Shares of VAT Group AG fell 5.7% to CHF660.80 on Tuesday, sharply underperforming the broader SMI index, which rose 0.3%. The decline occurred after the Swiss semiconductor equipment supplier reported a drop in first-half profit, as rising expansion costs weighed on margins despite a record Q2 order intake of CHF 500 million. Record Demand vs. … Read more
A specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR landed in Melbourne on Friday, July 24, 2026, after a 19-hour, 17,000km test flight from Toulouse, France. The flight, part of Qantas’s Project Sunrise, serves as a critical data-gathering milestone for planned nonstop commercial services between Sydney and London, which are currently slated to begin in October 2027. Project Sunrise: … Read more
BlackRock is leading a debt sale of at least $12 billion to finance a new Meta Platforms data center in El Paso, Texas. The deal, which utilizes a joint venture structure to move costs off Meta’s balance sheet, highlights the investment firm’s growing role as a central financier in the AI infrastructure boom. BlackRock’s $12 … Read more
As the Federal Reserve approaches its July 28–29 meeting, financial markets are struggling with uncertainty regarding interest rates. While economists overwhelmingly predict a hold in the 3.5% to 3.75% range, traders are split, with some pricing in a 30% chance of a 25-basis-point hike due to shifting inflation signals. Market Uncertainty Under the New Fed … Read more
The Magnificent Seven—a group of seven major U.S. technology companies—have reached a combined market capitalization of $20,000 billion, a figure equivalent to the annual economic output of the entire European Union, according to Watson. This market dominance is driven by massive capital expenditures (capex) directed toward artificial intelligence infrastructure. The Scale of AI Infrastructure Investment … Read more
Gold prices are retreating as escalating conflict in the Middle East drives oil prices to multi-week highs, intensifying inflation concerns and fueling expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike. According to Fxstreet, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude has climbed to approximately $91 per barrel, an increase of nearly 30% for the … Read more
Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten is engaged in discussions with organizers of the annual Loods 24 commemoration to ensure the dignity of the event following significant public outcry regarding the scheduled attendance of Israeli Ambassador Zvi Aviner Vapni. The commemoration, set for Thursday, July 30, honors the 6,790 Jewish residents of Rotterdam who were deported from … Read more
Alphabet shares dropped more than 6% on Thursday following the company’s second-quarter earnings report, as investors reacted to a significant increase in capital spending forecasts directed toward artificial intelligence infrastructure. The decline follows a 1.5% drop in the company’s stock on Wednesday, reflecting broader investor anxiety regarding the mounting costs required to sustain the current … Read more
Creditors of the German battery manufacturer VARTA are moving to seize control of the company’s consumer battery division following the collapse of rescue negotiations. An independent analysis revealed a critical liquidity shortfall, prompting the creditor group to pursue a spinoff and a new ownership structure to avoid total insolvency. Creditor Group Moves to Split VARTA … Read more
The European Commission has imposed a total fine of 890 million euros on Google, and its parent company Alphabet, for violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The decision, finalized on July 23, 2026, marks a significant enforcement action against the technology giant, which the Commission has designated as a “gatekeeper” due to its powerful … Read more