Job Training for Robots: How China Is Getting Machines Ready to Join the Workforce
China is building a network of humanoid robot training centers where human instructors teach machines to perform factory, service and maintenance tasks. The effort is part of a broader state‑driven industrial policy that targets humanoid robotics as a strategic pillar through 2030. While robots currently rely on human guidance, data‑driven repetition enables them to eventually operate autonomously. Industry leaders, including Elon Musk, recognize China’s rapid scaling as a major competitive force.
Meta, Broadcom and Others to Launch $125 Million Semiconductor Research Hub at UCLA
Meta, Broadcom, Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries and Synopsys are investing $125 million to launch a five‑year Semiconductor Hub at UCLA's Samueli School of Engineering. The center will support research across chip design, equipment, software and manufacturing, aiming to accelerate AI‑powered chip innovations....
Two Jan. 6 Police Officers Sue Trump to Block $1.8B 'Lawfare' Fund
Two police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Department of Justice’s $1.8 billion “Anti‑Weaponization Fund,” which is intended to reimburse Trump allies alleging prosecutorial overreach. The complaint, filed in Washington, D.C.,...
Reebok Owner Authentic Brands Group Inches Closer to IPO, Taps Former Wynn Resorts Exec as CEO
Authentic Brands Group, the private equity‑style firm that licenses more than 50 consumer brands including Reebok and Champion, announced Matt Maddox—formerly CEO and CFO of Wynn Resorts—as its new chief executive. Founder Jamie Salter will move to the role of executive chairman,...
Fintech Firm Mercury Hits $5.2 Billion Valuation After Funding Round, up 49% in 14 Months
Fintech Mercury secured $200 million in a Series D round, lifting its valuation to $5.2 billion—a 49% increase over the prior round just 14 months earlier. The funding was led by TCV and included Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz and Coatue. Mercury also received conditional OCC...
Breakthrough Agreement in Housing Bill Gives Investors Wins
The U.S. House is set to approve a bipartisan housing‑affordability bill that limits institutional investors owning more than 350 single‑family homes from buying additional units, while still permitting them to construct new homes. The compromise, backed by the White House,...
Oil Prices Fall as Trump Postpones Iran Strike, Easing Supply Disruption Fears
Oil prices slipped on Tuesday after President Donald Trump announced a delay to a planned strike on Iran, calming concerns of a supply shock in the Gulf. Brent July futures fell more than 2% to $109.15 a barrel, while WTI...
Trump Says He's Postponing 'Scheduled Attack of Iran Tomorrow' At Middle East Leaders' Request
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 18 that the scheduled large‑scale attack on Iran planned for Tuesday has been postponed after the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates asked him to hold off. Trump posted...
Asia-Pacific Markets Fall as Trump’s Iran Warning Stokes Fresh Oil Supply Fears
U.S. President Donald Trump’s blunt warning to Iran reignited fears of Middle‑East supply disruptions, pushing Brent crude above $110 a barrel and WTI past $107. The oil rally lifted global energy prices by more than 1%, prompting a sell‑off across...
Global Oil Stockpiles Could Hit Record Lows if Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
Global oil inventories are sliding toward record lows as the Strait of Hormuz remains shut, with UBS forecasting stockpiles of 7.6 billion barrels by the end of May. JPMorgan notes that only about 800 million barrels are readily available without straining the...
Why J&J Thinks Its New Psoriasis Pill Could Be One of Its Biggest Drugs Ever
Johnson & Johnson’s newly approved oral psoriasis pill Icotyde targets the IL‑23 receptor, making it the first once‑daily tablet in a class dominated by injectables. The drug entered the market in March and logged roughly 1,500 prescriptions within its first...
Oil Prices Jump After Trump Says China Agreed to Buy U.S. Crude Following Xi Talks
President Donald Trump announced that China agreed to purchase U.S. crude following his meeting with Xi Jinping, sending Brent crude up 1.49% to $107.30 and WTI up 1.55% to $102.74. Beijing has not confirmed the deal, and officials declined to...
Bessent Sees 'Substantial Disinflation' Ahead as Warsh Takes over the Fed
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that despite April’s CPI rising 0.6 % and core inflation at 2.8 % YoY, he expects only one or two more hot inflation readings before a substantial disinflation period begins. He attributes the recent energy‑fed price...
It's Not Just Iran and Oil Raising Inflation. Prices Also Are Reaccelerating in These Other Areas
The U.S. consumer price index rose 0.6% in April, lifting the 12‑month inflation rate to 3.8%, the fastest pace in nearly three years. While higher oil prices tied to the Iran conflict remain a headline driver, price gains are spreading...
Google Races to Put Gemini at the Center of Android Before Apple’s AI Reboot
Google is embedding its Gemini AI model into Android as a foundational layer, rolling out new context‑aware features ahead of its I/O developer conference. Gemini can read screen content, automate multi‑step tasks such as building shopping carts or booking reservations,...
Trump Doesn't Need Congress to Restart Iran Strikes: Hegseth
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified that President Trump can restart strikes on Iran without congressional approval, despite the War Powers Resolution’s 60‑day limit having elapsed. The administration had earlier declared hostilities ceased, sidestepping the need for a new Authorization for...
Trump Invites Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Larry Fink and Other CEOs to Join China Trip for Xi Summit
President Donald Trump has extended invitations to CEOs of Tesla, Apple, BlackRock, Boeing and other major U.S. firms to accompany him on a diplomatic trip to China this week. The delegation will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade,...
With Netflix New Ad-Free Standard Plan at $20, Streaming's Tipping Point Into Old TV Is Getting Closer
Netflix raised its standard ad‑free plan to $19.99, underscoring a shift toward hybrid subscription‑and‑advertising revenue. The company’s data shows that an ad‑supported subscriber who watches 41 hours a month can generate roughly $25, surpassing the premium price. Ad‑supported tiers now...
At 103 Years Old, I’m the ‘World’s Oldest Doctor’: My 3 Rules for a Long, Happy Life Are so Simple—I...
Howard Tucker, a 103‑year‑old neurologist, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest doctor. He spent more than 75 years in medicine, earned a law degree at 67, and continued working until his hospital closed in 2022. Tucker...
Meet the YouTube Whisperers, a Booming Class of Advisors Behind MrBeast and Other Million-Dollar Channels
YouTube’s creator economy is maturing into a high‑value industry, with the platform now delivering 12.7% of U.S. streaming traffic and having paid out over $100 billion to creators since 2021. A growing class of consultants, exemplified by Paddy Galloway, charge $15,000‑$12,000 per...
SEC Delay on Prediction Markets ETFs Echoes a Long-Fought Bitcoin Fund Battle
The SEC announced a delay in approving 24 prediction‑market exchange‑traded funds filed by Roundhill, Bitwise and GraniteShares, saying it needs more time to assess the products. These ETFs would track contracts on elections, economic data and other real‑world events, raising...
Target Is Trying to Win Back Busy Families From Walmart, Starting with the Baby Aisle
Target is converting baby aisles in about 200 stores into "baby boutiques," showcasing premium strollers, car seats and high‑end brands like UPPAbaby. The move is part of CEO Michael Fiddelke’s turnaround plan to win back busy families who have drifted...
Top Wall Street Analysts Recommend These 3 Dividend Stocks for Stable Income
Wall Street’s top analysts highlighted three dividend‑paying stocks—Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP), Diamondback Energy (FANG) and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD)—as reliable income sources. BIP announced a 46‑cent quarterly distribution, a 6% YoY increase, and a 5% yield, while maintaining a buy...
Most Women Are Confident Savers, Survey Finds — but Where They Stash Their Cash Could Be a Problem
A Vanguard survey of 1,007 U.S. women shows 71% feel confident saving, yet 51% keep non‑retirement cash in checking, savings or physical money. Almost half of those funds earn under 3% interest, trailing the 3.3% annual inflation rate. Experts recommend...
Iran Focus at Trump-Xi Summit May Delay Progress on Tariffs, Rare Earths
The upcoming Trump‑Xi summit on May 14‑15 will be dominated by the Iran war, pushing tariff and rare‑earth discussions to the background. The U.S. has pared down its business delegation to roughly a dozen CEOs, including Boeing and Citigroup, amid concerns...
CoreWeave Stock Sinks 10% on Weak Revenue Guidance, Increased Spending Forecast
CoreWeave reported Q1 revenue of $2.08 billion, surpassing expectations, but projected Q2 revenue of $2.45‑$2.6 billion, below consensus. The AI‑infrastructure firm raised $8.5 billion in new debt, bringing total borrowings close to $25 billion, and disclosed a $99.4 billion backlog. Nvidia added another $2 billion of...
Corning CEO to Cramer: Deals with 2 Unnamed Hyperscalers 'Larger' Than $6B Meta Pact
Corning disclosed two new long‑term supply agreements with unnamed hyperscalers that are larger than its previously announced $6 billion Meta deal, pushing the combined value of the three contracts to at least $12 billion through 2030. The deals were highlighted in a...
Surging Gas Prices Are Hitting Lower Income Households Harder, New York Fed Study Shows
A New York Federal Reserve study finds that the March 2026 gas‑price surge hit lower‑income households hardest, forcing them to cut consumption while higher‑income families barely reduced use. Households earning under $40,000 increased nominal gasoline spending by only 12%, cutting...
Even if an Iran Deal Calms Energy Markets, One Oil Stock Can Still Stand Out
Shell plc (SHEL) is poised to benefit from sustained high oil prices as the Strait of Hormuz blockage keeps Brent crude elevated. The company just finished a $3.5 billion share‑buyback and is expected to launch another tranche alongside its 3.2% dividend....
Trump Says Iran Will Be Bombed at a 'Much Higher Level' If It Doesn't Agree to Peace Deal
President Donald Trump warned that if Iran rejects a pending peace proposal, U.S. forces will intensify bombing in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the war would end and the strait would reopen once Iran agrees to a one‑page memo...
Novo Nordisk CEO Says the Drugmaker Is More Active than Ever in Seeking Out Deals
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar told CNBC the company is more active than ever in pursuing acquisitions to broaden its obesity‑drug pipeline. He highlighted upcoming candidates CagriSema and zenagamtide, asserting the pipeline is among the best in the industry. The...
Australia Hikes Rates Again and Warns Inflation Will Stay Higher for Longer
The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate to 4.35%, matching the December 2024 peak and marking a third consecutive hike. The move reflects stubborn inflation, which climbed to 4.6% in March and remains above the 2‑3% target range....
European Stocks Set to Open Lower as Iran War Concerns Grow
European equities are set to open lower on Tuesday as the fallout from the deteriorating U.S.-Iran cease‑fire dominates sentiment. The FTSE is expected to hold flat, while Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 are projected to drop about 0.4% and Italy’s...
American Pilots Union Chief Says United CEO's Merger Idea Showed 'Bold Vision'
American Airlines pilots union leader Nick Silva praised United CEO Scott Kirby’s merger proposal as a "bold vision" that could transform the industry, but the Allied Pilots Association stopped short of endorsing a tie‑up. United recently withdrew its merger pursuit...
BYD's Passenger EV Sales Drop for an Eighth Month as Competition Heats Up
BYD delivered 314,100 new‑energy passenger vehicles in April, a 15.7% year‑over‑year decline and the eighth consecutive month of falling sales. Export volumes surged to a record 135,098 units, up more than 70% from the same month in 2025. Domestic rivals...
Andy Jassy Says Amazon Investors Will Be Rewarded by All Its AI Spending
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told Mad Money that the company’s $200 billion AI‑related capex this year is a once‑in‑a‑generation bet that will drive long‑term growth. He said Amazon invests ahead of demand, citing AWS’s rapid expansion and a $15 billion AI run‑rate...
CNBC's The China Connection Newsletter: China Is Rewiring the Silicon Valley Model — Starting in Hong Kong
China’s tech financing is rapidly shifting to Hong Kong, where more than 400 firms are queuing for IPOs—the largest surge in 35 years. Confidential listing rules and easing regulations have spurred a pipeline that could raise about $60 billion in 2026, nearly...
India Is Burning More Coal as Extreme Heat and the Iran War Squeeze Energy Supplies
India’s coal‑fired power output rose to an average 164.9 GW in April, a 3.5% increase over last year, as extreme heat and the Iran‑related LNG supply squeeze pushed gas plants out of the merit pool. Higher LNG prices and disrupted petcoke...
The Nuclear Option: Atomic Energy Could Offer Europe Hope, Say Analysts — but It Won't Be Easy
Analysts argue nuclear power could shore up Europe’s energy security after recent supply shocks, citing France’s 60 % nuclear‑generated electricity as a model of low‑cost, reliable power. However, steep upfront costs and decades‑long construction timelines threaten to delay any meaningful impact....
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Kept Their Record Rallies Going. Here Are 3 Key Takeaways
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted a fifth straight week of gains, each closing at record levels three times during the week. A surge in oil prices tied to Middle‑East tensions did not deter investors, while first‑quarter earnings from mega‑caps drove...
The U.S.-Iran War Is Coming for Your Credit Score and Mortgage Application
The U.S.–Iran conflict that closed the Strait of Hormuz has spiked oil prices and lifted inflation, prompting lenders to tighten credit underwriting despite unchanged Fed rates. Banks are quietly raising effective FICO cutoffs and adding manual review layers, turning previously...
Netflix’s 'Beef' Highlights a $5,000 Deductible — How to Handle Your Own Healthcare Costs
Netflix’s drama “Beef” uses a hospital scene to spotlight a $5,000 health‑insurance deductible, illustrating widespread confusion about cost sharing. A 2024 NAIC survey finds only one‑in‑four Gen Z adults can define a deductible, while KFF data shows 88% of workers now...
Exxon Mobil CEO Expects Higher Oil Prices Due to Iran War: ‘The Market Hasn’t Seen the Full Impact’
Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods warned that current oil prices do not reflect the full impact of the Iran‑triggered supply shock, noting that strategic reserves and in‑transit tankers have temporarily cushioned the market. He said oil flows from the Persian...
Why You Won't Find Kentucky Derby Bets on Prediction Platforms
Prediction‑market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket do not offer contracts on the Kentucky Derby because Churchill Downs, the track’s owner, refuses to grant permission. The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 requires explicit consent from the racetrack, horsemen’s groups, and...
Trump Says 'Iran Wants to Make a Deal, but I'm Not Satisfied with It'
President Donald Trump said he is not satisfied with Iran's new offer to end the two‑month war involving the United States and Israel. He argued the proposal contains demands he cannot accept and highlighted Iran's depleted military capacity. Pakistani officials,...
Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon Make Landmark $225 Million Investment in Pickleball
Apollo Sports Capital and Tom Dundon's Dundon Capital Partners have invested a record $225 million in Pickleball Inc., the parent of Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour. The funding pushes total capital in the company to $315 million and values the...
Engine Trouble Ahead? How the Strait of Hormuz Standoff Threatens Luxury Auto Giants
A prolonged standoff in the Strait of Hormuz is choking the flow of Group III and Group IV base oils, the key feedstocks for high‑performance lubricants. Prices for these base oils have surged nearly 100% in northern Europe since the Iran‑U.S. conflict...
South Korea's Kospi Clocks Best Month in 28 Years as Tech Optimism Triumphs over Iran War Worries
South Korea’s Kospi posted its strongest monthly gain in 28 years, climbing nearly 31% and marking the best performance since January 1998. The rally was driven by a surge in AI‑related tech stocks, with semiconductor leaders SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics jumping 60% and...
Private Credit Fears Loom Large over Europe’s Banks This Earnings Season
European banks are back under scrutiny for private‑credit exposure as Q1 earnings reveal sizable holdings. Barclays reported a $20.3 billion exposure, while Santander says its exposure is immaterial at less than 1% of assets. UBS and Deutsche Bank stress that their private‑credit...
Volkswagen Warns Planned Cost Cuts Are Not Enough After 14% Drop in First-Quarter Profit
Volkswagen posted a 14% decline in first‑quarter operating profit to €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion), missing analysts' near‑€4 billion expectations. Revenue fell 2.5% to €75.66 billion ($88.2 billion) amid higher U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers. The automaker warned its current cost‑cut...