Earnings breadth improved notably, with 96 of 123 S&P 500 companies posting year-over-year EPS growth in the latest week. Strength was particularly evident across technology, communication services, industrials, and healthcare, while real estate remained a weak spot with widespread Y/Y declines. The results suggest corporate America is navigating higher rates and tighter financial conditions better than feared.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Crypto Stocks Sink for the Week as Asian Banks Gain
Risk assets bifurcated, with crypto-linked stocks leading weekly financial-sector losers amid a sharp digital-asset selloff, while Asian banks advanced on improving rate and currency dynamics. The divergence underscores investors’ rotation toward balance-sheet strength and steadier earnings as volatility in high-beta tech and crypto persists.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Report: Anthropic’s New Funding Round Likely to Top $20B
AI startup Anthropic is reportedly lining up a funding round likely to surpass $20 billion, highlighting the intensifying capital race across model training and inference. The potential blockbuster raise would deepen resources for compute, data, and deployment, and underscores investor conviction in foundational AI despite market volatility.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Intel Backs AI Chip Startup SambaNova Systems
Intel is investing in SambaNova Systems, broadening its AI footprint beyond x86 CPUs and into accelerated compute for training and inference. The move reflects surging demand for heterogeneous AI hardware stacks and aims to reduce dependency on rival platforms as hyperscalers and enterprises scale AI deployments.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Block Weighs Workforce Reduction of Up to 10%
Block is considering eliminating up to 10% of positions, according to a report, as fintechs tighten expenses to protect margins amid slower consumer spending and rising capital costs. The contemplated cuts follow a broader industry trend of recalibrating growth investments to focus on profitability and cash flow.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Oil-Refinery Labor Deal Averts Nationwide Strike Risk
A U.S. refinery workers’ union approved a new contract, averting a potential nationwide strike that could have disrupted fuel supply and pressured prices. The agreement removes a major near-term risk for downstream operators and consumers, stabilizing operations heading into a seasonally sensitive period for energy markets.
Source: Seeking Alpha
OCC Approves Erebor Bank, First New National Bank of Trump’s Second Term
Regulators granted a national bank charter to Erebor Bank, targeting venture-backed firms and high-net-worth clients—an early sign that bank formation is cautiously reopening. Backed by high-profile tech investors, Erebor aims to serve defense tech, robotics, and advanced manufacturing, and plans to use blockchain-based payment rails to improve settlement speed.
Source: FinanceFeeds
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