Michael Coates has joined the Solana Foundation as its Chief Information Security Officer after a career spanning leadership roles at Mozilla, Twitter and enterprise security startup Altitude Networks.
Summary
Michael Coates has joined the Solana Foundation as Chief Information Security Officer after previously leading security at Mozilla, Twitter and Altitude Networks. Coates said Solana’s transaction scale and multi billion dollar daily stablecoin activity influenced his decision to join the foundation. His work will focus on strengthening crypto security, improving application security practices and working with policymakers on cybersecurity standards. According to a post shared by Michael Coates on X, he has taken over as CISO of the Solana Foundation, where he will lead security efforts across the network as blockchain adoption and institutional activity continue to grow.
Coates cites Solana’s scale as a key factor Explaining his decision, Coates said Solana now handles tens of billions of dollars in daily stablecoin volume while processing more transactions each day than most of the cryptocurrency industry combined. He also pointed to recent tokenization activity on the network, including the launch of SpaceX tokenized shares on the same day the asset debuted on Nasdaq.
Big Update for me – a new chapter and I'm now CISO of @SolanaFndn .
I've always been drawn to fast moving new frontiers. Head of Security of Mozilla during the height of the browser wars, the first CISO of Twitter as they burst onto the world's stage, and even as a startup… pic.twitter.com/nrxtpxIKqZ
— Michael Coates (@_mwc) July 7, 2026 Coates enters the role after serving as Head of Security at Mozilla during the browser competition era and becoming Twitter’s first Chief Information Security Officer as the social media platform expanded globally. He later founded enterprise SaaS security company Altitude Networks, which entered the crypto sector after its acquisition by CoinList.
Within the Solana Foundation, Coates said his work will include strengthening operational security, improving application security practices and addressing risks unique to digital assets. He added that he also plans to work with policymakers and standards bodies on cybersecurity regulation affecting the crypto industry.
Describing the current threat environment, Coates said attackers remain heavily motivated to steal digital assets and noted that malicious uses of artificial intelligence are becoming an increasing security concern. He added that AI can also strengthen defensive capabilities when used effectively and referenced his congressional testimony on the subject earlier this year.
The appointment comes as digital asset firms continue bringing experienced leaders from technology, cybersecurity and regulatory backgrounds into senior positions while institutional participation expands across the sector.
A similar trend emerged last year when former U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Christopher Giancarlo joined Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum as a senior policy advisor. Sygnum said at the time that Giancarlo would advise on global regulation, strategic partnerships and international growth, underscoring the industry’s continued recruitment of experienced executives as crypto infrastructure develops.
G2 Esports just beat T1 in a 45-minute slugfest at the Mid-Season Invitational 2026, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series.
Game 1 of the bracket stage series took place on July 8, 2026, and it was anything but a blowout. The 45-minute runtime tells you this was a chess match, not a steamroll. T1, historically one of the most dominant organizations in competitive League of Legends through their LCK pedigree, didn’t go down quietly.
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Prediction markets on platforms including Kalshi, Robinhood, and Coinbase were actively trading throughout the match. Real-time odds shifted as the game progressed, with trading volumes reportedly reaching into the millions.
The organization holds treasury investments in Solana, a position that has been far from trivial for their bottom line. In 2024, G2 realized approximately 16 million euros from Solana sales, a figure that materially bolstered their financial results for the year.
Beyond the treasury play, G2 maintains an active sponsorship with Betpanda, a crypto-focused betting platform.
When you combine the Solana treasury, the Betpanda partnership, and the fact that prediction markets are now trading G2’s live match results on platforms like Coinbase, you start to see an organization that has woven itself deeply into the crypto ecosystem.
The risk runs in both directions. A Solana downturn would hit G2’s balance sheet just as hard as the 2024 gains helped it.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Clearstream has expanded its institutional crypto custody service by adding six more digital assets.
Summary
Clearstream now supports eight crypto assets, widening institutional access beyond Bitcoin and Ether custody. The service uses Crypto Finance as sub-custodian, keeping the offering inside Deutsche Börse’s regulated structure. MiCA is pushing European institutions toward licensed custody, settlement, trading, and stablecoin infrastructure providers. Clearstream, the post-trade services provider owned by Deutsche Börse Group, said it now accepts Ripple-linked XRP, Cardano, Solana, Litecoin, Stellar, and Avalanche in its crypto custody offering. These assets join Bitcoin and Ether, which were already supported.
The move gives institutional clients a wider list of crypto assets inside Clearstream’s custody system. The firm said the expansion responds to growing demand for MiCA-compliant crypto assets in institutional finance.
Clearstream is one of Europe’s largest settlement and custody firms. Its parent, Deutsche Börse Group, operates across trading, clearing, settlement, and market infrastructure.
Crypto Finance remains sub-custodian Clearstream said the service continues to use Crypto Finance, another Deutsche Börse Group company, as sub-custodian. Crypto Finance holds a MiCAR license, which lets it provide regulated crypto services across Europe.
The structure allows Clearstream clients to access crypto custody through existing accounts with Clearstream Banking S.A. in Luxembourg. It also lets institutions use familiar market infrastructure instead of setting up direct relationships with separate crypto service providers.
When the service was first announced, Clearstream said it would support Bitcoin and Ether before considering more assets based on client demand. As previously reported by crypto.news, the original plan gave about 2,500 institutional clients access to crypto custody and settlement from April 2025.
MiCA shapes institutional demand The timing comes as Europe’s crypto market adjusts to the Markets in Crypto-Assets framework. MiCA created a single rulebook for crypto-asset service providers, including custody, exchange, transfer, and stablecoin services.
Meanwhile, ESMA’s register expanded after the July 1 deadline, with more firms gaining authorization to serve clients across the European Union. That shift has made licensing a key part of institutional crypto access.
Clearstream’s expansion fits that market. Banks, brokers, asset managers, and trading firms need custody providers that can meet regulatory, settlement, reporting, and operational needs.
The new token list also shows that institutional access is moving beyond only Bitcoin and Ether. XRP, Solana, Cardano, Litecoin, Stellar, and Avalanche each have large public markets and established user bases.
Deutsche Börse widens digital asset rails Deutsche Börse Group has been building several digital asset services across its market infrastructure. Clearstream’s custody expansion adds another piece to that broader strategy.
Moreover,Deutsche Börse partnered with Circle to bring USDC and EURC into its trading and custody network under MiCA. The plan includes trading through 3DX and custody through Clearstream.
The group’s approach centers on regulated access rather than direct retail crypto services. Clearstream serves institutional clients that often need asset safety, settlement support, and clear legal structures before handling digital assets.
Key Takeaways Bitcoin commands 40% allocation due to institutional adoption and proven market stability Ethereum captures 25% for its leadership in decentralized finance and smart contract platforms Solana secures 15% thanks to superior transaction speed and expanding ecosystem Chainlink holds 10% as critical oracle infrastructure supporting real-world data integration Near Protocol takes 5% for its emerging AI integration and Layer 1 innovation Distributing $1,000 strategically across five digital assets plus a stable reserve creates a framework that manages volatility while capturing growth potential.
Building the Foundation With Market Leaders Bitcoin anchors this allocation strategy with a 40% position worth $400. As the pioneering cryptocurrency with the largest market capitalization, it benefits from unmatched liquidity and growing institutional acceptance through exchange-traded funds and corporate balance sheet adoption. Its established position makes it the most dependable choice among digital currencies.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Ethereum claims the second-largest portion at 25%, representing $250. This network underpins the majority of decentralized financial applications and stablecoin infrastructure while serving as the primary platform for asset tokenization. Traditional financial players exploring blockchain solutions consistently choose Ethereum’s established ecosystem.
Combined, these two assets account for 65% of the total allocation. This concentration acknowledges their relatively lower volatility compared to emerging alternatives.
Adding High-Growth Exposure Solana receives a 15% allocation worth $150. This blockchain challenges Ethereum with superior transaction throughput and minimal fees, establishing significant presence in decentralized finance, payment systems, and mainstream crypto applications. While introducing additional risk, it offers substantial upside potential through continued network adoption.
Chainlink captures 10%, translating to $100. Its decentralized oracle infrastructure bridges blockchains with external data sources, creating essential functionality for DeFi protocols and enterprise applications. Growing tokenization of traditional assets should drive increased demand for reliable data feeds.
Near Protocol completes the portfolio with 5%, or $50. This platform emphasizes artificial intelligence infrastructure alongside its Layer 1 capabilities. Though representing the smallest and most speculative position, it provides meaningful exposure to the convergence of AI and blockchain technology.
Maintaining Liquid Reserves The remaining 5%, worth $50, remains in stablecoin holdings. This represents a strategic buffer rather than idle capital. Maintaining liquid reserves enables opportunistic purchases during market corrections without liquidating existing positions.
Cryptocurrency markets experience dramatic price movements. A modest reserve provides tactical flexibility when attractive entry points emerge.
The Case for Strategic Allocation No individual asset guarantees superior returns. Distributing capital across five cryptocurrencies with distinct applications and risk characteristics helps minimize portfolio damage when individual assets decline sharply.
Bitcoin and Ethereum establish the baseline stability. Solana, Chainlink, and Near deliver growth potential. The stablecoin reserve maintains optionality for market dislocations.
This framework avoids speculation in favor of methodical market exposure. It represents a rational entry point for allocating $1,000 toward digital assets without concentrating risk excessively.
The allocation mirrors current market dynamics: institutional participation continues expanding, artificial intelligence intersects with blockchain infrastructure, and fundamental protocol layers gain importance in how decentralized networks operate.
Solana has posted a remarkable recovery, climbing 13.67 percent over the past week and solidifying its position in the $79 to $82 range. With daily trading volume topping $1.6 billion, this bullish momentum stands out as a noticeable shift for altcoins, which have been stuck in a prolonged sideways trend. Market participants are watching these developments closely, eager to interpret what might come next for SOL.
Record SOL withdrawals from exchanges grab attentionRoughly $120 million worth of SOL—equivalent to about 1.5 million tokens—were withdrawn from centralized exchanges last week. While the exit of assets from trading platforms signals a cooling in short-term selling pressure, market experts warn this does not guarantee an immediate price rally. For Solana to maintain its bullish structure, the $75 to $77 range must act as a reliable support.
Ali Charts emphasized that approximately $120 million in SOL left exchanges over the last week, translating to 1.5 million tokens, highlighting its potential impact.
Recent technical indicators offer further insights. Solana’s three-day chart has generated a SuperTrend buy signal, which is notable for traders relying on technical strategies. Following the previous SuperTrend sell signal, SOL experienced a sharp pullback, so investors are looking for solid confirmation above $82 to validate the rally’s strength.
Analysts eye the $150 targetCrypto analyst Ansem has been among the most optimistic voices regarding Solana, predicting that SOL could revisit the $150 mark in the coming months. His outlook is based on the fact that on-chain assets have remained trapped below key resistance levels for over a year. Historically, such extended periods of accumulation often precede major moves in either direction.
Ansem points out that timing the absolute bottom is not necessary; instead, the critical point is to take positions as momentum begins to build, identifying the breach of $80 as a key level.
On the technical front, the MACD indicator continues to suggest an uptrend for SOL. Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers near 60, indicating that the asset is neither overbought nor oversold. Resistance in the upper $80s and low $90s continues to be an immediate obstacle for further gains.
Prediction market launches on SolanaA new on-chain prediction market called World went live on the Solana network on July 1, offering its services directly through the Phantom wallet. World allows users to trade contracts linked not only to cryptocurrency prices but also to events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Phantom has become widely adopted as a go-to wallet application within the Solana ecosystem.
Mini glossary: An oracle is an infrastructure that transports off-chain data to smart contracts. Chainlink is a widely used oracle network that securely relays data on prices, outcomes, and other events to blockchains.
World relies on Chainlink’s oracle services and settles transactions using the CASH stablecoin. Operating on a non-custodial, order flow-managed architecture, the platform directs trades via designated liquidity providers. Such dApps increase transaction activity and are viewed as factors that enhance Solana’s overall adoption and utility.
According to Ash Crypto, Solana has printed its first green candle on the monthly chart in nine months, having rallied 38 percent from its $60 low and adding $14 billion in market capitalization. While $82 remains the crucial threshold for the short term, a breakout through the $92 to $95 range could set the stage for SOL to make a fresh move toward $100.
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.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Solana (SOL) price is down 3% on Wednesday, extending a bearish reversal after an overhead trendline capped the previous week’s recovery. Institutional inflows eased to $1.67 million on Tuesday, while declining Open Interest and fluctuating funding rates indicate mixed retail demand. The technical outlook for SOL indicates a bearish bias, with a risk of a decline of over 20% if price clears below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $76.67.
Sellers regain strength as institutional buying easesSolana is losing retail demand as broader market risk-off sentiment builds, while inflows into SOL-focused Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) ease. CoinGlass data show SOL futures Open Interest (SOL) is down 4% in the last 24 hours to $5.31 billion, indicating a decline in open SOL contracts as risk-on sentiment eases among traders. At the same time, volume is down 8% to $8.66 billion, while funding rates stand at 0.0029%, up from -0.0042% the previous day, indicating near-term indecisiveness.
On the institutional front, the SOL ETFs recorded inflows of $1.67 million on Tuesday, down from $8.36 million on Monday, signaling easing demand from institutional investors.
SOL ETFs data. Source: Sosovalue
SOL derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassSolana risks a 20% drop below its 50-day EMASolana is down 3% on Wednesday, extending its decline from a long-term overhead trendline, which capped the previous week's recovery around $83.94. SOL remains capped well below the 200-day EMA at $95.51, which keeps the broader tone neutral rather than outright bullish
From a technical perspective, the 50-day EMA at $76.67, reinforced by the 50% retracement at $76.92, measured over the downswing from $98.41 to $60.13, serves as the immediate support zone for Solana. A decisive close below this zone could open the path toward the lower Fibonacci anchor at $60.13, indicating a downside of around 22%.
That said, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is descending toward its signal line, risking a bearish crossover as buying pressure wanes, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) dips to 54 as buyers struggle to maintain momentum.
SOL/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, initial resistance emerges at the downward resistance trendline at $83.94, where a sustained upmove would open the way toward the 200-day EMA at $95.51.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Binance Research releases stablecoin industry report: Platform stablecoin reserves hit $53 billion, market share rises to 57%
Binance Research has released an industry report titled "Stablecoins: Reshaping the Financial Landscape". The report shows that as of now, Binance’s stablecoin reserve on its platform has reached $53 billion, with its market share rising from 54% to 57%—about $420 billion higher than that of the second-largest crypto exchange. Meanwhile, in the first five months of 2026, cumulative trading volume of TradFi-related perpetual contracts exceeded $1.1 trillion, with Binance’s volume topping $500 billion and accounting for roughly 47% of the market share. Additionally, since 2022, Binance Earn has distributed a total of $1.2 billion in yields to over 14 million stablecoin users. BNB Chain sees 10 million daily stablecoin transactions and 15 million monthly active addresses, holding a roughly 24% market share by transaction volume. The report notes that stablecoins are evolving from a crypto asset trading tool to a critical settlement infrastructure for global finance, while Binance has built a one-stop stablecoin financial ecosystem covering trading, payments, yields, investments and on-chain ecosystems.
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A popular Solana crypto wallet is set to integrate perpetual futures, according to a report by Motley Fool. This development is expected to enhance the wallet’s utility by allowing users to engage in leveraged positions without owning the underlying Solana (SOL) tokens. The integration represents a significant step in expanding Solana’s role as a decentralized finance (DeFi) hub, providing users with easier access to perpetual futures liquidity. Currently, Solana’s price hovers near $77, with market participants closely monitoring the $80 level as a potential breakout point.
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The introduction of perpetual futures could attract both institutional and retail interest, potentially impacting Solana’s market dynamics. As perpetual futures are derivatives without an expiration date, they offer a flexible option for users, which may lead to increased on-chain activity on the Solana network. This move is consistent with scenarios where Solana’s price trajectory might see upward pressure, as suggested by current market pricing.
Key Takeaways The integration of perpetual futures into a popular Solana wallet appears consistent with enhanced DeFi capabilities on the network. Market pricing suggests that participants view this development as supportive of Solana’s price increase, with potential for growth above the $80 mark. The addition of perpetual futures aligns with Solana’s strategy to expand institutional and retail access to its ecosystem. What to Watch Watch for further announcements regarding the specific wallet involved and the timeline for implementation. Key indicators include Solana’s ability to maintain support levels and any shifts in volume or on-chain activity. Developments such as institutional adoption or changes in regulatory stances could also influence market dynamics, affecting Solana’s price movement in July.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h August 1 2026 31% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 4% — — View market → August 1 2026 1.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.9% — — View market → August 1 2026 10% — — View market → August 1 2026 1% — — View market → August 1 2026 18.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 3.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market →
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Pump.fun deposited 68,596 SOL valued at approximately $5.65 million into Kraken across several transactions, raising fresh questions about Solana’s near-term supply outlook.
The largest transfer reached 41,746 SOL, while several smaller deposits followed within hours, showing a coordinated movement toward the exchange.
Such transfers often preceded potential selling activity because tokens became readily available for trading.
However, the broader market showed little evidence that participants rushed to offload their holdings.
Exchange withdrawals continued dominating spot activity Spot flow data presented a different picture despite Pump.fun’s latest deposits.
Solana recorded a daily net outflow of $9.62 million, indicating that exchange withdrawals still exceeded deposits across the broader market.
The reading suggested many investors continued moving SOL away from trading platforms instead of preparing immediate sales.
Although the latest Kraken transfers introduced fresh supply, the wider flow data showed demand continued absorbing those additions without producing a sustained influx of exchange balances.
Such divergence highlighted an important distinction between isolated institutional transfers and overall investor behavior.
As long as aggregate outflows remain dominant, buyers appear willing to accumulate available liquidity rather than retreat from the market, reducing the immediate impact of Pump.fun’s exchange activity.
Source: CoinGlass Can Solana defend support after rejection? Solana [SOL] failed to sustain its recent advance after rejecting the $82.56 resistance level and later retreated toward $78.28 on the daily chart.
That decline pushed price closer to the $74.41 support, which remained the next level buyers needed to defend to preserve the recent recovery structure.
A deeper breakdown would likely expose $67.39 as the next significant downside target.
Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index cooled from recent highs and settled around 54.95, while its moving average stood near 56.38.
Although buying strength weakened, the indicator remained above the neutral 50 mark and suggested bulls had not surrendered market control entirely.
If buyers defend the current zone, Solana could attempt another move toward $82.56. Otherwise, losing $74.41 would likely encourage another wave of selling pressure.
Source: TradingView Where could liquidations accelerate the next move? The 24-hour Liquidation Heatmap showed several dense liquidity clusters positioned above the current market price, with notable concentrations around the $79, $82, and $84 regions.
Those areas represented attractive targets because markets frequently moved toward heavily leveraged positions before reversing.
Meanwhile, liquidity below price appeared thinner, although several smaller clusters remained near the upper-$77 range.
That imbalance suggested any sustained recovery could trigger a sequence of short liquidations before facing stronger resistance near $82.
Even so, failure to stabilize above current levels could still expose nearby downside liquidity first.
Source: CoinGlass The heatmap therefore indicated that volatility would likely increase once price approach either concentration, making those zones critical for determining Solana’s next directional move.
Final Summary Pump.fun increased exchange-bound SOL supply, yet broader spot outflows continued supporting buyer interest. Solana held above key support, while overhead liquidity could attract another move toward resistance.
South Korea-based Toss has announced a new initiative to assess whether blockchain technology can support regulated payment and settlement systems without compromising on security or customer data protection. The fintech company is setting out to evaluate the feasibility of integrating public blockchain networks into the financial sector, addressing long-standing concerns over transparency and compliance.
Focus of the Proof of ConceptThe proof of concept (PoC) will center on three primary objectives: enabling financial institutions to retain direct control over payment and settlement processes, ensuring compliance with know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, and safeguarding transaction data on public blockchain networks.
According to Toss, this approach could allow blockchain-powered financial services to operate within the well-established standards that govern the banking space. The company underscores the importance of reconciling regulatory compliance with robust data privacy, which remains a critical concern for financial institutions.
Toss is aiming to test whether blockchain technology can support regulated payment and settlement systems without weakening security or customer data protection.
Seeking Privacy on Public NetworksOne of the main hurdles to widespread blockchain adoption in finance has been the inherent transparency of public blockchain networks. Because transactions are typically visible to all, banks and payment providers have been hesitant to transition sensitive customer operations onto such open infrastructure.
This project will therefore evaluate whether public blockchains can meet stringent privacy standards required for banking applications. Protecting transaction data is seen as a decisive factor for integrating blockchain into regulated financial services.
Memorandum with Solana Foundation for Settlements and RemittancesTo advance its blockchain-enabled settlement and cross-border transfer capabilities, Toss Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with Solana Foundation. This collaboration marks a significant step in bridging traditional banking with next-generation crypto infrastructure.
Solana has earned a reputation as a high-performance blockchain network, while Toss Bank operates as the digital banking arm of the Toss ecosystem—one of South Korea’s leading fintech brands.
Mini glossary: “Settlement” refers to the process of finalizing and reconciling financial transactions between parties. A “proof of concept” is a limited-scale trial to test if a specific technology works in a given use case.
The memorandum between Toss Bank and Solana Foundation focuses on exploring blockchain-driven remittance and settlement services.
This partnership is expected to examine how regulatory obligations in banking can be balanced with the technical possibilities of public blockchain networks. The outcomes of the project could provide vital new insights into the role of public blockchains in the regulated finance sector.
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.
It can prove psychologically difficult to buy a stock whose price has dropped, particularly when the market has been strong. A share price drop indicates the market has concerns.
Determining their validity is where an investor can make smart decisions. If the company retains a strong market share and the long-term business prospects remain bright, it's a buying opportunity.
Domino's Pizza (DPZ +2.36%) is in this exact position. The share price has dropped more than 32% over the last year, through July 2. That's well below the S&P 500's (^GSPC 0.45%) 20% gain.
Today's Change
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Here's why this market-dominant company's stock should bounce back strongly, offering significant upside.
Image source: Getty Images.
Expanding market share Domino's Pizza has the largest market share in the quick-service restaurant pizza category, with 23.3% of the U.S. market in 2025, up from 22.5% the previous year. It had leading 32.9% and 19.6% shares in delivery and takeout, respectively.
Management wants to expand market share, too. With value pricing and convenience, it aims to gain share from competitors such as Pizza Hut, Papa John's International (PZZA +0.64%), and Little Caesars.
Recent sales have been sluggish, however. First-quarter U.S. same-store sales (comps) grew 0.9%, and international comps dropped 0.4%.
But it's important to remember that consumer spending has been squeezed by macroeconomic pressures, such as higher tariffs and energy prices. And competitor Papa John's International also saw sales struggle, with North American comps dropping 6.4% in the first quarter, although international locations saw a 3.6% increase.
Expanding locations While Domino's waits for economic conditions to improve, management isn't sitting idle. It's pursuing expansion opportunities. In business since 1960, its focus on convenient, affordable offerings has certainly resonated with people.
Over the last year, through the end of March, the company added 964 locations, bringing the total to over 22,300. The majority of additions, 790, were international restaurants.
With 99% of its global restaurants franchised, Domino's can expand in a capital-efficient manner. That's because franchisees pay an up-front fee and an ongoing royalty (a percentage of sales) to Domino's. They also make initial investments to build the restaurant.
Adding it up If there weren't broad economic issues affecting industry sales, I would be concerned about Domino's weak comps. While no one knows when consumers will feel better about their situation and increase discretionary spending, it will happen at some point.
When it does, with Domino's leading market share, the company is in a prime position to see its sales rebound, and you can look for the shares to reward patient investors.
SummaryI track a curated universe of 50 high-quality dividend growth stocks to identify opportune entry points based on valuation and future return potential. Year-to-date through June, the investable universe returned 8.69%, trailing SPY (10.10%) and SCHD (17.50%), but several individual stocks outperformed significantly. Currently, 39 out of 50 stocks offer a forward return estimate of at least 10%, with 22 appearing potentially undervalued by my free cash flow model. My strategy emphasizes total return over yield, focusing on strong track records, attractive valuations, and robust future growth prospects. SmileStudioAP/iStock via Getty Images
High-Quality Dividend Stock Investable Universe On September 1, 2024, I started tracking an investable universe of what I believe to be 50 high-quality dividend growth stocks. You can find out more about the formation of this investable universe
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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2026) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging restaurant brands, is pleased to announce that further to its news release on June 15th announcing the signing of the largest Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement to date for 45 Locations Led by Alex Rechichi and Bedford Park Capital for Heal Wellness, the franchise group has now secured a real-estate location in North Oakville, Ontario, as they accelerate their openings through the remainder of 2026 and 2027. Heal Wellness ("Heal") is a fast-growing quick-service restaurant ("QSR") brand specializing in fresh smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and smoothies, built around clean ingredients and a better-for-you lifestyle.
North Oakville, Ontario, is a rapidly growing suburban market within the Greater Toronto Area, supported by strong residential development, expanding retail corridors, commuter traffic, and a growing base of families, professionals, students, and active lifestyle consumers. The community's continued growth, access to major transportation routes, proximity to established shopping and service nodes, and focus on connected neighborhoods, parks, trails, and community amenities create a compelling environment for Heal's convenient, better-for-you meals. With its mix of daily residents, commuters, young families, and health-conscious consumers, North Oakville offers a strong market for fresh smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and clean-ingredient smoothies as part of an active, on-the-go lifestyle.
"Securing a real estate location in North Oakville for one of our multi-unit franchisees further advances Heal's disciplined, asset-light growth strategy as the brand continues to expand across Ontario's high-growth urban and suburban markets," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly Food Group. "This location reflects our continued focus on expanding Heal into strong, community-oriented markets with favorable demographic, lifestyle, and traffic fundamentals. North Oakville benefits from significant residential growth, strong retail fundamentals, and a well-balanced mix of families, professionals, commuters, and active lifestyle consumers seeking convenient, health-forward food options. These characteristics align well with Heal's functional, grab-and-go offering and support sustainable, long-term unit performance."
"Heal Wellness continues to expand rapidly across Canada and into the United States, solidifying its position as a leading acai and smoothie bowl brand," said Sean Black. "With 43 locations now open and more than 165 in development, Heal remains a key driver of growth within Happy Belly's broader portfolio of 686 contractually committed retail franchise locations across multiple emerging brands in various stages of development, construction, and operation. We continue to build a predictable and disciplined growth engine designed to create long-term shareholder value."
"We are just getting started", said Sean Black.
About Heal WellnessHeal Wellness was founded with a passion and mission to provide quick, fresh wellness foods that support a busy and active lifestyle. We currently offer a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies. We take pride in meticulously selecting every superfood ingredient on our menu to fuel the body, including acai smoothie bowls, smoothies, and super-seed grain bowls. Our smoothie bowls are crafted with real fruit and enriched with superfoods like acai, pitaya, goji berries, chia seeds, and more.
FranchisingFor franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at [email protected].
About Happy Belly Food Group
Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada.
Sean Black
Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Moniz
Co-founder, President
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.
All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/304366
Source: Happy Belly Food Group Inc.
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
SummaryUltra Clean Holdings (UCTT) is positioned as an attractive buy ahead of its upcoming Q2 report, despite recent profit-taking-driven stock volatility.UCTT reported Q1 revenue of $533.7M (+2.9% Y/Y) and non-GAAP EPS of $0.31, beating consensus, with strong quant and revisions grades signaling bullish momentum.Management expects robust Wafer Fab Equipment (WFE) demand, margin expansion, and capacity growth, supported by industry tailwinds and customer investments.A pre-earnings pullback, potentially driven by macro events, could offer a compelling entry point for investors seeking exposure to UCTT's growth trajectory.Looking for more investing ideas like this one? Get them exclusively at DIY Value Investing. Learn More » BlueJames/iStock via Getty Images
On June 30, 2026, shares of Ultra Clean Holdings (UCTT) peaked at $144.22. The stock’s performance mirrored that of SanDisk (SNDK) and Micron Technology (MU). SNDK stock rose by 3,934% from
36.73K Followers
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.
Umělá inteligence není jen záležitostí technologických firem. Čím dál více se začíná prosazovat také ve vývoji nových spotřebitelských produktů. Například francouzská kosmetická skupina L'Oréal využívá AI k vyhledávání nových možností využití molekul ve svých přípravcích a podle vedení firmy dokáže uvádět inovace na trh až čtyřikrát rychleji než dříve.
Podle Fabrice Megarbanea, šéfa divize spotřebitelských produktů L'Oréal, společnost nasadila nástroje založené na AI ve výzkumných laboratořích před zhruba čtyřmi lety. Technologie pomáhá předvídat účinky jednotlivých látek na pokožku a vlasy, a tím urychluje hledání nových využití již známých ingrediencí.
Jedním z výsledků je například využití molekul původně používaných v přípravcích péče o pleť při vývoji nového šamponu. Ten využívá kolagen k dosažení většího objemu a nadzvednutí vlasů.
L'Oréal se na inovace zaměřuje o to intenzivněji poté, co skupina v minulých letech zaznamenala nejslabší tempo růstu tržeb za delší období. Generální ředitel Nicolas Hieronimus proto spustil program zaměřený na podporu vývoje nových produktů a posílení inovací.
Agentura Reuters podotýká, že L’Oréal zdaleka není ojedinělým případem. AI při vývoji výrobků využívají i další velké společnosti ze sektoru rychlé spotřeby jako jsou třeba potravinoví giganti Nestlé a Mondelez nebo výrobce zubní pasty Sensodyne Haleon.
Právě Mondelez označuje kombinaci lidské expertizy a AI za zásadní změnu ve vývoji nových produktů. Podle šéfa informačních a digitálních technologií Filippa Catalana umožňuje AI urychlit celý proces tvorby receptur a současně přijít s netradičními nápady (out-of-the-box).
AI systémy ve firmě vytvářejí návrhy receptur, které následně posuzují odborníci. Vedle hledání nových chutí a složení mohou nástroje pomáhat také se snižováním závislosti na jednotlivých dodavatelích nebo s úpravami receptur podle měnících se preferencí zákazníků.
Mondelez uvádí, že AI zároveň omezuje počet vzorků, které je nutné během vývoje fyzicky vyrobit a testovat. Technologie se podílela například na vývoji bezlepkových sušenek Golden Oreo nebo na úpravě receptury sušenek Chips Ahoy.
V kategorii sušenek hned 60 procent receptů vytvořených pomocí AI nástroje přineslo lepší výsledky v oblastech jako jsou nutriční parametry, udržitelnost nebo výrobní náklady.
„(Schopnosti AI) urychlují věci, které už můžete dělat, ale zároveň zkrátí čas z měsíců na týdny nebo z let na měsíce,“ řekl Reuters Catalano.
Skupina Czechoslovak Group informovala o dokončení přenosu technologie výroby střelného prachu do společnosti MESKO. Podle české zbrojařské společnosti tím posiluje polské kapacity ve výrobě munice ráže 155 mm.
Czechoslovak Group prostřednictvím své dceřiné společnosti dokončila přenos technologického know-how pro výrobu střelného prachu do společnosti MESKO S.A., která spadá do polské státní skupiny Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa. Střelný prach bude využíván při výrobě modulárních prachových náplní pro dělostřeleckou munici ráže 155 mm.
Díky dokončenému technologickému transferu know-how může být střelný prach nyní sériově vyráběn v závodě společnosti MESKO v Pionkách.
Akcie CSG Akcie společnosti Czechoslovak Group (BAACSG) dnes na pražské burze odepisují 2,96 % na 337,9 Kč. Na RM-SYSTÉMu se akcie obchodují za 339,2 Kč.
Zdroj: CSG
Jakub Němec
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení
Související odkazy CSG oznámila založení nové americké dceřiné společnosti CSG: Tatra Trucks si zajistila financování od společnosti ovládané Michalem Strnadem CSG jmenovala Davida Jacobse prezidentem CSG Defense North America Společnosti Federal a Remington ze skupiny CSG získaly od FBI kontrakt v hodnotě 77,4 mil. USD CSG podepsalo dohodu o strategickém partnerství s ukrajinskou společností
NEW YORK, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Tennant Company (NYSE:TNC) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Tennant, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/tennant-company-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Tennant ($TNC) Class Action Investigation:
Investigation Overview: Securities fraud related to Tennant’s implementation and rollout of its new, company-wide enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) systemStock Decline: February 24, 2026 – 23.4% Stock DropAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights
Why is Tennant Being Investigated for Securities Fraud?
Tennant manufactures industrial cleaning equipment, including large mechanical floor scrubbers and sweepers used in warehouses, retail stores, and other commercial facilities.
BFA is investigating whether Tennant made false and misleading statements to investors regarding the implementation and rollout of a large-scale ERP system. For instance, Tennant assured investors the project was “progressing as we’ve anticipated,” was “on time and on budget,” and that the launch of the ERP in its Asia-Pacific region had been “successful,” with Tennant stating it had “mitigated disruptions and stabilized operations.”
Why did Tennant’s Stock Drop?
On February 24, 2026, Tennant revealed that the rollout of its new ERP system in North America caused severe operational disruptions, including that it was unable to process and ship customer orders following the launch of the system. As a result, Tennant lost roughly $30 million in sales and would need to spend more than $20 million in 2026 to remediate the issues, compared to roughly $5 million the company had planned to spend.
This news caused the price of Tennant stock to drop $19.28 per share, more than 23%, from a closing price of $82.30 per share on February 23, 2026, to $63.02 per share on February 24, 2026.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/tennant-company-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Tennant, 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.
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.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Ceva, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEVA), the leading licensor of silicon and software IP for the Smart Edge, will announce results for the second quarter 2026 on August 10, 2026 before the NASDAQ market opens.
Following the release, Ceva management will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the operating performance for the quarter.
The conference call will be available via the following dial in numbers:
U.S. Participants: Dial 1-844-435-0316 (Access Code: Ceva) International Participants: Dial +1-412-317-6365 (Access Code: Ceva) The conference call will also be available live via webcast at the following link: https://app.webinar.net/P3eXEg0zQLb. https://app.webinar.net/ePpLk12BRaDhttps://app.webinar.net/GvAklQElMmjPlease go to the web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register.
For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available by dialing +1 855-669-9658 or +1 412-317-0088 (access code: 9794488) from one hour after the end of the call until 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on August 17, 2026. The replay will also be available at Ceva's web site at www.ceva-ip.com.
About Ceva, Inc.
Ceva powers the Smart Edge, bridging the digital and physical worlds to bring AI-driven products to life. Our Ceva AI fabric portfolio of silicon and software IP enables devices to Connect, Sense, and Infer – the essential capabilities for the intelligent edge. From 5G, cellular IoT, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB connectivity to scalable Edge AI NPUs, AI DSPs, sensor fusion processors and embedded software, Ceva provides the foundational IP for devices that connect, understand their environment, and act in real time.
With more than 21 billion devices shipped and trusted by 400+ customers worldwide, Ceva is the backbone of today's most advanced smart edge products - from AI-infused wearables and IoT devices to autonomous vehicles and 5G infrastructure. Our differentiated solutions deliver seamless integration into existing design flows, total flexibility to combine solutions based on design needs and ultra–low–power performance in minimal silicon footprint, helping customers accelerate development, reduce risk, and bring innovative products to market faster. As technology evolves toward Physical AI, Ceva's IP portfolio lays the foundation for systems that are always connected, contextually aware, and capable of intelligent, real-time decision-making.
Visit us at www.ceva-ip.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
The British Pound (GBP) is down 0.13% to near 1.3340 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Wednesday. The GBP/USD pair faces selling pressure as renewed geopolitical risks have diminished the appeal of riskier assets.
At press time, S&P 500 futures are down almost 1% to near 7,430, demonstrating a risk-off market mood. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades marginally higher to near 101.15 after recovering early losses.
Risks of the restart of the Middle East war have forced investors to shift to the safe-haven fleet. In the European trade, United States (US) President Donald Trump said that the “memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran is over”, adding that he doesn’t want to deal with them.
This came as Tehran continues to prove its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint to almost 20% of the global energy supply, with aggression. On Tuesday, Tehran struck commercial ships passing through the chokepoint, stating that were crossing the passage without approval.
Meanwhile, investors await the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes of the June policy meeting, which will be published at 18:00 GMT. Investors will pay close attention to FOMC minutes to get cues regarding why Fed officials decided to abandon forward guidance.
US Dollar FAQs The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away.
The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.
Orbex Group Limited is the holding company of Orbex Global Limited, Orbex Limited is an affiliate with Orbex Global Limited. Orbex Global Limited is authorized and regulated by Mauritius Financial Services Commission “FSC” (View License). Orbex.com is owned by Orbex Group Limited and is operated by Orbex Global Limited with registered address: Ground Floor, The Catalyst, Silicon Avenue, 40 Cybercity, 72201 Ebène, Republic of Mauritius
Risk Warning: Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss of some or all of your investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts. Orbex Global does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions such as Mauritius, USA, and North Korea.
Orbex Group Limited is the holding company of Orbex Global Limited, Orbex Limited is an affiliate with Orbex Global Limited. Orbex Global Limited is authorized and regulated by Mauritius Financial Services Commission “FSC” (View License). Orbex.com is owned by Orbex Group Limited and is operated by Orbex Global Limited with registered address: Ground Floor, The Catalyst, Silicon Avenue, 40 Cybercity, 72201 Ebène, Republic of Mauritius
Risk Warning: Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss of some or all of your investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts. Orbex Global does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions such as Mauritius, USA, and North Korea.
Orbex Group Limited is the holding company of Orbex Global Limited, Orbex Limited is an affiliate with Orbex Global Limited. Orbex Global Limited is authorized and regulated by Mauritius Financial Services Commission “FSC” (View License). Orbex.com is owned by Orbex Group Limited and is operated by Orbex Global Limited with registered address: Ground Floor, The Catalyst, Silicon Avenue, 40 Cybercity, 72201 Ebène, Republic of Mauritius
Risk Warning: Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss of some or all of your investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts. Orbex Global does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions such as Mauritius, USA, and North Korea.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a global leader in aerospace and defense technology solutions, announced today it has appointed pioneering industry leaders Paul Reichert, former Principal Investigator at Merck Research Laboratories, and Niki Werkheiser, former Director of Technology Maturation at NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, to serve in strategic advisory roles at Space Microgravity Development LLC (SpaceMD), Redwire's venture company focuse.
Orbex Group Limited is the holding company of Orbex Global Limited, Orbex Limited is an affiliate with Orbex Global Limited. Orbex Global Limited is authorized and regulated by Mauritius Financial Services Commission “FSC” (View License). Orbex.com is owned by Orbex Group Limited and is operated by Orbex Global Limited with registered address: Ground Floor, The Catalyst, Silicon Avenue, 40 Cybercity, 72201 Ebène, Republic of Mauritius
Risk Warning: Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss of some or all of your investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts. Orbex Global does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions such as Mauritius, USA, and North Korea.
Navitas Semiconductor stock NASDAQ:NVTS fell sharply in pre-market trading on Wednesday after Wolfspeed accused the company of infringing patents across several core power-chip product lines.
The development adds a legal overhang to one of the market’s more volatile AI-linked semiconductor trades.
NVTS was trading around $13.99, down about 8.2%, while some live feeds showed a steeper intraday fall of more than 9%.
The selloff is sharp because Navitas is no longer viewed as just a small power-chip company and investors are pricing it as a potential winner from AI data-centre power upgrades.
Wolfspeed lawsuit hits Navitas’ core growth storyThe immediate trigger is legal, as Wolfspeed said it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Navitas in the US District Court for the District of Delaware on Tuesday.
The wide-bandgap semiconductors manufacturer said that it was taking action to protect its gallium nitride and silicon carbide intellectual property.
The complaint targets a broad range of Navitas products.
Wolfspeed said the allegedly infringing products include Navitas’s GaN-based FETs from the GaNFast, GaNSlim and GaNSafe families, as well as its GeneSiC MOSFETs and SiCPAK modules.
The company also named five US patents in the lawsuit.
Wolfspeed CEO Robert Feurle said the company is “deeply committed” to defending intellectual property built over decades of innovation and research investment.
He added that protecting Wolfspeed’s patent portfolio is a strategic priority for the company and shareholders.
That does not mean Wolfspeed has won anything, but investors now have to price in uncertainty around possible damages, licensing costs, injunction risk and management distraction.
Before the lawsuit, the bull case was gaining momentum.
Needham analyst N. Quinn Bolton raised his Navitas price target to $21 from $13 and kept a Buy rating after the company’s results and guidance came in ahead of Street expectations.
Bolton linked the improved outlook to Navitas’s pivot toward high-power markets, which is central to the AI data-centre story.
Baird analyst Tristan Gerra also maintained a Buy rating and lifted his target to $20 from $4 in May.
That large target hike reflected growing optimism that Navitas’s GaN and SiC products can play a bigger role in next-generation power systems.
But the valuation had already become harder to ignore.
Navitas had surged after its role in Nvidia’s MGX AI infrastructure initiative drew investor attention, with the stock up about 370% over the previous year and trading at roughly 137 times projected sales for the next 12 months.
When a stock is priced for flawless execution, even a legal overhang can quickly become a valuation event.
The outlook for USD/JPY remains constructive as a hawkish Federal Reserve, resilient US dollar, and renewed geopolitical risks continue supporting the pair near the critical 160 area.
With USD/JPY stabilising around levels last seen in the late 1980s, markets are increasingly questioning whether another structural rally could emerge toward 170 and eventually 180.
Key Catalysts to Watch Several macro drivers are likely to determine whether the next bullish leg develops:
FOMC minutes and any change in expectations for Fed policy. Markets continue to price a meaningful probability of another rate hike during Q4 2026. Bank of Japan intervention risk, both verbal and direct, as USD/JPY approaches multi-decade highs. A sustained DXY breakout above 102, which would reinforce broad US dollar strength. Renewed geopolitical risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, where higher oil prices could reshape inflation expectations and influence monetary policy expectations.
Source: CME FedWatch Tool
Markets continue to price expectations well ahead of policy decisions. While the dollar remains fundamentally supported, incoming inflation, employment, and growth data between now and September will ultimately determine whether the dollar strength continues to strengthen.
DXY Outlook: The Dollar Remains the Main Driver DXY Price Forecast: Monthly Time Frame (Log Scale)
Source: TradingView
USD/JPY remains fundamentally tied to the direction of the US Dollar Index.
As long as DXY continues holding above the critical 100.30–99.30 support zone, the broader bullish structure remains intact.
This area has consistently attracted buyers throughout 2026 and continues to define the longer-term trend.
A sustained breakout above 102 would likely confirm a continuation toward:
102.80 104.50 107.00 —the upper boundary of the long-term descending channel that has contained price action since 2022.
Such a move would reinforce dollar strength across global currency markets while increasing downside pressure on major currencies and precious metals.
It would also strengthen the technical case for USD/JPY to challenge the 170–180 region discussed below.
The dollar's outlook remains closely linked to three dominant themes:
Higher-for-longer Federal Reserve policy. Inflation developments. Energy prices and renewed geopolitical risks. I discuss these levels regularly during my Daily MENA Market Call.
Register here for the next webinar.
USD/JPY Weekly Time Frame (Log Scale)
Source: TradingView
USD/JPY Approaches Multi-Decade Resistance From a weekly perspective, USD/JPY continues respecting the ascending channel that has guided the uptrend since 2022.
At the same time, price remains inside a shorter-term rising channel that has developed over the past year.
Together, these two structures continue to define the broader bullish trend.
The pair is now approaching one of the most important technical areas on the chart:
163
This level represents:
Multi-decade horizontal resistance. Midpoint of the broader ascending channel since 2022 Upper boundary of the one-year rising channel. Bullish Scenario A sustained breakout above 163 would strengthen the broader bullish trend and expose:
166 170 These levels coincide with:
The upper boundary of the one-year ascending channel. The 61.8% Fibonacci extension of the May 2025–April 2026–May 2026 advance. Should bullish momentum continue, attention would shift toward:
173 178–180 These represent the upper boundary of the longer-term ascending channel that has guided price action since 2022.
However, intervention risk from the Bank of Japan would likely increase substantially as USD/JPY approaches these historically significant levels.
Momentum indicators also suggest weekly conditions are becoming increasingly overbought, implying upside may become more gradual unless momentum strengthens further.
Bearish Scenario The lower boundary of the one-year ascending channel remains the key support zone.
A sustained break below:
160.40 159.40 would increase the probability of a deeper corrective move toward:
158.00 155.00 A break below those levels would expose the longer-term ascending trendline support near 149, which has guided the broader uptrend since 2022.
Although the secular trend remains bullish, corrective pullbacks should be expected as the pair approaches historically significant resistance.
Why 163 Matters Three-Month Time Frame (Log Scale)
Source: TradingView
Viewing USD/JPY on the quarterly chart places the current rally into a broader historical context.
The 163 region closely aligns with resistance originating from the highs of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
This reinforces the significance of any sustained breakout beyond current levels.
Unlike shorter-term charts, the quarterly timeframe illustrates that a move above 163 would represent much more than another short-term rally—it would mark a structural breakout from one of the most significant resistance zones of the past several decades.
Could USD/JPY Reach 180? While 180 remains a longer-term scenario rather than a near-term forecast, the technical structure suggests it cannot be dismissed if current macro conditions persist.
A sustained breakout above 163, combined with continued US dollar strength, higher-for-longer Fed expectations, and only limited effectiveness from BOJ intervention, could gradually expose the former support region from the early 1980s near 180.
This area is likely to represent the next major long-term resistance before a more meaningful correction develops.
Ultimately, the balance between a hawkish Federal Reserve and a cautious Bank of Japan will determine whether USD/JPY simply retests historical highs—or begins another structural advance toward the 170–180 region.
Flix and Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, today announced an expanded partnership that brings more flexible payment options to m
Gold (XAU/USD) sees a sharp move lower on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire deal with Iran was “over” and said that dealing with Tehran is “a waste of time” while speaking at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.
At the time of writing, XAU/USD is trading around $4,055, retracing most of the gains recorded in the previous week.
The US President’s remarks came after renewed fighting between the United States and Iran overnight, following attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest escalation represents the most significant breach of the interim US-Iran agreement since it took effect on June 17, lifting the US Dollar (USD) and Crude Oil prices while dampening demand for the yellow metal.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude Oil is trading around $73.50 per barrel, up more than 7% so far this week.
The rebound in Oil prices rekindled inflation concerns, with the CME FedWatch Tool showing the probability of a September Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate hike rising to 68% from 58% a day earlier.
Higher borrowing costs tend to weigh on Gold as investors favor interest-bearing assets. US Treasury yields remained elevated, with the benchmark 10-year yield holding around 4.57% on Wednesday, close to its highest level since late May.
The June Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes, due later in the American session at 18:00 GMT, will be closely watched for hints about the Fed's next move.
For now, Gold's price action remains driven by interest rate expectations, overshadowing its traditional role as an inflation hedge and safe-haven asset.
The precious metal is trading nearly 28% below its record high of around $5,600 reached in January and remains vulnerable to further losses amid an unfavorable macro backdrop.
Even so, the longer-term outlook remains underpinned by structural demand from central banks and institutional investors, which could help limit deeper declines.
Technical analysis: XAU/USD slides toward $4,000 support
On the 4-hour chart, XAU/USD retains a bearish near-term tone as price holds below the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $4,128.
The yellow metal is retreating from recent highs and remains capped by a dense overhead structure, while momentum indicators reinforce the softer bias: the Relative Strength Index (14) has slipped toward 38, and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has turned negative with a declining histogram, hinting at persistent downside pressure.
On the topside, immediate resistance is located at the 100-period SMA near $4,128, followed by the horizontal barrier at $4,200 and the 200-period SMA at $4,260, before a stronger cap emerges at $4,400.
On the downside, initial support is seen at the horizontal level of $4,000, where a break would likely open the door to a deeper corrective slide, while holding above this floor would keep XAU/USD in a consolidative bearish phase beneath the mentioned moving averages.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
Although the trend is down and the market is in the midst of a three-day sell-off, we still have to respect the short-term retracement zone at $4072.40 to $4041.65. This is because aggressive counter-trend buyers could step in to stop the price slide.
If enough buyers do show up inside this retracement zone, a secondary higher bottom could form and prices could turn quickly, setting up the possibility of a retest of $4162.36 to $4214.34. Overcoming this area will change the trend to up and all of a sudden, the 50-day moving average at $4372.44 will hit the radar.
If buyers turn out to be scarce and sellers continue to dominate then look for $4041.65 to fail and the market to possibly plunge into the main bottom at $3942.10. This is the last potential support before the next bearish trigger point at $3886.46.
Essentially what I’m saying is, trader reaction to $4072.40 to $4041.65 will set the tone on Wednesday. A new secondary higher bottom could begin to form on a sustained move over $4072.40, or the sell-off could resume with conviction under $4041.65.
While this is our short-term view, longer-term buyers may find value at $3942.10 to $3886.46, but that’s it. If $3886.46 fails, another down leg could begin. As far as a long-term rally is concerned, the market has to clear two retracement zones and a pair of moving averages before I’ll declare the selling over.
Our choices are to passively bid in the value zone, or aggressively take out offers, hoping for a breakout to the upside. If buyers come in on the lows, but disappear before the breakout, we could be in for a long-term sideways trade.
What to Watch Four forces are working against gold at the same time and none of them are reversing. Crude above $74 keeps inflation expectations elevated. Treasury yields are climbing across the curve. The dollar is at a weekly high. September hike odds jumped to 68% before the minutes even dropped. If the minutes read hawkish, that number goes higher and gold loses another layer of support.
Gold is sitting right on top of the $4,072.40 to $4,041.65 retracement zone. A hold there builds a secondary higher bottom and the short-term picture changes. But four headwinds hitting at once makes that a hard floor to defend. If it breaks, $3,942.10 is the main bottom and $3,886.46 is where the next leg down accelerates.
If you’d like to know more about how to trade gold, please visit our educational area.
During the June 30, 2026, World Cup round of 32 match between France and Sweden at the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium, the logistical scale of a global mega-event was on full display. Moving 80,663 fans safely through a sprawling transit corridor and securing a massive open-air venue demands complex engineering. Underpinning the operation is a capital-intensive ecosystem of physical AI, advanced sensors, and automation software.
Key Takeaways The 2026 World Cup is enabling host cities to invest into automated security and predictive traffic infrastructure. Ouster, Inc. (OUST) is utilizing digital 3D Lidar to dynamically manage game-day traffic surges. ROBO constituent Ondas Holdings (ONDS) is deploying “Cyber-over-RF” technology to actively hack and safely land rogue drones over host venues. Federal Mandates Driving Airspace Automation For investors, the 2026 World Cup is a live deployment of some of the technologies driving the next structural growth cycle within the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index (ROBO). Consider modern airspace management. The proliferation of commercial drones has turned open-air stadiums into security vulnerabilities, and counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) authority now extends beyond federal agencies to state and local law enforcement and critical infrastructure operators.
The federal government has committed roughly $365 million to drone-focused security for the tournament’s 104 matches, including $250 million through FEMA for the 11 U.S. host states and $115 million from DHS for counter-UAS technology at venues. Ondas Inc. (ONDS), a roughly 1.5% weight in the ROBO index’s Autonomous Systems subsector, is a direct beneficiary. Its Sentrycs subsidiary has secured contracts valued in the millions of dollars with federal, state, and local agencies, covering roughly 70% of the U.S. states hosting matches.
Legacy security systems rely on indiscriminate signal jamming, which disrupts local municipal communications, or kinetic interception, which creates dangerous falling debris. Sentrycs bypasses these liabilities through its proprietary “Cyber-over-RF” technology, selectively hacking and assuming control of rogue drones and forcing an automated, safe descent. That precision makes it suited to dense, high-traffic security zones and supports a scalable software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.
Shifting Municipal CAPEX: Upgrading Infrastructure With Lidar On the ground, municipal capital expenditures are shifting from reactive legacy traffic cameras to predictive, AI-driven sensor networks built to handle game-day surges. According to VettaFi index research, the June 2026 ROBO rebalance shifted weight toward physical AI, adding Ouster (OUST) on the strength of 52% revenue growth to $169 million in 2025.
Host cities are deploying Ouster’s lidar-powered BlueCity platform at critical intersections around stadiums to manage severe vehicular and pedestrian bottlenecks. A scaled pure play in digital lidar following its Velodyne merger, Ouster operates on a single-chip CMOS architecture that collapses lidar’s moving parts onto silicon. The design delivers continuous cost-to-performance improvement, turning lidar from a luxury line item into an affordable solution for smart municipal infrastructure.
By combining high-resolution 3D lidar hardware with edge computing, the system autonomously adjusts traffic grids based on real-time spatial data. Commercial adoption is accelerating: BlueCity ended 2025 contracted at nearly 700 sites, with Ouster’s Gemini perception platform live at roughly 550 more.
Moving Beyond the Factory Floor The 2026 World Cup is one example of how automation is moving into public infrastructure, crowd logistics, and municipal security. For investors, the underlying developers of these sensing and orchestration technologies offer direct exposure to the broader physical AI megatrend across the ROBO index’s 11 subsectors.
ROBO is the underlying index for the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation ETF (ROBO), the L&G ROBO Global Robotics and Automation UCITS ETF (ROBO.LN), and the Global X ROBO Global Robotics & Automation ETF (ROBO.AU).
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vettafi.com is owned by VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). VettaFi is the index provider for the ROBO ETFs, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, the ROBO ETFs are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi. VettaFi and its affiliates have no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of the ROBO ETFs.
Just weeks after its initial public offering, Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 6.83%), aka SpaceX, announced a major acquisition. The Elon Musk-founded space exploration and artificial intelligence (AI) company announced a further pivot toward the latter trend with its plans to acquire Anysphere, the developer of AI coding platform Cursor, in a $60 billion all-stock deal.
So far, this announcement has had a limited impact on SpaceX's stock performance. Shares were pulling back around the announcement and just after, but have started to bounce back of late. Let's take a closer look and see what a deal could mean for SpaceX, which is arguably as much an AI stock as it is a space stock.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why SpaceX "had" to buy Cursor After exercising an option back in April, before it went public, SpaceX became obligated either to acquire Anysphere for $60 billion or else pay it a $1.5 billion termination fee and provide it with $8.5 billion in computing resources.
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But while SpaceX may have been more or less "obligated" to buy Cursor, the price tag may be far more reasonable than it appears at first glance. Given the rich valuation of SpaceX stock, even after its pullback, financing this as an all-stock deal costs existing investors fairly little in terms of dilution. Even if SpaceX prices the Cursor acquisition at its current stock price of around $164 per share, rather than the $200 per share or more it was trading at last month, that would mean a 365.9 million increase in the share count.
Considering SpaceX's current diluted share count of just under 13.2 billion, this means dilution of less than 3%. Having said that, while Cursor's acquisition price may seem like small potatoes compared to the company's more than $2 trillion valuation, it could have a tremendous impact on SpaceX's status as an AI contender.
A potential game changer, but it's still early Once the acquisition closes later this year, SpaceX can begin integrating Cursor's AI coding tool into its own xAI platform. In turn, this could make xAI a more formidable contender against competitors such as Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's ChatGPT. Still, while it's a potential game changer, expect this deal to have a limited impact on the narrative for now.
Why? For one thing, the deal's closing is months away, after which it will take time for SpaceX to integrate Cursor into its existing xAI ecosystem. Like other AI start-ups, Cursor also remains unprofitable. In the immediate term, this business will only add to SpaceX's overall losses. Moreover, even as this platform is one of the main names in the AI coding space and currently has reached over $2 billion in annual recurring revenue, the competition is heating up as rivals like Anthropic scale up their own AI coding products.
In light of all this, count on catalysts related to other key SpaceX assets and projects, like Starlink and Starship, to have a greater impact on the stock's performance for a while. Right now, SpaceX remains extremely pricey, trading at over 820 times estimated 2027 earnings. As such, you may want to wait for shares to become much cheaper or for further bullish developments to emerge before you consider buying.
On July 7, Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 6.72%) joined the Nasdaq-100 -- which is the 100 largest non-financial companies by market cap listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. It also received a $300 price target from Morgan Stanley, one of the Wall Street banks that underwrote SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO).
Being a part of a major index is more than just name recognition. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) benchmarked to the Nasdaq-100, such as the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ 1.85%), will begin buying shares of SpaceX. The more indexes a company can be a part of, the more demand is unlocked from ETF inflows -- the crown jewel being the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.45%), because the largest ETFs in the world are linked to it.
Here's why SpaceX was added to the Nasdaq-100 so quickly, and why the growth stock is falling anyway.
Image source: Getty Images.
SpaceX will soon be a top holding in the Nasdaq-100 The Nasdaq's new fast-track rules are meant to expedite the inclusion of megacap companies that recently had IPOs. If a company is at least as valuable as the 40th-largest Nasdaq listing, which is a market cap of around $121 billion, it can now be added to the Nasdaq-100 after its 15th trading day. SpaceX has a market cap of around $2 trillion and is the world's seventh-most valuable company -- so it clears the size hurdle with ease.
SpaceX went public on June 12, but markets were closed on Juneteenth (June 19) and July 3. So, it wasn't added to the Nasdaq-100 until over three weeks after its IPO. However, SpaceX's weight in the Nasdaq-100 isn't its market cap. Rather, it is based on a multiple of the float, which is the number of shares available for trading by the public. SpaceX's float is around just 5% of its market cap. But the float could increase rapidly in the coming months.
The vast majority of SpaceX stock is held by insiders who bought in when the company was private -- including institutional investors from previous funding rounds, employees, and founders. SpaceX plans to gradually unlock early-release-eligible shares through a tiered system over the next 180 days, with 20% of shares available for trading two days after the release of its earnings for the quarter ended June 30, and up to 30% if SpaceX's stock price is at least $175.50 per share.
More key unlocking events will occur throughout the summer and fall. And eventually, 100% of the early-release shares will be available for trading by Dec. 9 -- which is 180 days after the IPO date.
Granted, not all insiders will sell their shares and make them available for trading on public markets. Elon Musk and other significant investors have agreed to hold shares for at least 366 days after May 20, the date of SpaceX's Form S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. And many early founders still hold large positions in major tech companies, such as Musk in Tesla or Jeff Bezos in Amazon.
Before the recently implemented fast-track process for larger IPOs, the Nasdaq-100 required a free float of at least 10%, meaning at least 10% of the company's shares are publicly tradable. SpaceX should cross that level even if a fraction of early-release-eligible shares are sold and made available on the Nasdaq in the coming months. If I had to guess, I'd expect SpaceX's weighting in the Nasdaq-100 to mirror its market cap by mid-August at the latest.
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The market is always evolving Once SpaceX is weighted by market cap, it will be a top-10 holding in the Nasdaq-100 and account for around 4% of the index. And as more blockbuster IPOs like Anthropic and OpenAI are fast-tracked into the index and reach the float requirements, they, too, could become key holdings. The rapid restructuring of the Nasdaq-100 has undoubtedly piqued the interest of index and ETF investors, especially those who regularly put their hard-earned savings to work in products benchmarked to the indexes.
A common mistake investors will make is assuming that an index is diversified just because it contains hundreds or thousands of stocks. When in reality, the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 have become concentrated in a handful of names. And that concentration could increase as megacap IPOs are added.
To stay even-keeled no matter what the market is doing, it's important to heed Peter Lynch's advice about knowing what you own and why you own it. That exercise is straightforward with individual stocks, where an investment thesis can anchor a key holding. But even for ETFs, it's worth recognizing some of the major themes and companies that will drive gains (or losses).
By design, the major indexes can undergo drastic transformations as the economy evolves. A couple of decades ago, major oil companies, industrial conglomerates, and consumer goods companies dominated the largest S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.25%) companies. But the tech sector now makes up a staggering 38% of the S&P 500. And Alphabet just replaced Verizon Communications in the Dow -- meaning that seven of the 30 Dow components have changed seats in the last six years.
SpaceX will continue making waves on public markets SpaceX's growing share of the indexes and lofty price targets from Wall Street banks have more to do with market dynamics than SpaceX's investment thesis. The recent sell-off in the stock is likely due to fading enthusiasm as investors focus more on SpaceX's fundamentals -- which are shaky given its valuation is in the stratosphere.
For the stock to be a good long-term buy for new investors, SpaceX needs to make progress on its bold plans to launch constellations of orbital artificial intelligence compute satellites and build the world's largest chip manufacturing plant in Texas in partnership with Tesla. Until that happens, SpaceX is best kept on a watch list. And investors who want to avoid the stock entirely may want to double-check that the ETFs they hold don't begin buying SpaceX, especially as its float increases in the coming months.
Picture a 68-year-old retired engineer outside Columbus. He collects about $2,400 a month from Social Security, has roughly $900,000 in a traditional IRA, and most of that money sits in a Nasdaq-100 index fund he has held for a decade. He does not plan to touch the IRA until the government forces him to.
Then a news alert crosses his phone. SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX), most recently carrying a market cap near $2.0 trillion, has been folded into the Nasdaq 100. His index fund quietly rebalances into it, and his IRA balance ticks higher. On one hand, that feels like positive news. On the other, it also sets up a tax bill he has not planned for.
Retiree threads on investing forums keep circling this same worry. One recent post asking whether “the math isn’t mathing on the SpaceX IPO” pulled in more than 2,700 upvotes from readers wondering what a mega-cap addition means for retirement accounts. For someone five years away from required minimum distributions (RMDs), the answer matters more than most people realize.
The Detail That Actually Drives His Tax Bill Required minimum distributions begin at age 73 under current law. The IRS takes his prior year-end IRA balance and divides it by a life-expectancy factor of roughly 26.5 at age 73. A bigger balance means a bigger forced withdrawal, taxed as ordinary income.
Here is where Social Security enters. Once the RMD stacks on top of his other income, the IRS calculates provisional income. For a single filer, provisional income above $25,000 makes up to 50% of Social Security benefits taxable; above $34,000, up to 85% becomes taxable. Those thresholds have sat still since the 1990s and are not indexed to inflation.
Concrete outlook: if a Nasdaq rally lifts his IRA from $900,000 to $1.1 million by the year he turns 72, his first RMD grows by roughly $7,500. On $28,800 a year in benefits, moving from the 50% zone into the 85% zone can add several thousand more in taxable income he did not have the year before. The rally he cheered at 68 silently cost him at 73.
The Nasdaq 100 already ran up almost 18% year to date, so the balance inflation is not hypothetical.
How the Pieces Connect That same larger RMD can also cross a Medicare IRMAA threshold. IRMAA uses a two-year lookback, so income reported at 73 sets Part B and Part D premiums at 75. One dollar over a tier can add several hundred dollars a year in surcharges.
The five-year window between the ages of 68 and 73 is where most of the real magic happens. Inside a traditional IRA, he can rebalance out of a concentrated Nasdaq position without owing a penny in capital gains, because trades inside the IRA are not taxable events. He can also convert slices of the IRA to a Roth in lower-income years, paying tax now at a known rate to shrink the balance the RMD formula will eventually work from. Starting at 70.5, qualified charitable distributions can satisfy part of the RMD while keeping adjusted gross income lower.
What to Think Through Before 73 A few decisions in this window carry more weight than the rest, and they only work if he acts while he still has years to spend.
The mistake hardest to undo is coasting through the pre-RMD window. Once distributions start, the balance is what it is, and the tax torpedo fires on schedule. Partial Roth conversions in his late 60s and early 70s are the main lever, and they only work if he uses the years he still has. Every dollar of growth in a traditional IRA is pre-tax growth. When a name like SpaceX helps push the whole index higher, the government becomes a silent co-owner of that gain, and the bill lands through RMDs, Social Security taxation, and IRMAA at roughly the same time. Everyone’s numbers land differently, and a single detail like filing status, a pension, or a working spouse can flip which lever matters most. A short conversation with a tax-focused advisor before the first RMD year is usually the cheapest money a retiree ever spends. None of this makes SpaceX’s addition to the index a bad thing. A stronger index is good news for anyone holding it. The point is simply to make sure the growth works as hard for the retiree as it does for the tax code.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
SpaceX stock dropped 6.8% on Tuesday after being added to the Nasdaq-100 Index. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)
Valuing Elon Musk’s rocket and artificial-intelligence company SpaceX might be as hard as developing reusable rockets. But with a bevy of new research reports, investors can see how Wall Street approaches the problem.
For all the hype surrounding the SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) initial public offering (IPO) and the company’s launch valuation, even investing $100 as soon as possible would have proven a middling investment.
Specifically, SPCX shares were originally offered at $135 and are, at press time on July 8, trading at $149.52 following a 0.033% extended session rise. Under the circumstances, a $100 investment made already at the IPO would have risen to $110.76 for a $10.76 profit.
SpaceX stock price one-week chart. Source: Google Investors who got their hands on SpaceX stock at the beginning of the equity’s first trading day – June 12 – would have seen their position remain effectively flat, while those who purchased on that evening would have lost $7 as the company ended the day at $160.95.
Still, both groups would have been far more fortunate than those who took Jim Cramer’s amazement at the rally as a sign to buy – thus also joining Representative Dan Meuser – and purchased close to the all-time high (ATH) of $225.64.
Indeed, such investors could only be pleased that they hadn’t invested $5,000 or $10,000 in the stock as SPCX shares retraced 33.74%, meaning that $100 would have turned into $66.26 for a $33.74 unrealized loss.
What is next for SpaceX stock price in 2026 Elsewhere, the future of SpaceX appears increasingly uncertain at press time on July 8. Since the IPO, the company’s extreme launch valuation of $1.77 trillion, paired with revenue below $5 billion and the fact that the firm is operating at a loss, presented a substantial long-term risk factor.
More recently, investors might have found themselves alarmed by the fact that SPCX shares failed to see a significant rally even after their official inclusion into the Nasdaq-100 – though it will likely take some time for buying pressure from index funds to be fully reflected in the market.
Nonetheless, even if a renewed rally begins in July as many have been expecting since before the SpaceX launch, the company’s generous unlocking schedule for wealthy insiders could reverse Elon Musk’s corporate rocket once more in August or September.
Featured image via Shutterstock
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CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apple® today announced a new multiyear commitment with Broadcom to design and produce custom silicon components and cutting-edge wireless connectivity technologies for a wide range of Apple products. The new agreement, expected to exceed $30 billion, will lead to the production of more than 15 billion U.S.-made chips and support hundreds of American jobs. Apple has been working with the administration and businesses across the U.S. to help create an end-to-en.
France's competition authority on Wednesday ordered Meta Platforms to resume talks with French media groups over payments for publishing content, after the publishers complained following the collapse of previous negotiations.
In contrast to most other recent Wall Street analyst notes, RBC Capital’s Tom Narayan upgraded his outlook for Elon Musk’s electric vehicle (EV) company, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), on July 7.
Specifically, the institutional expert assigned a ‘Buy’ rating for TSLA stock while increasing his 12-month price prediction from $475 to $500.
Notably, while the analyst estimated that the ‘Robotaxi’ represents a robust opportunity with a $4.2 trillion total addressable market, it would appear much of the lift can be attributed to a potential SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) acquisition scenario.
Elon Musk has been implementing something of a company rollup as part of which his artificial intelligence (AI) company, xAI, acquired his social media firm, X, before itself getting bought by SpaceX ahead of the record-breaking initial public offering (IPO).
The process, started in earnest early in 2025, led some observers to speculate that the trillionaire’s biggest two companies could soon merge as well.
RBC Capital offers rare July bullish outlook for Tesla stock
Elsewhere, RBC Capital’s note appears to have followed a different approach from most other Wall Street analysts. Out of the five notable revisions provided in July, four – all except for Narayan’s – positioned Tesla stock as a ‘Hold.’
Among them, Morgan Stanley’s (NYSE: MS) Andrew Percoco was the most bearish, having forecasted TSLA shares would stand at $415 in 12 months on July 6, while JPMorgan’s (NYSE: JPM) Rajat Gupta was the most optimistic of the ‘Neutral’ experts with a $475 forecast on July 7.
The overall souring of the mood can arguably be attributed to an overall decline in Tesla’s core car business, shifting goalposts for the ‘Robotaxi,’ and the overall downward stock market performance of the EV maker in 2026.
Specifically, TSLA shares are, at their latest closing price of $402.90, 8.03% down year-to-date (YTD).
Tesla stock price YTD chart. Source: Google Analysts set Tesla stock price target for the next 12 months Lastly, the overall July balance of ratings is largely in line with the wider Wall Street attitude toward Elon Musk’s car company. Tesla is generally considered a ‘Hold’ by institutional analysts, with 15 out of the 28 experts who voiced their opinions in the last three months seeing it as such.
Wall Street sets Tesla stock price target for the next 12 months. Source: TipRanks Additionally, TSLA stock is, on average, expected to retrace 0.79% to $399.71 in the next 12 months, per the data Finbold retrieved from TipRanks on July 8, 2026.
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The average American household spent $78,535 in 2024, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Round that to $80,000, and you have a useful starting point for the retirement paycheck many households may need to replace. Gross salary can overstate the target because it includes payroll taxes, retirement contributions, and expenses that may fall after retirement.
What that paycheck costs upfront depends heavily on the yield you choose. The bigger issue is what that yield does to income, principal, inflation protection, and taxes over a long retirement.
The Three Yield Tiers, Priced In Capital A conservative 2.5% starting yield from a basket of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD), and Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) requires $80,000 divided by 0.025, or $3.2 million in capital. Recent yields cluster near that range: about 2.1% for JNJ, 2.9% for PG, 2.6% for KO, 2.8% for MCD, and 2.3% for LOW. You are buying a stream of raises that may grow into the paycheck.
The moderate tier of 5% to 7% cuts the capital requirement sharply. Realty Income (NYSE: O), at a recent yield of about 5.2%, would require roughly $1.55 million to produce $80,000 in annual income. Preferred shares, net-lease REITs, and lower-leverage business development companies can cluster here. The trade-off is growth: Realty Income’s monthly dividends paid per share rose 1.8% year over year in the first quarter of 2026.
The aggressive tier of 8% to 14%, populated by mortgage REITs, leveraged covered-call funds, and high-yield bond funds, can replace $80,000 on $800,000 at a 10% distribution. Principal can erode, and distributions can get cut in downturns. In weaker cases, part of the apparent income may function like a slow liquidation of the asset itself.
Why The Smallest Yield Wins Over Time Johnson & Johnson’s quarterly dividend rose from $0.25 in 1999 to $1.34 in 2026. Lowe’s lifted its quarterly payout to $1.25 in 2026, up from a much smaller payout in 1999. Those are the kinds of dividend-growth records that make low starting yields more interesting than they look on day one.
Coca-Cola raised its quarterly dividend from $0.51 to $0.53 in 2026, marking its 64th consecutive annual dividend increase. Procter & Gamble raised its dividend for the 70th consecutive year in 2026 and has paid a dividend for 136 consecutive years since its incorporation in 1890. JNJ also stands at 64 consecutive years of dividend increases.
A static 10% distribution that never grows still pays $80,000 in year 30. With the CPI-U at 335.123 in May 2026, up 4.2% over the prior 12 months, that flat paycheck loses purchasing power when inflation persists. Run the math the other direction: $3.2 million yielding 2.5% today pays $80,000. Grow that distribution 8% annually, and the income roughly doubles in nine years and reaches about $373,000 by year 20.
The 10-year Treasury, recently around 4.4%, is the baseline for comparing income risk. It still carries inflation risk and price risk if sold before maturity, but yields far above it usually require taking equity risk, credit risk, leverage risk, or some combination of the three. The question is which risk compounds in your favor.
A Better Check Before You Commit Capital Reprice retirement against actual spending. A household earning $130,000 may need to replace closer to $80,000 once payroll taxes, savings contributions, and a paid-off mortgage drop out. The personal saving rate was 4.4% in January 2026 and 3.5% in March, according to BEA data reported by FRED, which is a reminder that many households need to measure spending directly rather than rely on salary.
Run a total-return comparison before chasing yield. Compare a dividend-growth basket against a 10%-plus distribution fund over the same period, with dividends included. Total return includes price, and a high payout can still leave an investor worse off if the principal erodes.
If retirement is within five years, map the tax treatment by tier. Qualified dividends from U.S. corporations generally receive long-term capital gains rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%, assuming holding-period rules are met. REIT, BDC, MLP, and bond-fund income can be taxed differently, so the same $80,000 of pre-tax income may land very differently in a brokerage account versus an IRA.
The Best Yield Is the One That Can Last The goal is not to make a low yield look exciting or a high yield look reckless. The goal is to understand what each income stream is asking you to accept. A 2.5% portfolio requires far more capital, but it may give income room to grow. A 10% portfolio solves the first-year math, but it leaves less margin for cuts, inflation, and principal erosion. Retirement income has to work beyond year one.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 6.72%), also known as SpaceX, was one of the most hotly anticipated IPOs of the year. But while the stock got off to a strong start, it is now trading about 30% off its highs and faces numerous future stock lock-up expirations that will release more shares into the market. Meanwhile, the company's $2 trillion valuation is based on potential future endeavors that are largely unproven, such as launching data centers in space.
Let's look at three stocks that play on the same themes that could be better buys.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Amazon One of the companies pursuing a similar path to SpaceX is Amazon (AMZN +0.84%). The company's satellite internet service, Leo, will be offered later this year, directly competing with SpaceX's current main profit-driver, Starlink. Its pending acquisition of Globalstar will also give it critical spectrum and device-to-device capabilities. This should let it not only offer high-speed internet, but also act as a fallback layer for cellular carriers for voice, text, and data when their customers hit dead zones while traveling. It already has a deal in place with Apple to provide satellite services for future iPhones and Apple Watches.
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SpaceX is also very much a cloud computing company at this point, and Amazon remains the largest cloud provider in the world. This business has been seeing revenue growth accelerate, and Amazon has a nice cost advantage through its own chips. Amazon is also a leading robotics company, something SpaceX-affiliated Tesla is aggressively pursuing.
2. Alphabet One of SpaceX's big bets is on artificial intelligence (AI), which it views as its largest opportunity. Before its IPO, it merged with xAI, the maker of Grok, and, after its IPO, it acquired Anysphere, the parent company of the AI code-generation platform Cursor. However, SpaceX is widely considered behind in this area compared to Anthropic, OpenAI, and Alphabet (GOOGL +0.25%) (GOOG 0.35%).
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Of the three, Alphabet is the only one that is publicly traded, and it has strong advantages in the space. Its Gemini model is consistently considered one of the best foundational AI models, while its top-tier Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) give it a cost advantage in both training and inference. And while SpaceX uses the social media platform X as a distribution platform for Grok, Alphabet has Google Search.
Plus, in a bit of an under-the-radar project, Alphabet is also looking to create a constellation of solar-powered satellites powered by TPUs through its Project Suncatcher. It is looking to develop TPUs that can withstand cosmic radiation and has projected that the cost of a space-based data center could be similar to land-based data centers by the mid-2030s.
3. AST SpaceMobile Another company competing with SpaceX in the satellite internet realm is AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 7.97%), which Alphabet holds a stake in. However, the two companies are taking different approaches. While SpaceX is trying to win with the sheer scale of its cheaper, low-orbit satellite constellation, AST is using more expensive satellites with higher bandwidth per satellite and larger antennas that can potentially support faster data rates.
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Its business model is built around direct-to-cell services, and it has formed partnerships with many of the world's top mobile providers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone. This allows it to provide both high-bandwidth internet and voice calls directly on unmodified phones.
Image source: Getty Images.
Better options than SpaceX SpaceX has captured the minds of investors, as Elon Musk-backed companies often do. However, it is not the only company pursuing space-based ventures. With Amazon and Alphabet, investors are getting two megacap companies that produce tremendous operating cash flow that they can use to pursue these projects, while their current valuations don't reflect any potential upside from these ventures. Meanwhile, with a $33 billion market cap, AST could have more upside potential given its smaller size and the significant operating leverage it could see as revenue scales.
SpaceX is not the only game in town, and these three stocks look like better options in my view.
Artificial intelligence (AI) investing has been a winning investment theme during the past four years. Since the AI build-out kicked off in 2023, several of these stocks have been major winners. However, 2026's winners have been a bit more selective, with some companies doing incredibly well, while others are not doing as well.
Overall, I think the AI investment picture is still strong, and this theme will dominate the market for the rest of 2026, into 2027, and beyond until at least 2030. That means some of these stocks will be able to go much higher. If you're looking for which AI stocks are the best buys for the rest of 2026, I think this list is a great place to start, as they could go higher still.
Image source: Getty Images.
Micron Micron (MU 5.25%) may seem like an odd one to include on this list, in part because its stock has more than tripled this year. However, demand for Micron's core products, NAND and DRAM memory chips, is off the charts, and it doesn't expect market conditions to change through the calendar year 2027. That means Micron can continue to deliver unprecedented growth and thrive from the lack of memory chip supply.
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Micron's stock only trades for 13.6 times this year's earnings and 6.6 times next year's earnings, so buying today could lock in major returns by the end of 2027 if tightness in the memory chip market persists.
Nebius Nebius (NBIS 8.30%) has also had a strong year on the back of downright incredible growth. Nebius is a neocloud provider, which means it focuses on AI-first cloud computing. Demand for its product has been insatiable, and it delivered 684% revenue growth in Q1. Wall Street analysts expect another strong quarter in Q2, with 459% growth anticipated.
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For 2026 and 2027, Wall Street projects 544% and 234% revenue growth. With this tiny company rapidly expanding into an AI computing giant, now is the perfect time to jump on the shares, because if the AI build-out lasts through the end of this decade, Nebius has a lot higher to go.
Nvidia Nvidia (NVDA +0.62%) has been the top AI stock pick since 2023, and nothing has changed since then. The industry still relies on its graphic processing units (GPUs), and Nvidia's revenue was forecast to double year over year in Q2. However, the stock has gone on sale, and it's down about 17% from its all-time highs.
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Buying opportunities don't come around all that often for Nvidia stock, and now is the perfect time to load up on the shares, especially with its price tag at about 22 times forward earnings -- a good deal less than the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.45%).
Microsoft Next is Microsoft (MSFT +0.59%), which has had a terrible run during the past year. It has fallen about 30% from its all-time highs, leading many investors to believe that its AI strategy isn't panning out. However, with a 27% stake in OpenAI (projected to go public later this year at a valuation of more than $1 trillion), its AI business producing an annual recurring revenue of $37 billion growing at a 123% pace, and a 40% cloud computing growth rate, I think it's safe to say that Microsoft is doing just fine.
However, its stock is dirt cheap at 20 times forward earnings.
MSFT PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts
With it being far cheaper than the S&P 500 and growing at a solid pace, I think it's the perfect stock to buy now.
Meta Platforms The market hasn't been kind to Meta Platforms (META +2.59%) either, as investor focus on the huge amount of money Meta is spending on AI without accounting for the tremendous growth its ad business has delivered. In Q1, Meta's revenue rose 33%, yet the stock has been pretty steady off its all-time highs. Meta is down about 25% from its all-time high, and also trades for a cheap price tag like Microsoft.
META PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts
At just 18 times forward earnings, Meta looks like an incredible bargain, and could be a strong candidate to be a top-performing AI stock in the second half of 2026 as the market comes around to its AI plan.
The idea of buying and holding stocks forever can feel a bit cliché at times. The reality is that it's extraordinarily difficult to find stocks worthy of permanent spots in your portfolio. It's even more challenging when you apply that to growth stocks, which investors often find in emerging industries where it's uncertain which companies will lead or for how long.
That said, there's no harm in doing the exercise. After all, there aren't any rules against selling later on if things don't work out. In the meantime, this mindset will hone your focus on looking for the very best companies the market has to offer.
Ready to start? Already ahead of you. Nvidia (NVDA +0.62%), Microsoft (MSFT +0.59%), and Meta Platforms (META +2.59%) jump off the page as entrenched tech stalwarts with significant artificial intelligence (AI) growth potential, which might ultimately be one of the biggest investment opportunities of this generation.
Image source: Getty Images.
Nvidia is entrenched as the gold standard of AI compute Once the data center supercycle began, Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) quickly became the de facto chips for training AI models. That continues and has made Nvidia the world's largest tech company in the process. Although competition from custom silicon chips has crept in, it hasn't derailed Nvidia's blistering growth. CEO Jensen Huang has noted that Nvidia anticipates more than $1 trillion in orders through next year for its flagship Grace Blackwell and upcoming Vera Rubin chip platforms.
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Eventually, the data center boom will slow. But Nvidia will likely remain a top AI stock because of all the directions it can still go as AI investment and innovation expand beyond data centers. Nvidia has its sights set on physical AI, with software and hardware ecosystems built for autonomous vehicles and humanoid robotics. The company recently expanded its partnership with Palantir Technologies to give the U.S. government and other critical tech infrastructure operators access to Nvidia's GPUs and open-source AI models on Palantir's application software.
In the meantime, Nvidia is raking in billions of dollars in cash flow from its GPU sales, and that figure is rising quickly as Nvidia's explosive growth continues. Jensen Huang had Nvidia ready to dominate the AI market from day one, so it's difficult to bet against him as he guides Nvidia into an exciting but volatile AI future.
Microsoft has the inside track on AI at the enterprise level You can't stay atop the tech world without evolving. Microsoft has continued to learn new tricks over the years, from personal computer software to cloud computing and AI, all while its legacy products remained relevant and continue to have strong pricing power. Today, countless companies, from small businesses to massive corporations, depend on Microsoft's software products and cloud computing services in one form or another.
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Microsoft's various offerings make it a one-stop shop for enterprises, creating powerful network effects. Is Microsoft always the best at everything? No, but it's often easier and cheaper for enterprises to use whatever Microsoft offers than to go outside the ecosystem to another vendor. Like with other previous innovations, Microsoft has an inside track to sell AI technology, as it can simply roll it out to customers.
Admittedly, Microsoft's AI app, Copilot, has struggled to gain traction. But the company is pivoting after initially relying too heavily on its partnership with OpenAI. Microsoft's entrenched advantages are powerful, so when the smoke clears, it shouldn't surprise anyone if the company does just fine with AI. Despite the criticisms, Microsoft's Azure currently has $625 billion in commercial remaining performance obligations, suggesting the business is doing just fine.
Meta Platforms is an advertising juggernaut built on social media dominance There aren't many publicly traded monopolies you can invest in, but Meta Platforms might be one of them. Its social media apps, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, combine for 3.56 billion daily active users. This massive user base generates a ton of first-party data that Meta leverages to serve ads, a highly lucrative business model that continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
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Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is still the CEO and is only 42 years old, a rarity for such a successful company. Mark Zuckerberg swings for the fences. It doesn't always work -- just look at Reality Labs -- but he also acquired Instagram and WhatsApp. The company's all-out push into AI has strengthened its core advertising business while opening new growth opportunities in cloud computing and AI glasses.
Meta Platforms isn't a stock for everyone. Its social media apps have attracted criticism and lawsuits for their addictive nature. Despite all that, Meta Platforms is such a strong advertising company that it can afford huge mistakes and still deliver double-digit growth year in and year out. That's a business worth buying and holding, especially with such seasoned but young leadership.
NEW YORK, July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after its significant stock drop resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Microsoft, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/microsoft-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Microsoft ($MSFT) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 11, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Securities fraud alleging that Microsoft misled investors regarding its Azure cloud computing platform and AI chatbot CopilotStock Drop: January 28, 2026 – 10% Stock DropCourt: U.S. District Court for the Western District of WashingtonAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights
Investors have until August 11, 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 Microsoft common stock. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. It is captioned City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System, et al., No. 26-cv-02071.
Why is Microsoft Being Sued for Securities Fraud?
Microsoft is a multinational technology company that develops software, cloud services, and devices. In recent years, Microsoft’s cloud computing platform named Azure has been Microsoft’s main growth driver. A key reason for Azure’s recent growth is Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar investment into AI, including the development of its own generative AI chatbot named Copilot.
According to the complaint, during the relevant period, Microsoft consistently touted Copilot’s best-in-class capabilities, which purportedly drove widespread and growing user adoption. Copilot’s apparent success allowed Microsoft to report surging Azure-related revenue.
As alleged, in truth, Copilot suffered from severe functionality issues that caused user adoption to decline and put Microsoft’s Azure revenue at risk.
Why did Microsoft’s Stock Drop?
On January 28, 2026, Microsoft announced disappointing 2Q 2026 financial results and that Azure growth had slowed suddenly. Microsoft also allegedly revealed for the first time that the number of Microsoft 365 Copilot premium customers totaled only 15 million, materially below analyst estimates.
This news caused the price of Microsoft common stock to decline $48.13 per share, or 10%, from $481.63 per share on January 28, 2026, to $433.50 per share on January 29, 2026.
Additionally, on February 3, 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported in an article titled “Microsoft’s Pivotal AI Product Is Running Into Big Problems” that severe challenges and functionality issues had plagued Copilot, causing the application to lose market share. Specifically, The Wall Street Journal reported that “[c]onfusing brand positioning and interoperability problems have frustrated users.”
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/microsoft-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Microsoft, 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.
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.
Turning $500,000 into $100,000 of annual income requires a 20% yield, and no durable, diversified income portfolio should be built around that assumption. Anyone quoting a number that high is usually taking on extreme risk, relying on leverage, or handing back some of your own capital. The dividend-growth formula solves a different equation. It accepts a smaller paycheck today in exchange for the possibility of a much larger one in 10, 20, or 30 years.
Why $500,000 Cannot Produce Six Figures Today The equation is fixed: income target divided by yield equals capital required. Run it at three realistic tiers and the shortfall on $500K is obvious.
Conservative (3% to 4%): Blue-chip dividend growers and broad equity income. $100,000 divided by 0.035 equals about $2.86 million; at 4%, $2.5 million. Diversified and durable, but $500K produces roughly $17,500 in year one. Moderate (5% to 7%): REITs, preferred shares, midstream energy partnerships, covered-call funds. $100,000 divided by 0.06 equals about $1.67 million. Distribution growth slows or stalls, and inflation gnaws at real income. Aggressive (8% to 14%): Business development companies, mortgage REITs, leveraged option-income vehicles. $100,000 divided by 0.10 equals $1 million; at 12%, roughly $833,000. Principal frequently erodes, and cuts arrive first in downturns. The 10-year Treasury near 4.4% pays about $22,000 on $500K, risk-free. That is the realistic starting point. Every path to six figures from here runs through time, not yield.
The Compounding Math of Rising Payouts A 3.5% starting yield growing 8% per year doubles the income in roughly nine years, quadruples it in eighteen, and pushes yield-on-cost above 15% around year twenty-five. Reinvest dividends along the way and the curve bends steeper. The meaningful number is the growth rate of the payout multiplied by the years you hold it.
The historical record on real payers makes this tangible. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) paid a Q1 dividend of $0.33 in 2006 and $1.30 in Q1 2026, with 27+ consecutive years of increases visible in the data. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) went from a $0.285 quarterly dividend in Q1 1999 to $1.0885 in Q2 2026, its 70th consecutive annual raise. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) raised its quarterly payout from $0.375 in early 2008 to $1.86 in 2026. Investors who bought any of these two decades ago now collect a yield-on-cost that dwarfs anything a covered-call fund offers.
Where the Formula Points Next The low-yield, high-growth end of the spectrum matters as much as the aristocrats. Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) yields only 1%, yet the quarterly dividend rose from $0.39 in 2017 to $0.91 by late 2025. Visa (NYSE:V) yields roughly 0.8% and has raised the payout every year since 2008, most recently to $0.67 quarterly. Optically underwhelming today, mathematically dominant on a twenty-year horizon.
Blend a small allocation of names like these with a larger core of aristocrats and $500K can plausibly generate a six-figure real income stream by the time an early-fifties saver reaches their mid-seventies, especially with reinvestment during the accumulation phase.
Three Steps Before You Build the Portfolio Calculate actual spending, not gross salary. Per-capita disposable personal income was $68,391 in Q1 2026, according to BEA data reported through FRED, but that is a national per-person average, not a household retirement target. Many households need to replace less than a $100,000 paycheck once payroll taxes, retirement contributions, and work-related costs disappear. Compare total returns of a dividend-growth fund against a 10%-yielding option-income fund over the same period. Include reinvested dividends, taxes, payout changes, and ending net asset value. The high-yield product may look better at first, but the decade-long result depends on whether its payout is supported by durable earnings or offset by NAV erosion.
Model the tax drag at each tier. Qualified dividends from many dividend-growth stocks may receive lower federal rates when IRS holding-period rules are met. BDC and mortgage REIT distributions are often largely ordinary income, though tax character can vary by year. That matters more when CPI is already up 4.2% over the 12 months ending in May 2026. $500,000 can still become a six-figure income machine, but not by pretending a 20% yield is normal. The realistic path is a long runway, reinvestment, and a portfolio of companies that can keep raising the check. The first year may look disappointing. The real payoff is what the income stream can become after years of compounding.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.