Gold Declines as Middle East Risks Reinforce Higher Rates Bets
Gold prices slipped below $4,500 an ounce on Monday, extending a 1.4% decline from the previous day. The drop was driven by heightened concerns that ongoing Middle East conflict will sustain inflation pressures and keep U.S. borrowing costs high. President Donald Trump’s expressed dissatisfaction with Iran negotiations further dimmed hopes for a rapid diplomatic resolution. The combination of geopolitical tension and rate‑risk pushed bullion lower for a second straight session.
Stock Rally Falters on Conflicting US-Iran Signals: Markets Wrap
Wall Street stalled as mixed US‑Iran diplomatic signals kept equities flat despite record highs. The S&P 500 closed virtually unchanged while oil prices slipped below $89 per barrel. Salesforce issued a cautious outlook, dampening tech sentiment. Snowflake lifted its sales forecast...
Lilly Gets Back Into the Vaccine Business With New Deals
Eli Lilly & Co. announced it will acquire three clinical‑stage vaccine developers for up to $3.8 billion, marking a major re‑entry into the infectious‑disease space. The deals are financed largely by cash generated from its blockbuster obesity drugs, such as Mounjaro and...
SpaceX Roadshow Begins After Starship Launch
SpaceX launched its IPO roadshow on May 26 after a successful Starship test flight that deployed mock satellites and returned safely. The filing, which could become the largest U.S. IPO ever, touts a $28 trillion total addressable market, with roughly $2 trillion attributed...
Gold Declines as Gulf Strikes Cloud Interest Rate Outlook
Gold’s price fell about 1.1% on May 25, 2026, slipping to just above $4,500 an ounce. The drop followed U.S. strikes in the Strait of Hormuz that targeted Iranian missile launch sites and mine‑laying vessels. The attacks revived worries that the vital...
Zepto Said to Plan June Public Filing for $1 Billion India IPO
Rapid‑commerce platform Zepto Ltd. is set to file for an initial public offering in the first half of June, aiming to raise up to $1 billion. The company plans to begin investor roadshows later in June, with a potential IPO launch...
Italy Tightens Grip on Payments Company Nexi With Stake Increase
Italy’s sovereign lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) is moving to boost its ownership of payment processor Nexi to a maximum of 29.9%. The increase will be executed through CDP Equity’s approval of derivative contracts that represent roughly 8% of...
Ebola Spreads Across Congo as Flights Halted, Supplies Run Low
Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surged to an estimated 867, with more than 200 deaths, as the rare Bundibugyo strain spreads across three provinces. Contact‑tracing efforts are faltering, covering only about 20% of identified contacts, and...
Latest ‘Star Wars’ Film ‘Mandalorian’ Debuts at $102 Million
The Mandalorian, the first Star Wars theatrical entry in seven years, opened to $102 million across the United States and Canada during its four‑day holiday weekend, meeting Boxoffice Pro’s low‑end forecast of $100 million. This marks the franchise’s strongest opening since Disney’s 2012...
More War-Driven Inflation Seen in Fed’s Favored Gauge
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, is projected to have risen 3.8% year‑over‑year in April, pushing the headline rate close to 4%. The jump is driven largely by a war‑induced surge in energy...
Will the Dollar Remain King in a Cashless Society?
In a Bloomberg This Weekend interview, author Brendan Greeley explains that the U.S. dollar traces its roots to 16th‑century Bohemian silver coins, predating American monetary sovereignty. He argues the dollar became a global currency without imperial backing, and today its...
US Says Its Blockade Against Iran Has Redirected 100 Vessels
The U.S. Central Command reported that its six‑week maritime blockade of Iran has forced the redirection of 100 commercial vessels. The operation, launched on April 13, targets any ship entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of...
Uber Proposes Delivery Hero Takeover at €10 Billion Valuation
Uber Technologies has submitted a takeover proposal for Germany’s Delivery Hero, valuing the company at roughly €10 billion (about $11.6 billion). The bid offers €33 per share, a small premium of three cents over the stock’s last close. Uber says the move is...
Big Euro-Zone Economies Are Enduring Unfolding Inflation Shock
Inflation in the euro‑zone’s four biggest economies likely rose in May or remained at a robust pace, according to Bloomberg‑compiled economist surveys. Energy‑driven price pressures are expected to lift consumer‑price growth in France and Italy, while Germany and Spain are...
ECB’s Muller Sees ‘Good Case’ for June Hike on Energy Surge
Outgoing ECB Governing Council member Madis Muller says there is a solid case for a June interest‑rate hike, citing the recent surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war. Inflation in the euro area has risen above the ECB’s...
Bond Traders Bet Fed Under Warsh Will Hike Rates This Year
Bond traders are now fully pricing in a Federal Reserve rate hike this year, reflecting confidence that incoming Chair Kevin Warsh will act swiftly to curb inflation. The market’s view sharpened after Fed Governor Christopher Waller said the next policy...
Wall Street Wagers on Weaker Canadian Dollar as Inflation Cools
Strategists at Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Nomura are increasing bets that the Canadian dollar will weaken further in 2026. The shift follows Canada’s latest inflation data, which showed a slowdown to 2.3% year‑over‑year, prompting a reassessment of the Bank...
SpaceX IPO Requires Leap of Faith in AI, Mars and Musk’s Vision
SpaceX filed an unprecedented IPO prospectus that lays out a multi‑billion‑dollar valuation target while acknowledging soaring losses and growing debt. The filing reveals that Musk’s empire is pouring billions into artificial‑intelligence research and a next‑generation Mars launch vehicle. By betting...
Codelco Fires Executive for Overstating Copper Output in Chile
Chile’s state‑owned copper giant Codelco fired an executive and reprimanded several managers after an internal audit uncovered that the company overstated part of its 2025 production. The audit showed 20,000 tons from the Chuquicamata mine and 6,875 tons from the Ministro Hales operation—about...
War Weighs on Global Growth With Inflation Worries Intensifying
Global growth is losing steam as a war‑induced energy crunch pushes inflation higher for a third consecutive month. Purchasing‑manager surveys from Australia to Europe show manufacturing activity slowing or contracting in May, with the sole exception of the United Kingdom....
Euro-Zone Growth Is Buckling Under Weight of War Impact
The European Commission has sharply lowered its euro‑area growth forecast to 0.9% for 2026, down from 1.4% last year and below the November consensus. Inflation is set to accelerate to the fastest rate since 2023 as energy costs surge amid...
Iran War Spurs Extreme Bear Scenarios for Asia Currencies, Bonds
The ongoing Iran‑Russia conflict is tightening global oil supplies, sending energy prices higher and straining emerging Asian economies. Analysts now model extreme bearish outcomes, projecting India’s rupee sliding to 100 per dollar, Indonesia’s rupiah to 18,000, and the Philippine peso...
Oil Swings After Steep Drop as Traders Await Iran Response to US
Oil prices rebounded on May 21 after a 5.6% plunge, with Brent hovering near $105 a barrel. The drop followed President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States was in the “final stages” of talks with Iran. Iran’s semi‑official Students’...
SoftBank Founder’s Starstruck Bet on OpenAI Raises Concern
SoftBank Group has committed more than $60 billion to OpenAI as the ChatGPT maker readies an IPO. Founder Masayoshi Son repeatedly dismissed internal concerns about a potential failure, citing Sam Altman’s vision as a century‑defining shift. Recent breakthroughs from rival Anthropic have...
Big Treasury Block Sales Drive ‘Capitulation’ Selloff in Bonds
Large block sales of U.S. Treasury futures, equivalent to roughly $15 billion of cash 10‑year notes, intensified a sharp selloff in the $31 trillion government debt market. Long‑end yields surged to their highest level since 2007 as investors priced in the risk...
Saks Global CEO on Next Steps in Bankruptcy Process, Path To Growth
Saks Global, the multi‑brand luxury retailer, filed for bankruptcy four months ago and has now secured $1.25 billion of liquidity, including $500 million of exit financing. The restructuring plan, backed by lenders and key brands, aims to emerge in June with $700 million...
Rising Heat Strains US Power Grid Needing Off-Season Repairs
A late‑spring heat wave is stressing the U.S. Eastern Interconnection, prompting PJM Interconnection to keep all generators online and suspend planned maintenance. Temperatures above 90°F are forecast across the East Coast, and PJM declared a low‑level emergency in parts of...
Stocks Fall for Third Day as Semiconductor Shares Erase Rebound
U.S. equities slipped for a third consecutive session as bond yields rose and inflation concerns deepened. The S&P 500 fell 0.7% and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 0.6%, reflecting a broader risk‑off mood. Semiconductor stocks erased earlier gains, with Nvidia sliding ahead of...
Pakistan Sends Troops, Fighters to Saudi Arabia, Reuters Reports
Pakistan has sent roughly 8,000 troops, fighter aircraft and an air‑defense system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual‑defense pact. The force includes 16 JF‑17 jets, two drone squadrons and a Chinese HQ‑9 system, all operated by Pakistani personnel. Saudi Arabia...
Kenyan Fund Manager Spearhead Plans to Raise $116 Million for Projects Fund
Kenyan fund manager Spearhead Africa Asset Management announced a new capital drive to raise 15 billion shillings (about $116 million). The proceeds will fund long‑term, local‑currency loans for infrastructure developers across Kenya. By the end of March the Spearhead Africa Infrastructure Fund...
Merck Eyes $6 Billion in Seven-Part Bond Sale for Terns Deal
Merck & Co. is planning a $6 billion investment‑grade bond issuance to finance its purchase of Terns Pharmaceuticals. The debt will be offered in up to seven separate tranches, with the longest being a 30‑year note. The senior tranche is expected...
Stocks Waver as Doubts Over US-Iran Deal Lift Oil: Markets Wrap
Oil prices fell on news of a possible US‑Iran waiver, easing market pressure. Brent crude slipped to $108 per barrel after Iranian media reported Washington’s temporary sanctions waiver proposal. The dip in oil helped the S&P 500 recover modestly after its...
NVIDIA Earnings Anticipated Amid Supply Constraints and China Uncertainty
Nvidia is set to report earnings amid a tight supply of its AI‑focused H200 chips and lingering uncertainty over sales to China. The company’s base‑case model assumes zero revenue from the Chinese market after recent U.S. export restrictions were reaffirmed...
Can New York City Tax the Rich Without Driving Them Away?
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing a "pied‑à‑terre" tax on second homes valued at $5 million or more, aiming to raise at least $500 million for a city facing a $12 billion budget deficit. The proposal singles out billionaire Ken Griffin’s Billionaires Row...
Tech Bubble Fear Lures Investors to Hedge With Exotic Options
Investors are increasingly turning to exotic options as a hedge against rising volatility in tech stocks, which many now view as a bubble. Bloomberg reports that notional exposure to barrier, digital and other non‑standard derivatives surged 38% in the first...
National Gas Prices Near Record High
U.S. gasoline prices are climbing toward record highs as Brent crude settled at $109 a barrel, a 10% weekly rise driven by the ongoing Iran‑Houthi conflict that has choked 20% of global oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Futures...
Modest ECB Rate Hike Would Limit Economic Pain, Stournaras Says
Greek central bank governor Yannis Stournaras told Liberal.gr that a modest increase in European Central Bank rates could bring inflation back toward target without harming the eurozone’s fragile recovery. He warned that a temporary overshoot of the inflation goal would...
Odd Lots: Stripe’s John Collison on Agentic Commerce (Podcast)
Stripe co‑founder John Collison says AI‑driven “agentic commerce” will overhaul e‑commerce. He argues that traditional keyword search and ad‑based discovery are becoming obsolete as autonomous agents shop on behalf of consumers. Brands will need to optimize product data for machine...
Europe Lacks Everything Needed to Make Its Stock Market a Winner
European equities surged earlier this year as investors fled the United States for cheaper stocks, but the rally unraveled after the Middle East war sparked a global energy shock. Inflation and supply‑chain disruptions now weigh on Europe’s economy, eroding the...
Long Island Rail Workers Strike in First Walkout Since 1994
The Long Island Rail Road announced a walkout by roughly 3,500 engineers, electrical workers and signalmen, marking the first strike on the nation’s busiest commuter line since 1994. The strike began Saturday after labor talks failed to secure a wage‑increase...
NextEra Energy Is Said to Be in Talks to Acquire Dominion
NextEra Energy is reportedly in talks to acquire Dominion Energy in a primarily stock transaction. The deal is designed to expand capacity for the surging electricity demand from data centers. Talks are at an early stage, with a potential announcement...
US Import and Export Prices Jump Most Since 2022 on Fuel Costs
In April 2026 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the import price index rose 1.9% and the export price index jumped 3.3% from the prior month, the steepest gains since early 2022. The surge was driven by a 19%...
Tate & Lyle Gets Up to £2.7 Billion Offer From Ingredion
Tate & Lyle Plc has received a conditional takeover offer from US‑based Ingredion Inc. valued at up to £2.7 billion (approximately $3.5 billion) and 615 pence per share (about $7.85). The proposal would likely take the historic British ingredients maker private and remove...
$300 Billion AI Debt Binge Spreads From Wall Street to Tokyo
Alphabet Inc. is finalizing a $17 billion bond offering while simultaneously preparing a yen‑denominated debt sale, adding to a multi‑currency borrowing spree that will total roughly $60 billion in four months. The tech giant has already tapped investors in euros, Canadian dollars,...
Gold Fluctuates as Market Weighs Federal Reserve Rate Path
Gold prices swung between a 0.6% gain and a 0.5% loss as investors digested fresh U.S. data showing a war‑driven surge in inflation. The bullion settled near $4,685 an ounce, reflecting heightened uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s future rate path....
Ramaphosa’s Political Peril Earns Shrug From Investors for Now
South Africa’s rand remains steady despite looming impeachment talks against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The president rebuffed calls to resign in a televised address, while a court ruling on May 8 revived a 2022 farm‑theft scandal that fuels the political drama. Investors appear...
Ed Yardeni Boosts S&P Target Amid ‘Unprecedented’ Earnings Expectations
Ed Yardeni raised his S&P 500 target, citing unprecedented earnings expectations that could deliver 24% full‑year earnings growth after an 18% YoY jump in Q1. He highlighted the semiconductor sector’s 18% weighting and record‑high earnings outlook for small‑ and mid‑cap stocks,...
US Premarket Movers for May 12, 2026
U.S. equity futures opened lower on May 12, with the S&P 500 Index futures down about 0.4% by early New York trading. The slide was driven primarily by a pullback in high‑flying technology shares that had surged in recent sessions....
The US and China Are Saving Oil From a Crisis
U.S. crude exports have surged to a record‑high, while China’s oil imports have slipped, together cushioning global oil prices despite the ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict. The United States is drawing down its Strategic Petroleum Reserve at a slower pace, signaling confidence...
Wheat Extends Gains as Poor Weather Worsens US Crop Conditions
Wheat prices climbed for a third consecutive day in Chicago as drought deepens across the U.S. Great Plains, tightening the supply outlook. USDA data showed the winter‑wheat quality rating fell to 28% good‑to‑excellent, down from 31% a week earlier and...