Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Tesla logo displayed on a phone screen and an illustrative stock graph displayed on a laptop screen are seen in this multiple exposure illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on February 19, 2026. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Led by sharp declines last Thursday in the stock prices of Alphabet and Tesla, the Magnificent Seven lost approximately $890 billion in market value. The Wall Street Journal reported that these declines stemmed from a shift in investor perspective, from a focus on earnings to a focus on free cash flow. Free cash flows for Alphabet and Tesla are now negative, in large part due to these companies’ massive capital expenditures.
Investors need to put into perspective how stock market declines, free cash flow patterns, and capex fit together, both conceptually and historically. The big picture involves market cycle dynamics, with turning points and tipping points. The events of last week look like very much a turning point; and looming ahead is a potential major tipping point.
My goal for this post is to connect the dots between stock market declines, free cash flows, and capex. To do so, I describe highlights from last week’s Wall Street Journal coverage, which I then relate my prior posts on these topics.
What The Wall Street Journal ReportedThe Wall Street Journal reported that on Thursday, July 23, Alphabet’s stock declined by 7% and Tesla’s stock declined by 15%. These declines, both record-setting one day drops for these respective companies, spread to other major technology stocks. According to the article, the main driver of the declines was “free cash flow—which turned negative at both.” In this respect, investors had “dialed in to the implications of ramped-up capital spending.”
The Journal explains that free cash flow is essentially “the money companies have remaining from cash receipts” during the reporting period “after incurring cash expenses and making big-ticket investments.” In particular, the Journal states that free cash flow is “how much cash is available for things that investors like, including dividends and share repurchases.”
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The Journal also explains that free cash flow is different from net earnings, in that the latter “spreads the cost of major investments over several years through depreciation and amortization.” Typically, investors pay more attention to earnings than to free cash flow. However, apparently last week was different.
Right and Wrong Ways To Measure Free Cash FlowThe shift in focus by investors from earnings to free cash flow marks a turning point in market perceptions. While this might be the case, there is little if any evidence that investors actually have a good understanding of free cash flow. In this regard, The Wall Street Journal article does, at best, a mediocre job of explaining the concept; and as I have discussed in a previous post, many analysts use the wrong formula to compute free cash flow.
The correct way to describe free cash flow is simply this: It is the cash flow a company generates during a period of time that is available to be paid to the company’s shareholders and debtholders.
There are two formulas that can be use to compute free cash flow correctly, both based on a company’s statement of cash flows. The first way is to compute the sum of the company’s interest paid, the negative of its cash flow from financing, and the change in its cash holdings. This formula relates directly to the cash generation that is available to be paid to the company’s shareholders and debtholders.
The second formula for correctly computing cash flow is the sum of the company’s cash flow from operations, interest paid, cash flow from investment (typically negative), and an exchange rate adjustment variable. This formula corresponds to what The Wall Street Journal article describes as “money companies have remaining …” When computed correctly, the two formulas give the same number.
The description I provide above for free cash flow is different from the description that appears in The Wall Street Journal article, which only mentions “big-ticket investments,” that being just a part of cash flow from investment. Similarly, many analysts only use capex in their free cash flow formula, that being just a part of cash flow from investment. These incorrect formulas tend to produce values for free cash flow that are too high.
This last point can be critical. In a previous post about Tesla, I presented a chart contrasting the values computed by analysts with the values correctly computed. Precision is important: Tesla’s free cash flows did not turn negative only recently. They have been negative since 2023.
I would also point out that there is a day-of-the-week effect in the stock market that gets very little attention. One aspect of this effect is that quant firms are net sellers in the overnight market, from the Wednesday close through the Thursday open. The sharp stock price declines described above occurred on a Thursday.
Connecting The Dots From Free Cash Flow To ValuationThe Wall Street Journal article entirely omits a discussion about the precise relationship between free cash flow and valuation, which is as follows: The fundamental value of a company is the sum of the present value of its forecasted free cash flows discounted at the company’s cost of capital, and the company’s cash holdings.
Putting two plus two together: overestimating free cash flows leads to overestimating the company’s fundamental value. In my post from February 2025, I argued that the capex surge by hyperscalers was taking place in a highly overvalued market because the market was significantly overestimating future free cash flows. The post made this argument for Amazon, which had the largest capex; however, I had been making this point generally for quite some time, including for Alphabet and Tesla.
From Turning Point To Tipping PointIn one of my June posts, I discussed the hype around SpaceX’s IPO, and why this hype was contributing to financial fragility and economic instability. Extreme instability corresponds to a financial crisis, with the tipping point being the event which takes the economy from pre-crisis mode to a full fledged crisis.
Financial crises are often called ‘Minsky moments’ after the economist Hyman Minsky who developed the Financial Instability Hypothesis. Minsky’s work emphasized that in the leadup to a crisis, borrowers do two specific things. First , they take on too much debt. Second, they use that debt to finance projects which do not generate enough cash to cover future interest obligations and repayment of principal.
Companies with negative free cash flow are only able to cover the interest and principal on their debt by additional borrowing or by issuing new equity. In other words, cash is flowing from investors to the company, not the other way around.
In a financial crisis, investors become unwilling to support companies not able to cover interest and principal, with the result being a cascade of defaults and runs on financial institutions.
Typically, interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, often done to combat inflation, generate the tipping point. However, interest rate hikes are not a necessary condition. A loss of faith by investors can instead tip the financial system into crisis.
A major concern with the massive AI-capex which has occurred during the last two years is that much of it is debt financed. As the real cost of generative AI-tokens is becoming clear, lower priced Chinese competitors are emerging, and AI customers are beginning to economize on their use of AI. As a result, investors are becoming increasingly alarmed about whether U.S. AI firms will be able to cover their debt obligations. As I discussed in a previous post, AI-capex has been the main, and perhaps only driver of U.S. economic growth. If more companies announce negative free cash flows, that increase in magnitude, the financial system and overall economy will move closer to the tipping point.
On Deck Later This Week: Meta and AmazonLater this week, Meta and Amazon will announce their financial results for Q2 2026. Many eyes will be on their free cash flow numbers. To stay free cash flow positive, Meta’s operating cash flow will need to expand by more than 50% year-over-year. The situation at Amazon is similar. Indeed, in Q1 2026, Amazon’s free cash fell dramatically to $1.2 billion, as compared to $25.9 billion in the prior year’s Q1.
The data this week will serve to signal just how close the U.S. financial system is to the tipping point.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 27, 2026) - Rokmaster Resources Corp. (TSXV: RKR) (OTCQB: RKMSF) (FSE: 1RR1) ("Rokmaster" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Patrick James Burns (the "Optionor"), pursuant to which the Optionor has granted the Company an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the right, title and interest in and to the Cristal Property (the "Property"), comprising three contiguous exploitation mineral concessions located along the West Fissure, north of the Collahuasi/Ujina porphyry copper district in Northern Chile.
Transaction Highlights
Exclusive option to acquire 100% interest in the Property, comprising approximately 9 km² of contiguous exploitation mineral concessions in Northern Chile covering an undrilled series of geophysical anomalies indicating potential buried major porphyry system(s)Total consideration of 21,000,000 common shares of Rokmaster, issuable over 36 months (the "Consideration Shares") and US$70,000 in cash.Upon exercise of the option, a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty (the "NSR Royalty") will be granted to the Optionor, subject to partial buy-back rights.The transaction is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").Option Agreement
Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Optionor has granted the Company an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the right, title and interest in and to the Property and the associated property rights (the "Option"). The Option Period is 36 months from the date of the Option Agreement. The Company may exercise the Option by completing all of the following payments:
7,000,000 common shares of Rokmaster (the "Initial Shares") and US$70,000 in cash, to be issued and paid upon acceptance of the Option Agreement by the TSXV ("TSXV Approval");an additional 7,000,000 common shares of Rokmaster within 24 months of the date of the Option Agreement; and an additional 7,000,000 common shares of Rokmaster within 36 months of the date of the Option Agreement.The Option Agreement is an arm's length transaction. Closing is subject to TSXV Approval and customary closing conditions. Completion of the transactions contemplated by the Option Agreement, including the issuance of the Consideration Shares, remains subject to acceptance by the TSXV. The Consideration Shares, when issued, will be subject to applicable resale restrictions under Canadian securities laws and the policies of the TSXV.
The Option Agreement also establishes an area of common interest of 2 km from the outermost boundary of the Property, pursuant to which each party has agreed to notify the other of any mineral property interest acquired within such area during the Option Period.
NSR Royalty
Upon exercise of the Option, the Company will grant the Optionor a 2.5% NSR Royalty over the Property. NSR Royalty payments will become due from the commencement of commercial production on the Property.
The Company will retain the following buy-back rights in respect of the NSR Royalty:
within 12 months following the commencement of commercial production, the Company may repurchase 1% of the NSR Royalty (representing 40% of the total NSR Royalty) for US$1,000,000, subject to adjustment according to Consumer Price Index ("CPI") variation from the date of the Option Agreement (the "First Buy-Back Option"); andwithin 24 months following the exercise of the First Buy-Back Option, the Company may repurchase an additional 1% of the NSR Royalty (representing 2/3 of the then-remaining NSR Royalty) for US$1,000,000, subject to adjustment according to CPI variation from the date of the Option Agreement (the "Second Buy-Back Option").The remaining 0.5% NSR Royalty interest is not subject to any repurchase right.
Property Overview
The Cristal Project comprises three contiguous mineral concessions located in the western Andes of northern Chile, approximately 10 km south of the Peruvian border and within the Huayillas Quadrangle.
The Project is situated at the intersection of the West Fissure Fault Zone structural corridor and the Incapuquio Fault System. The property consists of approximately 9 km² of exploitation concessions known as Cristal I, Cristal III and Cristal 15, surrounded by concessions owned by Antofagasta Minerals, Codelco, Rio Tinto and First Quantum.
The Cristal Project is an exploration-stage copper property located in northern Chile. The Project is considered highly prospective for a large-scale, buried porphyry copper system, supported by historical geological and geophysical data, including magnetic and gravity anomalies consistent with major porphyry systems. The Project is situated within a highly prospective regional structural corridor which has attracted historical exploration activity from major mining companies.
Rokmaster views the Cristal Project as a compelling copper exploration opportunity in one of the world's most prolific porphyry copper belts. Historical technical work, showing a strong donut-shaped magnetic anomaly at the centre of the property, indicates the Project is prospective for a concealed porphyry copper system at depth. A prior National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the Cristal Copper Property stated that the property is believed to host potential porphyry copper mineralization at depth, with potentially mineralized rocks interpreted to occur approximately 600 to 800 metres below surface.
John Mirko, CEO & Director, comments:
"We are very excited to acquire the Cristal Project, which we believe represents a highly accretive addition to Rokmaster's copper-gold focused exploration portfolio.
Cristal provides our shareholders with exposure to a large-scale, concealed porphyry copper target in northern Chile, one of the world's most important copper-producing jurisdictions. The Project benefits from strong geological and geophysical indicators, historical technical work by major mining companies in the district, and a clear first-phase drill target that can be tested in a focused and disciplined manner.
As global demand for copper continues to strengthen, we believe Cristal adds meaningful discovery upside to Rokmaster while complementing our existing portfolio of high-potential exploration assets."
Other Business
Rokmaster Resources is also pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Parent as President & Director of the company, effective immediately.
Matt Parent is a proven entrepreneur with 35+ years of business-building experience in corporate strategy, operations, sales & marketing, and finance having successfully founded, developed, and scaled several businesses, including in the transportation & logistics and home services industries. Prior to joining Rokmaster, Matt spent the past 8.5 years at the Investing News Network (INN) with roles which included Director of Business Development and Director of Capital Markets where he worked with over 250 publicly listed companies across Canada and the United States.
Matt is an active participant in the capital markets and has consulted numerous junior mining companies to support their capital markets and financing initiatives. Matt is currently an Independent Director of CSE-listed Red Metal Resources, Ltd.
Matt has an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario, a Bachelor of Commerce (with Honours Distinction) from the University of Windsor, and an accounting degree from Athabasca University. Matt has successfully completed the Canadian Securities Course, the IFSE Dealer Representative Course, and is currently enrolled in the Officers, Directors, and Partners course with the Canadian Securities Institute.
Current CEO & Director, John Mirko, stated, "We are pleased to have an experienced entrepreneur and successful business builder in Matt join the executive management team and board of directors at Rokmaster Resources. Matt will bring his broad business-focused skillset to the Rokmaster team and be a valuable asset in helping us execute on our many corporate initiatives including, among others, our capital markets and corporate communications strategies."
The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Tom Henrickson, P.Geo., who is independent of Rokmaster.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
Rokmaster Resources Corp.
John Mirko,
Chief Executive Officer & Director
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term in defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information are information that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from Rokmaster's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306611
Source: Rokmaster Resources Corp.
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Better late than never: Intel (INTC -8.02%) has officially joined the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom, with the company seeing its data center and AI segment revenue surge in the second quarter. Shares jumped in after-hours trading, but Intel gave back those gains after management acknowledged the company would meaningfully increase its capital expenditures (capex) this year. Punishing AI stocks that increase their capex has been a major theme this earnings season.
Intel's stock has now lost about a third of its value from its recent highs. However, its shares are still up more than 150% on the year and over 300% in the past 12 months.
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Server CPUs lead the way The biggest driver of Intel's growth was data center central processing units (CPUs). Demand for server CPUs has increased in the second quarter on a sequential basis and management expects double-digit industry growth both this year and next, with momentum continuing into 2028. Meanwhile, demand continues to far outstrip supply, leading to higher CPU prices across the board.
This helped lead to a 59% jump in its data center and AI product revenue to $6.3 billion. Its client computing group product revenue rose 13% year over year to $8.9 billion, leading to total product revenue climbing 28% to $15.1 billion. That was a big step up from the 9% rise in product revenue it saw in Q1.
Intel's foundry business, meanwhile, saw revenue surge 31% to $5.8 billion. However, the segment continues to post large operating losses, with a $2.1 billion loss in the quarter. Revenue from Intel's other businesses sank 33% year over year to $0.7 billion, largely due to the sale of 51% of its Altera subsidiary.
Overall revenue for Intel climbed 25% to $16.1 billion, its fastest growth in almost 15 years. Its adjusted earnings per share went from a loss of $0.10 to a profit of $0.42. This was bolstered by a big 1,290 basis-point increase in its gross margins to 40.4%.
Looking ahead, Intel projected Q3 revenue to be between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion with adjusted EPS of $0.38. That was well ahead of the $0.27 in EPS and $15.1 billion in sales that analysts were expecting. It projected gross margins to be around 41%.
It expects supply constraints to affect it next quarter, with improvements starting to show up toward the end of the quarter and into Q4. It also raised its projected capex, taking its 2026 budget from initial guidance of around $17 billion to $18 billion to over $20 billion. Capital expenditures for 2027, meanwhile, are expected to be significantly above 2026 levels.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
While Intel is starting to see strong momentum in its data center and AI segment, this seems more driven by the sudden need of hyperscalers to grab whatever server CPUs they can to help handle agentic AI than by any big moves that the company has made. CPU demand is through the roof, which is helping with pricing in its client computing group segments. And while its foundry business is gaining some traction, it remains a money-draining business during one of the biggest semiconductor booms of all time.
Before its run, Intel was a cheap stock barely trading above the value of its physical assets. Now it has a forward P/E of 105, and the stock's valuation looks bloated for a company that seems more like a passenger than one helping to drive the market. I think there are better AI stocks out there to buy.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CHTR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
The Euro (EUR) trades 0.36% higher to near 1.1410 against the US Dollar (USD) during the European trading session on Monday. The major currency pair trades firmly as the revival of risk-on market sentiment has diminished the safe-haven appeal of the US Dollar.
In the European trade, S&P500 futures trade almost 1% higher to near 7,485, reflecting a risk-on market mood. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which gauges the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, trades 0.25% lower to near 101.20.
US Dollar Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the weakest against the Swiss Franc.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.40%-0.25%-0.20%0.01%-0.41%-0.30%-0.48%EUR0.40%0.11%0.19%0.39%-0.02%0.11%-0.10%GBP0.25%-0.11%0.07%0.28%-0.14%-0.04%-0.21%JPY0.20%-0.19%-0.07%0.17%-0.23%-0.13%-0.29%CAD-0.01%-0.39%-0.28%-0.17%-0.40%-0.30%-0.48%AUD0.41%0.02%0.14%0.23%0.40%0.13%-0.09%NZD0.30%-0.11%0.04%0.13%0.30%-0.13%-0.21%CHF0.48%0.10%0.21%0.29%0.48%0.09%0.21% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
The risk-appetite of financial markets has improved amidst the pause in military aggression between the United States (US) and Iran. Over the weekend, a spokesperson from the US military stated that the attacks on Iran have paused as the provided target list has been exhausted.
US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Mike Waltz said that while forces remained locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give negotiations a little bit of room. The Guardian reported.
On the domestic front, investors await the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy announcement on Wednesday. The Fed is expected to leave interest rates unchanged in the range of 3.50%-3.75%. The impact of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s press conference is expected to be insignificant, as he clarified in the previous press conference that “so-called forward guidance is not well-suited in the current policy juncture”.
In the Eurozone, investors await the preliminary Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) data for July, which will be released on Friday. The inflation data will have a significant impact on the European Central Bank’s (ECB) interest rate expectations, given that the majority of policymakers have warned of upside inflation risks.
On Thursday, ECB President Christine Lagarde said in the press conference, “Risks to inflation tilted to upside." Lagarde added, “Energy shock likely to keep inflation well above target into first half of 2027."
Economic Indicator Fed Interest Rate Decision The Federal Reserve (Fed) deliberates on monetary policy and makes a decision on interest rates at eight pre-scheduled meetings per year. It has two mandates: to keep inflation at 2%, and to maintain full employment. Its main tool for achieving this is by setting interest rates – both at which it lends to banks and banks lend to each other. If it decides to hike rates, the US Dollar (USD) tends to strengthen as it attracts more foreign capital inflows. If it cuts rates, it tends to weaken the USD as capital drains out to countries offering higher returns. If rates are left unchanged, attention turns to the tone of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement, and whether it is hawkish (expectant of higher future interest rates), or dovish (expectant of lower future rates).
ČEZ pokračuje v rozšiřování portfolia obnovitelných zdrojů, Radek Holeček opět navýšil svůj podíl v Coltu. Naopak skupina CSG čelí nejistotě po zařazení Tatra Trucks na čínský seznam exportních omezení.
Článek se odemkne 27.07.2026 9:53
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Námi sledované indexy v asijsko-pacifickém regionu dnes rostly. Trhy podpořila absence dalších vojenských úderů mezi USA a Íránem, která vedla k růstu akcií a poklesu cen ropy. Cena ropy Brent klesá nyní zhruba o 6,27 % na 90,7 USD za barel, čímž se mírní obavy z dalšího růstu inflace.
Index MSCI Asia Pacific nyní přidává 1 %. Z technologických titulů posílily například akcie Samsung Electronics o 1,9 % a SK Hynix o 3,5 %. Pozornost investorů se nyní přesouvá k výsledkům velkých technologických společností a jejich plánům kapitálových výdajů do AI.
V Číně zaujal debut výrobce paměťových čipů CXMT, jehož akcie při pondělním vstupu na šanghajskou burzu vzrostly až o 535 %.
Japonský Nikkei 225 +0,5 % na 64931,19 b.
Hongkongský Hang Seng +1,06 % na 25227,24 b.
Čínský Shanghai Composite +0,9 % na 3848,5914 b.
Jihokorejský Kospi +0,97 % na 6755,75 b.
Australský S&P/ASX 200 +1,39 % na 8894 b.
Gold (XAUUSD) prices remain steady as markets assess the latest developments in the Middle East and await the Federal Reserve's policy decision. A weaker US Dollar and lower Treasury yields have supported gold's recent recovery. At the same time, easing geopolitical tensions reduced safe-haven demand, while lower oil prices eased inflation concerns. Markets now await the Federal Reserve's policy decision, which is expected to play a key role in shaping gold's next move.
Gold remains firm as markets await the Fed decision and Middle East updatesGold extended its rebound after recovering from a key support area. The recovery was supported by a softer US Dollar and declining US Treasury yields. A temporary pause in military exchanges between the United States and Iran reduced immediate demand for safe-haven assets. At the same time, lower Oil prices eased inflation concerns and improved the market environment for gold.
Diplomatic efforts also supported sentiment. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that mediators are working to prevent further escalation. These developments reduced immediate geopolitical concerns, although uncertainty remains. As a result, many market participants continue to monitor headlines closely before increasing exposure to gold.
Attention has now shifted to the Federal Reserve's policy meeting. Investors expect the central bank to keep a cautious approach as it balances inflation risks with economic conditions. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets have increased expectations for a rate hike compared with levels seen earlier this month. This uncertainty continues to limit aggressive buying in gold until the Fed provides updated guidance on interest rates and the economic outlook.
Gold technical analysis: Triangle pattern keeps XAU/USD at a key decision pointThe gold chart below shows price trading within a large triangle pattern. A falling resistance trendline has capped every recovery since the major peak earlier this year, while a broad horizontal support zone has repeatedly provided support. This combination reflects a period of consolidation after the previous rally, with both buyers and sellers defending important technical levels.
Price recently tested the horizontal support area once again before staging a modest rebound. The latest recovery has carried gold back toward the descending resistance trendline, where selling pressure has started to appear again. This reaction suggests that the falling trendline remains an important barrier. As long as price remains below this resistance, upside progress may continue to face challenges.
The triangle pattern continues to narrow as price approaches its apex, suggesting that a larger move could be developing. A sustained breakout above the descending trendline would improve the technical outlook and favor a stronger recovery. Conversely, a break below the horizontal support would complete the bearish pattern and increase the likelihood of further downside.
Gold outlook: Fed decision and Middle East developments drive the next moveGold continues to consolidate as markets await the Federal Reserve's policy decision and monitor developments in the Middle East. A weaker US Dollar and lower Treasury yields have supported the recent recovery. Diplomatic efforts have eased immediate geopolitical concerns, while the triangle pattern continues to signal an important technical decision point. The next move will likely depend on the Federal Reserve's guidance and whether price breaks above resistance or below support.
Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE) will release its second quarter earnings report after the closing bell on Monday, July 27.
Analysts expect the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company to report quarterly earnings of $4.53 per share, up from $2.65 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Nucor’s quarterly revenue is $10.31 billion. It reported $8.46 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On June 17, Nucor said it sees second-quarter GAAP EPS of $4.70-$4.80 and adjusted EPS of $4.50-$4.60.
Shares of Nucor gained 2.7% to close at $247.56 on Friday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Considering buying NUE stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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SummarySLB is rated Buy, with a base case of ~30% upside plus a 2.25% dividend, grounded in normalized multiples on 2027 earnings.Q2 results were mixed year-on-year but sequentially strong, with revenue up 3%, adjusted EBITDA up 7%, and margin expansion, despite Middle East headwinds.Guidance for Q4 is robust: revenue above $10 billion, 24% adjusted EBITDA margin, and a Middle East recovery to $2.1–$2.2 billion in revenue.Shares jumped 11%, but the recovery is not fully priced in. halbergman/iStock via Getty Images
Investment Thesis SLB N.V. (SLB) closed Friday at $52.42, up 11% on the day, and I know that writing something bullish right after an 11% move is not a great look. But what moved the stock was not really
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Bitcoin, küresel piyasalarda risk iştahının yeniden artmasıyla birlikte 65.000 dolar seviyesinin üzerine çıktı. ABD ile İran arasında ikinci gününe giren ateşkesin petrol fiyatlarını aşağı çekmesi, yatırımcıların yeniden riskli varlıklara yönelmesini sağladı. Bu gelişmeyle birlikte Ethereum, Bitcoin’den daha güçlü performans sergilerken, analistler olası bir altcoin hareketinin başlayabileceğine dikkat çekiyor.
Bitcoin ve Ethereum Yükselişini Sürdürüyor Son 24 saatte Bitcoin yaklaşık yüzde 1,2 değer kazanarak yeniden 65.000 dolar seviyesinin üzerine çıktı ve yatırımcı güveninin güçlendiğine işaret etti. Ethereum ise yüzde 3’ün üzerinde yükseliş kaydederek 1.950 dolar seviyesine ulaştı. Bu yükselişe Solana ve XRP gibi önde gelen altcoinler de eşlik ederek yüzde 1 ila 2 arasında değer kazandı. Bu tablo, kripto para piyasasında risk iştahının yeniden artmaya başladığını gösteriyor.
İlginizi Çekebilir: Düşen Coin’e Türk Yatırımcı Akını: DeXe Neden Zirvede?
Solana ve XRP gibi piyasa değeri yüksek altcoinler de yüzde 1 ila 2 arasında yükseliş kaydederek genel piyasa görünümünü destekledi. Özellikle Ethereum’un Bitcoin’e kıyasla daha güçlü performans sergilemesi, yatırımcıların yalnızca Bitcoin’e değil, büyük altcoinlere de ilgi göstermeye başladığı şeklinde değerlendiriliyor. Ancak analistler, Bitcoin’in piyasa hakimiyetinin halen yüksek seviyelerde bulunması nedeniyle geniş çaplı bir altcoin sezonunun başladığını söylemek için henüz erken olduğunu belirtiyor.
ABD ile İran’ın askeri saldırıları durdurması ve diplomatik çözüm umutlarının güçlenmesi, küresel piyasalarda risk algısını olumlu etkiledi. Bu gelişmenin ardından Brent petrolü yaklaşık yüzde 4,7 gerileyerek 92,19 dolara inerken, WTI ham petrolü de 85 dolar seviyelerinde işlem gördü. Petrol fiyatlarındaki düşüşün enflasyon baskısını hafifletmesi, hisse senedi ve kripto para piyasalarında alımların hızlanmasına katkı sağladı.
Uzmandan Ethereum ve Altcoin Yorumu Hindistan merkezli Giottus borsasının CEO’su Vikram Subburaj, piyasalardaki yükselişin makroekonomik gelişmelerle desteklendiğini belirterek şu ifadeleri kullandı:
“Petrol fiyatlarındaki gerileme enflasyon endişelerini azaltırken, Ethereum’un Bitcoin’den daha güçlü yükselmesi yatırımcıların alternatif kripto paralara yönelmeye başladığını gösteriyor. Ancak Bitcoin’in piyasa hakimiyetinin yüzde 58,6 seviyesinde bulunması, henüz geniş çaplı bir altcoin sezonunun başlamadığını ortaya koyuyor.”
Kripto analiz şirketi Alphractal’ın Kurucusu ve CEO’su Joao Wedson ise Bitcoin’in tarihsel döngülerine dikkat çekti. Wedson’a göre her Bitcoin yarılanmasının ardından oluşan ayı piyasalarının dip noktası ortalama 900 gün içerisinde görülüyor. Mevcut döngünün 827. gününde olunduğunu belirten analist, Bitcoin’in taban oluşturma sürecinin büyük ölçüde tamamlanmış olabileceğini ve önümüzdeki iki ay içerisinde nihai dip seviyesinin görülebileceğini ifade etti.
Değerlendirme Bitcoin’in yeniden 65.000 doların üzerine çıkması ve Ethereum’un daha güçlü performans göstermesi, kripto para piyasasında olumlu havanın güçlendiğine işaret ediyor. ABD-İran geriliminin azalması ve petrol fiyatlarındaki düşüş risk iştahını desteklerken, yatırımcıların önümüzdeki günlerde hem Fed toplantısından gelecek mesajları hem de Bitcoin hakimiyetindeki değişimi yakından izlemesi bekleniyor. Bu gelişmeler, olası bir altcoin hareketinin yönü açısından belirleyici olabilir.
Son dakika kripto para haberleri için hemen tıkla
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The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate fell to a 16-day low last week as concerns over the UK government's fiscal plans overshadowed stronger domestic economic data and weighed on Sterling.
At the time of writing, GBP/EUR was trading around €1.1708, down more than 0.4% over the week.
Latest — Exchange Rates:
Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR): 1.171379 (-0.04%)
Pound to Dollar (GBP/USD): 1.334752 (+0.17%)
Euro to Dollar (EUR/USD): 1.13947 (+0.21%)
DAILY RECAP:
The Pound (GBP) came under pressure at the start of the week after Prime Minister Andy Burnham surprised markets by appointing former Defence Secretary John Healey as Chancellor.
Sterling remained on the defensive as concerns grew over the government's commitment to fiscal discipline, particularly after Burnham outlined proposals for a series of tax cuts.
These political developments drew attention away from several key UK economic releases, including the latest labour market figures and consumer price index.
The inflation data delivered a mixed picture and did little to shift Sterling. Headline CPI slowed from 2.8% to 2.6%, falling by more than expected, while core inflation unexpectedly held at 2.6% rather than easing to 2.5%.
Stronger UK data later in the week also had little impact on the Pound, despite June retail sales and the preliminary July services PMI both unexpectedly beating forecasts, as fiscal concerns continued to dominate sentiment.
Meanwhile, the Euro (EUR) initially weakened after German producer prices contracted by more than expected in June, weighing on Eurozone inflation expectations.
However, stronger German data on Tuesday helped lift the single currency, with the ZEW economic sentiment index rising from 10.5 to a five-month high of 26.3.
The Euro also benefited from a more cautious market mood later in the week, while the European Central Bank's interest rate decision had only a limited impact. Although policymakers warned inflation is likely to remain elevated, they also highlighted growing risks to the economic outlook.
The Euro climbed to a 16-day high against the Pound on Friday after stronger-than-expected Eurozone PMI data, with GBP/EUR remaining around those levels into the weekend.
Near-Term GBP/EUR Forecast: BoE Decision in the Spotlight Looking ahead, the Bank of England's interest rate announcement on Thursday will be the key event for Pound investors.
Markets broadly expect policymakers to leave interest rates unchanged, meaning attention is likely to focus on the Bank's guidance.
If officials indicate that further interest rate increases remain possible in the coming months, particularly following the recent rise in energy prices, Sterling could find renewed support.
Before then, political developments are likely to remain an important driver for the Pound.
Meanwhile, the Eurozone's preliminary second-quarter GDP estimate is due on Thursday, with stronger growth likely to support the Euro.
Friday then brings the bloc's preliminary July inflation figures, where a further increase in price pressures could also underpin the single currency.
Exchange Rates UK Research Our currency coverage draws on live market data, official economic releases and published bank research.
The Euro (EUR) has picked up towards the 0.8540 area against the British Pound (GBP) on Monday, after a mild pullback on Friday found support at 0.8530. The pair maintains the immediate bullish trend from mid-July lows at 0.8455, with bulls looking at three-week highs in the area of 0.8555.
The Euro is drawing support from a moderate relief rally on Monday, as the US and Iran halted their hostilities, which allowed Oil prices to decline about 9% from last week’s highs, with the barrel of Brent Oil down to $87.40 from above $96.00 last Thursday. Eurozone countries are net Oil importers, and the Crude rally seen over the last few weeks had threatened to strangle economic activity.
In the UK, Prime Minister Andrew Burnham’s spending plans keep investors on edge while the focus this week shifts to the Bank of England (BoE) monetary policy decision. The BoE will, all but certain, leave interest rates on hold, but investors will be very attentive to the vote split and Governor Bailey’s press release to assess the chances of any rate hike in the near-term.
Technical Analysis: In a bullish correction following the June-July sell-off
EUR/GBP trades at 0.8543, keeping a constructive near-term tone as it holds within a bullish channel from mid-July lows. The pair is correcting higher after a 2.5% decline from June highs, with momentum indicators hinting at a mild upside bias. The Relative Strength Index (14) is around 60, hinting at positive momentum, even as the MACD (12, 26, close, 9) has slipped marginally into negative territory.
The bullish structure maintains the July 8 and 24 highs at 0.8555 in play. Above that level, the top of the channel, now around 0.8565, and July 2 and 3 highs, in the area of 0.8575, are likely to test bulls.
On the downside, immediate support emerges at the confluence of the channel floor and July 23 and 24 lows, around 0.8530. Below here, a previous resistance area, around 0.8510 (July 17, 20 highs), is likely to be targeted ahead of the July 20 low, at 0.8483.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Euro Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.34%-0.20%-0.18%0.03%-0.32%-0.24%-0.44%EUR0.34%0.11%0.15%0.36%0.03%0.12%-0.11%GBP0.20%-0.11%0.04%0.25%-0.10%-0.03%-0.22%JPY0.18%-0.15%-0.04%0.18%-0.15%-0.07%-0.25%CAD-0.03%-0.36%-0.25%-0.18%-0.34%-0.26%-0.46%AUD0.32%-0.03%0.10%0.15%0.34%0.11%-0.13%NZD0.24%-0.12%0.03%0.07%0.26%-0.11%-0.23%CHF0.44%0.11%0.22%0.25%0.46%0.13%0.23% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).
UOB strategists highlight that EUR/USD slipped slightly to 1.1369 as comments from European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus suggested a rate increase remains more likely than a hold. They also now expect one final 25 bps ECB hike in September to 2.50% on the deposit rate, followed by an extended pause, with risks skewed to further tightening if energy prices stay elevated.
Mild Euro pullback but hawkish ECB tilt"The European Central Bank (ECB) left all three policy rates unchanged at its 23 Jul meeting, keeping the deposit rate at 2.25%."
"EUR/USD slipped 0.1% to 1.1369, as ECB Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus indicated that a rate increase remains more likely than a hold."
"We now expect one final 25 bps rate hike in Sep, taking the deposit rate to 2.50%, followed by an extended pause."
"However, additional tightening cannot be ruled out if elevated energy prices persist and lead to stronger second-round inflation effects."
(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENSG) resulting from allegations that Ensign may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Ensign securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/the-ensign-group-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On June 8, 2026, Investing.com published an article entitled "Ensign Group stock tumbles after short seller report." The article stated that Ensign shares fell after "short seller Hunterbrook released a report alleging the nursing home operator’s business model relies on inadequate patient care and gaming quality metrics." Further, the article stated that Hunterbrook "published findings from a five-month investigation claiming the company’s profits depend on understaffing facilities while routing taxpayer dollars to executives and affiliates. The report alleges patients have suffered and died as a result."
On this news, Ensign Group shares fell 8.15% on June 8, 2026.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
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Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
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New York, NY 10016
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The AUD/USD pair struggles to capitalize on a modest bullish gap opening on Monday and oscillates in a narrow band around the 0.7000 psychological mark through the Asian session.
The US Dollar (USD) weakens in reaction to renewed optimism over a potential diplomatic resolution to end a five-month-old US-Iran conflict. Furthermore, a slump in crude oil prices eases inflation fears and tempers US Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations, which is seen as another factor undermining the Greenback.
Adding to this, expectations of another interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lend additional support to the AUD/USD pair. Traders, however, seem hesitant to place aggressive directional bets and might opt to wait on the sidelines ahead of the crucial FOMC monetary policy meeting this week.
From a technical perspective, the AUD/USD pair keeps a constructive near-term bias above the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement levels of the May-June downfall. This comes on top of the recent goodish rebound from the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) and backs the case for a further near-term appreciation.
Momentum readings also back this mildly bullish stance, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering just above the 50 line and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) holding in positive territory with a modestly positive histogram. This hints that upside pressure is slowly building rather than exhausted.
However, it will still be prudent to wait for sustained strength and acceptance above the 38.2% Fibo. level at 0.7019 before placing fresh bullish bets on the AUD/USD pair and a subsequent move to the 50% retracement at 0.7066. A sustained break above these levels would open the way toward the 61.8% Fibo. at 0.7113 and then 0.7180, with the swing high at 0.7265 acting as a more distant cap.
On the downside, first support emerges at the 23.6% retracement at 0.6961, ahead of the 200-day SMA around 0.6901, while a deeper slide would expose the Fibonacci anchor zone near 0.6867.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
AUD/USD daily chart
US Dollar Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.31%-0.20%-0.16%-0.06%-0.29%-0.20%-0.37%EUR0.31%0.08%0.15%0.23%0.01%0.12%-0.06%GBP0.20%-0.08%0.07%0.16%-0.06%0.00%-0.13%JPY0.16%-0.15%-0.07%0.06%-0.14%-0.06%-0.19%CAD0.06%-0.23%-0.16%-0.06%-0.21%-0.13%-0.28%AUD0.29%-0.01%0.06%0.14%0.21%0.11%-0.08%NZD0.20%-0.12%-0.01%0.06%0.13%-0.11%-0.18%CHF0.37%0.06%0.13%0.19%0.28%0.08%0.18% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
Women's Skateboard Vert: 15-Year-Old Mizuho Hasegawa from Ibaraki, Japan, Takes Gold Medal, 19-Year-Old Asahi Kaihara from Osaka, Japan, Earns Bronze Monster Energy BMX Street: 30-Year-Old Boyd Hilder from Gold Coast, Australia, Claims Bronze Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street Best Trick: 16-Year-Old Julian Agliardi from Long Beach, California, Clinches Bronze Medal Moto X Best Whip: 30-Year-Old Julien Vanstippen from Ophain, Belgium, Takes Bronze Medal , /PRNewswire/ -- Big first day in The Big Easy! Monster Energy congratulates its team of action sports athletes on a strong performance on the first day of X Games New Orleans 2026. On Friday, Monster Energy riders claimed a total of five medals (one gold, four bronze) across four contest events at legendary Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Monster Energy's New Skateboard Athlete Mizuho Hasegawa from Ibaraki, Japan, Takes Gold Medal in Women's Skateboard Vert at X Games New Orleans 2026 For the team's first win of the weekend, Women's Skateboard Vert saw 15-year-old Mizuho Hasegawa from Ibaraki, Japan, take the gold medal in a down-to-the-wire final. She was joined on the podium by 19-year-old Asahi Kaihara from Osaka, Japan, taking bronze.
In the Monster Energy BMX Street final, 30-year-old Boyd Hilder from Gold Coast, Australia, claimed the bronze medal with a technical run. The spectacular Moto X Best Whip event concluded with 30-year-old Julien Vanstippen from Ophain, Belgium, clinching bronze. Day one in the Big Easy ended with Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street Best Trick and 16-year-old Julian Agliardi from Long Beach, California, taking the bronze medal.
From July 24–26, MoonPay X Games New Orleans 2026 marks the first championship event of the new MoonPay X Games League (XGL) 2026 Summer Season. Supported by Monster Energy as an X Games League Founding Partner, XGL is the world's first year-round, team-based, co-ed league in action sports, where city-based clubs and individual athletes rack up points across the season for a shot at the championship.
Here's how the action unfolded for team Monster Energy on day one of X Games New Orleans 2026:
The team claimed the first win of the weekend in the Women's Skateboard Vert final. Competing against the world's highest-ranked riders in the discipline, new Monster Energy team rider Mizuho Hasegawa clinched the gold medal on her final attempt for a come-from-behind victory.
Hasegawa came to New Orleans as a podium favorite after taking Women's Skateboard Vert gold at X Games Chiba and silver at X Games Sacramento this season. After also claiming medals at every Best Trick event, she dropped in as the highest-scoring individual athlete in season rankings with 440 points. But her performance in New Orleans turned into an uphill battle after she lost the handle on her first two runs with only one more attempt left to score.
Showing her nerves and technical ability when it counted, Hasegawa found her line on the final attempt: Stringing together huge backside 540, one-foot McTwist, body varial McTwist, kickflip varial Indy, frontside lien to tailslide, backside 360 varial Weddle, kickflip frontside air, heelflip Indy, backside Smith grind, judo air to fakie, and Cab backside 540 on the last wall earned Hasegawa 93.80 points and the gold medal.
"This massive crowd and massive event are so amazing! And I'm so hyped that I was able to win. Thank you so much!" said Monster Energy's Hasegawa upon claiming gold at X Games New Orleans. "I focused on doing everything that I could right now. And will continue to do so for the rest of the events!"
On the strength of Friday's victory, Hasegawa now leads XGL athlete rankings with 540 points. She also became the first rider to earn six X Games medals within one calendar year.
Hasegawa now owns eleven X Games medals (three gold, eight silver). Also watch for Hasegawa in this weekend's Women's Skateboard Vert Best Trick for another chance to storm the podium.
Also rising to the podium, fellow Japanese rider Asahi Kaihara secured the bronze medal on her second run by landing a flawless line stacked with technical tricks and high airs. Landing backside method, frontside body varial benihana, huge Madonna, Saran Wrap, kickflip Indy, alley-oop frontside disaster, frontside nosegrind lipslide, frontside noseblunt, shove-it noseslide fakie, body varial tailgrab, tailgrab fakie, and fakie frontside shove-it stalefish earned Kaihara 83.40 points and the bronze medal.
Kaihara now owns five X Games medals (one silver, four bronze).
Monster Energy BMX Street: Boyd Hilder From Australia Claims Bronze Medal
Earlier on Friday, competitions at X Games New Orleans 2026 kicked off with Monster Energy BMX Street on the multi-level obstacle course inside the Superdome. Trick difficulties escalated as eight of the world's best riders battled run-for-run, ultimately concluding with Monster Energy's Boyd Hilder taking the bronze medal.
On his second run of the final, Hilder covered the entire course with technical tricks and unique transfers for a score of 90.00 points. Stacking together a truck driver drop from the upper deck, pegs to tailwhip up the gap, gap to manual the rail, switch bar, tooth to hard 180 on the rail, nollie pegs down the rail, feeble to quick Cab bar, and feeble to Smith to barspin off the drop from the roof earned Hilder third place.
Asked about the podium finish, Hilder said he had been battling ankle injuries at the season opener in Sacramento as well as X Games Chiba. But he prevailed in New Orleans: "I went home, trying to reset. Still a bit spooked coming in here, but the first run felt good. So going from that and getting third place on the second run was a great way to cap it off. I'm stoked! I kind of needed that one!"
Hilder now owns three X Games medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze).
Moto X Best Whip: Julien Vanstippen Takes Bronze in Spectacular Final
The New Orleans crowd witnessed a spectacular showcase of dirt bike airs in the Moto X Best Whip event. In the contest scored on the most contorted aerials, called "whips," Julien Vanstippen dropped in as the defending gold medalist from X Games Sacramento 2026 and X Games Salt Lake City 2025.
Showing his aerial skills in the ten-rider playoff round, Vanstippen boosted his signature contorted whips over the 75-foot gap and qualified into the final round in second place. From there, he began laying the foundation for a podium finish by sending massive turn-down whips over the chasm.
When the action came down to final attempts, Vanstippen closed out his run with one final technical aerial to earn the bronze medal and cap off a successful 2026 XGL season.
Vanstippen now owns eight X Games medals (three gold, two silver, three bronze).
Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street Best Trick: Julian Agliardi Clinches Bronze
The first day of X Games New Orleans ended on a technical note in the Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street Best Trick event. In a contest judged on the highest-scoring single trick, rising star Julian Agliardi rose to the podium amid heavy competition.
As the trick battle escalated, Agliardi landed a rare technical banger on the street course's round handrail: A perfectly landed frontside feeble grind kickflip out catapulted Agliardi to the bronze medal spot!
Agliardi now owns two X Games bronze medals.
Finishing closely off the podium, 24-year-old Toa Sasaki from Mie, Japan, stoked the New Orleans crowd with a video-worthy technical trick: Spinning a perfect Caballerial backside noseblunt slide fakie the handrail earned Sasaki fourth place in the night's final event. He will be back in Monster Energy Men's Skateboard Street on Saturday with another chance to earn a medal.
Day 1 Video Highlights Here
Download Photos Here
Stay tuned for more X Games New Orleans 2026 on Saturday with more opportunities for team Monster Energy to make history!
Visit www.monsterenergy.com for exclusive updates from X Games New Orleans 2026, including photos, videos, and contest results as they happen. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.
For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.
About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy, including all of its drinks, at www.monsterenergy.com.
CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: [email protected]
CLARITY may get a vote, but don’t get your hopes up yetDespite wealthy memecoin entrepreneur Donald Trump agreeing to an ethics deal, the Clarity Act (CLARITY) is floundering as the August recess deadline looms.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune doesn’t believe the Act has the votes to pass just yet, but may bring it to a vote anyway to “get Clarity started. We’ll see where the votes are.”
The ethics deal would prohibit all US officials from issuing or sponsoring digital assets, but contains some “get out of jail free” provisions for the President that the Democrats are unhappy with, including the fact the rules expire the day he is scheduled to leave office in 2029.
The ethics provisions will also be enforced by the Attorney General that Trump appointed. The Democrats instead want state Attorney Generals to enforce it — but Trump seems unlikely to agree to empower dozens of state AGs to attempt to prosecute him.
The White House described the bill as the “most comprehensive and wide-ranging ethics provision in history,” while Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego described it as a “piece of shit” and “not a serious effort.”
Law enforcement organizations have also begun to signal support, with The National Fraternal Order of Police representing hundreds of thousands of members, stating the latest version of the BRCA (which protects developers of decentralized protocols) would not impede investigations into money laundering and fraud.
The odds of the bill passing this year are at 38% on Polymarket.
BitMEX to shut down after 11 years as class action launched against itBitMEX, one of the pioneers of cryptocurrency derivatives trading, announced it will shut down operations in September after 11 years.
BitMEX launched in 2014 and became known for introducing the 100x leverage perpetual swaps.
In recent years volumes have tanked increased competition from major exchanges like Binance and decentralized protocols like Hyperliquid.
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said BitMEX’s share of the Bitcoin futures market has fallen to just 0.08%, with roughly $84 million in daily trading volume.
“It was a great exchange that helped shape the industry, and now it is passing the torch to the next generation of exchanges it inspired,” Ju said.
BitMEX’s utility token BMEX collapsed in value after the announcement. That same day, news emerged of a class action lawsuit accusing the crypto derivatives platform of fraudulently engineering customer liquidations to seize traders’ collateral. BitMEX denied the allegations and said it had successfully defended itself against similar claims in the past.
Restructuring adviser Roshan Dharia told Cointelegraph the exchange’s demise shows the industry is consolidating.
The top five platforms now control an estimated 80% of global spot volume, leaving mid-tier and regional exchanges with shrinking margins and no viable path to scale... The headwinds are structural, not cyclical.As if to undescore the point, BitMart subsequently announced it would also close in the coming months.
S&P launches blockchain fundamentals index for digital assetsS&P Dow Jones Indices and Pantera Capital have launched a digital asset index that tracks the major crypto assets — but doesn’t include Bitcoin or XRP.
The S&P Pantera Digital Asset Index is designed to be the benchmark crypto index for institutions, but it screens out blockchains based on minimum thresholds for protocol revenue, market capitalization and liquidity.
The index launched with 18 constituents, with Ether (ETH), BNB (BNB), Solana (SOL), TRON (TRX) and Hyperliquid (HYPE) as its five largest holdings, while Bitcoin (BTC) and XRP (XRP) are the largest non-constituents.
The latest index follows a broader industry push to develop institutional-grade benchmarks for digital assets, with similar products including the Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF, the Franklin Crypto Index ETF and the the Coinbase Store of Value Index among others.
Robinhood to expand prediction markets as CFTC issues new warningRobinhood is reportedly discussing plans to expand its existing prediction markets offerings with crypto exchange Crypto.com.
According the Wall Street Journal the talks involve integrating yes-or-no event contracts supplied by Crypto.com. Robinhood launched its prediction markets in March 2025, initially facilitated by Kalshi in order to comply with regulatory requirements from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Bernstein analysts last week raised its price target on Robinhood (HOOD) stock to $160 from $130 per share, based on the company’s outlook for prediction markets and tokenized equities.
Meanwhile the CFTC, which aims to become the primary regulator of prediction markets, issued a shot across the bow of providers last week, telling platforms they need to get a lot more specific about event contracts certifications.
The advisory addresses concerns about the practice of submitting broad, template-style certifications that combine many potential event contract variations into a single certification. Carl Kennedy, a partner at New York law firm Katten Muchin, also told a House Agriculture Committee hearing last week, that the CLARITY Act could help the CFTC’s efforts to oversee the “explosive growth of prediction markets.”
Balaji’s Network School turns to Kazakhstan amid Malaysia setbackBalaji Srinivasan’s Network School, a community of “digital nomads,” is eyeing a new campus in Kazakhstan after its Forest City campus had its business license in Malaysia revoked over alleged premises-use violations.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between Kazakhstan’s relevant Minister Zhaslan Madiyev and Srinivasan to establish the first Network School campus in the country, which aims to become a digital hub.
The School was forced out of Johor in Malaysia, following a controversy in Malaysia over allowing Israeli dual citizens to attend. The Muslim majority country has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Despite an investigation finding no visa violations, the Network School was ordered to shut down on another pretext.
Dragonfly Capital managing partner Haseeb Qureshi said the drama has validated Balaji’s Network State thesis.
“The whole idea of a network state is taking a dense group of talent and capital, and collectively negotiating with states. The Malaysia drama set up Balaji to negotiate better terms with another state to copy and paste the network there.“Winners and losersAt the end of the week, Bitcoin (BTC) is at $65,395, Ether (ETH) is at $1,958, and XRP (XRP) is at $1.11. The total market cap is at $2.24 trillion according to CoinMarketCap.
Among the biggest 100 cryptocurrencies, the top three altcoin winners of the week are Audiera (BEAT), which gained 53%, Shinba Inu (SHIB) with a 29% gain, and Venice Token (VVV), which increased 19%.
The top three altcoin losers of the week are DeXe (DEXE), which lost 89%, Midnight (NIGHT), which fell 26%, and Pyth Network (PYTH), which dropped 10%.
Prediction of the WeekBitcoin will get ‘lift’ from Hyperliquid, Robinhood in next crypto bull marketBitcoin (BTC) is “finally showing signs of a bottom,” according to Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise.
Houghan predicts that TradFi integrations, particularly Hyperliquid and Robinhood, will drive the next crypto bull market, and the resulting tide should “lift” the largest cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ether.
Houghan believes crypto is bringing major benefits like 24/7 trading to traditional markets, and noted that today “nearly half the volume on Hyperliquid is in conventional assets like oil, silver, and the S&P 500 [and] it’s expanding into spot commodities, prediction markets, and options,”
Bitwise data also suggests apparent demand for BTC is showing signs of reversal. The metric measures the difference between newly-mined BTC and the supply inactive for at least one year.
Source: Matt Hougan
Top FUD of the WeekHome invasions became most common crypto wrench attack in H1 2026: CertiKHome invasions became the most common form of crypto wrench attacks during the first half of 2026, rising to 20 publicly reported incidents from just one a year earlier, according to blockchain security firm CertiK.
On Thursday, CertiK said it verified 52 wrench attacks worldwide in the first half of 2026, up 33.3% from 39 incidents during the same period in 2025. Kidnappings rose to 16 from 12, while robberies declined from five incidents to one.
CertiK said the recorded financial exposure linked to the attacks reached about $124.1 million, up from $10.5 million a year earlier.
The increase in home invasions suggests criminals are increasingly bypassing digital safeguards by physically coercing crypto holders and their families.
Hackers steal $31.6M in 2 crypto bridge attacks within 7 hoursHackers stole more than $31.6 million across two unrelated crypto bridge exploits spaced just hours apart, targeting bridges operated by decentralized perpetual exchange AFX and Verus Protocol.
According to Blockaid, AFX, a decentralized perpetual exchange operating on Arbitrum, reportedly lost $24.15 million on Wednesday through a hack targeting one of its cross-chain bridges. Hours later, Blockaid said it detected an exploit targeting the Verus Ethereum Bridge that resulted in about $7.5 million in crypto being stolen.
“Another bridge, another exploit. Bridges will always be a weak link, until security is upgraded,” onchain investigator TheCrypticWolf said in a post on X.
Ethereum ETFs close week in red, end 5-day inflow streakUS-listed spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) logged $70.62 million in net outflows on Friday, ending a five-day inflow streak.
Ethereum funds saw $211.25 million in net inflows over the previous five sessions from July 17, according to SoSoValue data. They still posted $103.9 million in net inflows for the week ended Friday.
Despite the outflows, Ethereum ETFs extended their weekly inflow streak to three straight and have attracted $337.74 million in net inflows so far in July.
The Bitcoin ETFs reversed gains made earlier in the week to end up with $33.9 million of inflows.
Top Magazine Stories of the Week
Here’s why the CLARITY Act’s ethics deal may be so hard to reachBoth parties say they want US crypto market structure legislation, but a dispute over ethics rules and who enforces them is becoming the bill’s biggest obstacle.
A quantum roadmap would push Bitcoin much higher: Charles EdwardsA Bitcoin development roadmap that addresses quantum computing risks could see the price surge by “double digits” very quickly, according to Charles Edwards.
Fears of AI-driven DeFi hack epidemic overstated for now — but not for longAre the fears of an AI driven hacking epidemic totally overblown, or is this just the lull before the storm?
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British Pound strengthens beyond mid-1.3300s vs weak USD amid fresh Iran diplomacy hopesThe GBP/USD pair builds on Friday's modest bounce from a three-week low and gains strong follow-through positive traction at the start of a new week. This marks the second straight day of a positive move and lifts spot prices above mid-1.3300s during the Asian session amid a broadly weaker US Dollar (USD).
The USD Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback against a basket of currencies, moves away from the vicinity of the monthly high, retested last week, amid reviving hopes for a diplomatic resolution to end a five-month-old US-Iran conflict. In fact, the US paused its bombing campaign following 13 consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian targets late on Friday, prompting Tehran to suspend its retaliatory attacks against Washington's allies in the Middle East. Read more...
British Pound rises as Oil slide softens USD, Fed hike bets increaseThe Pound Sterling advances by some 0.20% on Friday as Oil prices tumble, weighing on the US Dollar, while the US-Iran conflict signals a further escalation, which market participants ignored. Despite registering daily gains, the GBP/USD is poised to finish the week with losses of nearly 0.70%.
Risk appetite has improved as Pakistan’s efforts to help resume talks between the US and Iran provided a tailwind for risk assets. Meanwhile, the US President Trump revealed that China and Russia are not “giving or selling weapons” to Iran, he posted on his Truth Social network. In the meantime, an article in the Wall Street Journal states that “Trump is losing patience over an Iran war with no clear end in sight,” which opens the door to further escalation, as revealed by some US officials. Read more...
British Pound: Strong UK data fail to lift GBP against US Dollar – ScotiabankScotiabank strategists Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret report the British Pound (GBP) is slightly higher versus the US Dollar (USD) but lagging most G10 peers. Markets are discounting strong United Kingdom (UK) retail sales and Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) surprises ahead of next week’s expected Bank of England (BoE) hawkish hold. Rate markets price modest tightening by September and November, while options show renewed demand for downside protection in GBP.
"Market participants are clearly not responding to fundamentals and ignoring the release of (far) stronger than expected retail sales data for June alongside a solid surprise to the preliminary PMI’s for July – the latter offering decent levels of expansion in manufacturing (52.8) while also delivering an unexpected recovery out of (sub-50) contraction in services with a print of 51.8." Read more...
Gold (XAU/USD) opens with a bullish gap at the start of a new week, though it struggles to capitalize on the momentum or find acceptance above the $4,100 mark as bulls seem reluctant ahead of the crucial FOMC meeting, starting on Tuesday. Crude oil prices slump around 5% amid reviving hopes for a diplomatic resolution to end a five-month-old US-Iran war. This helps ease inflation fears and temper US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike expectations, which, in turn, is seen undermining the safe-haven US Dollar (USD) and lending some support to the non-yielding bullion.
The US paused its bombing campaign against Iran late on Friday, following 13 consecutive nights of strikes. US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Mike Waltz said that while forces remained locked and loaded, President Donald Trump wants to give negotiations "a little bit of room". In response, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday that Tehran will halt its own attacks as long as the US does the same, fueling optimism about a lasting path to de-escalation of US-Iran tensions. This resulted in some unwinding of the geopolitical risk premium, which weighs heavily on the buck.
Moreover, the easing of hostilities dragged crude oil prices significantly lower and forced investors to trim their bets for an immediate interest rate hike by the US central bank. The outlook leads to a modest pullback in US Treasury bond yields, which turns out to be another factor that drags the USD away from the vicinity of the monthly high, retested last week. Traders, however, seem hesitant to place aggressive bearish bets on the USD and opt to wait for more cues about the Fed's policy path. Hence, the focus remains glued to the outcome of a two-day FOMC meeting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, market participants remain skeptical about the halt in attacks. Adding to this, traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell on July 26 after Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked Saudi oil installations along the coast of the Red Sea. This adds to concerns about significant disruptions to global oil supplies due to the restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which acts as a tailwind for crude oil prices. This helps limit deeper USD losses and keeps a lid on further upside for Gold, warranting some caution for aggressive bullish traders heading into the key central bank event risk.
XAU/USD daily chart
Gold could attract fresh sellers at higher levels amid bearish technical setupThe two-way price move since June 19 constitutes the formation of a rectangle on the daily chart. Against the backdrop of the recent breakdown below a technically significant 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), this might still be categorized as a bearish consolidation phase and keeps the longer-term downtrend in place.
Meanwhile, momentum indicators have improved, with the Relative Strength Index hovering just under the 50 line and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) turning firmly positive. This, however, hints at a corrective rebound rather than a confirmed bullish reversal while price action is capped beneath the long-term average.
On the topside, the top boundary of the trading range near the $4,200 mark is the key resistance to beat. A daily close above this barrier would be needed to ease the broader bearish bias and open the door to a more sustainable advance to the 200-day SMA at $4,493.65. Until that occurs, rallies are likely to be viewed as corrective within the prevailing downtrend.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
US Dollar Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.29%-0.19%-0.16%-0.05%-0.22%-0.15%-0.37%EUR0.29%0.07%0.11%0.22%0.05%0.16%-0.09%GBP0.19%-0.07%0.04%0.16%-0.01%0.06%-0.15%JPY0.16%-0.11%-0.04%0.07%-0.07%-0.00%-0.20%CAD0.05%-0.22%-0.16%-0.07%-0.16%-0.09%-0.30%AUD0.22%-0.05%0.00%0.07%0.16%0.11%-0.16%NZD0.15%-0.16%-0.06%0.00%0.09%-0.11%-0.25%CHF0.37%0.09%0.15%0.20%0.30%0.16%0.25% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).
Gold prices rose in United Arab Emirates on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 483.10 United Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED) per gram, up compared with the AED 478.59 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to AED 5,634.75 per tola from AED 5,582.15 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in AED
1 Gram
483.10
10 Grams
4,830.98
Tola
5,634.75
Troy Ounce
15,026.06
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in United Arab Emirates by adapting international prices (USD/AED) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices rose in Philippines on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 8,120.57 Philippine Pesos (PHP) per gram, up compared with the PHP 8,044.82 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to PHP 94,716.77 per tola from PHP 93,833.15 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in PHP
1 Gram
8,120.57
10 Grams
81,206.71
Tola
94,716.77
Troy Ounce
252,580.40
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Philippines by adapting international prices (USD/PHP) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices rose in Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 493.69 Saudi Riyals (SAR) per gram, up compared with the SAR 489.13 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to SAR 5,758.22 per tola from SAR 5,705.17 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in SAR
1 Gram
493.69
10 Grams
4,936.85
Tola
5,758.22
Troy Ounce
15,355.33
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Saudi Arabia by adapting international prices (USD/SAR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
EUR/JPY gains ground after registering minor losses in the previous day, trading around 186.50 during the Asian hours on Monday. The currency cross is keeping a bullish near-term bias as it holds above both the nine-period and 50-period Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs). The configuration of the short-term EMA above the longer-term EMA suggests a constructive trend backdrop.
Meanwhile, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 60 points to firm but not yet overbought upside momentum, hinting that buyers still retain control unless price slips back below the nearby averages. However, the daily chart technical analysis shows that the EUR/JPY cross is rising within a rising wedge, indicating a strong bearish reversal risk.
The EUR/JPY cross could find the primary resistance at the upper boundary of the rising wedge around 186.90. Further advances could support the currency cross to explore the region around the all-time high of 187.95, which was recorded on April 17.
On the downside, the initial support lies at the nine-day EMA of 186.04, followed by the 50-day EMA at 185.31, aligned with the lower boundary of the rising wedge. A break below the wedge put downward pressure on the EUR/JPY cross to navigate the region around the five-month low of 181.87, recorded on March 16, and the seven-month low of 180.81.
EUR/JPY: Daily Chart(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Euro Price Today The table below shows the percentage change of Euro (EUR) against listed major currencies today. Euro was the strongest against the US Dollar.
USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHFUSD-0.30%-0.19%-0.16%-0.07%-0.25%-0.19%-0.37%EUR0.30%0.08%0.11%0.22%0.03%0.13%-0.09%GBP0.19%-0.08%0.04%0.14%-0.02%0.02%-0.16%JPY0.16%-0.11%-0.04%0.06%-0.09%-0.04%-0.20%CAD0.07%-0.22%-0.14%-0.06%-0.16%-0.11%-0.32%AUD0.25%-0.03%0.02%0.09%0.16%0.10%-0.14%NZD0.19%-0.13%-0.02%0.04%0.11%-0.10%-0.22%CHF0.37%0.09%0.16%0.20%0.32%0.14%0.22% The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/USD (quote).
Gold prices rose in Pakistan on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 36,466.58 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) per gram, up compared with the PKR 36,130.88 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to PKR 425,339.00 per tola from PKR 421,423.50 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in PKR
1 Gram
36,466.58
10 Grams
364,665.80
Tola
425,339.00
Troy Ounce
1,134,245.00
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Pakistan by adapting international prices (USD/PKR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices rose in Malaysia on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 536.89 Malaysian Ringgits (MYR) per gram, up compared with the MYR 532.16 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to MYR 6,262.23 per tola from MYR 6,207.01 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in MYR
1 Gram
536.89
10 Grams
5,368.94
Tola
6,262.23
Troy Ounce
16,699.29
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in Malaysia by adapting international prices (USD/MYR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
Gold prices rose in India on Monday, according to data compiled by FXStreet.
The price for Gold stood at 12,658.26 Indian Rupees (INR) per gram, up compared with the INR 12,543.37 it cost on Friday.
The price for Gold increased to INR 147,643.80 per tola from INR 146,303.40 per tola on friday.
Unit measure
Gold Price in INR
1 Gram
12,658.26
10 Grams
126,582.90
Tola
147,643.80
Troy Ounce
393,712.30
FXStreet calculates Gold prices in India by adapting international prices (USD/INR) to the local currency and measurement units. Prices are updated daily based on the market rates taken at the time of publication. Prices are just for reference and local rates could diverge slightly.
Gold FAQs Gold has played a key role in human’s history as it has been widely used as a store of value and medium of exchange. Currently, apart from its shine and usage for jewelry, the precious metal is widely seen as a safe-haven asset, meaning that it is considered a good investment during turbulent times. Gold is also widely seen as a hedge against inflation and against depreciating currencies as it doesn’t rely on any specific issuer or government.
Central banks are the biggest Gold holders. In their aim to support their currencies in turbulent times, central banks tend to diversify their reserves and buy Gold to improve the perceived strength of the economy and the currency. High Gold reserves can be a source of trust for a country’s solvency. Central banks added 1,136 tonnes of Gold worth around $70 billion to their reserves in 2022, according to data from the World Gold Council. This is the highest yearly purchase since records began. Central banks from emerging economies such as China, India and Turkey are quickly increasing their Gold reserves.
Gold has an inverse correlation with the US Dollar and US Treasuries, which are both major reserve and safe-haven assets. When the Dollar depreciates, Gold tends to rise, enabling investors and central banks to diversify their assets in turbulent times. Gold is also inversely correlated with risk assets. A rally in the stock market tends to weaken Gold price, while sell-offs in riskier markets tend to favor the precious metal.
The price can move due to a wide range of factors. Geopolitical instability or fears of a deep recession can quickly make Gold price escalate due to its safe-haven status. As a yield-less asset, Gold tends to rise with lower interest rates, while higher cost of money usually weighs down on the yellow metal. Still, most moves depend on how the US Dollar (USD) behaves as the asset is priced in dollars (XAU/USD). A strong Dollar tends to keep the price of Gold controlled, whereas a weaker Dollar is likely to push Gold prices up.
(An automation tool was used in creating this post.)
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Futu Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: FUTU) between May 24, 2023 and May 27, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 25, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Futu securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Futu class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/futu-holdings-limited/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 25, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Futu was not in compliance with the requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the "CSRC"), including because Futu continued to conduct securities business, public fund sales business and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the requisite licenses or approval; (2) as a result, Futu was reasonably likely to face regulatory penalties, including the disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and other penalties; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Futu's financial results were overstated; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Futu's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Futu class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/futu-holdings-limited/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306481
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Amazon (AMZN -0.70%) will report its 2026 second-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday, July 30. Following the release, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and other members of Amazon's management team will hold a live earnings conference call with Wall Street analysts.
As a "Magnificent Seven" company and hyperscaler, Amazon is one of the world's largest companies, driving the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.
That puts a massive spotlight on the company, particularly as it tries to balance building out massive AI infrastructure projects and keeping increasingly nervous shareholders at bay.
While many aspects of the earnings release will come into focus, my prediction is that Jassy will raise Amazon's full-year 2026 capital expenditure (capex) guidance.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Signs from several directions Early in the second-quarter earnings season, there are already several signs that Amazon will likely raise its capex guidance.
Recently, Alphabet reported its Q2 2026 earnings results, increasing its full-year capex guidance from $180 billion to $190 billion to $195 billion to $205 billion, putting it in line with or above Amazon's current $200 billion guidance.
Alphabet's CFO Anat Ashkenazi said the increase "is primarily due to an acceleration in the delivery of capacity to meet growing demand." Alphabet also raised its 2026 capex guidance in Q1, whereas Amazon did not, but both are big players in the cloud space.
Alphabet's stock fell on the increased capex guide, and Amazon's stock also fell as well, as investors brace for bad near-term news.
While capex is needed to build out AI infrastructure that will power the boom, the hyperscalers have already drained their balance sheets, with many expecting negative free cash flow over the next few years.
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Now, they are seeing some returns on it, as Alphabet also reported 82% year-over-year revenue growth in its cloud business in Q2.
But investors are worried that the $700 billion plus the Magnificent Seven are expected to spend on capex in 2026 alone is unlikely to yield strong enough returns.
In Q1, Jassy tried to reassure investors that the company was not gambling on AI but simply responding to staggering demand: "We continue to be confident in the long-term capex investments we are making," Jassy said during the earnings call. He added:
Of the AWS capex we intend to spend in 2026, much of which will be installed in future years, we have high confidence this will be monetized well, as we already have customer commitments for a substantial portion of it and that it will yield compelling operating margins and ROIC [return on invested capital].
Additionally, Jassy said the company would not hesitate to increase near-term capex if Amazon Web Services (AWS), its cloud business, continues to demonstrate rapid growth.
Jassy also noted that AWS' capex is spent on items such as land, power, buildings, chips, servers, and networking gear before they can be monetized. The spend turns into revenue six to 24 months after, he said.
Memory prices have also soared recently, so companies like Amazon could have to spend more on NAND flash memory and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), which is needed to feed data to the graphics processing units (GPUs) in data centers.
The market is prepared Seeing Amazon sink after Alphabet raised its full-year capex guidance suggests the market is now prepared for a hike in Amazon's 2026 capex guidance when it reports earnings.
If Amazon manages to maintain its $200 billion capex guidance, the stock may react favorably, as the market is prepared for an increase. However, if the guidance increases meaningfully, that could put shares under pressure.
It's tough to know how this whole AI story will turn out, but companies like Amazon are spending heavily with confidence that their investments will pay off.
Investors should focus less on near-term capex numbers and instead focus on understanding, as best they can, whether the AI demand we are seeing today is here to stay and grow, or if the AI story is in later innings than some believe.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 26, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) between May 1, 2025 and January 28, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important August 11, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Microsoft common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Microsoft class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/microsoft-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 11, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Microsoft's Copilot family of products had experienced significant brand positioning, user experience, usage, data siloing, computational capacity, organizational, and interoperability problems; (2) Microsoft's flagship proprietary AI model ranked well below competitors on a number of benchmark tests; (3) Microsoft needed to increase by billions of dollars its capital expenditures and divert graphics processing unit ("GPU") and central processing unit ("CPU") capacity away from fulfilling demand for its profitable Azure services in order to improve the competitive positioning of its critical Copilot family of products and increase its AI-related research and development ("R&D"); and (4) as a result, Microsoft had failed to convert a significant percentage of its commercial Microsoft 365 users to paid Copilot subscriptions and Microsoft's Copilot offerings had lost market share to rival products, a trend that was increasing. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Microsoft class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/microsoft-corporation/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
-------------------------------
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306607
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Company updates this year put fresh numbers on the AI (artificial intelligence) build-out, and they are enormous. Alphabet raised its 2026 capital spending forecast to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, up from $180 billion to $190 billion. Amazon has said it expects to invest about $200 billion this year. And Meta Platforms plans $125 billion to $145 billion, a range it lifted by $10 billion in April.
Add it up, and just three companies intend to spend more than half a trillion dollars in a single year, most of it on AI infrastructure. And that tally leaves out Microsoft, which has pointed to about $190 billion of its own.
No company collects more of that spending than Nvidia (NVDA -1.01%), the dominant supplier of the graphics processing units (GPUs) those data centers are built around. Yet Nvidia stock fell on Thursday alongside other big tech stocks, and it now sits about 12% below its 52-week high.
Customers committing record sums while the supplier's stock drifts lower? That's a disconnect worth examining, because one side of it is probably wrong.
Image source: Nvidia.
Where those budgets end up The budgets are not all chips, but a large share of the money goes where Nvidia lives. Alphabet, for instance, said on its earnings call that about 60% of its technical infrastructure investment in the second quarter went to servers, with the rest going to data centers and networking equipment. The company also raised $49.6 billion in a June stock offering, with scaling AI infrastructure among the stated uses.
The flow shows up directly in Nvidia's results. In its first quarter of fiscal 2027 (the period ended April 26, 2026), revenue rose 85% year over year to a record $81.6 billion. Data center revenue climbed 92% to $75.2 billion, and total revenue rose 20% from the prior quarter as well. And the company guided for about $91 billion in revenue in its fiscal second quarter, all while holding its gross margin near 75%.
"The buildout of AI factories -- the largest infrastructure expansion in human history -- is accelerating at extraordinary speed," said CEO Jensen Huang in the company's fiscal first-quarter earnings release.
In other words, the customers' budgets and the supplier's income statement are telling the same story, and Alphabet's raise this past week extended it into the second half of 2026.
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So why did the stock slip? One possible explanation is that the market punished the spenders on Thursday. Alphabet's shares fell after its capital spending raise, and the sell-off spread across the megacaps, Nvidia included. When investors start doubting whether half a trillion dollars of AI spending will earn its keep, they also start discounting the revenue that spending creates -- and a large share of it lands on Nvidia's income statement.
That's the risk to hold in mind. Nvidia's growth is a direct function of a handful of customers' willingness to keep writing bigger checks. Budgets that accelerate for three years can also flatten, and the semiconductor industry has never escaped its cycles for long. A capital budget is a plan, not a contract, and plans built during a boom can get rewritten quickly.
The same customers are also working to need Nvidia a little less. Meta said on its first-quarter earnings call that it is rolling out more than a gigawatt of its own custom silicon, developed with Broadcom, alongside chips from Advanced Micro Devices -- complementing, for now, the new Nvidia systems it keeps installing.
With all of that said, the valuation asks less than investors might assume. Nvidia trades at about 32 times trailing earnings -- a multiple many slower-growing consumer companies carry -- for a business that just grew 85%. The market, in effect, is already pricing in a meaningful slowdown. Against expected earnings for the next 12 months, the multiple drops to about 21.
So does Thursday's sell-off make Nvidia the way to own the build-out? I think it remains the most direct claim on those budgets, and at this valuation I'd keep owning it. But I'd size the position for what it is: a stock whose earnings depend on a handful of customers' capital budgets -- and capital budgets get revisited every year.
Walmart (WMT +0.99%) has surprised investors. In the past five years, the share price has climbed 129% (as of July 23). If you can believe it, this outstanding performance is better than the gains posted by its two biggest industry peers, Amazon and Costco, over the same time period.
This popular retail stock trades at $108 as of early afternoon on July 23. Investors shouldn't rush to buy shares. It's best to pause.
Image source: Getty Images.
Expectations are currently high Valuation expansion did play a part in lifting Walmart's stock price. Exactly five years ago, shares traded at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.1. Today, this has expanded to 38.1.
The market has started to appreciate the business more. It makes sense why. Walmart's diluted earnings per share (EPS) soared 107% from Q1 2022 to Q1 2027 (ended April 30). In the five-year period prior to this, that bottom-line figure was flat.
But the expectations investors have now are simply too high. Walmart's valuation represents a sizable 49% premium to the S&P 500 index.
And the valuation is more expensive than a dominant technology company like Alphabet, which is reporting much faster profit growth. It also has durable competitive advantages.
Walmart's EPS is projected to rise at a compound annual rate of 12% between fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2029. For a company that collected $176 billion in net sales in its latest fiscal quarter, a massive sum, this is a healthy outlook. It doesn't justify paying 38 times trailing-12-month earnings, however.
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Buy shares only if this happens The current setup, which should force investors to take pause, doesn't mean Walmart is off-limits for good. Here's where patience comes into play. Adding this retail stock to your watch list is the best thing to do right now.
At the right price, this high-quality business becomes more interesting as a potential portfolio addition. Walmart has a wide economic moat that stems from its tremendous scale advantage. It's able to secure merchandise at favorable costs. This supports permanently low prices, which keep attracting shoppers of all income levels.
In recent years, Walmart has found success generating new revenue streams. It's driving greater e-commerce sales. And its Walmart+ membership, a direct rival to Amazon Prime, brings in recurring subscription revenue.
Every single investor perceives value differently. In my view, should Walmart's P/E multiple fall to around 25, it would make for a very attractive buying opportunity. There's no telling if this will happen, though.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Costco Wholesale, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Shares of IBM (IBM +3.65%) fell 25% on July 14 after the company released preliminary second-quarter results. CEO Arvind Krishna explained that customers shifted their spending toward servers, storage, and memory as hardware prices continued to rise.
This caused spending delays on numerous large software deals, primarily in its mainframe and transaction-processing business. While enterprise demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure takes center stage, Krishna declared that "value will increasingly shift toward the orchestration and data layers" on its earnings call.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The pure-play advantage IBM has been building the governance and control layer that an organization needs to run its own AI. At the same time, Palantir Technologies (PLTR -0.30%) has carved a position in the market by turning enterprise data into decisions.
IBM's AI-related software includes Sovereign Core for auditable runtime control and the recently acquired Confluent for data streaming. It also launched Lightwell, a $5 billion commitment to help clients address open-source vulnerabilities.
Even if these efforts are successful, the company remains a multisegment incumbent, where software, consulting, and infrastructure each follow their own cycles.
Palantir, on the other hand, is a pure play on this theme. Its platforms, including Foundry and the Artificial Intelligence Platform, integrate an organization's data and run AI-powered applications.
Is the pullback an entry point? In May, Palantir posted revenue growth of 85%, its 11th consecutive quarter of acceleration. This drove strong operating leverage, as margins expanded from 44% to 60% year over year.
Existing customers continue to ramp up spending, with net dollar retention at 150% and total remaining deal value climbing 98% to nearly $12 billion.
The trade-off for this concentrated exposure is a rich valuation, as the stock trades at roughly 39 times this year's sales and 67 times free-cash-flow guidance. IBM is cheaper at just 17 times forward earnings, but not necessarily more attractive, as each segment will perform differently in an AI-enabled future.
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Meanwhile, after a 30% drawdown this year, Palantir's shares are beginning to look more reasonable. The growth runway is impressive, and the cash keeps piling up, but I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger yet.
Bryan White has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends International Business Machines and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
A certain crypto whale added 120 WBTC to its holdings, generating nearly $9 million in unrealized profit.
According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (Twitter handle @ai_9684xtpa)’s monitoring, a whale has withdrawn another 120 WBTC (valued at approximately $7.8 million) from a trading platform over the past two hours. As of now, the whale has accumulated positions of 59,404.19 ETH and 820 WBTC, with a total value of $156 million, average cost bases of roughly $1,742 and $64,329 respectively, and an aggregate unrealized profit of $8.927 million.
20 minutes ago
Bithumb will list GEOD spot trading.
，据官方公告，Bithumb 将上线 GEOD/韩元交易对。
20 minutes ago
A whale withdrew 281,140 LINK tokens from Binance, valued at approximately $2.45 million.
According to monitoring by Onchain Lens, a crypto whale withdrew 281,140 LINK tokens, valued at approximately $2.45 million, from Binance.
20 minutes ago
Goldman Sachs: AI spending tailwinds cannot offset selling pressure on South Korean stocks, as the size of leveraged ETFs has halved from its peak.
Goldman Sachs noted in its latest South Korea market weekly report that despite foreign investors’ consecutive net purchases of the KOSPI recently and Alphabet’s upward revision of its AI capital expenditure expectations further reinforcing the semiconductor demand narrative, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) still fell around 2% last week. By sector, construction, software and telecom held up relatively well, while securities, automotives and insurance led declines. In terms of market performance, the KOSPI extended its sell-off on July 24, closing 5.72% lower at 6,690.62 points, hitting an intraday low of 6,650.41 points, with programmatic trading briefly suspended. Yonhap News Agency reported that rising Middle East tensions suppressed risk appetite, with foreign investors and institutions combined net selling roughly 5.2 trillion won that day, while retail investors net bought around 5.18 trillion won. Goldman Sachs holds that foreign capital inflows are mainly concentrated in the tech sector, but the South Korean market still faces significant medium-term capital outflow pressure, and foreign holdings in the semiconductor sector are near historical lows. Meanwhile, the KOSPI’s 12-month forward earnings per share (EPS) forecast was cut by 0.4%, with the automotive sector facing the largest pressure on earnings expectation adjustments. Margin leverage is also cooling: the report shows that South Korean retail investors’ margin balance has dropped from a peak of $25 billion to $22 billion, and the size of leveraged ETFs has fallen from $53 billion to $26 billion. For South Korea’s stock market, AI capital expenditure remains a core support, but amid downward earnings forecast revisions, light foreign investor positioning and fluctuating risk appetite, the index’s short-term volatility may continue to expand.
20 minutes ago
The largest on-chain short seller of Changxin Technology has suffered an unrealized loss of over $3 million.
On-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa) reports that the largest short seller of Changxin Technology on-chain currently holds a short position of 2.6 million CXMT, valued at approximately $19.85 million, with an average entry price of $6.4083, posting an unrealized loss of $3.062 million.
20 minutes ago
Jefferies raises Apple's price target from $299.88 to $308.92
Jefferies raised Apple (AAPL.O) price target from $299.88 to $308.92.
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) between August 22, 2025 and May 20, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important September 8, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Intuit securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Intuit class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/intuit-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 8, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) they had overstated Intuit’s competitive advantages and growth, as well as the overall strength and sustainability of its business model and operations; (2) in reality, Intuit was losing significant business in its tax-related business, particularly in its Turbo Tax business, as a result of, inter alia, increasing competitive and pricing pressures; (3) accordingly, Intuit’s previously issued full year (“FY”) 2026 TurboTax revenue growth guidance was unreliable and/or unrealistic; and (4) as a result, defendants’ public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Intuit class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/intuit-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com
Let's be honest. When an investor is looking for growth, they're not starting their search with industrial stocks. These companies tend to be closely tethered to the economy itself, which just doesn't move all that quickly.
Every now and then, though, an industrial stock will surprise you. The right industrial company with the right product or right service at the right time can drive more gains than you might have thought possible. Here's a closer look at two of these tickers.
Image source: Getty Images.
Illinois Tool Works Despite the name, Illinois Tool Works (ITW +2.21%) actually makes very little in the way of traditional tools. Rather, restaurant-scale dishwashers, industrial testing and measurement, welding supplies, plastic packaging, and automobile parts are a sampling of this conglomerate's product portfolio, with each of these distinctly different business lines being run independently of one another.
The thing is, it works. With a leaner, simplified structure that fosters grassroots entrepreneurialism, Illinois Tool Works is consistently able to outperform its industrial peers. Its first-quarter revenue improved 5% year over year, with more than 25% of that top line being turned into operating profit despite inflationary headwinds already blowing at the time. Analysts expect similar results for its second fiscal quarter as well.
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The chief driver of this stock's market-beating growth, however, is a combination of its dividend payments and persistent stock buybacks. This Dividend King, a company that's grown its dividend payment for at least 50 consecutive years, has not only upped its per-share payout for 63 consecutive years now but, during the past decade, has also raised its dividend at an average annual pace of a little over 10%, boosted by the repurchase of nearly 10% of its outstanding shares over the course of just the past five years.
The end result is solid net gains driven largely by reinvested dividends rather than raw price appreciation. But it works.
You'd be stepping into a forward-looking dividend yield of 2.3%, by the way, if you wanted to use these cash payments for something other than buying more shares of the company making them.
CarMax Yes, even though it's dependent on the ever-changing financial health of consumers, used car dealership chain CarMax (KMX -0.17%) is categorized as an industrial stock.
It hasn't performed particularly well in a while. After peaking during (and ultimately because of) the COVID-19 pandemic, shares have lost more than 60% of their value, hitting a multiyear low just this past December.
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The growth of online-only rival Carvana, the rise of ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, and the growing unaffordability of used cars themselves (Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book indicates the average price of a used car in the United States is now back to a three-year high above $27,000) are all contributing factors.
But consumers may be quietly struggling on their end of the business as well. Based on data from the U.S. Federal Reserve, Wards Auto reports 90-day delinquencies on auto loans remain at 3%, holding at levels last seen during the recession following 2008's subprime-mortgage meltdown. This backdrop is obviously concerning for CarMax and, by extension, its shareholders.
What's largely being lost in the mix, though, is the cyclical nature of all these headwinds and the fact that we may be nearer the end of the downcycle and closer to the beginning of a new up cycle than most investors realize. As Cox Automotive's Chief Economist, Jeremy Robb, explains, "Affordability drives demand for used units, but lower new-car sales mean fewer trade-ins, and that means lower used sales for dealers."
In other words, the used automobile industry's biggest headwind right now still isn't a lack of demand or crimped consumerism, but rather a lack of inventory.
It's coming, though, sooner or later, and likely sooner than later. Indeed, Cox adds that the nation's used car inventories have been edging higher for a few months now, climbing from March's multiyear low to 47 days' worth of inventory as of last month. It's a start.
Or if nothing else, consider this: With the Bureau of Transportation reporting the average age of cars being driven on U.S. roads now stands at 12.8 years, while the average sales price of a new vehicle is a jaw-dropping $49,758 (again, according to Cox), consumers may have little choice but to visit their nearby CarMax soon.
This stock has climbed more than 40% since the end of last year, by the way, rallying 19% just last month. It may be a subtle sign that its business has turned the corner, even if most people don't yet see it.
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A certain crypto whale added 120 WBTC to its holdings, generating nearly $9 million in unrealized profit.
According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (Twitter handle @ai_9684xtpa)’s monitoring, a whale has withdrawn another 120 WBTC (valued at approximately $7.8 million) from a trading platform over the past two hours. As of now, the whale has accumulated positions of 59,404.19 ETH and 820 WBTC, with a total value of $156 million, average cost bases of roughly $1,742 and $64,329 respectively, and an aggregate unrealized profit of $8.927 million.
15 minutes ago
Bithumb will list GEOD spot trading.
，据官方公告，Bithumb 将上线 GEOD/韩元交易对。
15 minutes ago
A whale withdrew 281,140 LINK tokens from Binance, valued at approximately $2.45 million.
According to monitoring by Onchain Lens, a crypto whale withdrew 281,140 LINK tokens, valued at approximately $2.45 million, from Binance.
15 minutes ago
Goldman Sachs: AI spending tailwinds cannot offset selling pressure on South Korean stocks, as the size of leveraged ETFs has halved from its peak.
Goldman Sachs noted in its latest South Korea market weekly report that despite foreign investors’ consecutive net purchases of the KOSPI recently and Alphabet’s upward revision of its AI capital expenditure expectations further reinforcing the semiconductor demand narrative, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) still fell around 2% last week. By sector, construction, software and telecom held up relatively well, while securities, automotives and insurance led declines. In terms of market performance, the KOSPI extended its sell-off on July 24, closing 5.72% lower at 6,690.62 points, hitting an intraday low of 6,650.41 points, with programmatic trading briefly suspended. Yonhap News Agency reported that rising Middle East tensions suppressed risk appetite, with foreign investors and institutions combined net selling roughly 5.2 trillion won that day, while retail investors net bought around 5.18 trillion won. Goldman Sachs holds that foreign capital inflows are mainly concentrated in the tech sector, but the South Korean market still faces significant medium-term capital outflow pressure, and foreign holdings in the semiconductor sector are near historical lows. Meanwhile, the KOSPI’s 12-month forward earnings per share (EPS) forecast was cut by 0.4%, with the automotive sector facing the largest pressure on earnings expectation adjustments. Margin leverage is also cooling: the report shows that South Korean retail investors’ margin balance has dropped from a peak of $25 billion to $22 billion, and the size of leveraged ETFs has fallen from $53 billion to $26 billion. For South Korea’s stock market, AI capital expenditure remains a core support, but amid downward earnings forecast revisions, light foreign investor positioning and fluctuating risk appetite, the index’s short-term volatility may continue to expand.
15 minutes ago
The largest on-chain short seller of Changxin Technology has suffered an unrealized loss of over $3 million.
On-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa) reports that the largest short seller of Changxin Technology on-chain currently holds a short position of 2.6 million CXMT, valued at approximately $19.85 million, with an average entry price of $6.4083, posting an unrealized loss of $3.062 million.
15 minutes ago
Jefferies raises Apple's price target from $299.88 to $308.92
Jefferies raised Apple (AAPL.O) price target from $299.88 to $308.92.
Coinbase's (COIN -1.78%) stock has declined more than 60% over the past 12 months. The major cryptocurrency exchange lost its luster as fears of interest rate hikes and other macro headwinds chilled the crypto market. That pullback might seem like a buying opportunity for contrarian investors, but I expect its stock to sink even lower before it's considered a bargain.
Why did Coinbase's stock crash? Coinbase generates most of its revenue by charging transaction fees for spot crypto trades. When interest rates are low, cryptocurrencies often rally as investors pivot toward riskier investments. The opposite happens when interest rates rise, and the crypto market cools off.
Image source: Getty Images.
Last year, many investors expected the Fed to continue cutting rates in 2026 as inflation cooled. But after the outbreak of the Iran war, oil prices surged and inflation heated up again. As a result, many investors are now bracing for interest rate hikes in the second half of 2026. In other words, the crypto market could remain chilly for the foreseeable future.
At the same time, Coinbase faces intense competition from its bigger rival, Binance; traditional brokerages that are expanding into the crypto market, and a growing list of fintech apps that also offer cryptocurrency trading. Stablecoins, which accounted for nearly a fifth of its top line in 2025, also face an uncertain future as the CLARITY Act remains stalled in the Senate. The broader crypto market also faces unpredictable regulatory headwinds worldwide.
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Coinbase is cutting costs and pruning its workforce to offset that pressure, but it still posted back-to-back quarterly losses in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
All of those issues are driving investors away from Coinbase, even though it seems reasonably valued right now at 21 times this year's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 5% and 7%, respectively. However, we should take those estimates with a grain of salt, since they're pegged to the unpredictable crypto market.
Coinbase established an early mover's advantage in the crypto market, but it faces too many macro, competitive, and regulatory challenges to be considered a safe investment. Coinbase might eventually bounce back, but it won't attract more attention until interest rates stabilize, the CLARITY Act passes, and it finds more ways to widen its moat against its competitors.
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.
With crude prices falling sharply by around $10/barrel, there can be some easing in the currency markets as the Dollar Index holds stable around 101. While the index may trade within 101.50-100.70 region for a while, Euro may attempt a slow rise towards 1.1450-1.15 while above 1.1370/1.14. USDJPY can dip to 162.70 before a slow rise towards 165 resumes. Aussie looks stable while Pound has scope to rise to 1.34/35 while above immediate support at 1.33. EURINR can trade within 109.5-110.50 while USDCNY can trade within 6.75-6.7850 for some time. USDINR could have scope to dip to 96.20-96.00 while below 97-96.75. The dip can come on the back of a decline in crude prices from levels above $100 to almost $90 now (Brent).
The US Treasury Yields have come down sharply. A strong fall in oil price after the news that the US-Iran peace talk can restart has dragged the yields lower. There is room to fall more to test their support. Thereafter a fresh rise is possible. The German Yields have dipped slightly. But supports are there to limit the downside and keep the broader uptrend intact. The 10Yr GoI is oscillating around 6.85%. It can rise and test its resistance first and then resume the downtrend.
Dow and DAX have bounced from key support and can remain within the 52000-53000 and 24700-25500 ranges respectively. Nifty has recovered from recent lows and can rise towards 24000-24100 in the near term. Nikkei has rebounded, but while below 66000, the downside towards 63000 remains intact. Shanghai has also recovered, but while below 3900, it remains vulnerable to a pullback towards 3750-3700.
Brent and WTI can decline further towards $85 and $80 respectively before entering a sideways phase. Gold continues to hold above the key $4000 support, keeping the broader $4000-$4200 range intact. Silver is likely to remain range-bound between $55 and $65. Copper has found support near $6.30 and can rise towards $6.50 if this level holds. Natural Gas remains range-bound within the $2.80-$3.00 range.
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Obrovské investice do umělé inteligence jsou prováděny jen na základě současných spotových cen. Pokud by pak například došlo k růstu výnosů vládních dluhopisů, tyto projekty by se z hlediska návratnosti staly velmi problematickými. Tímto způsobem uvažuje o dění kolem umělé inteligence známý investor Jim Chanos (viz první dvě části rozhovoru), k tomu přidal i svůj pohled na SpaceX
Chanos poukázal na to, že společnosti provozující starší datová centra se jich snaží zbavit. Podle něj to může být známka celkového posunu na trhu, kdy rostou náklady provozu těchto center, jednak provozní, ale i udržovací investice. To ukazuje na klesající návratnost. Pak se diskuse přesunula k údajnému nedostatku elektrické energie s tím, že některé společnosti „nemají nedostatek čipů, ale právě energie.“ Chanos k tomu řekl, že „pokud v této zemi není něčeho málo, je to energie.“ Mohou být problémy s přenosovou soustavou, „ale levné energie není nedostatek.“
Podle experta tvoří náklady na energie jen asi 5 – 6 % celkových nákladů provozu datových center a zhruba do dvou let podle něj nepůjde o významné téma. Energie tak nebudou překážkou, na kterou bude budování a provoz datových center narážet. Ty se ale objevují na politické rovině, protože sílí odpor k nim. „To by mohl být problém, energie jím podle mého názoru nebudou.“ Trhy se pak podle experta posouvají ve vnímání toho, když nějaká energetická společnost ohlásí novou dohodu na dodávky energie pro datová centra. Zatímco dříve byly tyto povětšinou velmi dlouhodobé kontrakty vítány, nyní podle Chanose při jejich oznámení cena akcie dané energetiky spíše klesá. A „to je důležitá změna“.
Navíc podle Chanose dochází ke znatelnému poklesu návratnosti každého dalšího dolaru investovaného hyperscalery. „Návratnost je stále zdravá, ale na celkové úrovni klesla zhruba ze 40 % z doby před jedním a půl rokem na současných asi 20 %. Pokud budou investice pokračovat současným tempem, návratnost klesne k 10 % a pak budou hyperscaleři vážně zvažovat, zda budou dál investovat.“ Nejhůře je na tom nyní s návratností Oracle a „ostatní se na něj dívají s tím, že na tak nízké úrovni být nechtějí.“
Přes výše uvedené jdou odhady dalších investic do AI infrastruktury nahoru a „na konci letošního roku a v roce příštím se lidé začnou ptát, zda ten další bilion dolarů dává smysl, pokud se z něj vydělá jen 15 miliard dolarů… Do tohoto bodu se dostaneme někdy během následujících 12 měsíců.“ Pak se mluvilo o tom, že roste počet právních sporů mezi některými velkými technologickými společnostmi, v době, kdy je řada z nich zároveň investičně a finančně provázána. Dalším tématem bylo to, že dříve stávaly v centru problémů a tenzí banky, nyní tomu tak není. Nicméně umělá inteligence a investice do ní jsou stále více „financializovány“ a jejich vliv se projevuje v širším systému. Podle některých názorů jsou nyní dokonce i banky „AI akciemi“.
Na závěr dostal Chanos otázku, zda přes vše uvedené nemohou mít nakonec býci ve vztahu k investicím do AI pravdu? Odpověděl, že na základě AI bude vytvořena velká hodnota a budou tu velcí vítězové. Nyní je ale na trhu naceněno „vše tak, že všechno bude fungovat. Což byl problém v devadesátých letech… Pak ale přišla studená sprcha. Teď jsou tu společnosti jako Tesla a SpaceX, jejich valuace stojí na slibech. A proč by nemohl přijít někdo jiný a říkat, že to samé platí o jeho firmě? Je to jen otázka psychologie trhu, nyní jsme ve fázi, kdy se investuje na základě slibů.“
