge valuation, but it is more of an outlier than the rule. Elon Musk's companies, like Tesla (TSLA 0.48%), have always gotten the benefit of the doubt and commanded high premiums.
Palantir (PLTR +0.01%) also has a frothy valuation, trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 42 times; however, most software-as-a-service (SaaS) stocks have actually traded at dramatically lower multiples. That's much different from the dot-com boom, when seemingly all internet stocks were on a tear, even those with questionable business models.
Image source: Getty Images.
Meanwhile, the hyperscalers doing the bulk of this spending are among the best companies on the planet. They have other strong core businesses that generate significant operating cash flow, helping pay for much of their AI infrastructure spending.
And if you are worried about the potential of an AI bubble but still want to participate in the AI upside, the hyperscalers are the perfect stocks for this. They all have strong core businesses that are benefiting from AI, and either they make money from their spending, helping lift their stocks, or they stop spending and start generating a lot of free cash flow.
It's a win-win type of situation, and that's why Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms are three of my favorite stocks to own right now.
Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Cisco Systems, Goldman Sachs Group, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
BlackBerry (BB 3.36%) has reinvented itself from a smartphone company to a key player in physical AI -- AI that interacts with the physical world -- and the stock's 180% year-to-date surge through July 13 isn't a meme rally like its brief moment in 2021. BlackBerry's QNX software helps robots interact with the world safely and effectively. That's a critical feature for autonomous vehicles, drones, and humanoid robots.
The company has been securing partnerships and agreements with Nvidia, BMW, and the federal government. That's just the beginning, which makes now the right time to assess BlackBerry's long-term potential for investors.
Image source: Getty Images.
Winning deals now that will be transformative later QNX isn't speculative. The software is already powering BlackBerry to meaningful growth and profits, and more than 275 million vehicles on the road use this technology. The company reported 26% year-over-year revenue growth in its fiscal 2027 first quarter (the three months ended May 31, 2026) and achieved its first fiscal quarter of positive operating cash flow in nine years, excluding a patent sale in fiscal 2024.
Today's Change
(
-3.36
%) $
-0.37
Current Price
$
10.64
"We are particularly encouraged by the multiyear growth opportunities ahead in software-defined vehicles, as well as broad opportunities in the general embedded market, especially physical AI," BlackBerry CEO John J. Giamatteo told investors.
While BlackBerry is already positioned to post significant sales growth thanks to autonomous vehicles, the Nvidia partnership showcases the company's true potential. The QNX OS (operating system) was integrated with Nvidia IGX Thor and the Nvidia Halos Safety Stack, which will assist with physical AI across robotics, medical, and industrial systems.
The global humanoid robot market alone may be enough for BlackBerry to become a long-term wealth multiplier. That market is expected to maintain a 50% compound annual growth rate through 2034 and become a $165 billion industry in the process, according to Fortune Business Insights.
The backlog is steadily growing BlackBerry wrapped up its fiscal 2022 with a $460 million backlog for QNX, and that backlog had more than doubled by the end of fiscal 2026, reaching $940 million.
Revenue for this critical segment has been accelerating as well. BlackBerry's QNX software delivered 20% year-over-year revenue growth in its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter. That growth rate jumped to 26% in BlackBerry's fiscal 2027 first quarter.
BlackBerry is currently guiding for $607.5 million in fiscal 2027 revenue, with approximately half of that coming from QNX. The company reported $549.1 million in fiscal 2026 revenue, so that would be 10.6% year-over-year growth if it hits its estimate. That's a big improvement from the company's 3% year-over-year revenue growth in its fiscal 2026.
Financials are already moving in the right direction, and BlackBerry's positioning in the physical artificial intelligence industry suggests revenue can continue to accelerate in the years ahead. That setup can help BlackBerry continue to deliver on its recent gains.
TSMC posted quarterly profit that beat estimates. The main chipmaker for Nvidia Corp. and Apple Inc. reported a rise in net income for the June quarter to NT$706.6 billion ($22 billion), surpassing the average estimate of NT$623.7 billion.
TSMC reports a 77% surge in quarterly profit, beating expectations by a wide margin. The contract chipmaker – Asia's most valuable company – said net profit came in at NT$706.6 billion in Q2, amid strong global demand for AI processors.
Taiwanese chip giant TSMC smashes another record with an 80 per cent surge in Q2 net profits on the building wave of demand for its AI processors. Further exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran in the Persian Gulf could reportedly prompt President Trump to expand operations in the region.
Amazon’s New Debt Deal Puts Its AI Spending Story on TrialTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing NYSE: TSM raised its 2026 capital spending plan and full-year revenue outlook as executives said demand for leading-edge chips tied to artificial intelligence remains “extremely robust,” even as some consumer and price-sensitive end markets face pressure.
On the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call, Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei said TSMC finished the quarter with revenue of $40.2 billion, at the high end of its guidance in U.S. dollar terms, driven by strong demand for leading-edge process technologies. Looking ahead, Wei said the company now expects full-year 2026 revenue growth to be “slightly above 40% year-over-year” in U.S. dollar terms.
Get TSM alerts:
A Market Panic Just Discounted the AI Highway's Tollbooth“The AI megatrend continue to drive the need for more and more computation, which supports the robust demand for leading-edge silicon,” Wei said. He added that customers and their customers, mainly cloud service providers, continue to provide “very strong signal and positive outlook.”
TSMC Guides for Strong Third Quarter Growth Senior Vice President and CFO Wendell Huang said TSMC expects third-quarter revenue between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion. At the midpoint, that would represent a 12% sequential increase and a 37% year-over-year increase.
The AI Chip Sell-Off Looks Scary, But the Real Story May Be LiquidityBased on an exchange rate assumption of $1 to TWD 32, the company guided for a third-quarter gross margin of 65% to 67% and an operating margin of 56% to 58%.
Second-quarter gross margin rose 150 basis points sequentially to 67.7%, slightly above guidance, Huang said. The increase was primarily due to cost improvement efforts and a slightly higher overall capacity utilization rate, partially offset by dilution from overseas fabs.
For the third quarter, Huang said gross margin is expected to decline to 66% at the midpoint, mainly because the steep ramp-up of 2-nanometer technology is expected to dilute gross margin by about 3 to 4 percentage points. That pressure is expected to be partly offset by strong demand for leading-edge technologies and continued cost improvement efforts.
HPC Leads Revenue Mix as 2-Nanometer Begins Contributing TSMC’s high-performance computing platform increased 20% quarter-over-quarter and accounted for 66% of second-quarter revenue, Huang said. Smartphone revenue decreased 4% sequentially and represented 22% of revenue. IoT rose 4% to 5% of revenue, automotive increased 15% to 4%, and digital consumer electronics rose 5% to 1%.
By technology, 2-nanometer process technology contributed 3% of wafer revenue in the second quarter. The 3-nanometer, 5-nanometer and 7-nanometer nodes accounted for 30%, 33% and 11%, respectively. Advanced technologies, defined as 7 nanometers and below, represented 77% of wafer revenue.
Wei said third-quarter business will be supported by continued strong demand for leading-edge technologies, including the ramp of 2-nanometer production. However, he said consumer and price-sensitive end markets are being challenged by rising component prices and macroeconomic uncertainties, prompting the company to remain prudent in business planning.
Capital Budget Raised to $60 Billion to $64 Billion TSMC raised its full-year 2026 capital budget to between $60 billion and $64 billion, citing continued strong structural demand from customers, including the emerging agentic AI market. Huang said a higher level of capital expenditures at TSMC is “always correlated to higher growth opportunities in the following years.”
Huang said about 70% to 80% of the 2026 capital budget will be allocated to advanced process technologies. About 10% will be spent on specialty technologies, and 10% to 20% will be directed toward advanced packaging, testing, mask making and other areas.
In the second quarter, TSMC generated about TWD 783 billion in cash from operations, spent TWD 496 billion in capital expenditures and distributed TWD 156 billion for third-quarter 2025 cash dividends. In U.S. dollar terms, second-quarter capital expenditures totaled $15.7 billion.
Huang also said TSMC remains committed to “a sustainable and steadily increased cash dividend per share.” He said shareholders received TWD 18 per share in 2025 and will receive TWD 24 per share in 2026, with the company expecting continued increases in 2027.
Arizona Expansion and Global Capacity Plans Wei announced an additional $100 billion investment in Arizona to build several more logic wafer fabs for 2-nanometer and below technologies, as well as advanced packaging fabs, to support multi-year demand from leading U.S. customers. During the question-and-answer session, Wei said the investment would likely include “additional four more fabs,” combining front-end and back-end facilities, though he said the schedule would depend on market conditions and customer demand.
Wei also said TSMC is building 13 leading-edge and advanced packaging fabs in Taiwan over the next several years and will continue to invest in Taiwan. The company is also executing plans to add three additional 3-nanometer fabs: one in Taiwan, one in Arizona and one in Japan.
On capacity planning, Wei said TSMC collaborates with customers and customers’ customers to assess demand, while also using top-down and bottom-up internal planning. He said it takes more than five years to develop technology, prepare capacity and ramp production to high volume.
Asked about the gap between demand and supply, Wei declined to provide a specific number but said the gap is “very big.” He said he believes demand will remain very strong “all the way to probably 2029, 2030,” although he said he could not be certain whether there might be a dip in between.
Agentic AI, Packaging and Future Nodes Wei said the emergence of agentic AI is leading to a “resurgence” in the role of CPUs in AI data centers, adding silicon demand beyond AI accelerators. He said this is positive for TSMC because CPU approaches including x86, Arm-based and RISC-V architectures are “almost all TSMC’s customers.”
On advanced packaging, Wei said TSMC’s packaging capacity is so tight that it is limiting customer growth. He said the company welcomes additional flexibility in the market if competitors can help customers package front-end wafers, because that could support TSMC’s front-end wafer business.
Wei also provided an update on A14 technology, describing it as TSMC’s second generation of nanosheet transistors. Compared with N2, he said A14 is expected to provide a 10% to 15% speed improvement at the same power, a 25% to 30% power improvement at the same speed and close to a 20% chip density gain. Pre-production is scheduled for 2027, with volume production planned for 2028. TSMC also introduced A13 and A12 as extensions of the A14 family, both scheduled for volume production in 2029.
For mature nodes, Wei said TSMC’s strategy has not changed. The company continues to focus on higher value-added and strategic segments, including CMOS image sensors in Japan and automotive and industrial applications in Germany. He said mature-node demand is tight in AI-related areas such as power management ICs and sensors, but demand in other commodity and consumer-related areas is not as strong.
About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing NYSE: TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products.
TSMC's service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Right Now?Before you consider Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasn't on the list.
While Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Learn the basics of options trading and how to use them to boost returns and manage risk with this free report from MarketBeat. Click the link below to get your free copy.
UnitedHealth, Abbott Laboratories And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into ThursdayWith U.S. stock futures trading mixed this morning on Thursday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
Check out our premarket coverage here
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Broadcom (AVGO +1.28%) has performed well over the past 12 months. The company's strong position in the market for custom artificial intelligence (AI) chips is proving to be a massive growth driver. What's more, Broadcom recently announced a deal with Apple (AAPL +4.01%) that arguably strengthens the bull thesis for the stock. Here's what investors need to know.
A long-term deal removes major uncertainty Broadcom has designed and produced chips for Apple's devices for years. But recently, the two companies announced an expanded partnership. Apple committed over $30 billion to Broadcom through 2031, which is expected to lead to the production of 15 billion chips. Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, praised Broadcom's chips, calling them "essential to delivering the incredible performance and connectivity our customers expect."
Image source: The Motley Fool.
This is great news for Broadcom, and not necessarily because of the dollar amount. After all, extended over five years, the $30 billion deal comes out to an average of $6 billion annually. Meanwhile, in the second quarter of its fiscal year 2026, ending on May 3, Broadcom's revenue was $22.2 billion. So, the money Broadcom will get from this deal, while not insignificant, isn't exactly a game changer.
However, there are other dynamics at play that investors should pay attention to. For instance, one of the strongest arguments against Broadcom's bull thesis is customer concentration. According to some estimates, Apple alone accounts for roughly 20% of the company's revenue. What would happen if Apple suddenly stopped buying chips from Broadcom? The company's shares would almost certainly fall off a cliff. But investors no longer have to worry about that, at least for the foreseeable future.
The expanded partnership provides a degree of security that Broadcom lacked before, by reducing the risk of sudden revenue loss from one of the company's biggest customers. And that's great news for the company and its shareholders.
Today's Change
(
1.28
%) $
4.99
Current Price
$
394.10
Why Broadcom stock is a buy Broadcom has signed other deals that provide it with significant revenue visibility over the next few years, including with Meta Platforms (META +3.06%). The chipmaker's revenue and earnings are also growing at a good clip, primarily thanks to its work in custom AI chips. Broadcom's second-quarter revenue of $22.2 billion jumped by 48% year over year, with revenue from its AI semiconductor segment soaring 143%.
The company expects sales growth to accelerate within this unit. Broadcom projected that its AI chip revenue would soar by over 200% year over year during its upcoming quarter. It could be just the beginning. As companies increasingly seek cost-effective alternatives to GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), demand for Broadcom's products should remain strong in the medium term. Broadcom's shares jumped after it announced its expanded deal with Apple, and the stock is up 40% over the past 12 months. But it isn't too late to invest.
The Cardano ecosystem has suffered another setback after a decentralized exchange powered by Hydra announced that it is suspending operations indefinitely due to operational constraints.
DeltaDeFi, the first Hydra Layer 2-powered DEX on Cardano, confirmed the decision in an operational update. The announcement has reignited concerns across the Cardano community, with many viewing it as the latest addition to a growing list of ecosystem projects that have either shut down or reduced operations in recent months.
DeltaDeFi Suspends Development and Maintenance In an update shared with its community, the DeltaDeFi team revealed that it had exhausted its operational runway. This left it with no choice but to pause the project effectively immediately.
As a result, the team will suspend both platform development and active maintenance until further notice. During the downtime, the developers plan to evaluate strategies that could enable the project to resume operations in the future.
Meanwhile, DeltaDeFi announced plans to return its remaining funds to users once sufficient minimum UTXO becomes available to process withdrawals. The team also advised users who do not automatically receive their funds to contact the developers through the project’s X account or Discord server for assistance.
How DeltaDeFi Advanced Cardano’s Hydra Ecosystem DeltaDeFi stands out from many decentralized exchanges by building on Hydra, Cardano’s Layer-2 scaling solution designed to increase transaction throughput while reducing settlement times.
Unlike most Cardano DEXs that rely primarily on automated market makers (AMMs), DeltaDeFi adopted an order-book-based trading model. This approach delivered a trading experience closer to traditional financial markets while preserving the benefits of decentralized infrastructure.
The platform promoted features such as sub-second transaction settlement, high-speed order execution, and improved trading efficiency through Hydra’s scaling capabilities. With the project’s suspension, Cardano loses one of its most prominent real-world demonstrations of Hydra’s decentralized finance (DeFi) potential.
It bears mentioning that Hydra recently introduced v2.2.0, focused on real-world use cases, enhanced benchmarking, and optimized snapshot latency.
Another Challenge for Cardano Builders DeltaDeFi’s decision adds to a growing list of Cardano projects that have recently scaled back operations or exited the ecosystem altogether. Projects including JPG Store, TapTools, and contributors such as Chicken have previously cited challenges ranging from rising operational expenses and limited funding to long-term developer sustainability.
Although each project has faced its own circumstances, several common themes have emerged. These include shrinking funding opportunities, increasing operating costs, prolonged market weakness, and ongoing ecosystem governance challenges.
DeltaDeFi’s operational pause reinforces concerns that even technically innovative projects on Cardano continue to face significant sustainability hurdles despite ongoing protocol upgrades and ecosystem development.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
USD/SEK remains supported as geopolitical tensions keep demand for the US dollar elevated despite softer US inflation. Sweden's resilient economy and a cautious Riksbank continue to provide medium-term support for the Swedish krona. Traders are watching Fed expectations, oil prices and global risk sentiment for the next move in USD/SEK. The USD/SEK currency pair remains in focus as investors weigh two competing macroeconomic themes: renewed demand for the US dollar as a global safe-haven asset and growing optimism surrounding Sweden’s economic outlook.
While softer US inflation data has eased expectations for aggressive monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and elevated Treasury yields have continued to support the greenback. At the same time, the Swedish krona has shown resilience after the Riksbank signaled it remains cautious on inflation, limiting expectations for rapid policy easing.
The result is a market where USD/SEK continues to trade within a relatively stable range as investors wait for the next major catalyst.
Safe-Haven Demand Keeps the US Dollar Supported The US dollar has remained resilient even after recent economic data suggested inflationary pressures are gradually easing.
Both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) for June came in softer than expected, reinforcing expectations that inflation is moving closer to the Federal Reserve’s long-term target. Under normal circumstances, weaker inflation would reduce demand for the dollar by lowering expectations for additional interest rate hikes.
However, the latest escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran has shifted investor attention toward safety. Rising geopolitical uncertainty has increased demand for traditional safe-haven assets, helping the US dollar recover despite improving inflation data. Higher US Treasury yields have also continued attracting global capital into dollar-denominated assets, providing another source of support for the world’s reserve currency.
Sweden’s Economic Fundamentals Continue to Support the Krona While the US dollar has benefited from global uncertainty, the Swedish krona has remained underpinned by relatively solid domestic fundamentals.
The Riksbank recently left interest rates unchanged while warning that inflation risks have not completely disappeared. Policymakers acknowledged that geopolitical developments and higher energy prices could complicate the inflation outlook, reinforcing expectations that interest rates may remain elevated for longer than previously anticipated.
Sweden’s economy is also expected to recover gradually during 2026 as consumer demand improves and inflation continues to moderate. Several analysts believe the krona remains undervalued relative to its long-term fundamentals, supporting expectations for gradual appreciation once global market volatility begins to ease.
This combination of resilient economic growth and a cautious central bank has helped prevent a sharper decline in the Swedish currency.
Geopolitical Risks Are Becoming a Key Driver for USD/SEK Recent developments in the Middle East have become one of the biggest influences on currency markets.
Renewed military tensions have lifted crude oil prices and increased uncertainty across global financial markets. During periods of heightened geopolitical risk, investors typically move capital toward safe-haven currencies such as the US dollar while reducing exposure to smaller, more risk-sensitive currencies, including the Swedish krona.
Although Sweden is not directly affected by the conflict, changing global risk sentiment continues to influence demand for SEK as investors adjust their exposure to European currencies. As long as geopolitical uncertainty remains elevated, safe-haven flows could continue supporting the US dollar against the krona.
Federal Reserve and Riksbank Policy Divergence Remains in Focus Interest rate expectations continue to play a central role in the outlook for USD/SEK.
The Federal Reserve has maintained a cautious approach, indicating that future policy decisions will depend on incoming inflation and labour market data. While softer inflation has reduced some expectations for additional tightening, policymakers continue to stress that inflation risks have not completely disappeared.
Meanwhile, the Riksbank has adopted a similarly cautious tone. Although Swedish inflation has moderated significantly from previous highs, officials remain reluctant to signal rapid interest rate cuts while geopolitical risks continue to threaten energy prices.
This narrowing policy gap between the two central banks has helped prevent larger swings in USD/SEK despite ongoing volatility across global markets.
What Could Move USD/SEK Next? The next direction for USD/SEK will likely depend on several important developments.
Investors will closely monitor upcoming US economic data, including retail sales and labour market indicators, for fresh clues about the Federal Reserve’s policy path. Additional comments from Fed officials could also influence Treasury yields and the broader US dollar.
In Sweden, markets will continue assessing inflation data and any new communication from the Riksbank regarding future monetary policy.
Global developments may ultimately prove just as important. Oil prices, geopolitical headlines from the Middle East, and broader risk sentiment are expected to remain major drivers of demand for both the US dollar and the Swedish krona over the coming weeks.
For now, USD/SEK reflects a balance between continued safe-haven demand for the dollar and improving confidence in Sweden’s medium-term economic outlook, leaving traders focused on which of these forces ultimately gains the upper hand.
Why is USD/SEK rising today?
USD/SEK is finding support as investors move into the US dollar following renewed geopolitical tensions and higher Treasury yields. Safe-haven demand has outweighed the impact of softer US inflation data.
What factors have the biggest impact on USD/SEK?
The most important drivers of USD/SEK include Federal Reserve interest rate expectations, Riksbank monetary policy, US and Swedish inflation data, Treasury yields, geopolitical developments, and overall global market sentiment.
Why is the Swedish krona important for forex traders?
The Swedish krona is considered a cyclical currency that often reflects investor sentiment toward European economic growth. It is also influenced by Riksbank policy, inflation trends, and global risk appetite.
LONDON, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forget souvenirs, 2026 is all about chasing the cosmos. New data from KAYAK shows that as the solar eclipse sweeps across Greenland, Iceland and Northern Spain on the 12th August, UK travellers are searching for flights to be under its path. This will be the first time since 1999 that solar eclipse totality has been visible from mainland Europe.
According to KAYAK’s What The Future Report 2026, 34% of travellers say awe-inspiring experiences are a top priority this year, while 55% say natural wonders will actively guide where they go on holiday.
Nowhere has that appetite been more apparent than in flight search data for destinations along the eclipse’s path of totality. Comparing year-over-year flight searches for travel between 8th and 16th August 2026 and 2025, searches for flights to Reykjavik more than doubled, while the Cantabrian Coast covering Coruna, Bilbao, Oviedo and Santander have risen 201%.
Reykjavik comes out as the standout option for rare astronomical moments, with it being the first Total Solar Eclipse visible from the destination since 1433.
FLIGHT SEARCHES FOR BEST DESTINATIONS TO VIEW THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE*
Destination% change in flight searches YoY
(August 2025 to 2026)Cantabrian Coast, Spain+ 201%Reykjavik, Iceland+ 102%Valencia, Spain+ 82%Madrid, Spain+ 42%Palma de Mallorca, Spain+ 20%Porto, Portugal+ 14%Barcelona, Spain+ 6%
There is also good news for last-minute eclipse chasers: average flight prices to several viewing destinations have fallen year over year. Barcelona, where travellers can witness 99.9% of the eclipse, saw the largest drop, with average fares down 15% to £111. Palma de Mallorca followed, with fares down 13% to £135, while Porto and Valencia both posted 9% declines.
About KAYAK
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. Trusted by millions of travellers, the KAYAK app makes travel planning seamless on iOS and Android, and we also support business travellers with our corporate travel solution.
Gold fell to 4,033 USD per ounce on Thursday, extending its losing streak. Pressure on the market is being exerted by a sharp rise in oil prices amid intensified attacks in the Middle East, which is once again heightening inflationary fears and expectations of tighter central bank policies.
On Wednesday, the United States launched new strikes on Iranian targets. At the same time, Donald Trump stated that Tehran had signalled its readiness to return to negotiations, which somewhat reduced the geopolitical temperature.
Some support for gold came from weaker-than-expected US inflation data. In June, producer prices unexpectedly fell for the first time in nearly a year, largely due to cheaper energy. Earlier, softer-than-forecast consumer inflation data were also released.
However, June’s figures do not yet reflect the consequences of the renewed US-Iran conflict. The interim peace deal reached last month has effectively lapsed, meaning the risks of accelerating inflation and further pressure on gold remain firmly in place.
Technical Analysis
On the H4 XAU/USD chart, the market has formed a consolidation range around the 4,060 USD level. A downward wave to 4,015 USD and a growth leg to 4,080 USD have been completed. A continuation of the downward wave to 3,920 USD is expected, followed by a potential rise to 4,055 USD, with the prospect of the wave extending to 4,150 USD. The MACD indicator confirms the current downside momentum, with its signal line below the centre line and pointing strictly downwards.
On the H1 chart, the market has broken below the 4,060 USD level and is forming a downward wave structure towards 4,012 USD. A wide consolidation range is practically forming around 4,060 USD. The Stochastic oscillator confirms this scenario, with its signal line remaining below the 50 level and under pressure to decline to 20.
Conclusion Gold continues its sharp decline as rising oil prices and heightened Middle East tensions reinforce inflationary fears and expectations of tighter monetary policy. While US inflation data for June came in softer than expected-with producer prices unexpectedly falling-these figures predate the collapse of the interim peace deal and the renewed US-Iran hostilities. As a result, the risks of accelerating inflation and further pressure on gold remain firmly intact. Technical indicators point to further downside towards 3,920 USD, with any recovery likely to be capped by persistent geopolitical and inflation concerns. The metal’s safe-haven appeal is being overshadowed by the prospect of sustained central bank tightening.
RoboForex Ltdhttps://www.roboforex.com/
RoboForex Ltd is a reputable financial brokerage company that has been operating since 2009. It provides reliable access to the largest financial markets with competitive conditions.
Podobně jako ve středu ASML přikročila o den později k výraznému zlepšení výhledu také Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). Největší smluvní výrobce čipů na světě zvýšil pro letošní rok jak výhled investičních výdajů, tak i tržeb. Firma tím investorům vyslala jasný signál, že očekává pokračující silnou poptávku po AI čipech a datová centra ještě několik dalších let.
TSMC pro letošek nově počítá s kapitálovými výdaji v rozmezí 60 až 64 miliard dolarů. Předchozí odhad přitom počítal s 52 až 56 miliardami dolarů. Část zvýšených investic má zamířit do USA, konkrétně do rozšiřování výroby v Arizoně, kde firma investuje celkem 265 mld. USD.
TSMC zároveň zvýšila očekávání růstu tržeb v dolarovém vyjádření na více než 40 procent, zatímco dříve předpokládala růst přesahující 30 procent. Pro třetí kvartál počítá s tržbami mezi 44,6 mld. USD a 45,8 mld. USD s provozní marží mezi 56 a 58 procenty. "Poptávka po AI je stále velmi silná," oznámil předseda podniku C.C. Wei.
Firma navíc uvedla, že investiční tempo by mohlo v nadcházejících třech letech nabrat ještě větší obrátky. Podle vedení společnosti stojí za tím přesvědčení, že technologičtí giganti včetně Mety Platforms nebo Alphabetu budou pokračovat v rozsáhlém budování infrastruktury pro umělou inteligenci.
Čtyři největší američtí provozovatelé cloudových a AI platforem, označovaní jako hyperscaleři, mají letos investovat do datových center a související infrastruktury více než 725 miliard dolarů. Právě tato vlna investic byla jedním z hlavních motorů růstu technologických akcií v letošním roce. TSMC je přitom investory vnímána jako jeden z nejdůležitějších indikátorů vývoje celého odvětví, protože vyrábí většinu nejpokročilejších čipů na světě, píše agentura Bloomberg.
Rychlý růst sektoru však zároveň vyvolává otázky ohledně udržitelnosti současných valuací. Investoři stále častěji přemítají nad tím, zda zmíněné společnosti nebudují větší výpočetní kapacitu, než budou v budoucnu skutečně potřebovat.
Finanční ředitel TSMC Wendell Huang má ale jasno. Během konferenčního hovoru s analytiky zdůraznil, že důvěra firmy v dlouhodobý trend rozvoje umělé inteligence zůstává velmi silná. „Kapitálové výdaje v příštích třech letech budou ještě větší, výrazně vyšší než v uplynulých třech letech,“ řekl.
Podobný optimismus zaznívá i od dalších klíčových hráčů v polovodičovém řetězci. Třeba jihokorejská SK Hynix očekává, že nedostatek paměťových čipů by mohl přetrvávat i po roce 2030. Rostoucí poptávka po AI systémech zvyšuje zájem jak o tradiční paměťové čipy, tak o pokročilé HBM paměti, které jsou nezbytnou součástí moderních AI akcelerátorů.
Co se týče samotných výsledků za druhé čtvrtletí, tak v něm TSMC vykázala meziroční růst čistého zisku o 77,4 procenta na 22,36 mld. USD při očekávání 19,74 mld. USD. Tržby vzrostly oproti stejnému období minulého roku o 33,7 procenta na 40,2 mld. USD.
United Overseas Bank’s (UOB) Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann note that GBP/USD has surged to a two‑month high, with deeply overbought conditions but scope for further gains. Intraday, upside is seen limited to a test of 1.3560 while holding above 1.3480. On a 1–3 week view, renewed momentum suggests the Pound has resumed its advance, with 1.3590 the level to monitor and strong support at 1.3450.
Overbought Pound still has upside scope"24-HOUR VIEW: We did not expect GBP to surge to a high of 1.3556 yesterday (we had expected range-trading). The sharp rally appears excessive, but with no sign of pause yet, GBP could continue to rise. However, given the deeply overbought conditions, any advance could be limited to a test of 1.3560. The major resistance at 1.3590 is unlikely to come under threat. To sustain the overbought momentum, GBP must not break below 1.3480 (minor support is at 1.3510)."
"1-3 WEEKS VIEW: Our most recent narrative was from Monday (13 Jul, spot at 1.3375), when we highlighted that “the GBP advance from late last month has ended.” We also highlighted that “for the time being, we expect GBP to trade in a range between 1.3320 and 1.3445.” In a sudden move yesterday, GBP lifted off and broke above 1.3445, surging to a high of 1.3556. The renewed upward momentum suggests that GBP has resumed its advance. That said, short-term conditions are deeply overbought, and the pace of any further advance is likely to be slower. The level to monitor is 1.3590. We will maintain a positive GBP stance as long as it holds above the ‘strong support’ level, currently at 1.3450."
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)
V první emisi státních dluhopisů určených pro občany lidé nakoupili cenné papíry za 74 miliard korun. Celkový objem objednávek byl 80 miliard korun, ne všechny objednané obligace ale lidé zaplatili. Státní dluhopisy si koupilo zhruba 92.000 lidí, uvedlo dnes ministerstvo financí. Emise dluhopisů se uskutečnila ve středu. Rozsah emise překročil původní květnový plán ministerstva, které očekávalo prodej dluhopisů za 20 miliard korun.
Největší zájem měli lidé o pětileté fixní dluhopisy s výnosem do splatnosti 4,544 procenta ročně. Nakoupili je za 37,9 miliardy korun. Tříměsíční dluhopisy s výnosem 3,75 procenta ročně se prodaly za 27,6 miliardy korun. Protiinflační pětileté dluhopisy lidé nakoupili za 8,5 miliardy korun.
Ministryně financí Alena Schillerová (ANO) vysoký zájem o Dluhopisy Republiky uvítala. "Podařilo se nám ve velkém oslovit nové investory, když více než 69 procent upisovatelů se rozhodlo pro státní dluhopisy poprvé. Více než 124.000 občanů tak v současnosti drží doposud vydané emise Dluhopisu Republiky v celkové výši 130,7 miliardy korun. Jde o historicky nejvyšší počet držitelů i nejvyšší jmenovitou hodnotu státních dluhopisů pro občany v oběhu, která nyní představuje 3,4 procenta státního dluhu," uvedla.
Dluhopisy Republiky ministerstvo financí vydávalo už v letech 2018 až 2021, kdy byla Schillerová ministryní v předchozí vládě Andreje Babiše (ANO). Tehdy se uskutečnilo 13 upisovacích období, ve kterých si občané koupili dluhopisy v hodnotě 80,1 miliardy korun. Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS), který zastával pozici ministra financí v letech 2021 až 2025, vydávání dluhopisů pro občany zastavil, podle něj přinášely státu vyšší náklady než obligace prodané institucionálním investorům. Schillerová po návratu do vlády letos program Dluhopisů Republiky obnovila.
Většina zájemců o obligace si je pořídila prostřednictvím internetových stránek ministerstva financí. Tuto možnost využilo 79.000 lidí, zbývajících 13.000 nakoupilo obligace prostřednictvím ČSOB a České spořitelny. Nejpočetnější skupinou držitelů dluhopisů jsou lidé ve věku 50 až 60 let.
Lidé mohli nakoupit obligace jednoho typu za tisíc až tři miliony korun. U pětiletých dluhopisů mohou jejich držitelé každý rok v květnu požádat o předčasné splacení, v takovém případě ale dosáhnou na nižší výnos. U tříměsíčních dluhopisů mohou lidé do 9. října požádat o jejich vyplacení. Pokud to neudělají, jejich peníze včetně výnosu se automaticky reinvestují do nových tříměsíčních obligací, které ministerstvo vydá 15. října.
Další emise státních dluhopisů pro občany bude v říjnu, kdy budou v nabídce pouze tříměsíční obligace. Upisovací období pro tuto emisi potrvá od 24. srpna do 4. října. V předvánočním období plánuje ministerstvo třetí emisi, v níž nabídne opět všechny tři typy dluhopisů.
Ramsdens Holdings PLC (AIM:RFX) shares jumped 13.6% to 670p after an improved takeover offer was secured after shareholder feedback prompted US pawnbroking group FirstCash to raise its recommended bid.
FirstCash increased the cash consideration to 675p a share from 600p. Including dividends of up to 9p a share that shareholders will receive or be compensated for, the total value of the offer rises to as much as 684p a share.
The revised proposal values the pawnbroker, jewellery retailer and foreign exchange business at up to £232 million on a fully diluted basis.
The new cash offer represents a 49% premium to Ramsdens' closing share price on 22 June, before the original bid was announced, and a 37% premium to the company's record closing price before the start of the offer period.
The companies said they had engaged with Ramsdens shareholders following the original recommended offer announced last month and had agreed the higher price in response.
FirstCash also declared the revised proposal to be its final offer under Takeover Panel rules, meaning it cannot increase the bid unless a competing bidder emerges or the Panel grants permission in exceptional circumstances.
The takeover remains structured as a scheme of arrangement and continues to have the unanimous backing of the Ramsdens board.
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.
GBP/USD Jumps to Two-Month High on Chancellor Reports and Softer Fed Outlook GBP/USD has climbed to a two-month high above 1.35 as investors continue to scale back Federal Reserve rate hike expectations and welcome reports over the UK's next Chancellor.
Reports that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will be appointed Chancellor by incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham have helped to reassure the market and ease concerns. The market had been fretting that Burnham could appoint a more fiscally expansionary candidate, such as Ed Miliband. UK government gilt yields are edging lower on the news.
Meanwhile, UK GDP data showed the economy returned to growth in May after contracting in April. GDP rose 0.1% month-on-month, beating expectations for no growth following April's 0.1% decline.
Looking beneath the headline, the services sector, which accounts for around 80% of the UK economy, expanded 0.3%. However, construction output fell 0.8%, while industrial production declined 0.5%, suggesting the recovery remains uneven.
Looking ahead, renewed tensions in the Middle East could cloud the outlook for the economy. Oil prices have risen to a monthly high, weighing on the economic outlook while increasing the risk of higher inflation
Higher oil prices are reinforcing expectations that the Bank of England will tighten monetary policy later this year. Markets are now fully pricing in a 25 basis point rate hike in November, with another increase expected in March 2027.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar has fallen to a monthly low after softer-than-expected CPI and PPI data this week, which followed last week's weaker labour market report. Together, the data have prompted investors to rule out a July rate hike from the Federal Reserve.
Markets now price around a 70% probability of a 25 basis point rate hike in September.
However, downside in the dollar could prove limited. Renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities could support safe-haven demand for the greenback, while rising oil prices risk reigniting inflation concerns and lifting Treasury yields.
Attention now turns to today's U.S. retail sales report, which is expected to show sales rose 0.2% month-on-month in June after 0.9% growth previously. A stronger-than-expected reading could lend support to the dollar.
GBP/USD Forecast – Technical Analysis
GBP/USD has recovered from the 1.3200 support zone, breaking above both the 200-day SMA and the multi-month falling trendline to reach a high of 1.3550.
The breakout, together with the RSI holding above 50, keeps the near-term technical outlook constructive.
Buyers will look to extend gains towards 1.3600, followed by 1.3650, the May high. A move above there would bring 1.3800 into focus.
Initial support is seen around 1.3500, where the former trendline resistance has become support. A break below this level would expose the 200-day SMA near 1.3400, followed by horizontal support at 1.3340. Below there, sellers could target the 1.3200 support zone.
Oil Steadies Near $80 as U.S.-Iran Hostilities Remain in Focus Oil prices are holding near a monthly high, with WTI trading around $80 per barrel, as renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to underpin the market.
The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports earlier this week, while Tehran has threatened to disrupt more regional energy exports as tensions between the two sides continue to escalate.
Although geopolitical risks remain supportive of crude prices, the market has paused after the sharp rally earlier this week.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels, with just seven vessels transiting the waterway on Wednesday, down from 13 a day earlier.
At the same time, mediation efforts by neighbouring countries continue. The fact that oil prices have stabilised around current levels suggests investors are not yet pricing in a full-scale regional conflict.
However, a geopolitical risk premium remains firmly embedded in the market. Any signs that Iran could use its Houthi allies in Yemen to disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would likely add further upward pressure to oil prices.
Looking further ahead, oil prices could remain elevated into the fourth quarter if export flows continue to recover only slowly, particularly with global inventories already depleted following substantial drawdowns during the second quarter.
Conversely, a sustained easing in tensions alongside a faster recovery in production could see crude prices move back towards the $60 area by year-end.
Oil Forecast – Technical Analysis
After breaking below its symmetrical triangle pattern and the 200-day SMA, oil found support around $67 before staging a strong recovery.
The price has now reclaimed the 200-day SMA and is testing key resistance around $80, where the psychological level coincides with the April low and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the move from $55 to $120.
With the RSI above 50, buyers will look for a break above $80, which would expose $88, where the 50-day SMA, the falling trendline resistance and the 50% Fibonacci retracement converge. Above there, $95 comes into focus.
Failure to overcome the 50-day SMA could see support tested around the 200-day SMA at $74.40. A break below there would shift attention back towards the $67-$70 support zone.
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UK warehouse demand increased after three years of occupier consolidation following the pandemic and a period of elevated costs, according to data from CoStar, a global leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets.Industrial net absorption turned positive in the second quarter of 2026, reaching nearly 6 million square feet, its strongest reading in more than three years, while 12-month net absorption returned to p.
SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LG Chem (KRX: 051910) announced on July 16 that it has begun mass production and supply of semiconductor strippers to Amkor Technology, marking the company’s first entry into the semiconductor stripper market and accelerating its strategy to expand its semiconductor materials business.
Through our collaboration with Amkor, a world-class semiconductor packaging and testing company, we will further strengthen our competitiveness in delivering customized materials optimized for customers’ manufacturing processes.
Share Amkor Technology is a global leader in outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT), providing semiconductor packaging and testing services to leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.
A semiconductor stripper is a critical process material used to remove photoresist (PR) and residue remaining on semiconductor substrates after circuit patterning. As semiconductor circuits continue to shrink, residue removal performance has become increasingly important, directly affecting manufacturing yield and product reliability. As a result, stripper performance is considered a key factor in determining semiconductor quality.
LG Chem entered the semiconductor stripper market by leveraging the technological expertise and customer support capabilities it developed through its display stripper business. The company demonstrated its technology’s competitiveness by successfully passing the rigorous qualification process required by Amkor, a leading global OSAT customer, with its first semiconductor stripper product.
The stripper supplied to Amkor has been customized and optimized for the company’s new production line. Compared with existing products, it reduces the process time required to remove photoresist and process residue by approximately 50%, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency.
Demand for advanced process materials continues to grow as artificial intelligence (AI) investments and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) demand drive the expansion of advanced semiconductor packaging technologies.
Kim Dong Choon, CEO of LG Chem, said, “Through our collaboration with Amkor, a world-class semiconductor packaging and testing company, we will further strengthen our competitiveness in delivering customized materials optimized for customers’ manufacturing processes.”
Earlier this year, LG Chem announced a strategy to more than double the size of its electronics materials business. As part of this initiative, the company is expanding its semiconductor packaging materials portfolio — including copper-clad laminates (CCL), die attach films (DAF), and photo imageable dielectric (PID) — while accelerating the growth of its high-value-added electronic materials business.
Společnost Komerční banka, a.s. oznamuje, že dozorčí rada zvolila členem představenstva Komerční banky, a.s., pana Etienne Loulergue s účinností od 1. října 2026.
Více informací zde česky a zde anglicky.
Tato zpráva bude rovněž zveřejněna na webu Komerční banky, a.s.:
SummaryLabcorp remains a buy consideration, leveraging a successful rollup strategy in a fragmented laboratory testing industry for steady, predictable growth.Automation is driving cost reductions in LH’s operations. That cost reduction helps offset healthcare pricing pressures.With a larger scale, LH now targets single-digit growth and a total return around 10%, prioritizing predictability over rapid expansion.Risks are low due to recurring revenue, minimal acquisition disruption, and the sector’s resilience.This is probably one of the more predictable businesses that I follow.This idea was discussed in more depth with members of my private investing community, Oil & Gas Value Research. Learn More » JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The last article that I wrote on Labcorp (LH) mentioned the fact that this company was basically set up as a "rollup corporation". It was going to grow by acquiring smaller "mom and pop" sized operations
25.85K Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in LH over 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.
Disclaimer: I am not a registered investment advisor and this article reflects my own opinions. I do not and will not advise anyone to invest or not invest in this stock. You have to do your own due diligence and your own homework, by reading the company's filings and press releases, as well as any other relevant information to make up your own mind at your own risk. Your investments must match your own risk profile as well as your desire to take on risk and the patience to see out situations such as this.
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.
The Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate edged higher on Wednesday as investors continued to scale back Federal Reserve interest rate expectations following weaker-than-expected US inflation data.
At the time of writing, GBP/USD was trading around $1.3404, up modestly on the day.
Latest — Exchange Rates:
Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD): 1.349901 (+0.77%)
Euro to Dollar (EUR/USD): 1.143596 (+0.10%)
Dollar to Yen (USD/JPY): 162.14472 (-0.03%)
DAILY RECAP:
The US Dollar (USD) struggled to attract support through the start of Wednesday’s European session as it continued to be weighed down by Tuesday’s US consumer price index.
A clear USD selling bias emerged following the release of the CPI figures, as they reported US inflation slowed at a much faster-than-expected pace through June.
The data saw USD investors question whether the Fed will deliver a 25bps rate hike by the end of summer, with the odds of a hike at the end of this month tumbling from over 40% to just 14%.
USD investors were also positioned for further weakness in the US Dollar on Wednesday, with the publication of the latest US producer price index, which was expected to point to an easing of factory gate inflation.
Meanwhile, while supported against the US Dollar, the Pound (GBP) was mostly rangebound against its other peers on Wednesday.
In the absence of any notable UK economic indicators, Sterling sentiment was undermined by an uptick in UK bond yields, with the 10-year gilts trading close to a two-month high.
Rising borrowing costs remain a major burden on the UK economy, and GBP investors fear they will pose a major fiscal challenge for incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Near-Term GBP/USD Forecast: Rebound in UK GDP to Lift Sterling? Turning to the second half of the week, the next catalyst of movement for the Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate will be the release of the UK’s latest GDP figures on Thursday.
Month-on-month growth is expected to have turned positive in May, with consensus estimates predicting GDP will tick up from –0.1% to 0.1%.
While the rebound could help underpin Sterling in the latter half of the session, the Pound’s upside potential may be capped if the data still points to growth being uneven.
Meanwhile, the US will publish its latest retail sales figures on Thursday.
US sales growth is forecast to have slowed sharply last month, which, coupled with an expected rise in jobless claims in the first week of July, could keep the pressure on the US Dollar.
The Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD) exchange rate strengthened on Wednesday after the Bank of Canada maintained interest rates and struck a cautious tone on the outlook for monetary policy.
At the time of writing, GBP/CAD was trading at CA$1.8903, up around 0.4% on the day.
Latest — Exchange Rates:
Pound to Canadian Dollar (GBP/CAD): 1.89695 (+0.77%)
Euro to Canadian Dollar (EUR/CAD): 1.606759 (+0.09%)
Dollar to Canadian Dollar (USD/CAD): 1.40514 (-0.01%)
DAILY RECAP:
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) retreated on Wednesday as markets digested the Bank of Canada’s latest interest rate decision.
As was widely expected, the BoC opted to leave rates unchanged at 2.25% following its July policy meeting.
The bank’s accompanying statement also appeared to signal that policymakers are in no rush to follow some of their peers in tightening monetary policy, as they expect inflation to ease through the second half of 2026 and return to the 2% target in early 2027.
The cautious messaging from the Bank, coupled with a pullback in oil prices from Wednesday’s earlier highs, led investors to largely shun the ‘Loonie’.
Meanwhile, the Pound (GBP) spent Wednesday trading sideways against most of its major peers.
With no major domestic economic releases to provide direction, investors instead focused on developments in the UK bond market.
A steady rise in gilt yields pushed the benchmark 10-year yield close to its highest level in two months, tempering sentiment towards Sterling.
Higher borrowing costs continue to raise concerns that incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham could face a more challenging fiscal backdrop as elevated financing costs weigh on the UK's economic outlook.
Near-Term GBP/CAD Forecast: Positive UK GDP Print to Strengthen Sterling? Looking ahead, the UK’s latest GDP figures are likely to provide the next major catalyst for the Pound to Canadian Dollar exchange rate.
Economists expect monthly growth to return to positive territory in May, with output forecast to rise by 0.1% after April’s 0.1% contraction.
While a return to growth could support Sterling, any gains may prove limited if the underlying data still points to an uneven economic recovery.
Meanwhile, as the impact of the Bank of Canada’s policy decision fades, attention is likely to return to oil price movements.
Any renewed strength in crude prices could provide support for the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar through the remainder of the week.
HomeTechnical AnalysisIntraday Analysis 16.07.2026 Dow waiting for direction
Intraday analysis covering USDCHF(the franc) , EURJPY , and US30 , highlighting recent price movements, key technical levels, and short-term momentum shifts across major markets.
USDCHF(the franc) remains indecisive
The Dollar found more resistance as price action attempts to recover from yesterday’s slump.
After a slight progression, a sharp turnaround saw sellers step back into the frame. Bulls will need to remain above 0.8060 before a recovery can materialise towards 0.8150. 0.8060 is fresh support, and its breach would invalidate any rebound and send the pair to a new low around 0.8000.
EURJPY hits another top
The Euro looks set to continue the rally after adding over 100 pips since the beginning of the week.
Bulls have doubled down after reaching the previous peak of 185.10, resuming the uptrend with 186.00 as the next milestone ahead. The RSI’s new top in the overbought zone could lead to a temporary pullback, and 185.10 is the first support level if sellers enter the market. 184.50 at the base of the recent bounce would be a crucial level to maintain the momentum. US 30 stuck in consolidation
The Dow Jones maintains its sideways stance, with price action remaining undecided.
The index is pulling back from its recent peak just below 52800 and is now testing 52500, with the RSI dropping back into the neutral area. A bearish breakout would force leveraged long positions to liquidate and lead to a correction towards 51800 at the base of the recent bottom. However, sentiment generally remains upbeat, and bulls would be looking for a stable entry point. A close back above 5300 could put the index back on track for a test at 53400.
Trading the forex market requires extensive research, and that’s what we do best
OPEN LIVE ACCOUNT
Market Strategist at Orbex David Kindley is a renowned fundamental analyst with over 10 years of trading experience in the financial markets. With a keen eye for macroeconomics and a special focus on trading psychology, David is passionate about helping everyday investors make informed trading decisions through his thorough research and analysis.
Calix, Inc. (NYSE:CALX) will release its second quarter earnings report after the closing bell on Monday, July 20.
Analysts expect the San Jose, California-based company to report quarterly earnings of 41 cents per share, up from 33 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Calix’s quarterly revenue is $289.95 million. It reported $241.88 million last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On April 21, Calix posted upbeat first-quarter earnings and announced an additional $100 million buyback plan.
Calix shares rose 1.1% to close at $39.47 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying CALX stock? Here’s what analysts think:
Photo via Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
