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Dog-themed cryptocurrency Shiba Inu has scored a new milestone, this time in the total number of burn transactions.
According to Shibburn, Shiba Inu burn transactions have surpassed 21,000 in a new milestone. As given on the Shibburn website, total burn transactions are currently 21,169, yielding a total of 410,840,379,271,575 SHIB burned presently. This represents 41.08% of Shiba Inu's initial supply of 1 quadrillion, with the remaining supply given as 58.92%.
Shiba Inu's total supply is 589.15 trillion SHIB, while circulating supply is given as 585.61 trillion SHIB according to the Shibburn website. In the last 24 hours, 2.85 million SHIB were burned, adding to a total of 155.11 million burned in the last seven days and 259.39 million SHIB in the last 30 days.
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This milestone coincides with Shiba Inu surpassing 1.6 million holders; according to Etherscan data, the total number of SHIB holders is currently 1,676,819.
SHIB price actionShiba Inu is trading in the green following a broader crypto market rebound as the latest consumer price index print came in sharply lower than expected. The CPI fell 0.4% in June, bringing its year-on-year increase to 3.5%. That helped push expectations for a July rate hike by the Fed lower.
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At the time of writing, SHIB was up 3.1% in the last 24 hours to $0.00000424. Shiba Inu fell to a low of $0.000004 on Monday in a three-day drop, following which it rebounded.
The recovery continued into early Wednesday alongside the broader crypto market ahead of the latest producer price index print for June, due later in the session. Investors will look further for insight into the U.S. economic picture after consumer inflation data came in cooler than expected in the previous session.
The PPI is expected to have held steady in June, according to consensus forecasts, having risen by 1.1% the previous month.
HOUSTON, July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock, Inc. (NYSE:AROC) (“Archrock”) will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, to discuss its second quarter 2026 financial and operating results. The call will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Archrock will release its second quarter 2026 earnings report prior to the conference call.
To listen to the call via a live webcast, please visit Archrock’s website at www.archrock.com. The call will also be available by dialing 1 (833) 461-5787 in the United States, or 1 (585) 542-9983 for international calls. The meeting ID is 670 342 078. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days on Archrock’s website shortly after the call.
About Archrock
Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a primary focus on midstream natural gas compression and a commitment to helping its customers produce, compress and transport natural gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Archrock is a premier provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the energy industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment. For more information on how the Company embodies its purpose, WE POWER A CLEANER AMERICATM, visit www.archrock.com.
Generated record revenue, net interest income and fee income Increased quarterly common stock dividend 30 cents, or 18%, to $2.00 per share PITTSBURGH, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) today reported: For the quarter In millions, except per share data and as noted 2Q26 1Q26 2Q25 Second Quarter Highlights Financial Results Comparisons reflect 2Q26 vs. 1Q26 Net interest income (NII) $ 4,107 $ 3,961 $ 3,555 Income Statement Adjusted EPS was $4.85 which excludes the net impact of FirstBank integration costs and 2Q26significant items, resulting in a 4 cent reduction to EPS Generated 3% positive operating leverage; PPNR increased 16%; ROTCE of 17.9% NII increased 4%; NIM of 2.96% increased 1 bp Fee income increased 10%, driven by strong capital markets activity Noninterest expense of $4.1 billion included $140 million of PNC Foundation contribution expense, $121 million of integration expenses and the impact of increased business activity Balance Sheet Average loans increased $12.3 billion, or 4% Average deposits were stable Average noninterest-bearing deposits grew 4% Rate paid on interest-bearing deposits declined 5 basis points Net loan charge-offs were $226 million, or 0.25% annualized to average loans Maintained strong capital position CET1 capital ratio of 9.9% Returned $1.3 billion to shareholders, including $0.6 billion of share repurchases Increased quarterly common stock dividend 30 cents, or 18% to $2.00 per share Converted FirstBank customers, employees, systems and branches as of June 22, 2026 Fee income (non-GAAP) 2,279 2,079 1,894 Other noninterest income 489 125 212 Noninterest income 2,768 2,204 2,106 Revenue 6,875 6,165 5,661 Noninterest expense 4,098 3,768 3,383 Pretax, pre-provision earnings (PPNR) (non-GAAP) 2,777 2,397 2,278 Provision for credit losses 191 210 254 Net income 2,055 1,772 1,643 Per Common Share Diluted earnings per share (EPS) $ 4.81 $ 4.13 $ 3.85 EPS impact of integration costs and 2Q26 significant items 0.04 0.19 — Diluted EPS - as adjusted (non-GAAP) 4.85 4.32 3.85 Average diluted common shares outstanding 403 405 397 Book value 145.52 143.65 131.61 Tangible book value (TBV) (non-GAAP) 111.09 109.42 103.96 Balance Sheet & Credit Quality Average loans In billions $ 363.2 $ 350.9 $ 322.8 Noninterest-bearing deposits In billions 103.5 99.1 93.1 Interest-bearing deposits In billions 353.5 359.3 329.8 Average deposits In billions 457.0 458.4 423.0 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) In billions (4.1) (3.8) (4.7) Net loan charge-offs 226 253 198 Allowance for credit losses to total loans 1.48 % 1.52 % 1.62 % Selected Ratios Return on average common shareholders' equity 13.61 % 11.92 % 12.20 % Return on avg.
NEW YORK, July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after its significant stock drop resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Peabody, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/peabody-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Peabody ($BTU) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 24, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Securities fraud relating to Peabody’s statements about the coal production at Centurion, its flagship premium hard coking coal mine.Largest Alleged Stock Drop: March 30, 2026 – 9.7% stock dropCourt: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MissouriAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights
Investors have until August 24, 2026 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts securities fraud claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Peabody common stock. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. It is captioned McGeachy v. Peabody, et al., No. 26-cv-01020.
Why is Peabody Being Sued for Securities Fraud?
Peabody is a producer of metallurgic and thermal coal that owns interests in 16 active coal mining operations in the United States and Australia.
According to the complaint, during the relevant period, Peabody announced it would be increasing production from its flagship premium hard coking coal mine, Centurion due to an acceleration of longwall operations. Peabody stated that shipments of Centurion’s premium hard coking coal would expand sevenfold in 2026 to 3.5 million tons and even more beyond that time. On February 5, 2026, Peabody indicated that the team was “putting the finishing touches on the Centurion mine in advance of starting longwall mining, well ahead of its original schedule.”
As alleged, in truth, the Centurion mine was facing significant commissioning challenges resulting in increased costs and volume decreases in its production.
Why did Peabody’s Stock Drop?
On March 30, 2026, Peabody announced lower sales volume from the Centurion mine due to a delivery of only 250,000 tons in the first quarter. Peabody attributed the low volume to “greater than anticipated mine commissioning challenges.”
This news caused the price of Peabody common stock to drop $3.82 per share, or 9.7%, from $39.50 per share on March 27, 2026, to $35.68 per share on March 30, 2026.
Then, on May 5, 2026, Peabody announced additional delays to the commissioning of the Centurion mine as well as increased costs and lower volume. Peabody stated it only expected to sell about 300,000 tons in the second quarter and reduced its full year sales outlook for Centurion from 3.5 million tons to 2.5 million tons.
This news caused the price of Peabody common stock to drop $1.52 per share, or 5.7%, from $26.52 per share on May 4, 2026, to $25.00 per share on May 5, 2025.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/peabody-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Peabody, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis; there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
Submit your information by visiting:
https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/peabody-class-action-lawsuit
Or contact:
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters.
Most recently, The Legal 500 awarded BFA the most client satisfaction accolades of any plaintiff’s securities litigation law firm, with clients noting: “[t]here is no better service provider in the practice area,” “[t]he interest of the client is always front and center,” and “[t]here isn’t a better firm in this space.” One testimonial described the firm as “nimble and entrepreneurial,” with a “relentless focus on adding value for clients.”
Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
I rate KLA Corporation a Strong Buy with a $313 price target, implying 40% upside from $222. KLAC's 58% share in semiconductor process control gives it a dominant position in a part of semiconductor manufacturing that becomes more valuable as chips become harder to produce. My model estimates these drivers can increase revenue from about $14 billion in 2026 to roughly $18.3 billion by 2028 and lift split-adjusted EPS to about $5.3.
Humanoid robot company LimX Dynamics completes nearly $200 million Pre-IPO financing
Shenzhen-based humanoid robot company LimX Dynamics has closed nearly $200 million (approximately RMB 1.356 billion) in Pre-IPO financing, bringing its post-money valuation to RMB 15 billion. The company has raised a total of $400 million over the past six months. Investors in this round include IDG Capital, Lens Technology from Apple’s supply chain, Europe-based GGG Group and Redstone VC, WestSummit Capital, and Hefei Binhu Industrial Development Group, among others. Additionally, UAE-based Stone Venture has made multiple follow-on investments across rounds; several existing investors — including Oasis Capital, Cornerstone Capital, Nanshan Strategic Emerging Industries Investment, Shangqi Capital, and NIO Capital — over-subscribed. Overseas capital accounted for nearly 70% of the round. The company will ramp up core technology R&D, accelerate the large-scale deployment of LimX Luna, and expand into overseas markets. It has now completed its shareholding reform and is steadily advancing its IPO.
DeepSeek launches another funding round within a month, valuation expected to rise to about $71 billion
After completing its first funding round of approximately $7 billion at the end of May, with a post-money valuation of around $52 billion, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has begun preliminary discussions with new investors this week for a new round. The pre-money valuation for the new round is set at approximately $71 billion, a roughly 37% increase over the previous round. The company plans to step up capital expenditures, build its own data centers, and purchase more AI chips to support the rapidly growing computing demands of its AI Agents and other businesses. In the initial round, founder Liang Wenfeng personally contributed around $3 billion, with other investors including CATL, Tencent, JD.com, NetEase, IDG, Monolith, Shixiang, and a national-level AI fund.
UK HMRC to apply “no gain, no loss” tax treatment to certain crypto lending and liquidity pools
The UK HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will apply “no gain, no loss” treatment to certain cryptoasset lending and liquidity pool arrangements, levying capital gains tax (CGT) only when a substantive economic disposal occurs. The measure will take effect from 6 April 2027 and apply to individuals and trustees participating in crypto lending and automated market maker (AMM) liquidity pools. The policy covers three scenarios: single crypto lending arrangements, borrowing assets, and participation in liquidity pools via smart contracts. The portion where the same type of cryptoasset goes in and out with no change in quantity is treated as no gain, no loss; any difference between contributed and redeemed quantities will give rise to a capital gain or loss. HMRC expects the rule to affect approximately 700,000 participants and will implement it by amending the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.
ECB selects 36 payment institutions for digital euro pilot launching in second half of 2027
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced the selection of 36 payment service providers (PSPs) from the euro area to participate in the digital euro pilot. The pilot will launch in the second half of 2027 and run for 12 months, conducted by the ECB and 19 euro area central banks. It will test digital euro payments, offline payments, e-commerce, and in-store consumption, while optimizing user experience in preparation for a potential future issuance. Following a call for expressions of interest sent to euro area PSPs in March 2026, more than 50 applications were received, and 36 PSPs from various member states were ultimately selected, including Deutsche Bank, Adyen, Revolut Bank, Stripe Technology Europe, and Worldline. The ECB stated that if the EU adopts digital euro regulations in 2026, it aims to be ready for a possible first issuance by 2029, with the final decision on issuance to be made later.
Binance Alpha Box launches airdrop for Orochi Network (ON) and Metaplex (MPLX) tokens
The Binance Alpha Box event is now live, with an airdrop pool consisting of Orochi Network (ON) and Metaplex (MPLX) tokens. Users holding at least 251 Binance Alpha Points can claim a one-time airdrop on the Alpha Events page. After claiming, users will be assigned to different reward tiers, receiving 315, 395, or 1,125 ON, or 1,038, 1,298, or 3,705 MPLX. Rewards are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If the airdrop is not fully distributed, the eligibility threshold will automatically decrease by 5 points every 5 minutes. Claiming consumes 15 Alpha Points, and users must confirm within 24 hours; otherwise, the airdrop will be forfeited.
London payments company Velocity completes $38 million Series A led by crypto VC Dragonfly
London-based payments startup Velocity has closed a $38 million Series A funding round led by crypto VC Dragonfly, with participation from Coinbase, Capital One Ventures, and market maker Wintermute. Founded in 2025, Velocity provides stablecoin-based cross-border settlement and treasury management solutions for global merchants, payment institutions, fintech companies, and financial institutions, with traditional banks and foreign exchange providers as its main competitors. The company currently operates in the US, select European countries, and Australia. The new funds will be used to pursue licenses in African and Latin American markets, strengthen asset custody infrastructure, and develop yield-generating stablecoin products to meet the more complex treasury and cross-border settlement needs of large enterprises.
Ethereum institutional privacy tech firm EthSystems launches with backing from Bitmine, Sharplink, and others
Ethereum institutional privacy technology company EthSystems has announced its official launch, securing strategic funding from ecosystem backers including Bitmine, Sharplink Gaming, and Joe Lubin. The company was reportedly founded by the core team of the Ethereum Foundation’s Institutional Privacy Working Group and focuses on developing privacy technology for banks, asset managers, and other regulated institutions, enabling them to execute financial transactions at scale on the Ethereum network while protecting sensitive information such as transaction details and client identities.
US June unadjusted CPI annual rate 3.5%, below the 3.8% market expectation
The US June unadjusted CPI annual rate came in at 3.5% (previous 4.2%), versus a market expectation of 3.8%; the seasonally adjusted CPI monthly rate was -0.4%, the largest decline since April 2020.
CleanSpark signs $6.6 billion, 20-year data center lease with global technology giant
Bitcoin miner CleanSpark announced it has signed a 20-year triple-net data center lease with a high investment-grade rated global technology company for its Sandersville campus in Georgia, USA. The lease is expected to contribute approximately $6.6 billion in revenue over the contract term, with two five-year renewal options that could increase the total to about $11.6 billion. Under the lease, the tenant will deploy 175 MW of critical IT load at Sandersville, with the earliest delivery starting in Q4 2027. The agreement is expected to deliver a cumulative net operating margin near 100%. CleanSpark estimates landlord project costs at $10 million to $12 million per MW. The tenant also receives exclusive negotiation rights for CleanSpark’s power portfolio of up to 885 MW in Texas, extending the two parties’ collaboration on AI and high-performance computing infrastructure.
Pact Labs completes $7 million Series A round led by Tether
Tether announced a lead investment in a $7 million Series A round for infrastructure provider Pact Labs, with participation from Blockchange Ventures and Lasagna. The funds will be used to expand the application of USA₮ in scenarios such as payroll, earned wage access, credit, and daily payments. Tether plans to embed the US-regulated digital dollar USA₮ into U.S. enterprise payroll and payment systems through Pact Labs, enabling real-time wage disbursement, integrated digital wallets, and bypassing the time delays of traditional batch payments.
IBM's decline widens to 26%, setting its largest intraday drop in history
According to Bybit data, IBM (IBM.N) saw its decline widen to 26%, setting its largest intraday drop on record.
Grayscale transfers approximately 852 Bitcoins to Coinbase Prime
Grayscale transferred 852.7 BTC to Coinbase Prime, worth approximately $54.4 million at current prices.
Sources: DeepSeek expected to file IPO application this year
DeepSeek has initiated mainland China IPO planning, aiming to file an application as early as this year and targeting a 2027 listing. The company is working with an accounting firm to complete its financial statements by December this year in preparation for the filing. After a previous funding round of approximately $7 billion, DeepSeek has launched a new round of private financing, seeking to raise funds at a valuation of at least RMB 480 billion (about $71 billion), with a target to raise no less than RMB 10 billion, and the specific scale could multiply several times depending on investor participation. Existing shareholders include Tencent, CATL, and the National AI Industry Investment Fund. Founder Liang Wenfeng stated that the company will prioritize advanced AI research and open-source models, pursuing the long-term goal of artificial general intelligence.
Kalshi launches AI compute forward tool, betting on “compute commoditization”
Prediction market platform Kalshi has introduced a forward curve tool for pricing AI computing power costs. Through weekly and monthly computing cost event contracts, it provides a single forward price with a term of up to one year, used to gauge the future cost of renting different tiers of GPUs. Kalshi stated that the tool can serve as a pricing foundation for subsequent derivatives such as compute-related futures and options, meeting hedging and risk management needs. Meanwhile, CME Group and ICE are also advancing collaborations with index providers to launch futures contracts linked to AI computing power, as compute is increasingly being viewed as an emerging commodity similar to natural gas and jet fuel.
Fed Chair Warsh: Fed is committed to price stability with a 2% inflation target
Fed Chair Warsh said in a House hearing: We want broader economic growth, and we want the rise in inflation to be more limited. Inflation is a "choice." Now is not the time for the Fed to shirk responsibility for inflation. The Fed is committed to price stability with a 2% inflation target. The Fed has the tools to achieve price stability. It is no secret that I am very critical of the Fed’s 2020 framework. The Fed’s framework in 2020 was a mistake and failed. I am glad that my predecessor later abandoned the 2020 framework. I will review the inflation framework to understand the causes of inflation and what we can do about it.
Trump: Blockade only Iranian maritime shipping; replace U.S. 20% compensation fee with Gulf investments
U.S. President Trump stated: Oil liquidity is unprecedented. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all ships except those of Iran — Iran is excluded because its leadership, filled with lies, violence, and malice, is driving the country toward the abyss of total destruction. We will implement a comprehensive blockade, but only targeting ships traveling to or from Iranian ports or carrying goods related to Iranian cargo. I have decided to cancel the requirement for the "U.S. 20% compensation fee" and replace it with the trade and investment agreements reached between Gulf states and the United States. The scale of these investments will be enormous. The days of Iran causing hundreds of thousands of deaths are over, and more importantly, Iran will never possess nuclear weapons.
DeepMind CEO calls for a U.S.-led global AI regulatory body
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called for the creation of a U.S.-led global AI regulatory body responsible for evaluating frontier models before release and coordinating an industry-wide "brake" when they are deemed high-risk. In his blog post titled "A Framework for Frontier AI and the Dawning of a New Age," he stated that given the economic and technological strength of the United States, the U.S. should take the lead in setting global standards and plans to drive the establishment of the body within this year. Axios reported that Hassabis has in recent months privately engaged with the Trump administration, other AI labs, and EU officials to garner support, believing that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could arrive within a few years, making global regulation increasingly urgent.
U.S. government moves more seized Bitfinex hack assets to Coinbase
The U.S. government further moved seized assets from the Bitfinex hack, transferring approximately 901,000 USDC to a new wallet address and 5,940 ETH (about $11.14 million) to Coinbase Prime. The publicly tagged address for the Bitfinex hack seized funds has now had its balance drop to zero, with most assets moved to Coinbase Prime and the aforementioned new wallet (0x7d7c1c4ce6c654965072c5988383e3b91eea9558).
Interactive Brokers adds support for 12 new crypto assets; enables USDC, PYUSD, and RLUSD withdrawals to external wallets
Interactive Brokers announced it has added support for trading 12 new crypto tokens through Zero Hash and Paxos. With this expansion, users can trade more digital assets. The platform also launched a stablecoin withdrawal feature, allowing clients to convert their USD balances into stablecoins and supporting withdrawals of USDC, PYUSD, and RLUSD to external wallets. This feature means that users can not only hold digital assets in traditional brokerage accounts but also withdraw stablecoins to on-chain wallets, further connecting traditional financial accounts with the crypto ecosystem.
Fidelity: The long-term use case for tokenized funds is balance sheet management for large institutions
Asset management giant Fidelity stated that the most compelling long-term use case for tokenized funds is balance sheet management for large global institutions, rather than merely providing round-the-clock liquidity. Tokenized money market funds and other on-chain tools can help pensions, insurers, and corporations use cash scattered across accounts and jurisdictions more efficiently. Tokenization will take decades to mature into a comprehensive balance sheet management ecosystem.
Airbnb CEO: RWA tokenization will make “ownership fluid,” driving global asset sharing
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said that real-world asset (RWA) tokenization is expected to reduce friction in traditional asset ownership, enabling more efficient asset transfer, fractional ownership, and global participation. Blockchain-based asset tokenization technology can transform traditional asset trading models, allowing real-world assets like real estate, equity, and collectibles to enter global markets in digital form, lowering barriers to entry and improving transaction efficiency. He stated, "The internet made information fluid, and tokenization will make ownership fluid."
Sam Altman-backed drone company Brinc raises $125 million, with participation from Index Ventures and others
Brinc, a drone company backed by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, announced the completion of a $125 million funding round led by existing investor Motorola Solutions, with participation from Index Ventures and previous investors including Dylan Field. The company focuses on applying AI-based drone technology to public safety, including replacing some high-risk human response tasks.
Chipmaker Tower Semiconductor to Invest $3 Billion in Japan
Chipmaker Tower Semiconductor announced on July 14 local time that it will invest $3 billion to strengthen chip manufacturing in Japan, including a $1 billion grant from the Japanese government. The statement said the first phase will significantly increase 300mm silicon photonics device production capacity, with full production expected in the fourth quarter of 2027. This phase includes retrofitting the former Fab 6 facility to equip it with 300mm silicon photonics device capacity and advanced packaging capabilities. The second phase will start simultaneously with the first phase and includes building a new 300mm lithography manufacturing plant next to the Fab 7 facility.
Benchmark sharply raises Bitcoin miner Hut 8 target price to $165
Benchmark raised its target price for Bitcoin miner Hut 8 (HUT) from $85 to $165, citing the company’s acceleration in commercializing its AI data center business and a total of $16.8 billion in long-term AI infrastructure contract value secured. Currently, Hut 8 shares trade at around $97, and Benchmark's new target implies about 69% upside. The stock has fallen nearly 30% cumulatively over the past six weeks. Analyst Mark Palmer said the commercialization progress of Hut 8’s Beacon Point AI data center campus in Texas “has changed the company’s valuation logic,” significantly boosting the project’s value. Additionally, the River Bend data center lease signed by Hut 8 with Fluidstack and backed by Google is valued at approximately $7 billion. Together, the two contracts have a combined base term value of $16.8 billion, and if tenants exercise the included 5-year renewal options, the potential total value could rise to $42.8 billion.
OpenAI has integrated Kalshi prediction market data
ChatGPT under OpenAI has begun displaying World Cup match prediction data provided by prediction market platform Kalshi in search results, marking the first disclosed collaboration between OpenAI and a prediction market platform. Currently, when users search for FIFA World Cup match-up information on ChatGPT, the system displays team win probabilities calculated based on the Kalshi prediction market, presented in chart form. However, this feature is currently for informational display only, and users cannot directly trade prediction contracts through ChatGPT.
Bloomberg analyst: Gold ETFs see $15 billion in outflows since March, exceeding total Bitcoin ETF withdrawals
Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said on X that the gold ETF SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has seen nearly $15 billion in outflows since March 1, and that this outflow amount is actually about 50% larger than the cumulative outflows from all spot Bitcoin ETFs since their peak last October. It is reported that this large-scale redemption reflects some investors reallocating their safe-haven asset positions, and whether funds are flowing into digital assets like Bitcoin will become a key market focus going forward. Analysts believe the gold market is undergoing a capital realignment phase described as “After the Gold Rush.” Previously, amid rising geopolitical risks, inflation concerns, and heightened safe-haven demand, gold ETFs attracted massive inflows and pushed gold prices higher. In contrast, spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced massive inflows after approval, but recently with increased market volatility, fund flows have been somewhat choppy.
U.S. government empties a wallet containing FTX/Alameda forfeited assets, transferring out a total of $564,400 in assets
Following yesterday’s transfer of funds seized from the Bitfinex hackers, the U.S. government today emptied another wallet holding forfeited FTX/Alameda assets, distributing the funds across eight new addresses. The transferred assets include: 4,110 AXS ($4,100), 5.37 YFI ($11,400), 1,230 COMP ($21,100), 311,600 MANA ($21,800), 0.533 WBTC ($34,400), 4,050 NMR ($39,900), 138,950 RLC ($40,700), and 209.18 ETH ($391,000), totaling approximately $564,400. The original wallet balance has been zeroed out.
U.S.-UK transatlantic working group releases digital asset roadmap to promote stablecoin innovation
The United States and the United Kingdom are deepening cooperation on digital assets, releasing a joint statement from the Transatlantic Future Markets Working Group, stating that regulated stablecoins have the potential to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the financial system. The working group was established last year to deepen bilateral cooperation and reduce market fragmentation. The joint statement calls on the Bank of England, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the U.S. CFTC and SEC to develop approaches for the treatment of tokenized assets, and directs the FCA and SEC to “explore options to facilitate cross-border financing.” The statement also supports competition and innovation in assets such as stablecoins and tokenized deposits, emphasizing standards on custody, reserve segregation, and consumer protection, and providing clear priority legal claims for stablecoin holders in bankruptcy situations. This statement comes on the one-year anniversary of the passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act, with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh telling a House Financial Services Committee hearing that “rules are being rushed to be released before the July 18 deadline.”
U.S. CFTC prevents Kalshi from canceling trades ordered by Michigan court, says state lacks authority
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Tuesday ordered Kalshi to honor trades involving Michigan residents, despite a Michigan state court previously ordering Kalshi to stop offering sports event contracts and void some existing trades. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said “a state cannot force a designated contract market to violate its obligations, and federal law does not allow a DCM to discriminate against residents of any state,” and called canceling executed trades an “unprecedented move that could have ripple effects across the entire market.” Michigan previously issued a 14-day restraining order against Kalshi, with the state attorney general saying “gambling laws are designed to protect Michigan residents from unlicensed predatory operations.” The CFTC has filed lawsuits against nine states including Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, and Kentucky to defend its congressional jurisdiction.
Trump: Strikes on Iran will continue until I say stop, energy targets will be hit last
U.S. President Trump said in an interview that U.S. strikes on Iran will continue until he decides to stop. Trump reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open. Trump said the U.S. will eventually hit Iran’s energy targets, but those targets will be left for last. Trump said that unless Iran returns to the negotiating table, the U.S. will strike Iran’s power plants and bridges next week. Asked when he last spoke with the Iranian side, Trump said his representatives talked with Iranian officials this very afternoon. Trump said U.S. officials told the Iranian side that Tehran had better make a deal or will be left with “nothing.” When asked if he thinks Iran will reach a deal, Trump said Iran should do so, but he doesn’t know whether Iran will.
Apple is in talks with a startup that can compress AI models to run locally on iPhones
Apple is evaluating the technology of a startup called PrismML. The startup claims its technology can deeply compress high-performance AI models so they can run directly on iPhones, reducing memory usage by up to 15 times. This technological breakthrough could allow more AI computing to be done locally on the phone without sending requests to the cloud, thereby speeding up Siri and strengthening user privacy. If PrismML’s claimed performance is fully realized in actual tests, the technology could reshape market demand for memory and data center computing power; however, analysts say the AI industry as a whole will continue to consume large amounts of chip resources.
OpenAI plans to launch a home smart speaker as its first hardware product
OpenAI is developing a screenless, movable smart speaker as an AI companion device with human-like traits. It can link and control smart home appliances while deeply invoking the full capabilities of ChatGPT. The core design feature of this device is that as it gains deeper understanding of users’ habits, it will continuously iterate personalization and proactively offer services. Its most central highlight is a dedicated personality trait, enabling it to build a human-like emotional connection with users. OpenAI plans to officially unveil this product this year and begin sales in 2027, but the project may face delays due to a lawsuit filed by Apple — Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing its trade secrets in order to accelerate the development of its own hardware devices.
Wall Street turns cautious on Circle, analysts warn of mounting pressure on USDC's economic model
Wall Street analysts are growing more cautious on Circle. Mizuho downgraded Circle from Neutral to Underperform, slashing its price target from $85 to $50, a cut of over 41%; JPMorgan lowered earnings estimates for both Circle and Coinbase on the same day. Mizuho believes that Open USD, supported by over 140 companies including Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, BlackRock and Coinbase, adopts a "pass-through" model that distributes nearly all reserve yields to distributors, potentially forcing Circle to concede a larger share of reserve yields to stay competitive. Mizuho also pointed out that Circle's revenue-sharing agreement with Coinbase is set for renewal next month, and Coinbase, as a founding member of Open USD, could hold a stronger bargaining position in negotiations. JPMorgan cited Circle's new agreement with Hyperliquid as an example, saying it reflects a competitive landscape where Circle and Coinbase are forced to vie to offer the best revenue splits in order to retain partners. Bernstein and William Blair remain bullish on Circle, arguing that its liquidity, regulatory first-mover advantage, and network effects are hard to replicate.
Morgan Stanley files updated documents for Ethereum ETF and Solana ETF, both with 0.14% fee
Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart posted on X that Morgan Stanley has filed updated documents for its Ethereum ETF and Solana ETF, with tickers MSSE and MSOL respectively, both carrying a 0.14% fee, suggesting that the launch may be imminent.
South Korea's KOSPI index surges 7.00% intraday, now at 7338.63
Bybit market data shows that South Korea's KOSPI index surged 7.00% intraday and is now quoted at 7338.63.
Czech Republic bans Polymarket for illegal gambling, orders ISPs to block it
The Czech Ministry of Finance added Polymarket to the list of unauthorized internet games on July 13, giving internet service providers 15 days to block the platform, making it the latest European country to block Polymarket. Jan Řehola, director of the Czech Institute for Gambling Regulation, said that in legal gambling, the state knows the operator, participants, suspicious bets, and player protection mechanisms, whereas prediction markets open betting on nearly everything without comparable regulation. "This is not risk-free innovation, but a gambling product unconstrained by rules." He emphasized that contracts settled based on real-world outcomes create incentives to influence events or trade on non-public information.
U.S. Treasury Secretary: Over $130 million in Iranian digital assets frozen
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that over $130 million in Iranian digital assets have been frozen. Earlier news reported that Tether froze four wallets on the TRON network holding a total of 131 million USDT.
Circle banned Tether-backed crypto fund Heka Funds, which lost arbitration after filing claim
According to newly public court filings, stablecoin issuer Circle banned the Tether-backed crypto fund Heka Funds in late 2023, accusing it of market manipulation through large-scale arbitrage and helping Tether expand its market share. During the Silicon Valley Bank crisis in 2023, USDC briefly fell below its $1 peg, and Heka continued to buy large amounts of discounted USDC and redeem them for U.S. dollars from Circle. Circle believed its redemption volumes far exceeded those of other market participants and suspected the relevant funds ultimately flowed to Tether to help expand the USDT market. Arbitration documents show that Tether had invested approximately $800 million in Heka, representing about 75% of the fund's assets, and waived stablecoin minting fees. The arbitrator determined that Heka did not truthfully disclose its relationship with Tether and knew the information would raise concerns for Circle. In 2024, Heka filed for arbitration claiming approximately $49 million in lost profits due to the account ban. In February this year, the arbitrator dismissed all claims and ordered Heka to pay about $166,000 in costs to Circle. Heka denied market manipulation and was not investigated by regulators. Circle declined to comment, and Tether did not respond to media.
Bitmine bought another 6,000 ETH from FalconX 7 hours ago, worth about $11.18 million
Bitmine, backed by Tom Lee, bought another 6,000 ETH ($11.18 million) from FalconX 7 hours ago.
Warning: Old BarnBridge Smart Yield proposals pose token approval risk, users advised to revoke approvals
According to a community alert issued by Blockaid, old governance proposals (#14 and #15) for BarnBridge Smart Yield pose token approval risks that could compromise existing token approvals if executed or upgraded maliciously. No funds have been confirmed drained yet, but users are advised to check and revoke related approvals on Ethereum as soon as possible. Proposal #14 is in an executable grace period, Proposal #15 is queued, with an estimated on-chain execution time of July 16, 09:23:58 UTC. Affected tokens include USDC, DAI, USDT, GUSD and RAI, and the relevant contract addresses have been publicly disclosed. Blockaid reminds users to use trusted approval management tools, not to trust links in replies or accounts claiming to be "support," not to send funds or sign transfers to any address, and to revoke approvals only through trusted tools.
Over 95% of Coinbase's code is now written or assisted by AI, more than doubling from 40% in February
Coinbase Head of Platform Rob Witoff said that 95% to 100% of the company's code is now written or assisted by AI, more than doubling from an estimated 40% in February. Coinbase laid off 700 employees (14% of its workforce) in May, with CEO Brian Armstrong saying AI has "dramatically" changed the pace of work and the company needs to "return to the speed and focus of a startup, with AI at its core." Witoff said that roughly 100% of Coinbase employees use AI daily, while core cryptography is still primarily written by humans and prototyping has been fully automated. Teams have been restructured around smaller, more senior groups, where 2-3 people can accomplish work that previously required more than 10. Most engineers run 5 to 10 AI agents simultaneously, and AI agents collectively handle the coding workload of about 1,200 employees. By 2030, AI agents are expected to perform work equivalent to 100,000 employees.
Tencent internally testing "Tongpinpai" light social mini-program: AI buddy matching, receive friend notifications via WeChat
Tencent is internally testing a light social mini-program called "Tongpinpai," with the slogan "Find like-minded buddies, join fun hangouts." The mini-program targets light social scenarios, helping users quickly form groups and find kindred spirits based on personality and interests. The Tongpinpai mini-program is already live on WeChat, supporting one-click WeChat login, though access is currently limited to Tencent Group internal staff and not yet open to the public. In addition, according to the Tongpinpai service account, WeChat users can also see friend notifications, system notices, and featured events pushed by Tongpinpai, helping everyone find like-minded friends better and faster. The mini-program features a built-in "Tongpinpai Radar" that, when activated, reads the user's geolocation and displays nearby users with shared interests, allowing them to tap and view others' profiles. It also supports AI matching. There is also an "Events Square" displaying user-initiated interest-based activities; users can create their own events and call on buddies with similar interests to join. The product is still in the testing phase; specific launch dates and features are subject to official announcements.
Pump.fun team and investor tokens undergo first unlock, 57.2 billion PUMP distributed to 121 wallets
The one-year lock-up period for Pump.fun's team and investor tokens ended today, entering a three-year unlock cycle. The first unlock took place in the early hours of today, with 57.279 billion PUMP ($86.49 million) unlocked, transferred out and distributed to 121 wallets. Among them, address GsM3...u6ya unlocked and transferred out 52.039 billion PUMP ($78.58 million), and address ESRc...ZM67 unlocked and transferred out 5.24 billion PUMP ($7.91 million).
Coinbase to Suspend Across Protocol (ACX) Trading on July 28
Coinbase Markets posted on X: “Coinbase will suspend ACX trading on July 28, 2026, as the project team is gradually winding down Across Protocol (ACX).” The related proposal referenced in the announcement is “Across intends to transition its protocol structure from a ‘DAO+token’ model to a U.S. C-corp.”
Největší správce aktiv na světě BlackRock zveřejnil výsledky hospodaření za druhé čtvrtletí roku 2026. Objem spravovaných aktiv (AUM) překonal průměrný odhad analytiků a dosáhl rekordní hodnoty. Nad odhady byly rovněž výnosy i čistý příliv aktiv.
Výsledky společnosti BlackRock (BLK) za 2Q 2026 2Q 2026 Konsensus 2Q 2026 2Q 2025 Výnosy (mld. USD) 7,08 6,82 5,42 Čistý zisk (mld. USD) 1,91 -- 1,59 Očištěný zisk na akcii (EPS, USD/akcie) 13,91 12,66 12,05 Výsledky za 2Q Objem spravovaných aktiv (AUM) dosáhl rekordních 15,34 bil. USD, meziročně vzrostl o 22 % a překonal odhad 15,19 bil. USD.
Čistý příliv aktiv, zdroj: Blackrock
Čisté přílivy aktiv dosáhly 191,70 mld. USD, výrazně nad odhadem 175,92 mld. USD a nad loňskými 67,74 mld. USD. Z toho dlouhodobé přílivy činily 199,13 mld. USD. Institucionální klienti přinesli čisté přílivy 2,34 mld. USD, retailoví klienti 18,86 mld. USD. Podle typu produktu směřovalo do akciových strategií 71,60 mld. USD a do dluhopisových strategií 92,10 mld. USD.
Výnosy meziročně vzrostly o 31 % na 7,08 mld. USD, nad odhadem 6,82 mld. USD. Základní poplatky a výnosy z půjčování cenných papírů dosáhly 5,73 mld. USD (+29 % meziročně), nad odhadem 5,6 mld. USD. Výkonnostní poplatky (performance fees) činily 305 mil. USD oproti loňským 94 mil. USD, nad odhadem 276,4 mil. USD. Výnosy z technologických služeb dosáhly 566 mil. USD (+13 % meziročně), nad odhadem 551,7 mil. USD.
Celkové náklady vzrostly o 25 % meziročně na 4,62 mld. USD, nad odhadem 4,49 mld. USD.
Provozní marže dosáhla 34,7 % oproti loňským 31,9 %, pod odhadem 35,5 %. Očištěná provozní marže činila 45,9 % oproti loňským 43,3 %, nad odhadem 44,7 %.
Komentář CEO Laurence Fink, předseda představenstva a generální ředitel BlackRocku, uvedl: „Fundamenty trhu jsou silné a dobře podpořené, s vyššími maržemi a momentem v ziskovosti, které katalyzují nové technologie. Rozsah a hloubka našich klientských vztahů globálně nikdy nebyly větší. Klienti se obracejí na BlackRock kvůli poznatkům a příležitostem. To pohání rekordní finanční výkonnost, přílivy 868 mld. USD za posledních dvanáct měsíců a 10% růst organických základních poplatků. Přílivy za prvních šest měsíců roku 2026 více než zdvojnásobily meziroční hodnotu, což posunulo AUM na rekordních 15,3 bil. USD.“
„Ve druhém čtvrtletí nám klienti svěřili 192 mld. USD čistých přílivů, což generovalo 8% organický růst základních poplatků – výrazně nad naším cílem. iShares překročily 6 bil. USD v AUM, což je zhruba dvojnásobek za tři roky. Naše čtvrtletní upravená provozní marže dosáhla 45,9 % – nejvyšší za téměř pět let. Čtvrtletní provozní zisk vzrostl přibližně o 40 % meziročně. A naše přesvědčení o dalším růstu BlackRocku nás vedlo ke zvýšení plánované úrovně zpětných odkupů akcií v roce 2026 na 2 mld. USD,“ dodal Fink.
Návrat kapitálu akcionářům Společnost v aktuálním kvartále odkoupila vlastní akcie v hodnotě 450 mil. USD. Zároveň oznámila zvýšení plánovaných čtvrtletních zpětných odkupů na 550 mil. USD.
Akcie BlackRock Akcie BlackRock (BLK) v předburzovní fázi obchodování rostou o 1,91 % na 1 045,00 USD.
Akcie Blackrock Inc (BLK) před výsledky uzavřely na 1025,44 USD Ukazatel Ukazatel Kapitalizace (mld. USD) 167,7 P/E 23,0 Vývoj za letošní rok (%) -4,2 Očekávané P/E 18,9 52týdenní minimum (USD) 917,4 Prům. cílová cena (USD) 1269 52týdenní maximum (USD) 1219,94 Dividendový výnos (%) 2,1 Zdroj: BlackRock, Bloomberg
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Morningstar (Nasdaq: MORN) today announced it will relocate its London operations to One Millennium Bridge, bringing colleagues from across Morningstar and PitchBook, a Morningstar company, together in one location. Following a rigorous evaluation process conducted with CBRE, Morningstar plans to occupy approximately 75,000 square feet in the building, with plans to move in June 2027. The new office has been selected to support the way colleagues work today, providing a.
For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – July 15, 2026 – Today, Zacks Equity Research Corning Inc. (GLW - Free Report) , Viavi Solutions Inc. (VIAV - Free Report) and Ooma, Inc. (OOMA - Free Report)
The Zacks Communication - Components industry is likely to benefit from healthy demand trends driven by the fast-track 5G deployment and the transition to cloud and fiber networks. However, volatility in prices due to elevated customer inventory levels, high capital expenditure for infrastructure upgrades, margin erosion, volatility in oil prices and geopolitical conflicts has dented the industry’s profitability.
Of the industry players, Corning Inc., Viavi Solutions Inc. and Ooma, Inc. are likely to gain in the long run as demand for scalable infrastructure for seamless connectivity rises with the widespread proliferation of IoT, accelerated 5G rollout and fiber densification.
Industry DescriptionThe Zacks Communication - Components industry primarily comprises companies that provide diverse telecom products and services to develop scalable network architecture, demand-driven video solutions and broadband access equipment. These include various building blocks such as small cells, routers and antennas incorporated into equipment and facilities and subsequently utilized by service providers to build networks for end users.
Their product portfolio encompasses optical and copper connectivity products, hybrid fiber-coaxial equipment, edge routers, metro Wi-Fi, storage and distribution equipment for cable TV operators, modems, EMTAs (Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter), gateways, set-top boxes, analog and digital microphones, audio processors, glass substrates for LCD TVs and notebooks, and ceramic substrates for mobile and laboratory filtration products.
What's Shaping the Future of the Communication Components Industry?Software-Driven Data-Centric Connectivity: The firms are likely to benefit from a software-driven, data-centric approach that helps customers build their cloud architecture and enhance the cloud experience. The industry participants are well-poised for growth in the data-driven cloud networking business with proactive platforms and predictive operations. Fiber networks are essential for the growing deployment of small cells that bring the network closer to the user and supplement macro networks to provide extensive coverage.
Telecom service providers are increasingly leaning toward fiber optic cable to meet the burgeoning demand for cloud-based business data and video streaming services by individuals. Moreover, the fiber-optic cable network is vital for backhaul and last-mile local loops, which are required by wireless service providers to deploy the 5G network.
Network Convergence: With operators moving toward converged or multi-use network structures, combining voice, video and data communications into a single network, the industry is increasingly developing solutions with steady R&D investments to support wireline and wireless network convergence. These investments are likely to help minimize service delivery costs to adequately support broadband competition and expand rural coverage and wireless densification. The industry players have enabled enterprises to rapidly scale communications functionalities to a vast range of applications and devices with easy-to-use software application programming interfaces. The firms support high user volumes without affecting deliverability and cost-effectively eliminate performance degradation.
Waning Profits: Although higher infrastructure investments will eventually help minimize service delivery costs to support broadband competition and wireless densification, short-term profitability has largely been compromised. High technological obsolescence of most products has escalated operating costs with steady investments in R&D. High customer inventory levels and a conservative approach toward placing orders for high-value items remain other headwinds. Moreover, high raw material prices due to the United States-Iran war, volatility in oil prices due to restrictions across the Strait of Hormuz and the consequent economic fallout have affected the operation schedule of various firms.
Solid Demand Trends: As both consumers and enterprises are using networks more extensively, there is tremendous demand for quality networking components. Additionally, data consumption patterns are changing, with a growing propensity to consume more video content, creating the need for faster data transfer. Since optical networks are more efficient and most existing networks are copper-based, the demand for optical solutions is strong. The industry firms offer several products focused on the data center, with a typical portfolio comprising optical fiber, hardware, cables and connectors, enabling them to meet the evolving customer requirements and bridge the digital divide across the United States.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bullish ProspectsThe Zacks Communication - Components industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #31, which places it among the top 13% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates rosy prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.
Before we present a few communication component stocks that are well-positioned to outperform the market based on a strong earnings outlook, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Outperforms S&P 500, SectorThe Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry has outperformed the S&P 500 composite and the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector over the past year.
The industry has jumped a stellar 293.4% over this period compared with the S&P 500 and sector’s rise of 23.6% and 33.2%, respectively.
Industry's Current ValuationOn the basis of the trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B), the industry is currently trading at 12.21 compared with the S&P 500’s 8.09X. It is also above the sector’s trailing 12-month P/B of 10.45X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 15.4X, as low as 1.72X and at the median of 2.53X.
3 Communication Components Stocks to BuyCorning: New York-based Corning produces advanced glass substrates that are used in various applications across multiple markets, such as display technologies, optical communications, environmental technologies, specialty materials and life sciences businesses. The stock has surged 248.6% over the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current and next fiscal-year earnings has been revised 14.3% and 40.2% upward, respectively, over the past year. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 23.9% and delivered an earnings surprise of 2.4%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Corning continues to focus on developing state-of-the-art cover materials, which have been deployed on more than 8 billion devices. It offers several products focused on the data center, with a portfolio consisting of optical fiber, hardware, cables and connectors, enabling it to create optical solutions to meet evolving customer needs. The rising adoption of innovative optical connectivity products for generative AI applications is expected to be a key growth driver for the company. Corning currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Viavi: Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Viavi is a leading provider of network test, monitoring and service enablement solutions to diverse sectors across the globe. It offers products with end-to-end network visibility and analytics that help build, test, certify, maintain and optimize complex physical and virtual networks. It delivered an earnings surprise of 13%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current and next fiscal-year earnings has been revised 69.1% and 106.8% upward, respectively, over the past year.
The integration of Spirent’s high-speed Ethernet and network security testing assets continues to contribute to revenue growth and broadens Viavi’s addressable market across enterprise and data center applications. Investments in PCIe 7.0 analysis capabilities and the launch of the CyberFlood CF1000 platform expand Viavi’s ability to validate AI inference workloads, encrypted traffic and next-generation data center infrastructure. It strengthens exposure to long-term AI-related network testing demand and supports continued growth in lab, production and field-testing solutions. This Zacks Rank #2 company is up 300.4% in the past year.
Ooma: Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, Ooma offers cloud-based communications solutions, smart security and other connected services. Its smart software-as-a-service and unified-communications-as-a-service platforms serve as a hub for seamless communications and networking infrastructure applications. This Zacks Rank #2 firm delivered an earnings surprise of 14.2%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current and next fiscal-year earnings has been revised 40.2% and 17.2% upward, respectively, over the past year. It has a VGM Score of A. The stock was up 68.2% in the past year.
Ooma’s focus on small business customers with simple, easy-to-use interfaces that can be implemented quickly without IT support for an integrated business connectivity solution is likely to drive healthy growth momentum. Its low-cost fixed line that reportedly offers faster emergency access services is expected to gain traction, while increased penetration within enterprise markets with customized offerings is expected to bear fruit.
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Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Here are two stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, July 15:
WD-40 Company (WDFC - Free Report) : This manufacturer of maintenance, cleaning, and homecare products, selling globally through retail, industrial, and online channels has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 2% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 1.6%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.
Virtu Financial, Inc. (VIRT - Free Report) : This financial services company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings increasing 9% over the last 60 days.
This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 1.5%, compared with the industry average of 0.0%.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens.
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Silver price (XAG/USD) is down 0.6% to near $58.00 during the European trading session on Wednesday. The white metal faces slight selling pressure despite traders scaling back hawkish Federal Reserve (Fed) bets, following the release of the United States (US) Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for June.
The CME FedWatch tool shows that the odds of the Fed raising interest rates in the policy meeting this month have eased to 16.6% from 41.7% recorded on Monday.
Theoretically, signs of easing hawkish Fed prospects bode well for non-yielding assets, such as Silver.
On Tuesday, the US CPI report showed that the headline and core inflation decelerated significantly to 3.5% and 2.6% year-on-year (YoY), respectively.
Meanwhile, higher oil prices due to renewed exchange of attacks between the United States (US) and Iran will likely keep the upside in the Silver price limited. Escalated energy prices have de-anchored global inflation projections, a scenario that forces central banks to tighten monetary conditions.
Going forward, investors will focus on the US Producer Price Index (PPI) data for June, which will be published at 12:30 GMT.
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.
Silver prices (XAG/USD) fell on Wednesday, according to FXStreet data. Silver trades at $58.41 per troy ounce, down 0.46% from the $58.68 it cost on Tuesday.
Silver prices have decreased by 17.82% since the beginning of the year.
The Gold/Silver ratio, which shows the number of ounces of Silver needed to equal the value of one ounce of Gold, stood at 69.04 on Wednesday, broadly unchanged from 69.05 on Tuesday.
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.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Girard Sharp, LLP, a national investment, securities, and class action firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of former Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. II (“Blue Owl Technology II”) investors who received shares of Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. (“Blue Owl Technology”) in connection with Blue Owl Technology’s merger with Blue Owl Technology II on March 24, 2025.
Blue Owl Capital describes itself as “a specialty finance company focused on lending to U.S. middle-market companies.” Similarly, Blue Owl Technology describes itself as “a specialty finance company focused on making debt and equity investments to U.S. technology-related companies, with a strategic focus on software.” Both Blue Owl funds are externally managed by affiliates of Blue Owl Capital, Inc. (NYSE: OWL).
Since June 13, 2025, the date on which Blue Owl Technology listed its shares on the NYSE, Blue Owl Technology’s share price has declined by over 30%.
Girard Sharp’s investigation focuses on whether there may have been undisclosed issues with the Blue Owl funds’ investment portfolios.
If you are a former investor of Blue Owl Capital III or Blue Owl Technology II and would like to discuss your claim, please fill out our contact form, email [email protected] or call (866) 981-4800 for a free consultation.
Why Girard Sharp?
Girard Sharp represents investors, consumers, and institutions in class actions and other complex litigation nationwide. We serve on the Plaintiffs’ executive committee in the recent spoofing litigation against JPMorgan Chase that settled for $60 million, a favorable resolution that the district court preliminarily approved in December 2021. Our attorneys have obtained multimillion-dollar recoveries for victims of unfair and deceptive practices in antitrust, financial fraud, and consumer protection matters against some of the country’s largest corporations, including Raymond James, John Hancock, and Sears. Girard Sharp has earned top-tier rankings from U.S. News and World Report for Securities and Class Action Litigation and has been repeatedly selected as an Elite Trial Lawyers finalist by the National Law Journal.
All eyes are on SoFi Technologies (SOFI +2.32%) as it gets ready to report second-quarter earnings. After three blowout years during which it gained roughly 468%, it's down more than 30% so far in 2026.
There are various reasons the market has been disappointed in the stock this year, including its high valuation, a damaging short-seller's report, and a decline in its Tech Platform segment. When it reports second-quarter results on July 29, though, the one thing to look for is the growth in the financial services segment.
Image source: Getty Images.
The financial services segment covers all non-lending products, excluding the Tech Platform, which is a business-to-business platform. These are products like savings accounts and investing tools, and the segment has been growing rapidly.
For a while, financial services' growth was outpacing the lending segment. For example, in the 2025 fourth quarter, financial services revenue increased 78% while lending revenue was up 19%.
Lending has bounced back recently (up 55% year over year in Q1), and at the same time, the financial services segment has decelerated. In the 2026 first quarter, financial services products increased 40% year over year, while financial services revenue was up 41%. Financial services, though, still account for most of the product growth; 89% in the first quarter.
Management is guiding for similar growth for financial services for the full year, although it didn't provide specific second-quarter guidance figures for its segments.
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One thing in SoFi's favor in the second quarter was the Space Exploration Technologies initial public offering (IPO). SoFi was one of five trading platforms that offered retail access to the IPO, and since the IPO was said to have been highly oversubscribed, that should show up in its results.
This is where SoFi's major growth opportunities are as it works to cross-sell products, and this is what investors should be looking at.
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.
PARIS, July 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of Emmanuel Fages as a Senior Managing Director in the Energy & Utilities practice within the firm’s Economic and Financial Consulting segment.
Mr. Fages, who is based in Paris, is an energy economist with more than 32 years of industry and consulting experience spanning utilities, financial energy markets and strategy consulting. He has an extensive track record advising French and global energy companies, manufacturers, construction and engineering firms and investors on energy transition, digital technology, energy generation, trading and business transformation matters. His experience across major projects includes leading strategic and commercial due diligence for high-profile transactions in the utilities and energy sectors and evaluating France’s nuclear development programme, EPR-2.
In his role at FTI Consulting, Mr. Fages will help the firm meet client needs at every stage of the energy value chain, with a particular emphasis on value creation programmes, investment transactions, commercial due diligences and strategy.
“Europe’s energy transition has entered a more complex phase. Early renewable energy strategies are being tested, supply chains are evolving and debates about nuclear power, security and the long-term energy mix are increasingly shaping commercial and investment decisions,” said Jean-Werner de T’Serclaes, Co-Leader of France and EMEA Co-Chair of FTI Consulting. “Navigating this landscape requires people with deep sector experience who have worked on the industry’s most significant challenges. Emmanuel brings exactly that expertise and will be a tremendous asset to our clients, particularly during this period of transformation.”
Before joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Fages was a Senior Partner at a global business consultancy, where he led the Energy, Environment and Sustainability practice in France. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Company and was head of Utilities in France at Accenture Strategy. Whilst in industry, Mr. Fages served as Head of European Energy Research at Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking and worked in the strategy division of EDF. He has authored several research papers on topics such as energy tax reform and market deregulation.
Jason Mann, Leader of the Regulated Industries and Energy Markets group at FTI Consulting, said, “We continue to invest in the expertise our clients need to thrive in an increasingly complex energy landscape and are thrilled to welcome Emmanuel to the firm. Emmanuel combines deep energy advisory experience with senior in-house leadership skills, giving him a unique understanding of the commercial decisions our clients face. He will work closely with Emmanuel Grand and other colleagues as part of FTI Consulting’s growing presence in France. His arrival also strengthens our global offering, furthering our ability to advise on the most complex, cross-border projects and transactions across Europe.”
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Fages said, “What attracted me to FTI Consulting is its reputation for supporting businesses with complex change across a wide range of areas, which is incredibly relevant to today’s energy sector. I’m excited to work with my colleagues across the firm’s global Energy practice to help our clients achieve their goals.”
The addition of Mr. Fages follows the recent addition of Senior Managing Director Riccardo Siliprandi, who joined to lead the launch of FTI Consulting’s energy advisory offering in Italy.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organisations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of March 31, 2026. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalised and independently managed. The Company generated $3.8 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2025. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
FTI Consulting, Inc.
200 Aldersgate
Aldersgate Street
London, EC1A 4HD
QuickSwap now has a full, self-contained perpetual futures stack with Perpetual Hub Ultra 2.0, which runs natively on Orbs’ Layer-3 infrastructure without requiring any third parties. In addition to one-click trading, account abstraction, and gasless transaction flows, supported order types include market, limit, stop-loss, take-profit, and advanced bracket orders. One of the oldest exchanges in decentralized finance, QuickSwap, has made Orbs’ Perpetual Hub Ultra 2.0 its default perpetual futures infrastructure across all chains. The action comes after a community governance vote titled “Full Shift of Decentralized Perpetuals to Orbs Network,” which was approved by 81.8% of QUICK token holders.
The integration builds upon QuickSwap, an Orbs-powered perpetual futures platform that was introduced on Base in Q4 2025, and replaces the Orderly-powered Falkor deployment on Polygon PoS. For a number of years, QuickSwap has worked with Orbs to operate dTWAP, dLIMIT, and Liquidity Hub in production throughout Polygon PoS and Base.
“This is what the next phase of DeFi looks like: a top-tier DEX running a complete perps stack natively on Layer-3, with liquidity from day one and execution quality that rivals centralized venues,” said Ran Hammer, VP of Business Development at Orbs. “An 81.8% community vote says it all – decentralized markets are ready to compete with traditional finance on its own terms.”
QuickSwap now has a full, self-contained perpetual futures stack with Perpetual Hub Ultra 2.0, which runs natively on Orbs’ Layer-3 infrastructure without requiring any third parties. This stack includes execution, settlement, hedging, liquidation, pricing, and a professional-grade trading interface. Through the platform’s integrated infrastructure, which pulls from many deep liquidity venues, liquidity is generated from day one, removing the requirement for bootstrapping at launch.
With state roots committed on-chain via rollup settlement, the platform’s architecture is based on a TEE-secured execution environment that gradually rolls out and is powered by cryptographically signed price feeds. In addition to one-click trading, account abstraction, and gasless transaction flows, supported order types include market, limit, stop-loss, take-profit, and advanced bracket orders.
One of DeFi’s most well-known trading platforms, QuickSwap has been operational since 2020 and is the top exchange inside the Polygon ecosystem. QuickSwap functions over Polygon PoS and Base and is governed by its community via QUICK token voting. With more than 1.12 billion ORBS invested, Orbs is a decentralized Layer-3 blockchain with a public network of permissionless validators that use delegated Proof-of-Stake.
Both teams claim that the integration puts decentralized exchanges in a position to compete with centralized platforms on execution quality, capital efficiency, and user experience while maintaining on-chain self-custody and transparency. Perpetual Hub Ultra 2.0 is now the default perpetual trading infrastructure across QuickSwap’s deployments.
Established in 2020, QuickSwap is a prominent decentralized exchange that provides everlasting futures, swaps, and liquidity support within the Polygon ecosystem and beyond. QuickSwap, a community regulated by the QUICK token, has developed into one of the most reputable venues in DeFi, growing from Polygon PoS to Polygon zkEVM and Base while continuing to be Polygon’s flagship DEX. Visit https://quickswap.exchange to find out more.
A decentralized Layer-3 blockchain Orbs was created for sophisticated on-chain trading. Orbs functions as an additional execution layer using a Proof-of-Stake consensus, allowing sophisticated logic and scripts that are not possible with traditional smart contracts. CeFi-level execution is brought to decentralized markets with Orbs-powered protocols such as dLIMIT, dTWAP, Liquidity Hub, and Perpetual Hub. Orbs continues to develop at the cutting edge of blockchain infrastructure with a worldwide staff spread across many locations. Visit www.orbs.com to find out more.
A trader himself, Rossi has 7 years of experience trading in the forex market and the passion for writing has brought him to Newscrypto. He is the perfect combination of market knowledge and writing skills, making him one of the most sought-after writers on cryptocurrency.
PeckShield: Abnormal fund movement in LayerZero Executor wallet is not an attack, user funds are not at risk.
Blockchain security firm PeckShield stated in a post that the previously detected abnormal fund movements in LayerZero's executor wallets are not a security incident, but part of normal operational adjustments. PeckShield confirmed that user funds are currently not at risk.
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A crypto whale’s short position on the ETH/BTC exchange rate has incurred an unrealized loss of over $3.85 million.
Per on-chain analyst ai_9684xtpa’s monitoring, address 0xf83…96728 currently holds 12,832 ETH in 20x short positions and 366 BTC in 20x long positions, with both positions valued at roughly $24 million each. As ETH has outperformed BTC in this round of rebound, the address’s ETH position has an unrealized loss of around $4.07 million, while its BTC position generates an unrealized profit of approximately $216,000, resulting in an overall unrealized loss of about $3.856 million.
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A crypto account has placed a large bet on Argentina advancing, and stands to gain approximately $12 million if the team wins the championship.
According to Arkham's monitoring, Polymarket platform account "gud.hl" holds 12.35 million Argentina World Cup-related prediction contracts. The account previously opened positions at around $1.3 million, and currently has an unrealized profit of approximately $1.1 million. If Argentina wins the World Cup, the account's position value will rise to roughly $12 million, generating substantial gains.
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The UK plans to issue its first digital sovereign bond in early 2027, potentially becoming the first G7 country to issue a government bond on a distributed ledger.
According to CoinDesk, the UK plans to launch its first digital sovereign bond, DIGIT, in early 2027, and is poised to become the first G7 nation to issue government debt on distributed ledger infrastructure. The pound-denominated bond will be issued via HSBC’s Orion platform and operate within the digital securities sandbox of the Bank of England (BoE) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). BoE Governor Andrew Bailey stated that the central bank will work to secure the bond’s eligibility as collateral for market operations in the future. To date, the UK Treasury has not disclosed details including the bond’s issuance size, term, coupon rate, investor access requirements, and settlement assets.
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Predict.fun World Cup Semi-Final: England vs Argentina Showdown, England’s Probability of Advancing Reaches 53%
Data from prediction market platform Predict.fun shows that the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico) semi-final will pit England against Argentina. As of press time, the market gives England a roughly 53% chance of advancing, while Argentina holds a ~46% probability, with both sides’ odds being very close. Scheduled for the early morning of July 16 (Beijing time), this highly anticipated World Cup semi-final will revive the classic England-Argentina rivalry. In World Cup history, the two sides have faced off in five tournaments: 1962, 1966, 1986, 1998, and 2002, making this one of the most talked-about rivalries in the World Cup. Overall, England holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record, but the two have met three times in World Cup knockout rounds before: Argentina came out on top twice, while England’s only win in those matches came en route to its first-ever World Cup title. Both sides’ paths to the semi-final in this World Cup have also been full of tests. Argentina has gone to the wire in three consecutive knockout matches, beating Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland in succession; England, meanwhile, has come from behind against DR Congo and Norway, and edged past Mexico, demonstrating strong ability to perform under pressure. This match is not only a key battle for Lionel Messi-led Argentina to defend its title, but also a crucial opportunity for England to return to the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years.
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Alibaba was up more than 3% at one point during pre-market trading of US stocks.
According to market data from BIT (Bit.com), Alibaba (BABA.N) rose more than 3% at one point during pre-market trading of US stocks.
Despite a sharper-than-expected decline in US CPI, from 4.2% to 3.5%, the US dollar continues to hold firm above the 100 mark while silver resumes its weakness below $60 as geopolitical risks remain elevated.
Market rebounds across major currency pairs, precious metals, and risk assets continue to face headwinds as the implications of the Middle East conflict extend into the second half of the year. Markets are increasingly being influenced by:
Disruptions to global shipping, with higher transit costs, tolls, and restricted access across parts of the Strait of Hormuz. A cautious second-half outlook from corporate management teams despite stronger-than-expected earnings from major US banks, including JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, as well as AI semiconductor leader ASML. Crude oil rebounding toward the $80 mark. Precious metals returning to critical bearish breakout zones. From an FX perspective, USD/JPY remains one of the most interesting charts. The pair is trading near levels last seen in the 1980s and could be at risk of another steep bullish breakout toward 170 should the US Dollar Index (DXY) confirm its own breakout above 102.
Across precious metals, both gold and silver are approaching major historical confluence zones:
Gold is testing a 10-year ascending trendline that has transitioned from resistance into support, alongside the 27.2% Fibonacci retracement of the 1920–2026 advance. Full Gold Analysis Silver is testing a breakdown below the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the 1930–2026 advance, while approaching a multi-decade resistance-turned-support zone near $50. I discussed these technical patterns in the latest bi-weekly webinar.
Register here
USD/JPY Price Outlook: 4-Hour Time Frame – Log Scale
Source: TradingView
On the 4-hour chart, USD/JPY continues to coil within a triangle pattern, pointing to growing bullish breakout risks above the 162.40–162.80 resistance zone. A sustained break above this area—and above 163.50—would strengthen the case for an extension toward 165, 168, and eventually 170.
These upside targets align with the 61.8%, 100%, and 127.2% Fibonacci extension levels of the May–June 2026 advance, while also converging with the upper boundary of the ascending channel that has guided price action since April 2025.
On the downside, a confirmed break below 161.10 and 160.80 would expose the lower boundary of the channel near 158. From there, prices could either stage another rebound to preserve the year-long bullish trend or extend losses toward 155 and 152, near the yearly lows. This bearish scenario would likely coincide with a DXY breakdown below the 100.30–99.30 support zone. Expanded Analysis
USD/JPY Price Outlook: Weekly Time Frame – Log Scale
Source: TradingView
The weekly chart highlights the broader one-year ascending parallel channel, with price currently trading near its midpoint. This also aligns with the midpoint of the larger channel that has been in place since 2022, creating a major technical confluence zone.
A sustained move toward 170 remains possible, while a decisive close above 170 would expose the upper boundary of the 2022–2026 channel near 180.
Although this remains an aggressive scenario and would likely increase the probability of Bank of Japan intervention, it cannot be ruled out if the US dollar extends its breakout above 102 without a meaningful policy response from the BOJ.
Silver Price Outlook: Six-Month Time Frame – Log Scale
Source: TradingView
The six-month chart continues to highlight several important long-term technical developments:
A six-month shooting star reversal pattern. A breakdown below the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the 1930–2026 secular advance. Price approaching the multi-decade trendline connecting the highs between 1980 and 2024, which could transition from long-term resistance into major support. This area also aligns with the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the entire advance near $46–50. The shorter-term outlook is further clarified on the daily chart below.
Silver Price Outlook: Daily Time Frame – Log Scale
Source: Trading view
From a daily perspective, silver remains capped below a descending trendline connecting the lower highs formed since May 2026. At the same time, daily momentum remains below the neckline of the previous head-and-shoulders pattern, reinforcing the bearish momentum backdrop.
A breakdown below $57 would expose the longer-term support zone discussed above.
Conversely, a breakout above the resistance levels at $61, $63.80, $68, and eventually $72 would significantly increase confidence that a broader bullish reversal is underway, reopening the path toward triple-digit price targets over the longer term.
Key Takeaway The US Dollar Index will remain the primary benchmark for both the FX and precious metals markets as geopolitical tensions continue to evolve.
The 101.80–102.00 resistance zone remains the key level to watch. A confirmed breakout would likely strengthen the US dollar further and increase downside pressure across major currencies and precious metals during the second half of the year.
Conversely, a breakdown below 100.60, followed by 100.30 and 99.30, would ease dollar strength and improve the outlook for currencies and precious metals alike.
Hyperliquid, a decentralized perpetuals protocol operating on its own Layer 1 blockchain, is preparing to update its market structure in 2026 as trading activity shifts rapidly toward its open market system. Recent data shows that HIP-3, the network’s permissionless perpetuals market, has surged to account for nearly 50% of Hyperliquid’s daily trading volume, marking a significant increase from about 2% at the start of the year.
With the introduction of HIP-3, Hyperliquid enabled any developer or community to launch perpetuals markets on its platform without the need for central approval. This marks a departure from the traditional exchange-led listing process and reflects a broader trend in decentralized finance favoring open market creation and greater accessibility.
The HIP-3 system relies on an order book structure, using USDC as collateral and managing risk through shared liquidity pools and vaults. This framework has facilitated the rapid proliferation of niche derivatives products and allowed for increased user participation in assets that might not be listed on conventional exchanges.
Mini dictionary: Hyperliquid is a decentralized perpetuals trading platform that allows users to trade crypto derivatives without relying on a centralized operator. It offers both traditional and permissionless markets and operates its own Layer 1 blockchain.
Interest in long-tail and small-cap derivatives has increased as users are able to trade these assets without passing through typical listing hurdles. Permissionless perpetuals lower entry barriers for early-stage crypto projects and investors seeking new market opportunities.
HIP-3 permissionless perp markets have grown to nearly half of Hyperliquid’s daily volume, a substantial rise from just 2% at the beginning of the year.
Strategic growth and competitionThe shift toward open derivatives markets has not only expanded Hyperliquid’s product suite but also helped the platform tap into new revenue streams. By catering to niche asset classes, Hyperliquid is positioning itself to withstand competition from both centralized exchanges such as Binance and decentralized rivals including dYdX and GMX.
Recent surges in trading volume on alternative chains like Solana have underscored the intensity of competition in the decentralized derivatives sector, pushing platforms to continuously innovate in order to retain user interest.
PlatformCore MechanismMain CompetitorsHyperliquid (HIP-3)Order book, permissionless perpsdYdX, GMXBinanceCentralized exchange, vetted listingsOKX, BybitSolanaLayer 1, high trading volume, ecosystem perpsEthereum, Arbitrum protocolsChallenges and regulatory landscapeIndustry experts see the evolving landscape as part of a larger shift toward on-chain derivatives and alternatives to major centralized exchanges. However, in regions like the US and EU, the regulatory environment for decentralized perpetuals remains uncertain, leaving questions about long-term compliance and growth.
Going forward, Hyperliquid is focused on closely monitoring the performance of its vaults and evaluating cross-margin risk management. Another area under review is whether the liquidity provided by HIP-3 can remain resilient in volatile market conditions.
The platform’s long-term acceptance may depend on the appeal of market-making incentives, the availability of advanced tools, and the stance that regulators ultimately take regarding the legal status of permissionless derivatives.
The degree of market participation and regulatory clarity will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of permissionless derivatives on Hyperliquid and similar platforms.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Over the last six decades, the United States has accumulated nearly 100,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel. Despite generating about one-fifth of the nation's electricity from nuclear power, the U.S. never established a permanent geological repository for spent commercial nuclear fuel.
This spent fuel could get a second chance if Oklo (OKLO +1.09%) has its way. That's because Oklo's nuclear reactors are designed to efficiently utilize spent nuclear fuel, creating an opportunity to get more from existing nuclear waste.
Here's what investors need to know about Oklo's long-term vision.
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How Oklo plans to get more from nuclear waste When it comes to nuclear energy, used nuclear fuel is not fully depleted or useless material. That's because conventional light-water reactors extract less than 5% of the total energy potential from enriched uranium before the assemblies stop generating power efficiently and are removed. While conventional reactors cannot use the spent fuel, the remaining material still contains large quantities of uranium and other elements that advanced reactor designs could utilize.
Oklo plans to use this spent fuel in its Aurora fast reactor, a compact, advanced reactor designed to operate on high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and recycled nuclear materials. This is possible because fast reactors can more efficiently utilize the heavier isotopes in spent nuclear fuel, enabling closed-loop fuel cycles.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Oklo's initial powerhouses are expected to use fresh HALEU fuel, but in the longer term, the company aims to recycle portions of the country's accumulated used-fuel inventory into new reactor fuel. If it succeeds, it could expand domestic fuel supplies, reduce dependence on newly mined uranium, and lessen the burden of nuclear waste management by producing 90% less high-level waste than conventional reactors.
Oklo's use of recycled nuclear fuel could make it an innovator in the nuclear energy space, and it is investing nearly $1.7 billion to build a nuclear fuel recycling facility in Tennessee. Construction is expected to begin here in 2027, with the facility projected to begin producing recycled fuel by the 2030s.
What's next for Oklo? Oklo is making important progress with its nuclear reactor technology. The company's anchor project is the Aurora Powerhouse located at the Idaho National Laboratory. Here, the company will build a 75-MWe liquid-metal-cooled, metal-fueled reactor and aims to begin operations as soon as 2028.
It also has a major deal with Meta Platforms to build a 1.2-GW clean energy campus in Ohio. It has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Centrus Energy to purchase HALEU fuel for this facility, which is slated to start delivering power in 2030, and the full campus is expected to be completed by 2034.
That said, it has a long road ahead and is vulnerable to regulatory setbacks. On top of that, it will incur significant expenses (it projects $350 million to $450 million in capital expenditures this year) before becoming commercially viable.
For those reasons, Oklo is a speculative stock best left to aggressive investors with a long-term perspective.
Tilted, a Web3 gaming and social media platform, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Conflux Network, a public layer-1 blockchain built to achieve high transaction throughput under security. This partnership is aimed at joining Artificial Intelligence (AI) creation tools with scalable blockchain infrastructure.
🤝 Tilted x @Conflux_Network Partnership Announcement
Tilted and Conflux Network are teaming up to bring next-gen AI creation tools to a global user base.
Tilted is the AI platform and workspace for Gen Z, they bring creators and builders one place to generate UGC, build apps,… pic.twitter.com/hulYhKtJAy
— Tilted (@tiltedxyz) July 14, 2026 Tilted is among the trusted platforms for providing innovative services in terms of creating content that inspires users, especially Gen Z, for an interesting display and a smooth playing experience. This thing enables users to generate AI-Powered user-generated content (UGC) and build AI applications. Tilted has released this news through its official social media X account.
Tilted and Conflux Network Empower the Next Generation of AI Creators Conflux Network is known for its regulatory-compliant blockchain infrastructure in China and offers scalable, secure, and decentralized infrastructure for Web3 applications. On the other hand, Tilted creates and deploys custom AI agents and has 25000 users with a 150K+ member community. Both partners have a long, satisfactory history of making successful collaborations.
In this world, everything matters a lot in terms of decentralization and innovation for the betterment of users around the world. Tilted brings innovative things with each passing day and plays an essential role in attracting users for Web3-based and AI services. Basically, this partnership is going to expand the possibilities of Web3 along with AI in content creation that has some value among the audience.
Enhancing AI Creation with Decentralized Infrastructure The unification of Tilted and Conflux Network improves scalability, accessibility, and transparency for AI-driven Web3 applications. They also enable a borderless AI creator economy with decentralized technology and encourage creators and developers to make unique and innovative products in the market.
The credibility of any platform is judged by scalability, transparency, and error-free services for the betterment of desired and expected results. This integration is no less than a big opportunity in the world of content creation and a point of attraction for users sitting in different corners of the world. They ensure trusted services along with the proper satisfaction of users, even in the gaming world.
AUTHOR
Crypto journalist with years of experience providing in-depth analysis and news on blockchain and decentralized finance. With a keen eye for detail, Shahzaib delivers insightful articles that explore the latest trends, market movements, and innovations within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. His work focuses on educating readers while offering expert commentary on the evolving landscape of digital assets, DeFi protocols, and the broader impact of blockchain technology.
The USD/CHF pair attracts some dip-buyers on Wednesday and moves further away from the weekly trough, around the 0.8060 region set the previous day. Spot prices climb to a fresh daily high during the first half of the European session, with bulls looking to build on the momentum further beyond the 0.8100 mark.
As investors digest Tuesday's soft US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, energy-driven inflation fears resurface as escalating US-Iran tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz remain supportive of elevated crude oil prices. This bolsters US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike expectations and offers some support to the US Dollar (USD), which, in turn, acts as a tailwind for the USD/CHF pair and validates the near-term positive outlook.
From a technical perspective, the recent breakout through the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) and subsequent strength beyond the 0.8000 psychological mark were key triggers for bullish traders. Moreover, the Relative Strength Index keeps a constructive bullish tone and stays in positive territory near 58 without yet signaling overbought conditions. This further suggests that underlying demand remains firmly in play.
However, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator sits slightly below the zero line with a modestly negative reading, hinting that upside momentum is not fully convincing despite the supportive price structure. Nevertheless, the broader bias would likely stay tilted to the upside as long as the USD/CHF pair holds above the key SMA, with any pullbacks toward 0.8000 seen as a potential opportunity for bullish traders.
Furthermore, the 200-day SMA around 0.7919 might now act as an important technical floor should spot prices retreat further, and a convincing break below would be needed to shift the near-term bias in favor of bearish traders. On the topside, a move above the 0.8145-0.8150 region, or the highest since July 2025, touched on Tuesday, will set the stage for an extension of the recent upward trajectory from 0.7760 or the May swing low.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Swiss Franc FAQs The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland’s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc’s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone.
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the country’s currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen as more risky to invest in.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets four times a year – once every quarter, less than other major central banks – to decide on monetary policy. The bank aims for an annual inflation rate of less than 2%. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF.
Macroeconomic data releases in Switzerland are key to assessing the state of the economy and can impact the Swiss Franc’s (CHF) valuation. The Swiss economy is broadly stable, but any sudden change in economic growth, inflation, current account or the central bank’s currency reserves have the potential to trigger moves in CHF. Generally, high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence are good for CHF. Conversely, if economic data points to weakening momentum, CHF is likely to depreciate.
As a small and open economy, Switzerland is heavily dependent on the health of the neighboring Eurozone economies. The broader European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner and a key political ally, so macroeconomic and monetary policy stability in the Eurozone is essential for Switzerland and, thus, for the Swiss Franc (CHF). With such dependency, some models suggest that the correlation between the fortunes of the Euro (EUR) and the CHF is more than 90%, or close to perfect.
USD/CAD remains subdued after registering modest losses in the previous day, trading around 1.4050 during the European hours on Wednesday. The technical analysis of the daily chart indicates the pair is testing the lower boundary of the symmetrical triangle. A decisive close below the lower support line would signal that the sellers have taken control, suggesting a strong continuation or reversal to the downside. If buying pressure defends the lower line, the boundary holds, suggesting the price will reverse course and head back up to test the triangle's upper resistance line.
The USD/CAD is retreating from recent highs and slipping below the short-term dynamics reflected by the nine-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which now caps the topside. The pair still holds above the 50-period EMA. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 42 has eased out of overbought territory, hinting that bullish momentum has faded and leaving the near-term bias tilted to the downside while price remains under the nine-period EMA.
The USD/CAD pair recorded nearly a monthly low of 1.4039 during the early hours, near the lower boundary of the symmetrical triangle, followed by the 50-day EMA of 1.4014. A successful break below this confluence support zone would cause the bearish emergence and put downward pressure on the pair to navigate the region around the 21-month low of 1.3481, recorded on January 30.
On the upside, the USD/CAD pair may rebound toward the nine-day EMA of 1.4130. A break above the short-term moving average would cause a bullish emergence and support the pair to test the upper boundary of the symmetrical triangle around 1.4240, aligned with the 15-month high of 1.4248, reached on June 24.
USD/CAD: Daily Chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Canadian Dollar Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Canadian Dollar (CAD) against listed major currencies today. Canadian Dollar was the strongest against the Swiss Franc.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.03%-0.00%0.02%-0.04%-0.18%-0.12%0.11%EUR0.03%-0.03%0.06%-0.02%-0.20%-0.15%0.14%GBP0.00%0.03%0.07%0.00%-0.17%-0.14%0.16%JPY-0.02%-0.06%-0.07%-0.06%-0.22%-0.16%0.08%CAD0.04%0.02%-0.00%0.06%-0.15%-0.14%0.15%AUD0.18%0.20%0.17%0.22%0.15%0.03%0.29%NZD0.12%0.15%0.14%0.16%0.14%-0.03%0.28%CHF-0.11%-0.14%-0.16%-0.08%-0.15%-0.29%-0.28% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Canadian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent CAD (base)/USD (quote).
The AUD/JPY pair broke past the 113.00 resistance level following previous quiet six session bounds between 111.95 and 112.81 Yen weakness was fueled by interest rate differences and market confusion over speculation that Japan's massive pension fund might relocate foreign assets back home The Aussie dollar found solid fundamental support as global commodity prices remained firm despite the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East After six sessions trading within a tight range of 111.95 to 112.81, the AUD/JPY pair moved decisively higher on Tuesday. It surpassed the 113.00 psychological level and continued its ascent today, nearing 113.39. So, what changed?
Speculation Over the World’s Largest Pension Fund Triggers Yen Selloff Headlines regarding Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) appear to be the primary driver behind the yen’s recent decline. Reports suggest the government is considering encouraging the massive pension fund to increase its investments in domestic assets to support local markets and the yen. While this sounds like it should strengthen the Japanese currency, the market reacted with immediate skepticism.
This skepticism stems from past attempts by the Japanese finance ministry to support the yen, which proved costly and ineffective. As CNBC reported, Tokyo’s finance ministry burned through roughly $73 billion defending the yen back in April and May, only to watch it slide right back toward the levels it started from.
Analysts suggest the yen’s weakness is rooted in structural issues. These include Japan’s growing public debt, a government focused on reflation, and inflation expectations that are not aligning with typical interest rate differentials.
On the Aussie side, the Reserve Bank of Australia has hiked its cash rate three times this year to 4.35%. Despite holding rates steady in June, RBA meeting minutes indicated ongoing concerns about inflation exceeding the target, with core inflation accelerating even as headline inflation eased.
A Finder survey of more than 40 economists shows 55% of them expect at least one more rate hike this year, likely in August. This policy stance supports Australian yields and the carry appeal of the Australian dollar.
Commodity prices and China’s economic performance also play a significant role. Australia, as a major exporter of iron ore, coal, and liquefied natural gas, benefits from resilient demand from China. Positive economic indicators from Beijing have bolstered risk sentiment and AUD strength.
Market Outlook Signals Bullish Bias with Caution This breakout suggests a constructive near-term outlook for AUD/JPY, potentially targeting higher levels if policy divergence persists and global risk conditions remain favorable.
For those considering trading this breakout, entering at current levels around 113.40 presents some short-term risk. A sustained move above 113.58 on a daily closing basis would be the next key level to watch, potentially opening the way toward 113.90 and the 52-week high zone around 114.90.
Below the surface, though, this rally is fragile. A significant risk to long positions is the potential for direct market intervention by the Bank of Japan or the Ministry of Finance to support the yen. Such action could lead to a rapid and substantial decline in the AUD/JPY pair.
Why did AUD/JPY break above 113.00 this week?
The breakout was caused by a combination of RBA rate-hike expectations supporting the Aussie and persistent yen weakness tied to Japan’s debt concerns and ineffective currency intervention.
Is the Australian dollar actually getting stronger?
The Australian dollar’s appreciation appears to be more a reflection of yen weakness than a substantial increase in the Australian dollar’s strength, although RBA policy has contributed positively.
How does China’s economy influence Australian dollar strength?
Stronger Chinese demand for commodities like iron ore and coal increases Australia’s export revenues, improving its terms of trade and supporting the AUD.
EthSystems wurde vom Team der Institutional Privacy Task Force der Ethereum Foundation gegründet und entwickelt Datenschutz- und Compliance-Technologie für Ethereum
Zu den wichtigsten Geldgebern zählen Bitmine, Sharplink und Joe Lubin
, /PRNewswire/ -- EthSystems, ein Ingenieurs- und Forschungsunternehmen (das „Unternehmen"), gab heute seinen öffentlichen Start bekannt, finanziert durch eine Ankerfinanzierung von Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), Sharplink, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET), Joe Lubin und weiteren Unterstützern des Ökosystems. Das Unternehmen entwickelt Datenschutztechnologie, die es Banken, Vermögensverwaltern und anderen regulierten Institutionen ermöglicht, Finanztransaktionen auf Ethereum in großem Maßstab durchzuführen, ohne sensible Informationen wie Handelsdetails oder Kundenidentitäten preiszugeben.
EthSystems Launches to Build Privacy Solutions for Institutions on Ethereum EthSystems wurde von dem Team gegründet, das die Institutional Privacy Task Force („IPTF") der Ethereum Foundation aufgebaut und geleitet hat. Das Unternehmen startet mit einem Jahr Open-Source-Arbeit, die bereits unter ethsystems.org öffentlich zugänglich ist, sowie mit direkt aufgebauten Beziehungen zu Zentralbanken, Aufsichtsbehörden, Tier-1-Banken und Vermögensverwaltern.
Banken, Vermögensverwalter und Marktinfrastrukturanbieter prüfen und setzen bereits Stablecoins, tokenisierte Vermögenswerte und die Abwicklung auf Ethereum ein. Eine sinnvolle institutionelle Akzeptanz erfordert jedoch mehr als nur den Zugang zum Netzwerk: Institutionen benötigen komplette Systeme, die geschäftlich sensible Informationen schützen, regulatorische und Compliance-Anforderungen erfüllen und sich in die bereits von ihnen betriebene Infrastruktur integrieren lassen. EthSystems entwickelt die Technologie, die es jeder Transaktionspartei ermöglicht, genau das zu sehen, wozu sie berechtigt ist – und nicht mehr –, ohne dabei auf die Dezentralisierung und Sicherheit zu verzichten, die den Kern von Ethereum bilden.
EthSystems schließt sich zwei weiteren Organisationen an, die kürzlich aus der Ethereum Foundation ausgegliedert wurden und jeweils eine eigenständige und sich ergänzende Rolle einnehmen. Ethlabs treibt die Weiterentwicklung des Kernprotokolls und der Infrastruktur von Ethereum voran. Ethereum Institutional ist für die Zusammenarbeit mit institutionellen Akteuren, Aufklärung, Marktanalysen und die Koordination des Ökosystems zuständig. EthSystems ist auf der angewandten technischen Ebene tätig und setzt institutionelle Anforderungen in Architekturen, Protokolle und Produktionssysteme um, die echte Finanzaktivitäten auf Ethereum ermöglichen.
Das Gründungsteam von EthSystems – Mo Jalil, Oskar Thorén und Aaryamann Challani – hat das IPTF aufgebaut und geleitet und im vergangenen Jahr direkt mit Zentralbanken, Aufsichtsbehörden und führenden Finanzinstituten zusammengearbeitet. Zu ihren bisherigen Stationen zählen die Ethereum Foundation, Goldman Sachs und Status, einer der frühesten mobilen Ethereum-Clients, wo sie am Aufbau der zentralen Datenschutzinfrastruktur mitwirkten, die heute im gesamten Ethereum-Ökosystem genutzt wird. Diese Kombination aus institutioneller und technischer Erfahrung ist der Grund, warum die Gründer davon überzeugt sind, Institutionen beim Aufbau hochwertiger Datenschutzlösungen mit echter Glaubwürdigkeit unterstützen zu können.
Tom Lee, Vorstandsvorsitzender von Bitmine. „Die Institutionalisierung von Ethereum erfordert eine Infrastruktur, die institutionelle Standards für Datenschutz und Sicherheit erfüllt. Ohne sie werden die nächsten 100 Billionen Dollar an Vermögenswerten nicht auf die Blockchain migrieren. EthSystems baut diese fehlende Ebene mit einem Team auf, das versteht, wie Institutionen neue Technologien bewerten und einführen. Genau diese Art von grundlegender Investition tätigt Bitmine, um die Entwicklung von Ethereum als institutionelle Finanzinfrastruktur zu beschleunigen."
Joseph Chalom, Geschäftsführer von Sharplink. „Unsere Kernthese lautet, dass sich der differenzierte Wert von Ethereum vervielfacht, je mehr Finanzaktivitäten auf die Plattform verlagert werden. Das volle Potenzial von Ethereum kann nur ausgeschöpft werden, wenn Institutionen das Netzwerk nutzen können, ohne dabei ihre Privatsphäre zu gefährden. Dieses Team hat diese Lösungen bei wichtigen Institutionen, die sie benötigen, gründlich validiert. Wir glauben, dass die Arbeit von EthSystems die nächste Phase der institutionellen Einführung von Ethereum beschleunigen wird. Indem wir das EthSystems-Team unterstützen, treiben wir direkt die Datenschutz- und Vertraulichkeitsfunktionen voran, die große Finanzinstitute benötigen, um auf Ethereum zu agieren – und zwar auf eine Weise, die im Einklang mit unserer Mission steht, langfristigen Wert für unsere Aktionäre zu schaffen."
Joe Lubin, Mitbegründer von Ethereum sowie Gründer und Chief Executive Officer von Consensys. „Im Laufe der Jahre habe ich beobachtet, wie viele Teams Institutionen Datenschutztechnologie angeboten haben, bei der es sich manchmal lediglich um genehmigungsbasierte Systeme mit zusätzlichen Schritten handelte. Dieses Team versteht den Unterschied sehr genau. Es kann auf ein Jahr praktischer Arbeit zurückblicken und verfügt über die Disziplin, die Ergebnisse fortlaufend zu veröffentlichen, sodass der Rest des Ökosystems darauf aufbauen kann, anstatt darauf zu warten, dass ein einzelnes Unternehmen die Lösung vorlegt. So hat das Ethereum-Ökosystem schon immer Innovationen vorangetrieben. Genau das erwartet Ethereum von den Menschen, die seine institutionelle Ebene aufbauen, und genau das hat dieses Team vom ersten Tag an mitgebracht. Ich und die Consensys-Institutional-Gruppe freuen uns darauf, eng mit dem EthSystems-Team zusammenzuarbeiten, um erstklassige Datenschutz- und Vertraulichkeitskonzepte in die erstklassigen Systeme zu integrieren, die wir mit und für große Finanzinstitute entwickeln."
Mo Jalil, Mitbegründer und CEO von EthSystem
„Datenschutz ist das, was die Würde, Sicherheit und den Schutz aller in einem Netzwerk gewährleistet – vom Einzelnen bis hin zu Institutionen. Deshalb hat Ethereum institutionelles Kapital gewonnen und ist auf dem besten Weg, den institutionellen Handel für sich zu gewinnen. Keine Zentralbank, kein Vermögensverwalter und keine Regierung wird ihre Geschäfte vor den Augen der ganzen Welt abwickeln. Für sie ist Datenschutz kein Feature. Er ist eine Voraussetzung – und er macht den Unterschied aus, ob Ethereum heute Milliarden verwaltet oder morgen Billionen."
Informationen zu Bitmine
Bitmine (NYSE: BMNR) ist ein Bitcoin-Miner mit Aktivitäten in den USA. Das Unternehmen setzt sein überschüssiges Kapital ein, um das weltweit führende Ethereum-Treasury-Unternehmen zu werden, und verfolgt eine innovative Strategie für digitale Vermögenswerte für institutionelle Investoren und Teilnehmer an den öffentlichen Kapitalmärkten. Geleitet von seiner Philosophie der „Alchemy of 5 %" setzt das Unternehmen auf ETH als primären Treasury-Reservewert und nutzt dabei protokollnative Aktivitäten, darunter Staking und dezentrale Finanzmechanismen. Das Unternehmen führte im Jahr 2026 MAVAN (Made-in America Validator Network) ein, eine spezielle Staking-Infrastruktur für Bitmine-Vermögenswerte.
Informationen zu Sharplink
Sharplink (NASDAQ: SBET) ist eine führende Ethereum-Treasury-Plattform für institutionelle Anleger, die darauf ausgelegt ist, Anlegern am öffentlichen Markt ein intelligenteres und produktiveres Engagement in ETH zu ermöglichen. Ethereum bildet die Grundlage für den Großteil der weltweiten Stablecoins, tokenisierter realer Vermögenswerte und Abwicklungen im Bereich der dezentralen Finanzen. Sharplink wurde 2019 gegründet und hat seinen Hauptsitz in Miami, Florida. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter sharplink.com.
Informationen zu EthSystems
EthSystems ist ein Ingenieur- und Forschungsunternehmen, das vertrauliche Systeme für institutionelles Ethereum entwickelt. Das Unternehmen wurde vom Team der Institutional Privacy Task Force der Ethereum Foundation gegründet und kann auf ein Jahr erfolgreicher Open-Source-Projekte zurückblicken, darunter private Überweisungen, private Anleihen, vertrauliche Abwicklung und datenschutzkonforme Identitätsprüfung – alles verfügbar unter ethsystems.org. EthSystems arbeitet direkt mit Institutionen, Anbietern und Teams im gesamten Ethereum-Ökosystem zusammen, um diese Systeme in die Produktion zu überführen, und ist weltweit tätig, wobei das Unternehmen tief im asiatisch-pazifischen Raum verwurzelt ist.
Zukunftsgerichtete Aussage
Diese Pressemitteilung enthält zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen bezüglich des erwarteten institutionellen Interesses an Ethereum, der Pipeline für Kundenakquise und der Geschäftsstrategie. Diese Aussagen basieren auf aktuellen Erwartungen und beinhalten Risiken und Ungewissheiten, die dazu führen könnten, dass die tatsächlichen Ergebnisse wesentlich davon abweichen. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen gelten nur zum Zeitpunkt dieser Veröffentlichung, und EthSystems übernimmt keine Verpflichtung, diese zu aktualisieren, es sei denn, dies ist gesetzlich vorgeschrieben. Diese Pressemitteilung dient ausschließlich zu Informationszwecken und stellt weder ein Angebot zum Verkauf noch eine Aufforderung zur Abgabe eines Angebots zum Kauf von Wertpapieren oder digitalen Vermögenswerten dar.
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 2.20%) splashed onto the scene just a few weeks ago when it completed the world's biggest initial public offering, raising more than $85 billion after the exercise of an overallotment option. Of course, SpaceX wasn't new to investors -- the company had been making headlines for years, particularly for its rocket launches for NASA. But this was the first time investors, from retail to professional, could easily invest in the company.
Demand was high during the IPO -- it was greatly oversubscribed -- and during the first days of trading. The stock soared 50% from its $150 debut price to a peak of $225 on June 16. In recent days, though, SpaceX has lost the positive momentum. In fact, the stock has slipped below its debut price.
If you had invested $10,000 in SpaceX's early days of trading, how much would this investment be worth in a year? History offers us a very clear answer.
Image source: Getty Images.
Exciting growth businesses First, though, let's take a quick look at the SpaceX story. The company has attracted investors thanks to its exciting growth businesses and its ambitious leader, Elon Musk. SpaceX operates in rocket launches, satellite-based internet, and artificial intelligence (AI), areas that each could drive significant revenue gains if they reach certain goals. And speaking of goals, many are ambitious, but if the company can accomplish them, they could be game changers. For example, SpaceX aims to develop data centers in space, and its most ambitious goal may be to colonize Mars.
What's interesting about this mix of businesses is that they fit together nicely, with accomplishments of one driving gains in another. SpaceX's work to make reusable rockets and drive down the costs of launches will help it launch equipment more cheaply and quickly into space for its other businesses.
Elon Musk is the chief executive officer behind these ambitions, and while some investors aren't fans of his strategies, others are -- and they generally rush to bet on Musk. The popularity of the SpaceX IPO is proof of this.
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$18 billion in revenue SpaceX has made progress in various areas -- it aims to launch its fully reusable rocket, Starship, with payloads later this year -- and is delivering growth. Revenue last year climbed more than 30% to $18 billion. But SpaceX needs to invest heavily to support the development of its technology, and this pushed the company to a $4.9 billion loss. This may continue, considering the complexity of the technology involved in the company's businesses.
Now, let's consider the potential value of a $10,000 investment in SpaceX after the stock's first full year of trading. A look at some of the biggest IPOs, from Meta Platforms to Uber Technologies, shows that eight out of 10 fell in their first 12 months on the stock market. Seven of them delivered double-digit declines, and the average drop was 12%.
We might consider SpaceX's performance as falling into the average, and here's why: On its first day of trading, it climbed nearly 20%. According to a study by Jay Ritter of the University of Florida, the average first-day return of more than 6,000 IPOs between 1990 and 2025 was just over 21%.
So if we also apply the average drop seen in our look at 10 major IPOs to SpaceX, we come up with the following: History shows us that your $10,000 investment in SpaceX would be worth $8,800 after 12 months.
Major IPOs in general haven't delivered gains after their first year on the market, and the greatly popular SpaceX could follow unless it breaks with this historical trend, which, of course, is possible. Still, all of this means that investors shouldn't necessarily rush to get in on IPO stocks, as there may be better entry points down the road.
A lawyer says Apple's case against OpenAI is really a fight to see what's behind the curtain By You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman looks past Apple CEO Tim Cook. Bloomberg/Getty Images Apple doesn't know what's happening behind OpenAI's closed doors, and its new lawsuit could change that.
Apple sued OpenAI in federal court on Friday, with a fiery complaint accusing the company of stealing trade secrets to build up its nascent hardware business. The suit pits an incumbent against a disruptor — OpenAI is working on devices that could threaten Apple's bottom line. Apple says OpenAI stole information in a "coordinated pattern of misconduct" and poached more than 400 employees from its ranks.
Patricia Lantzy, an attorney who leads Outside General Counsel's employment practice, told Business Insider that Apple likely brought this complaint in part because it had no other way to determine what information OpenAI might have taken. The complaint makes it clear there's a lot that Apple does not know about what OpenAI might have taken or what it might be doing with any potential trade secrets, she said.
"We have no interest in other companies' trade secrets," an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement. "While we take these allegations seriously, we're not aware of any evidence that this complaint has merit. We believe in fair competition and allowing people the freedom to work wherever they choose, and we're focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere."
Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Lantzy laid out the case's most important questions for Apple and OpenAI to answer.
Apple wants more informationApple alleges that its former engineer, Chang Liu, used his old company laptop to access Apple systems during his new job at OpenAI, downloading confidential files containing technical specifications, manufacturing processes, and more. Apple is also accusing OpenAI of pumping potential recruits for confidential information about the iPhone giant's work.
Apple's suit calls these allegations the "tip of the iceberg," saying it "lacks visibility into what's been happening behind closed doors at OpenAI."
Lantzy said a lawsuit's discovery process can help Apple find out exactly what's happening. It's an alternative to something drastic and illegal like corporate espionage, she said.
Apple's point of view seems to be, "We need the court's help to hash out these facts and discover exactly what has gone on here," she said.
Apple's legal argument hinges on a 2016 lawThe thrust of the lawsuit hinges on the 2016 Defend Trade Secrets Act, which allows companies to sue for trade secret theft.
Apple will need to prove that any information in question was actually secret, that Apple took precautions to safeguard it, and that the defendants intentionally obtained it through improper means, Lantzy said.
Another important question, she said, is whether OpenAI actually used any stolen trade secrets in practice. That could have major ramifications in the case, where Apple has asked for monetary recovery and damages, or in lieu of those, a "reasonable royalty."
While it has hired hundreds of former Apple workers, OpenAI's hardware efforts are still early. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that OpenAI's first device could be a screen-free smart speaker.
In the complaint, Apple alleges that OpenAI has deployed stolen secrets in its hardware development.
"That's kind of hard to prove at this stage," Lantzy said.
The attorney said California law generally protects OpenAI's recruitment of Apple employees, though if the company instructed decamping Apple workers to bring secrets with them, that would be "problematic."
"We're only reading Apple's side of it," Lantzy said. "We haven't gotten OpenAI's answer yet. That will also be illuminating, no doubt."
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Stephen Council You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Stephen is a Senior Tech Reporter at Business Insider, covering OpenAI, Anthropic and the ecosystem around the leading artificial intelligence companies.Previously he covered technology at SFGATE, and has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Information and CNBC. He studied journalism and economics at Northwestern University.His work has earned an SF Press Club Investigative Reporting Award and, in 2025, SPJ NorCal’s Excellence in Journalism Award for Technology Reporting.Stephen lives in San Francisco. Contact him via email at [email protected], or on Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 415-757-8198. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.
Apple OpenAI Sam Altman More Legal lawsuit Big Tech
Coca-Cola (KO 1.39%) stock is a top pick for dividends, but it rarely beats the market. Historically, it tends to outperform when the market is down, since it's a classic "safe stock." But its low, steady growth and reliability are less prized in strong bull markets, and over time, it's an underperformer.
However, it's having a blowout 2026. Not only is the stock beating the market this year, up 22% versus 11% for the S&P 500, but it's also beating top growth stocks including Nvidia and Amazon. That's because its prized features matter today, too.
It's Warren Buffett's favorite Warren Buffett has praised Coca-Cola many times as an example of a great business, and it was the stock he was talking about when he said his favorite holding period is "forever." The reasons he loves it so much are the reasons I think the market is also loving it right now.
Image source: Getty Images.
He loves Coke's place in the economy, its global brand that travels, and its relationship with fans, which is a moat that's not easily torn down. That's well illustrated by the famous business case of when it introduced New Coke based on taste tests, which was a thorough failure because it didn't take into account users' emotional connection to the classic formula. Coca-Cola won't be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI), and people will always need to drink.
He also loves its dividend. Coca-Cola is a Dividend King, which means that it has raised its dividend for at least 50 years consecutively, and it has one of the longest track records, having raised its dividend for the past 64 years straight. It tends to have a high yield, but since the stock is soaring, the yield is down to 2.5% at the current price.
Why it matters now These are features that fortify it under adverse circumstances, which is why it's considered safe. And that's why investors are likely buying it today.
Despite what it might look like from the thriving market, the economy is in a challenging place. Inflation is still raging, and steady interest rates might eventually put a dent in the economy. The ceasefire with Iran seems to be over, and oil prices are already heading higher again.
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Despite all of that, the S&P 500 keeps climbing higher. There are two major streams of thought about why: Either investors are having a break with reality, or there's immense confidence in AI being reality.
Either way, Coca-Cola stock provides the security investors need when there's volatility. It's demonstrating healthy growth despite economic headwinds, and the company has a long growth runway as it continues to make inroads into developing regions. And it can continue to do so in the age of AI, using AI to its advantage to identify specific opportunities and act on them. That makes it a fantastic component of a defensive portfolio.
Key Takeaways Citi posted Q2 revenue of $24.77B and EPS of $3.15, both ahead of consensus estimates.C kept its 2026 RoTCE target unchanged, prioritizing investment flexibility over a near-term goal.Citi raised its dividend 12%, launched a $30B buyback and highlighted record Services revenue. Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) used its second-quarter call to make a broader point than the headline beat. Management framed the quarter as evidence that the bank’s multiyear rebuild is producing stronger earnings power, while also creating room to invest more aggressively for future returns.
That message mattered because analysts pressed hard on why Citi kept its full-year return target unchanged despite a strong first half. Management’s answer was clear: it wants flexibility to accelerate organic investments, structural efficiency moves and funding actions rather than optimize for a single near-term waypoint.
Citi Ties the Quarter to a Stronger FranchiseChair and CEO Jane Fraser said the quarter marked Citi’s best quarterly revenue in a decade, with double-digit growth for the firm and in four of five businesses. She emphasized that the result was not just market-driven, but tied to prior investments, tighter execution and a more durable earnings profile.
Citi reported revenue of $24.77 billion and EPS of $3.15, both ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.68 billion and $2.72, respectively.
Fraser also pointed to capital return as a sign of confidence. Citi plans to raise its dividend by 12% and launched a $30 billion common stock repurchase program, with $4 billion bought back during the quarter and about $5 billion returned through buybacks and dividends overall.
C Benefits From More Than One EngineManagement highlighted that Services posted its highest quarterly revenue ever, with revenue up 18% and RoTCE above 30%. Fraser and CFO Gonzalo Luchetti both tied that performance to deeper client relationships, operating deposit growth and continued demand for cross-border capabilities.
Markets also remained a major contributor. Revenue rose 17%, with Equities up 45% and prime balances up nearly 60%, while Fixed Income benefited from strength in foreign exchange, spread products and commodities.
Banking and Wealth added to the breadth story. Banking revenue climbed 34%, helped by a 44% jump in investment banking revenue, while Wealth revenue rose 13% for a ninth straight quarter as client investment assets grew 14% and net new investment assets strengthened.
Citi Defends Its Full-Year Return TargetThe central tension in the Q&A was Citi’s decision to keep its full-year 2026 RoTCE target at 10% to 11% even after generating 13.1% year to date. Luchetti said management wanted to preserve room for second-half seasonality, especially in Markets, and for a range of macro outcomes.
He also reaffirmed the full-year efficiency ratio target of around 60%, NII excluding Markets growth of about 5% to 6%, and a total U.S. credit card net credit loss rate of 4% to 4.5%.
What changed on the call was the emphasis. Fraser repeatedly told analysts Citi was focused on its near-term and medium-term return targets, not on maximizing a 2026 waypoint, and said a constructive environment would be used to pull forward investments that can support higher sustainable returns.
C Pushes Harder in Consumer CardsU.S. Consumer Cards was the clearest example of that strategy. Revenue rose just 1%, but management said the business absorbed deliberate investment in products, partnerships and customer acquisition, including the onboarding of an additional American Airlines co-branded portfolio with more than $6 billion in loans and over 2 million accounts.
Luchetti said expenses are expected to grow faster than revenue for the next few quarters as Citi invests in engagement and acquisitions. He stressed that the bank is comfortable doing so because Cards is a high-returning business, with second-quarter RoTCE at 22%.
Management also sounded constructive on credit. Luchetti said the U.S. consumer remains resilient, with card delinquencies and net credit losses down year over year and performance running in line with or better than expectations.
Citi Sees More Room on Efficiency and CapitalAnother important theme was self-help. Citi reduced headcount to 219,000 and incurred more than $800 million of severance year to date, as management continues to remove stranded costs, lower temporary transformation expenses and push productivity gains through technology and AI.
Fraser said much of the remediation work tied to Citi’s consent orders has now passed internal audit validation and can be handed to regulators. She added that Citi is already reducing related expenses as bodies of work are completed, rather than waiting for formal closure.
On capital, Citi ended the quarter with a 12.8% CET1 ratio, about 120 basis points above its current regulatory minimum. Luchetti also pointed to improving stress test results and a $500 million year-to-date reduction in disallowed deferred tax assets as evidence that the balance sheet story is improving alongside earnings.
C Keeps Playing the Long GameThe clearest takeaway from the call was tone. Citi did not argue that the second half must weaken. Instead, management argued that stronger operating momentum gives it more choices on where to invest and how quickly to execute structural actions.
That made the Q&A less about whether Citi could exceed its full-year target and more about whether it should optimize for that number. Fraser’s answer was that the bank is now in a position to think more about durability, market share and medium-term returns than about managing to a single annual figure.
What Zacks Signals Say on CC carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), along with a Value Score of D, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of C. Under Zacks’ framework, the Rank is the first screen because it reflects earnings estimate revisions, while Style Scores serve as complementary indicators over a similar one- to three-month horizon. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
That combination points to stronger momentum characteristics than value or broad style appeal right now. Zacks also notes that stocks with the most favorable return profiles typically pair a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 (Buy) with Style Scores of A or B, while a Zacks Rank #3 can still be held with attention to the score hierarchy. The Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise estimates after the quarter.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America publie aujourd'hui ses résultats financiers du deuxième trimestre 2026. Le communiqué de presse, les documents supplémentaires et la présentation aux investisseurs peuvent être consultés sur la page internet de Bank of America consacrée aux relations avec les investisseurs, à l'adresse suivante : https://investor.bankofamerica.com/quarterly-earnings.
Un formulaire 8-K contenant les résultats financiers de Bank of America est également disponible sur le site web de la Securities and Exchange Commission des États-Unis à l'adresse suivante : https://www.sec.gov.
Informations relatives à la conférence téléphonique avec les investisseurs
Brian Moynihan, président du conseil et CEO, et Alastair Borthwick, vice-président exécutif et directeur financier, présenteront les résultats financiers lors d'une téléconférence destinée aux investisseurs qui se tient aujourd'hui à 8h30 ET. Pour une connexion en écoute seulement pendant la conférence téléphonique, composez le 1.877.200.4456 (États-Unis) ou le 1.785.424.1732 (international). L'identifiant de la conférence est le 79795. Veuillez composer le numéro 10 minutes avant le début de la conférence téléphonique.
Les investisseurs peuvent suivre la conférence téléphonique en direct et consulter les diapositives de la présentation en se rendant dans la section « Événements et présentations » du site web de la société consacré aux relations avec les investisseurs.
Informations sur la rediffusion de la conférence téléphonique pour les investisseurs
Les investisseurs peuvent accéder aux enregistrements de la téléconférence destinée aux investisseurs en se rendant sur le site web des relations avec les investisseurs ou en composant le 1.800.934.4850 (États-Unis) ou au 1 402 220 1178 (international) à partir du 14 juillet à midi jusqu'au 24 juillet à 23h59 ET.
Bank of America
Bank of America est l'une des principales institutions financières du monde. Elle propose aux particuliers, aux petites et moyennes entreprises et aux grandes sociétés une gamme complète de produits et de services bancaires, d'investissement, de gestion d'actifs, ainsi que d'autres produits et services financiers et de gestion des risques. L'entreprise offre un niveau de commodité inégalé aux États-Unis, où elle compte près de 70 millions de clients, grâce à environ 3 500 agences bancaires, quelque 15 000 distributeurs automatiques de billets et une offre bancaire en ligne primée qui compte environ 60 millions d'utilisateurs numériques vérifiés. Bank of America est un leader mondial de la gestion de patrimoine, de la banque d'entreprise et d'investissement et de la négociation, couvrant un large éventail de catégories d'actifs et proposant ses services aux entreprises, aux gouvernements, aux institutions et aux particuliers du monde entier. En tant que premier prêteur des petites entreprises aux États-Unis (FDIC), Bank of America offre un accompagnement de premier plan à environ quatre millions de petites entreprises grâce à une gamme de produits et services en ligne innovants et intuitifs. L'entreprise répond aux besoins de ses clients à travers ses activités aux États-Unis, sur ses territoires et dans plus de 35 pays. Les actions de Bank of America Corporation (NYSE : BAC) sont cotées à la bourse de New York.
Les investisseurs peuvent contacter
Lee McEntire, Bank of America
Téléphone : 1.980.388.6780
[email protected]
Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Produits à revenu fixe)
Téléphone : 1.212.449.3112
[email protected]
Les journalistes peuvent contacter
Jocelyn Seidenfeld, Bank of America
Téléphone : 1.646.743.3356
[email protected]
Key Takeaways JPM now expects 2026 NII excluding Markets of $96.5 billion and total NII of $105.5 billion.Investment banking fees rose 30%, and Markets revenues climbed 35% amid a robust deal pipeline.JPM cut its card net charge-off outlook to about 3.2% as delinquencies tracked better than expected. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to push the story beyond a headline beat and toward a stronger full-year revenue outlook. Management highlighted a rare mix of elevated market activity, resilient consumer trends and broad-based business momentum.
The call also mattered because executives spent much of the Q&A defending the durability of those tailwinds while updating investors on leadership succession, capital deployment and the bank’s next wave of AI and digital investments.
JPM Raises the 2026 Revenue BarChief financial officer Jeremy Barnum said JPM now expects full-year net interest income excluding Markets of about $96.5 billion, up from the prior $95 billion view. Total NII is now expected to reach about $105.5 billion, helped by roughly $9 billion of Markets NII.
Barnum said the revised outlook reflects stronger deposit balances across wholesale and consumer banking, along with a somewhat firmer rate backdrop. He added that the most important implication is a higher exit run rate into next year.
The quarter itself added support. Excluding significant items, JPM reported EPS of $6.14, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.59. Fourth-quarter revenues came in at $57.35 billion, beating the estimate of $49.14 billion.
JPMorgan Sees a Healthy Deal BackdropBarnum described the commercial environment as especially supportive in investment banking and trading, though he stopped short of calling it fully repeatable. Investment banking fees rose 30% year over year, while Markets revenues climbed 35%.
He said the banking pipeline remains robust even after some transaction pull-forward, with large equity deals and faster M&A closings helping second-quarter performance. Management also said current activity levels are encouraging more activity rather than shutting it down.
At the same time, Barnum drew a distinction between healthy conditions and permanence. He said the market is clearly risk-on, but JPM is trying to support clients without relaxing its own risk discipline.
JPM’s Consumer Trends Stay ConstructiveBarnum said consumers and small businesses remain resilient despite elevated gas prices and inflation. He pointed to solid spending trends, stronger tax refunds and a durable labor market as key supports.
That message aligned with the numbers in Consumer & Community Banking, where revenues rose 8% year over year to $20.3 billion, and net income increased 3% to $5.3 billion. Management also noted more than 500,000 net new checking accounts in the quarter.
On credit, Barnum said delinquencies are tracking better than expected across FICO bands. JPM also lowered its full-year card net charge-off rate outlook to about 3.2%, reflecting stronger consumer performance.
JPMorgan Pushes Growth Despite Cost PressureOne of the sharper exchanges in the Q&A centered on expenses. Barnum raised the adjusted expense outlook to about $107.5 billion, saying the increase was driven mostly by volume- and revenue-linked costs tied to unusually strong activity.
Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive officer, rejected the idea that the bank should manage for perpetual operating leverage. He argued JPM’s model is to keep investing in branches, technology, bankers and marketing while still producing strong returns.
That stance also shaped the AI discussion. Dimon said the bank already has close to 1,000 use cases in motion, with roughly 50 considered especially important across fraud, risk, marketing, hedging, note-taking and document review. He framed AI as a tool to improve service and productivity, not a reason to assume structurally higher margins.
JPM Sticks With Organic Capital DeploymentCapital allocation drew another heavy round of questions after the bank bought back $6.2 billion of stock in the quarter and reported a 14.1% standardized CET1 ratio. Dimon said buybacks are an investment decision, not simply a return of capital.
He said the bank still sees a large set of organic opportunities across cards, branches, payments, digital products and international expansion. That helps explain why management remains willing to preserve flexibility even with returns running well above long-term targets.
On regulation, Dimon again pressed for changes to Basel III endgame proposals, arguing that some capital calculations still double-count risk. Barnum added that regulatory stability would be welcome, but said JPM’s current valuation is not obviously being capped by regulation alone.
JPMorgan Broadens the Leadership StoryLeadership succession also moved to the foreground. Dimon said the elevation of Doug Petno and Troy Rohrbaugh to co-presidents does not change the expected succession timetable, which he again described as being measured in several years and ultimately up to the board.
Dimon defended Rohrbaugh’s move into the consumer role by emphasizing broad management ability, culture and operating depth rather than narrow product experience. He said the bank wants leaders who can carry the franchise across businesses, not just excel in one silo.
That answer fit the broader tone of the call. JPMorgan presented itself as a bank still leaning into growth, still investing through the cycle and still treating today’s unusually favorable environment as a chance to build, not coast.
Zacks Signals Still Favor SelectivityJPM carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Under the Zacks framework, Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 stocks have the strongest potential to outperform over the next one to three months, especially when paired with favorable Style Scores. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Style Score picture is mixed. JPM has a Momentum Score of A, but Value, Growth and VGM Scores of F. That combination points to stronger price-action support than broad style-based appeal, and it also means the current Zacks Rank can still change as estimate revisions move after the quarter.
OCBC’s Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong note that Silver has risen nearly 2%, outperforming Gold’s 1.2% gain on the back of a softer US Dollar (USD) and reduced Fed hike expectations after weak core Consumer Price Index (CPI). They highlight Silver’s higher sensitivity to monetary conditions and risk appetite, expecting larger two-way swings unless Fed tightening expectations ease more sustainably, with key support at 55 and resistance at 61.20.
Outperformance tempered by volatility risks"Silver rose nearly 2% alongside gold (about 1.2%), supported by the softer USD, some push back in Fed hike expectations after core CPI underwhelmed. The stronger rebound partly reflects silver’s higher sensitivity to shifts in both monetary conditions and investor risk appetite. Near term, silver may outperform gold if the USD and yields extend lower."
"But conviction remains limited as oil-driven inflation risks persist. Without a more sustained easing in Fed tightening expectations, silver is likely to remain prone to larger two-way swings, rather than move into a clean recovery trend. Silver last seen at 58.80 levels."
"Daily momentum and RSI have yet to offer a clean read at this point. Two-way trades likely. Support at 55 levels (recent low year-to-date) before 49."
"Resistance at 61.20 (21 DMA) needs to be taken out for momentum to gain traction. Failing which, silver may well revert to trade near recent lows."
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)
The British Pound (GBP) is up 0.1% at around 1.3403 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Wednesday. The GBP/USD pair gains as the US Dollar comes under selling pressure, with market participants dialing down expectations for Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hikes.
In the European trade, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, has recovered its early losses and is marginally down to near 100.87. However, the DXY is still holding Tuesday’s losses.
According to the CME FedWatch tool, the odds of the Fed raising interest rates in the policy meeting this month have eased to 16.6% from 41.7% recorded on Monday.
Traders pare hawkish Fed bets as the United States (US) Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for June showed on Tuesday that both headline and core inflation grew at a slower-than-expected pace.
In the United Kingdom (UK), Andy Burnham is set to replace Prime Minister (PM) Keir Starmer on July 20 and will likely appoint a new Finance Minister (FM). The smooth UK leadership transition is supporting the British Pound.
GBP/USD technical analysis
GBP/USD trades slightly higher at around 1.3400, holding a mildly bullish near‑term bias as it remains above the 20‑period exponential moving average (EMA) at 1.3350. However, the overall trend appears sideways amid the Descending Triangle formation.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 55.93 suggests steady, but not overextended, upside momentum.
On the downside, initial support is seen at the current price area around 1.3401, with the 20‑period EMA at 1.3350 reinforcing a nearby demand zone before the structural floor defined by the rising trend‑line break near 1.3166. On the topside, a sustained move above 1.3520, where the descending resistance trend line break level resides, would be needed to open the door for a more decisive bullish extension beyond the recent range. Above 1.3520, the pair could extend its advance towards 1.3600.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Inflation FAQs Inflation measures the rise in the price of a representative basket of goods and services. Headline inflation is usually expressed as a percentage change on a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) basis. Core inflation excludes more volatile elements such as food and fuel which can fluctuate because of geopolitical and seasonal factors. Core inflation is the figure economists focus on and is the level targeted by central banks, which are mandated to keep inflation at a manageable level, usually around 2%.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices of a basket of goods and services over a period of time. It is usually expressed as a percentage change on a month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) basis. Core CPI is the figure targeted by central banks as it excludes volatile food and fuel inputs. When Core CPI rises above 2% it usually results in higher interest rates and vice versa when it falls below 2%. Since higher interest rates are positive for a currency, higher inflation usually results in a stronger currency. The opposite is true when inflation falls.
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, high inflation in a country pushes up the value of its currency and vice versa for lower inflation. This is because the central bank will normally raise interest rates to combat the higher inflation, which attract more global capital inflows from investors looking for a lucrative place to park their money.
Formerly, Gold was the asset investors turned to in times of high inflation because it preserved its value, and whilst investors will often still buy Gold for its safe-haven properties in times of extreme market turmoil, this is not the case most of the time. This is because when inflation is high, central banks will put up interest rates to combat it. Higher interest rates are negative for Gold because they increase the opportunity-cost of holding Gold vis-a-vis an interest-bearing asset or placing the money in a cash deposit account. On the flipside, lower inflation tends to be positive for Gold as it brings interest rates down, making the bright metal a more viable investment alternative.
The carrier's earnings come just days after its rival Delta Air Lines reported but the landscape for the sector has shifted dramatically in that short time.
PayPal, the struggling payments processor, rallied in premarket trade on Wednesday on a report that rival Stripe is teaming up with private-equity group Advent International on a bid.
PayPal's stock surged in premarket trading after reports emerged that Stripe and Advent International had offered to acquire the company for over $53 billion.
The offer, valued at $60.50 per share, represents roughly a 28% premium over PayPal's most recent closing price. Shares have traded as low as $38.46 over the past year, a steep comedown from PayPal's peak market capitalization near $343 billion in 2021.
So how did PayPal fall from a $343 billion valuation to being acquired for just $53 billion?
PayPal, one of the best-known in the fintech industry, has fallen from grace in the past few years. Its stock has plunged from the pandemic-era high of $300 to the premarket level of $54. Its market capitalization has plunged from $343 billion in 2021 to $53 billion today.
The decline has coincided with the broader weakness in the fintech sector, with many of its competitors being much lower than their all-time highs. Jack Dorsey’s Block has plunged from a high of $288 to $79 today, while Shift4 Payments fell from $127 to $50. SoFi stock has pulled back from $32.70 to $18.
Even traditional payment companies have struggled in this period. Mastercard stock has dropped by 2.27%, while Visa has risen by just 2.2% in the last 12 months.
The main reason behind this crash is that PayPal’s business is no longer growing as it did before. SeekingAlpha data shows that its annual revenue growth has slumped from 8.46% in 2022 to 4.32% last year. And analysts anticipate that its annual revenue will grow by 3.50% this year to $34 billion.
PayPal’s business has found substantial competition challenges across its branded and unbranded business in the past few years. Its branded business has faced competition from companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple.
Its unbranded business is also facing strong competition from other money processors globally.
At the same time, the company's strategy to pivot its business has not been particularly successful. A good example is the launch of its stablecoin business. Launched in 2023, PYUSD has grown to a market capitalization of just $2.58 billion, making it far smaller than USDC and USDT.
Similarly, its attempts to introduce new management have not been successful. It replaced Dan Schulman with Alex Chriss in 2023. After attempting to reinvigorate its growth, Chriss exited this year and was replaced by Enrique Lores, a former President and CEO of HP.
Stripe and Advent are said to have made a $53 billion bid for PayPal. Such a deal would make sense for them as PayPal is one of the most undervalued companies in Wall Street, with a forward PE ratio of 8.9, much lower than the S&P 500 average of 23. The two companies may decide to break PayPal apart, potentially by spinning off Venmo into an independent company.
The challenge, however, is whether PayPal will accept a buyout deal. If it does, it will demand a higher price than the $53 billion that the two companies have suggested. Also, there is a likelihood that more bidders will come in and place a higher offer, which will benefit existing shareholders.
PayPal jumped in premarket trading Wednesday after Stripe and Advent International reportedly made a joint offer to acquire the payments firm in a $53 billion deal.
Payments firm Stripe and private equity company Advent are planning to buy PayPal for $60.50 per share, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter. The deal would value the payments company at more than $53 billion.
The offer was submitted earlier this month and includes roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing, valuing PayPal at a 28% premium to its closing share price on Tuesday, according to the report.
PayPal hasn't responded to the offer, which would see Stripe and Advent jointly own the company and hold equal stakes. The firms are hoping to progress discussions in the coming weeks.
PayPal was last trading 16% higher before the market opened, but its stock has declined 18% in the past year.
CNBC has reached out to PayPal, Stripe, and Advent International for comment.
PayPal's stock in the past year.
This is a breaking news story. Please refresh for updates.
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) will release its second quarter earnings report before the opening bell on Friday, July 17.
Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings of $5.33 per share, down from $6.51 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Travelers’ quarterly revenue is $10.99 billion. It reported $10.92 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On April 16, Travelers Companies reported better-than-expected first-quarter results.
Travelers shares fell 1.4% to close at $336.83 on Tuesday.
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 TRV stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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International Business Machines (IBM 25.37%) just experienced one of the largest one-day declines in its history. That 25% drop on Tuesday came after CEO Arvind Krishna admitted that high capital expenditures on hardware had caused many companies to shift budgets away from software spending.
Such a sharp reaction from the market will understandably leave many investors wondering how to react. However, there are good reasons to treat this plunge as a buying opportunity.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Why IBM sold off Admittedly, the negative reaction to Krishna's statement was understandable. According to IBM's preliminary Q2 results, the company's revenue grew by just 1% year over year. That is well below its 9% increase in Q1 and brought revenue growth down to levels comparable to where IBM was before Krishna shifted the company's focus to the cloud and AI.
Software is now IBM's largest business segment, accounting for almost 45% of the company's revenue in the first quarter. Additionally, the software segment's annual growth rate fell from 11% in Q1 to just 5% in Q2.
Moreover, while IBM still operates an enterprise hardware business, its infrastructure segment experienced a 7% annual revenue decline in Q2. Hence, it does not appear to have benefited from the boom in hardware spending.
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Why investors should stay confident Nonetheless, the one benefit to investors is that the drop in this tech stock seems to have instantaneously priced in this particular challenge. IBM's P/E ratio is now just 19, near its multiyear low. As recently as last fall, its earnings multiple was above 40, so this pullback represents a considerable discount.
Moreover, under Krishna's leadership, IBM's total returns have outpaced the S&P 500, indicating that he has earned investors' confidence during his six-year tenure as the head of the company.
IBM Total Return Level data by YCharts.
Also, not all of the news in the preliminary report was negative. Red Hat's year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 was 11%, indicating that bright spots remain in IBM's software business.
Furthermore, the U.S. government is betting billions on quantum computing, and IBM has long led the way in that technology. Amid its partnership with the government, IBM in May announced plans for the construction of Anderon, the first pure-play foundry to build quantum wafers.
In addition to the $2 billion investment in the foundry ($1 billion of which came from CHIPS Act funds), it plans to invest $10 billion in quantum technology over the next five years. Such investments greatly increase the odds that IBM will be a major player in a technology that's likely to drive innovation for years to come.
Buy IBM stock The struggles in the software sector and IBM's 1% revenue growth in Q2 are likely to continue weighing on the stock in the near term.
Fortunately, despite the sell-off, IBM stock has prospered under Krishna, and it appears that it is on track to continue outperforming in the longer term.
Additionally, the continued success of Red Hat and its investments in quantum computing should serve IBM well in the coming years. With this growth story now on sale at just 19 times earnings, Tuesday's stock price plunge could be a blessing in disguise for new investors.
Britain's competition regulator on Wednesday cleared eBay's planned takeover of fashion resale platform Depop, concluding an initial probe and removing a potential hurdle for the U.S.-based company in closing the deal.
TSMC is expected to deliver another record profit on Thursday, but investors may need more than strong headline numbers to push the stock higher.
The chipmaker reports at 2 AM ET on July 16. Analysts expect second-quarter net profit to surge 59% to NT$632.6 billion, which would mark a fifth consecutive quarterly record.
Revenue is already known: sales rose 36% to NT$1.27 trillion.
Yet TSMC’s US-listed shares have gained about 38% in 2026, leaving investors focused on third-quarter guidance and whether Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin rollout remains on schedule.
TSMC’s second-quarter revenue narrowly exceeded the NT$1.264 trillion consensus compiled by LSEG, reinforcing the strength of demand for its most advanced manufacturing processes and chip-packaging services.
Any quarterly profit above NT$572.5 billion would set another company record.
The company previously forecast a gross margin of between 65.5% and 67.5%, alongside an operating margin of 56.5% to 58.5%.
Investors will examine whether stronger pricing and high factory utilisation allowed TSMC to reach the upper end of those ranges, particularly as overseas expansion costs continue to rise.
Dan Nystedt, a research analyst at investment firm TriOrient, told Reuters that the revenue performance showed AI demand remained healthy, supporting TSMC’s advanced-node production and chip-on-wafer-on-substrate, or CoWoS, packaging business.
Because TSMC has already disclosed its sales, Thursday’s share-price reaction will probably depend more heavily on profitability and management’s outlook.
Options markets imply that the US-listed stock could move roughly 5% in either direction by the end of the week. The shares closed Tuesday at $420.39.
TSMC manufactures Nvidia’s most advanced AI processors and provides the sophisticated packaging needed to combine GPUs with high-bandwidth memory.
That makes Nvidia’s annual product cadence an important driver of TSMC’s advanced-node utilisation and CoWoS demand.
KeyBanc analyst John Vinh recently flagged a slight delay to Nvidia’s Vera Rubin rollout, citing thermal heat-lid issues and delays involving HBM4 qualification.
The concern is not that demand has disappeared.
Rather, a later volume ramp could shift production and revenue between quarters at a time when investors expect AI growth to accelerate during the second half.
Vinh believes the financial impact should remain limited because Nvidia can compensate by shipping more B300 Blackwell systems.
He still expects Rubin shipments to begin ramping in July and forecasts deliveries of roughly 1.7 million to 1.8 million units during 2026.
KeyBanc retained an Overweight rating on Nvidia and raised its price target to $330 from $310.
Bank of America analyst Haas Liu said in a research note that supply-chain checks continued to indicate a strong AI demand pipeline.
He believes TSMC could raise its full-year revenue-growth outlook from the current forecast of more than 30%.
Capital expenditure will provide another important signal.
TSMC previously said its 2026 spending would reach the upper end of its $52 billion to $56 billion range.
Liu believes the company could lift that forecast to about $58 billion, reflecting tight equipment availability and capacity expansion across advanced logic, memory and packaging.
Nystedt, by contrast, expects management to retain the existing range.
A larger budget would signal confidence that demand from Nvidia, custom-chip designers and hyperscale cloud companies can remain strong.
Unchanged spending would not necessarily indicate weakness, although it could disappoint investors positioned for another upgrade.
Silver’s recovery lost momentum below the $60 mark this week despite softer-than-expected US inflation, highlighting a macro backdrop that has become less supportive than many investors anticipated. Ordinarily, a downside surprise in CPI would trigger a broader Dollar selloff and provide precious metals with a meaningful tailwind. This time, however, the Dollar’s decline proved relatively shallow and uneven, while buying interest in Silver remained subdued. Together, those factors have kept the metal trapped within its recent trading range and preserved a bearish near-term outlook.
The first headwind has been the Dollar itself. Although the Dollar Index initially fell following June’s weaker CPI report, it recovered a meaningful portion of those losses after Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to restoring price stability while avoiding any dovish policy signals during his congressional testimony. The Dollar’s weakness was also concentrated in a handful of currencies with their own domestic catalysts, particularly the Canadian Dollar, supported by stronger oil prices and a more hawkish Bank of Canada outlook, and the New Zealand Dollar following hawkish comments from RBNZ Chief Economist Paul Conway. Against the Euro, Sterling, Swiss Franc and Yen, Dollar weakness was comparatively modest. Without a broad-based decline in the US currency, Silver has struggled to attract the sustained buying that typically follows softer US inflation.
Muted demand has reinforced that pressure. While positioning data are not yet available to confirm investor behavior, price action suggests opportunistic buying following the CPI release was considerably weaker than in previous episodes of Dollar weakness. The inability to reclaim the $60 level despite an ostensibly supportive inflation report indicates that buyers remain cautious, leaving the metal vulnerable if the Dollar regains strength or Treasury yields move higher again.
Beyond the immediate macro backdrop, Silver also faces a more structural challenge through industrial demand. The market is currently in its sixth consecutive annual supply deficit, but unlike many commodities, higher prices do not necessarily generate a meaningful increase in supply. Around 70% of global Silver production comes as a by-product of copper, lead and zinc mining, meaning output decisions depend primarily on those metals rather than Silver prices. New mine development also typically requires seven to ten years, leaving demand adjustment as the principal mechanism for balancing the market.
That demand adjustment may already be underway. China’s largest solar manufacturer, Longi Green Energy, has begun commercial production using copper-metallized solar cells, reducing reliance on Silver in one of the metal’s fastest-growing industrial applications. Given that the solar sector accounted for roughly 17% of global Silver demand last year, broader adoption of copper metallization could gradually weaken one of Silver’s most important structural demand drivers. The transition is unlikely to transform the market overnight, but it represents a notable shift in the long-term balance between supply and demand.
Technically, the outlook remains bearish while resistance at 63.25 caps upside. A break below 55.59 would resume the broader decline from the record high of 121.83 to o 76.4% retracement of 28.28 to 121.83 at 50.35, which is close to 50 psychological level.
Conversely, sustained break above 63.25 would delay the bearish scenario and extend the corrective rebound toward with another rising leg to 38.2% retracement of 89.37 to 55.59 at 68.49 instead.
Until the Dollar weakens more broadly, however, Silver appears increasingly vulnerable to another leg lower.
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IBM stock suffered its worst one-day decline on record after the technology group admitted that customers were moving money away from its products and towards urgently needed data-centre infrastructure.
The stock plunged 25.2% to $217.07 on Tuesday, leaving it just above its 52-week low, after preliminary second-quarter revenue and profit missed Wall Street forecasts.
Yet Barclays analyst Saket Kalia sees a potential winner on the other side of that spending shift: network-security companies selling firewalls.
As per TipRanks, his industry checks identified Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet and Check Point as potential beneficiaries.
Palo Alto Networks is one of the world’s largest firewall providers and gives customers a broad portfolio spanning network, cloud and security operations products.
Its position makes it an obvious beneficiary when companies prioritise cybersecurity spending over less urgent software projects.
The stock climbed 6.8% to $352.89 on Tuesday as IBM’s warning drew attention to the resilience of security budgets.
Kalia’s analysis suggested that demand for firewall hardware was benefiting from the same urgency pushing companies to secure servers and memory before costs rise further.
The difficulty is valuation. TipRanks’ comparison tool showed no analyst-implied upside for Palo Alto at Tuesday’s closing level.
Its average 12-month target was $333.31, below the market price, despite a Strong Buy consensus.
Fortinet supplied Kalia with the strongest numerical evidence that customers are already buying more security hardware.
Its first-quarter product revenue jumped 41% from a year earlier to $645 million, while total revenue rose 20% to $1.9 billion.
Kalia pointed to that product strength as evidence that the shift was appearing in firewall sales rather than remaining a theoretical opportunity.
The company specialises in FortiGate firewalls and builds many of its own security processors, allowing it to offer high-performance appliances at competitive prices.
That could be particularly attractive when customers need greater network capacity to protect expanding AI infrastructure.
Fortinet shares gained 3.9% to a record $166.83 on Tuesday. But, like Palo Alto, the rally has overtaken the broader analyst consensus.
TipRanks listed an average target of about $117, while Barclays’ own latest target was $155 and TD Cowen recently raised its target to $215.
Check Point was the most modest gainer of the three, rising 2% to $137.02, but it offered the clearest valuation case.
The platform showed a Moderate Buy consensus and an average target of $148.36, implying almost 9% upside from the price used in its analysis.
The target was based on 12 Buy and 18 Hold ratings, with no Sell recommendations.
Check Point has traditionally been viewed as a slower-growing but profitable cybersecurity company.
That positioning could become more attractive if the current spending shift favours established firewall vendors without supporting the premium valuations attached to faster-growing rivals.
Still, Kalia included an important warning. The boost “could be temporary,” because companies may simply be bringing purchases forward to avoid supply constraints and higher prices.
Once that wave passes, the sector could experience a digestion period similar to the slowdown that followed pandemic-era technology spending.
