Your Needs Our Focus
Financial Bulletin
-
View detailsFed Officials Reinforce Hawkish Stance: Inflation Fight Not Over, Another Rate Hike Needed This Year!
On Tuesday Eastern Time, two Federal Reserve officials made "hawkish" remarks, saying that the fight against inflation is not over and further rate hikes may be needed this year.Boston Fed President Susan Collins said on the same day that she favors raising interest rates again this year to combat inflation.In a speech in Boston, she said: "I currently expect that a modest rate hike before the end of the year is appropriate to ensure that inflation returns to the Committee's 2% target in a timely and sustained manner. However, my view on whether further policy action is needed and when it would be appropriate to act will depend to a large extent on how all newly released data affect my outlook and the associated balance of risks."Collins noted that after excluding volatile food and energy prices, the three-month annualized inflation rate, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index (PCE), was only 2%. But she expects that, given the recent surge in prices of refined energy products such as jet fuel, diesel, and home heating oil, both overall inflation and core inflation will again exceed the Fed's 2% target in the coming months.She also expects that these price increases will keep inflation persistently high in transportation, accommodation and related services (where energy is an important input), as well as in materials used in data center construction."In this context, it is necessary to closely monitor whether elevated inflation is still largely confined to energy and AI-related construction categories, while price growth in other areas continues to slow — or whether signs of price pressure are broadening," Collins said.Collins made the remarks ahead of Wednesday's release of the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation. Economists expect the September CPI to rise 3.6%. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, prices are expected to rise 2.5% year-on-year and 0.2% month-on-month.On the same day, Richmond Fed President Barkin said during a speech at Howard University that the Fed's 2% inflation target is not out of reach and is achievable. But he made it clear that inflation is proving persistent, price shocks are still ongoing, so it is reasonable for the Fed to take action."For now, the shocks are still continuing, and taking measures to address inflation is a wise move," he said, adding that policymakers can see the impact of AI investment on U.S. inflation.Analysts noted that Barkin's remarks provided ammunition for the hawkish camp: if inflation remains sticky, his view that "shocks are ongoing" would support further tightening. The core of this stance is that Barkin believes current inflation is not a temporary phenomenon but is driven by persistent price shocks, which provides the Fed with a reason to continue acting.Even the relatively dovish Fed's "third-in-command," New York Fed President John Williams, also said on Tuesday that he thinks one more rate hike this year is appropriate, and that there is no need for a rate hike in 2027. He noted that there are no signs indicating the labor market is driving inflation, and apart from AI and the energy sector, he has not seen widespread price pressures in other areas.At present, the market widely expects the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting this month but to raise rates again in December.Reprinted from Cailian Press
2026-10-14 -
View detailsU.S. Optical Communications Sector Plunges on Monday! Wall Street Debates the Causes
On Monday, U.S. AI concept stocks broadly came under pressure, with optical communications and networking equipment stocks leading the declines. Ciena, Lumentum, and Coherent shares closed down 10%, 9.8%, and 7.9%, respectively; Cisco Systems, Corning, and Lumen Technologies shares fell 2.6%, 6%, and 4.3%, respectively. Marvell Technology shares fell 3.4%. Since the start of this year, as demand for optical communications and network components has surged, shares of companies producing lasers, cables, and electronic components have risen sharply. For example, over the past year, Lumentum and Coherent shares have gained 516% and 148%, respectively. As for Monday's sudden sell-off, Giuseppe Sette, president and co-founder of AI investment analysis platform Reflexivity, said Monday's market performance does not mean “any cracks have appeared in optical communications demand, and orders for related products are still fully booked for years to come.” Instead, investors' reaction may be related to a technology demonstration conducted by Lumentum, Astera Labs, and Corning at the 2026 Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit held on Monday in San Jose, California. At this AI hardware industry conference, the three companies jointly demonstrated a method for applying optical networking technology in AI data center racks. However, Sette said, “The market had already priced in the expectations brought by this demonstration, so the event ultimately became an opportunity for investors to exit rather than a catalyst to drive stock prices higher.” Morningstar analyst Martin Szumski said that comments by Broadcom CEO Hock Tan may have also triggered Monday's share price volatility. At a panel discussion held in Singapore, Hock Tan said that capital shortages are the biggest bottleneck facing the current AI construction boom. Szumski explained that optical communications companies' revenue is highly dependent on the capital expenditures that hyperscale cloud providers have committed to. He added that Hock Tan's comments may signal that the market is beginning to see signs that hyperscale cloud providers will no longer “continue to spend heavily regardless of cost.” He said, “Over the past 18 months, many optical communications concept stocks have already risen considerably, so any news that is not positive enough could drag these stocks down.” Daniel O'Regan, managing director of the equity trading department at Mizuho Securities, noted in a report that the optical communications sector “significantly outperformed the broader market” last Friday, buoyed by Lumentum CEO's earlier bullish comments on component demand. He wrote that the sector's decline may be giving back last Friday's gains. In addition, the overall sell-off in AI concept stocks on Monday could be attributed to multiple factors, including Hock Tan's comments and views expressed last week by Steve Eisman, the Wall Street legend who inspired the film “The Big Short.” In an interview, Eisman said that more than 65% of the S&P 500's weight is now highly tied to AI trading, and the index's diversification and risk-hedging capabilities may be far lower than most investors expect. Reprinted from Cailian Press
2026-10-13 -
View detailsHormuz Tensions Escalate as Iran Says Ships That Turn Off Identification Systems Will Be Considered 'Hostile Targets'
Recently, as Iran has intensified its attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the risks facing this critical waterway have escalated again.According to comprehensive media reports, a senior Iranian official said most recently that the U.S. response to Iran's conditions for reopening Hormuz has been insufficient, and that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until those conditions are met. Meanwhile, another tanker struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The Iranian military also said that ships that turn off navigation and identification systems in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered hostile targets.According to CCTV International News, Iranian media reported on the evening of October 11 local time that Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Rezaei said that the U.S. response to Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz was 'insufficient' and that clarifications are needed on issues about which Iran still has doubts.Rezaei said: 'We presented seven conditions to the U.S. side and made it clear that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen and Iran will not hold any negotiations until these conditions are met.' According to him, the U.S. has accepted some of Iran's conditions but remains unclear on others.Earlier, during the United Nations General Assembly, Iran proposed a plan: if the U.S. side met the relevant conditions, the shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days and normal maritime navigation restored. Subsequently, the United States conveyed its response to Iran through Qatar, which is acting as a mediator.In late September, Iran said it had received the U.S. response to its proposal to end the war. Before that, however, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had rejected the proposal.Qatar and other mediators have been passing messages between the United States and Iran in an attempt to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Before the U.S.-Iran war broke out at the end of February this year, the strait was the essential route for one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.Iranian military warns ships that turn off identification systemsThe navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on the 11th that earlier that day, a 'violating' supertanker struck a mine in waters south of the Strait of Hormuz, causing an explosion and a fire in the engine room.Sepah News, a media outlet affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in a statement that the ship was carrying crude oil and was trying to leave the Strait of Hormuz with its navigation system turned off. The accident occurred because the tanker violated shipping lane rules and entered an 'unauthorized' route. The statement also said this was the third 'violating' tanker to hit a mine and catch fire on an 'unauthorized' route in the strait since the 10th.The statement warned that any ship that turns off navigation and identification systems within the Strait of Hormuz will be regarded as a 'hostile target' and dealt with severely.Meanwhile, on October 11 local time, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a notice saying that an oil tanker was attacked by a drone at an anchorage near the port of Sohar, Oman. The notice said UKMTO initially received a report of a security incident involving an oil tanker. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the tanker had been attacked by an unmanned aerial vehicle, and UKMTO formally classified the incident as an 'attack'.Recently, attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz have increased significantly. According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, 11 tankers were attacked while navigating the Strait of Hormuz in the week ending October 4 — the most attacks on merchant vessels since the war broke out in late February.The surge in attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz could abruptly halt the recovery momentum of Middle East oil supplies. Amrita Sen, founder and head of market intelligence at energy research and consulting firm Energy Aspects, warned recently that international oil prices are severely undervalued.Meanwhile, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi militants is also escalating. Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, international oil prices fell more than 1% in Asian trading on Monday as the market expects Russia to increase oil supplies. After the United States reached a diesel supply agreement with Russia, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to stop attacking each other's energy facilities.Reprinted from Cailian Press
2026-10-12 -
View detailsSaudi Riyadh Airport Attack Leaves 12 Dead, 309 Injured; U.S. President: U.S. Military May Intervene
Recently, the warring parties in Yemen have engaged in a fierce "airport exchange attack war," with frequent attacks on the international airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Aden International Airport in areas controlled by Yemeni government forces, and Sana'a International Airport and Hodeidah International Airport in areas controlled by Yemen's Houthi forces. On the 10th, Riyadh International Airport, the capital of Saudi Arabia, suffered a serious attack. According to the latest statistics released by the Saudi civil aviation authorities in the early hours of the 11th, the attack has left 12 people dead and 309 injured. U.S. President Trump also issued a statement after the attack on the Saudi capital's airport on the 10th, but only said that the United States might join Saudi Arabia in strikes against the Houthis, without making a clear commitment. Saudi Capital Airport Attacked Multiple Times Recently, Hundreds Killed or Injured Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority issued a statement on the 11th saying that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked again on the afternoon of the 10th, killing 12 people and injuring 309. The attack caused varying degrees of damage to airport facilities, and the airport has suspended operations. Before the attack on the 10th, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a statement on the 9th confirming that King Khalid International Airport was attacked twice on the 8th, killing 3 Saudi citizens and injuring several others. On October 7, Saudi civil aviation authorities also said that Abha International Airport in the southwest and King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh were attacked from the 6th to the 7th, leaving 3 dead and 36 injured. Saudi Capital Airport Attacked Again on the 10th, No Flights Taking Off or Landing Shortly after the latest attack on the 10th, witnesses said an explosion was heard at Terminal 3 of King Khalid International Airport that afternoon, and people inside the airport were evacuated. △ After the explosion at the Saudi capital airport on the 10th, flight tracking website information showed no flights taking off or landing at the airport After the explosion, flight tracking website information showed that no flights were taking off or landing at the airport, and some flights bound for Riyadh had diverted or returned. King Khalid International Airport issued a passenger reminder advising passengers to contact their airlines and confirm flight status before heading to the airport. △ King Khalid International Airport issued a passenger reminder: passengers are advised to contact airlines and confirm flight status before heading to the airport Due to the security situation, Kuwait Airways said on the 10th that it would cancel flights to and from Riyadh. Earlier, on the 8th and 9th, UAE's Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had respectively announced the cancellation of multiple flights to Riyadh. After the explosion on the 10th, Etihad Airways announced it would extend the cancellation of flights until October 12. U.S. President Says U.S. May Participate in Saudi Military Strikes Against Houthis △ On the 10th, U.S. President Trump spoke to the media at the White House, saying the U.S. military might participate in Saudi strikes against the Houthis After the attack on the Saudi capital's airport on the 10th, U.S. President Trump also responded. Trump said the United States "may" join Saudi Arabia in strikes against the Houthis, "We'll take a very serious look." Earlier in early September, as the Houthis continued to seize strategic locations along the Red Sea coast, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed was reportedly in a phone call with Trump asking the U.S. to strike the Houthis, but the U.S. president refused. According to informed U.S. officials, the U.S. government currently has no plan to directly strike the Houthis. Some analysts believe that the U.S. has remained cold toward directly striking the Houthis due to multiple constraints. With the war against Iran not yet over and ammunition stockpiles heavily depleted by the Iran conflict not yet replenished, protecting Saudi Arabia is not currently a U.S. strategic priority, so the U.S. is reluctant to open a new front in Yemen. Yemen's Houthis: Willing to Avoid Mutual Attacks on Civilian Facilities with Saudi Arabia On the Houthi side, on the 10th, the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV also reported that the Saudi-led coalition attacked Sana'a International Airport in Houthi-controlled Yemen on the 10th, with no reports of casualties or damage yet. Later that day, the Houthis expressed willingness to stop mutual attacks on humanitarian facilities such as airports and seaports with Saudi Arabia. △ Yahya Saree (file photo) The Yemeni Houthis said they are willing to take reciprocal measures with Saudi Arabia to avoid dragging airports, seaports, and other facilities with humanitarian functions into the escalating military confrontation. The group also said it is willing to push all parties to avoid attacking such facilities and to prioritize the protection of airports and seaports. Al Jazeera: Houthi Attack on Saudi Airport Is a Reciprocal Response The Houthis have long accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sana'a International Airport in Yemen's capital on July 13, which ended the de-escalation between the two sides. Some analysts believe this is one of the reasons the Houthis have repeatedly struck Riyadh International Airport recently. Al Jazeera analysis suggests that Sana'a International Airport and Hodeidah International Airport are key entry points for international flights and humanitarian aid into Houthi-controlled areas. Due to the continued Saudi offensive, the Houthi attacks on Saudi airports are a reciprocal response. Other analysts believe that threatening Saudi Arabia's commercial and tourism development may also be one of the Houthis' goals in striking the Saudi capital's airport. Reprinted from Cailianshe
2026-10-11 -
View detailsMidterm Elections Approach: History Suggests U.S. Stocks May Keep Dancing?
U.S. stocks are currently hovering near record highs, and historical experience suggests that the upcoming midterm elections could pave the way for the S&P 500 to strengthen before the end of the year. The official voting day for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections is November 3, 2026. The outcome will determine which party controls Congress, and Trump's Republican Party and the Democratic Party are locked in a fierce contest. Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid noted: "We have now entered a seasonally stronger window for market performance historically, which is worth noting given that market sentiment remains tense." The bank's research shows that over the past 23 midterm election cycles, the S&P 500 rose 21 times during the period from one month before the election to two months after. "With less than a month to go until the midterms, we have entered the 'golden window' this week," Reid wrote. He emphasized that the median return for the S&P 500 during the three-month window around midterm elections is 7%. Before most rallies began, the market performed fairly flat from mid-July to early October, which roughly matches the market behavior in 2026. However, this historical trend does not guarantee that U.S. stocks will rise. In 1978, for example, stocks fell around the midterm elections as inflation and interest rates climbed. Another exception occurred in 2018, during the first term of President Trump. That selloff was also tied to interest rate factors, compounded by concerns over a trade war. The market only took off again in January 2019 after the Federal Reserve shifted to a more dovish stance. However, Reid pointed out that neither of the above two examples had the backdrop of a strong earnings season about to begin. The market currently expects S&P 500 constituent earnings to grow about 30% year-over-year in the third quarter. "All else being equal, this should provide a strong tailwind for the typical midterm election seasonal pattern to reassert itself, even after the recent rate-driven selloff," Reid said. Other historical data also suggests that midterm elections themselves are not simply a bearish event. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, since 1937, the S&P 500 has averaged a gain of 9.2% in midterm election years, lower than the 13.3% in other years, but still positive on average. James Zahansky, chief strategist at WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors, recently said that what truly affects markets around midterm elections is more the pre-election uncertainty than the victory of a particular party. As results become clearer, the political risk premium may fade, and markets can return to more core pricing variables such as interest rates, corporate earnings, and the economic cycle. On Friday, U.S. stocks closed higher, led by the technology sector. The S&P 500 rose 46.15 points, or 0.59%, to 7,811.51. So far this year, the index has gained about 14%. Reprinted from Cailianshe
2026-10-10 -
View detailsSaudi Airport Incident: Plane Hit Directly and Catches Fire
According to Reuters, citing three informed sources, on October 8, a commercial aircraft belonging to the state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines caught fire and sustained severe damage while parked at the terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, due to a direct hit by shrapnel or a flying object. The sources said it is believed there were no passengers on board at the time, but the possibility of casualties could not be ruled out. On the same day, Yemen's Houthi forces claimed they attacked King Khalid International Airport in three waves with four missiles, all of which "hit their targets." The Saudi government media office, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Saudi Arabian Airlines have not yet responded to requests for comment. Reprinted from Cailianshe
2026-10-09 -
View detailsTrump to Award Silicon Valley Moguls; Musk and Others Receive Top Science and Technology Honors
According to media reports, U.S. President Donald Trump will present medals to several prominent technology executives, including Elon Musk and Michael Dell, at a science summit on Thursday (October 8) local time. According to the White House, SpaceX and Tesla leader Elon Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, and AMD CEO Lisa Su will receive the National Medal of Science, while Dell founder Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. According to the National Science Foundation website, the National Medal of Science is the highest honor for American scientists and engineers. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office website, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the nation's highest honor for technological achievement. This will be the first time Trump has awarded the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during his two terms in office. White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston said: “The Trump administration thanks these outstanding leaders for their contributions to science and technology. These honorees are helping America continue to maintain global leadership in innovation.” Thursday's event is called the “Science: A New Golden Age Summit.” The summit will bring together top scientists and technology innovators to discuss how superintelligence and private-sector investment can accelerate scientific breakthroughs and strengthen U.S. leadership in science and technology. More than a week before the summit, Trump hosted an AI-focused luncheon at the White House, attended by some of the honorees and multiple corporate executives. After the meeting, Trump told reporters that he and the tech leaders had signed a morally binding document. As calls for slowing AI model development grow louder, the document aims to promote self-regulation in the development of advanced artificial intelligence models. Financial support for Trump or the Republican Party The report also said that all of the honorees have, in some form, provided financial support for Trump's or the Republican Party's campaigns and related causes. Musk was Trump's largest donor in the 2024 election cycle, contributing over $290 million. He later led efforts to cut federal government personnel as a special government employee in the Trump administration. Brin attended Trump's inauguration and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Republican National Committee in 2025. Huang donated to the Trump White House ballroom construction fund, and NVIDIA donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration. Dell has long donated to Trump. He and his wife Susan have pledged $6.25 billion to provide start-up funding for “Trump Accounts” aimed at helping American children build savings. AMD has also provided financial support to Trump-related funds. Reprinted from Cailian Press
2026-10-08 -
View detailsSpaceX Plans to Raise $40 Billion to Buy Nvidia Chips | Global Markets
Overnight Stock Market On Tuesday Eastern Time, all three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.49%, the Nasdaq gaining 0.45%, and the S&P 500 climbing 0.58%. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 set new record closing highs. Despite concerns over war, high inflation, and pressure from the bond market, U.S. stocks continued to climb. A key factor is companies' ability to sustain earnings growth. Analysts expect third-quarter earnings per share for S&P 500 companies to grow nearly 30% year over year. If that expectation is realized, it would mean corporate earnings have grown more than 25% year over year for a third consecutive quarter. Of course, whether the market can maintain its current highs depends largely on whether companies can truly deliver on higher earnings expectations. If earnings disappoint, stock prices could easily retreat from record highs. Commodity Market WTI crude oil futures settled at $89.44 per barrel, up 0.01%; Brent crude oil futures settled at $100.58 per barrel, up 0.26%. COMEX gold futures rose 0.86% to $4,192.7 per ounce; COMEX silver futures rose 0.65% to $61.7 per ounce. Market News 【Hezbollah Leader: Israeli Withdrawal is a Precondition for Resolving the Conflict】 Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said that as long as Israeli troops remain in Lebanon, Hezbollah will continue its "resistance," and Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon is a precondition for resolving the conflict. According to Lebanese sources, Qassem said in a speech at an event that day that Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon is a necessary condition for resolving the conflict, and that Israel's actions in the region have U.S. support. When discussing Lebanon's domestic issues, Qassem said Hezbollah is willing to cooperate on issues such as weapons, the economy, and employment, but such cooperation must be conducted within the framework of Lebanon's constitution and laws, and "will not accept instructions from the United States or other external forces." 【OpenAI Publishes New Mathematical Capability Test Results for Frontier Models】 OpenAI is releasing a series of new mathematical research results generated by its internal frontier models. The content is published via the GitHub repository, along with protocols for paper revisions and citations. The released results include formal proofs in the Lean language, allowing mathematical proofs to be directly verified by computers. The average computing power consumed per result is roughly equivalent to three hours of deep reasoning time on ChatGPT Pro. 【Apple to Launch Smart Doorbell, Smart Lock, and Smart Thermostat Co-Developed with LG】 Among Apple's upcoming smart home products, there will be a batch of smart doorbells, smart thermostats, and other accessories developed in collaboration with LG Electronics. These products co-developed with LG will also include smart mortise door locks, indoor security cameras, outdoor security cameras, and floodlight cameras. All products will be sold under the LG brand. Apple's own new devices, including the upgraded HomePod mini and a new TV set-top box, are scheduled to be officially released on October 13, while the LG co-branded accessories are expected to take several more months before they are officially available to consumers. 【Anthropic Expands Access to Advanced AI Models, Allows Certain Organizations to Conduct Cybersecurity Testing】 Anthropic is partnering with the U.S. government to expand access to its most advanced AI models, allowing a selected group of organizations to test the startup's cutting-edge cyber capabilities. According to a statement released Tuesday, the San Francisco-based company will allow verified organizations to use its most capable models, including Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Mythos 5.1, and future new models. The statement said that authorized organizations can conduct "high-risk offensive testing" on security systems designed to protect critical infrastructure such as power grids, banks, and flight operations systems. 【SpaceX Plans to Raise $40 Billion to Buy Nvidia Chips】 According to reports, SpaceX is seeking to raise $40 billion through a financing plan led by Apollo to purchase Nvidia (NVDA.O) chips. According to people familiar with the matter, the company plans to raise approximately $10 billion through bank loans and $30 billion through investment-grade debt to support its massive chip orders. Related sources said private capital group Apollo is expected to lead the transaction and help sell the debt to a broad group of investors. It is understood that bond firm Pimco is one of a small group of lenders in discussions to provide financing for the deal. The transaction is expected to be completed in 2027. 【Von der Leyen: EU to Take Measures to Address High Energy Costs】 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on the 6th that the EU will take measures such as launching a strategic dialogue on European refineries and strengthening joint energy procurement to address rising energy prices and further reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Von der Leyen said at the European Parliament plenary session that day that since the end of February, European natural gas prices have risen by 140%, diesel prices have doubled, and import spending on fossil fuels has increased by an additional approximately 100 billion euros. With winter approaching, the pressure of high energy costs on businesses and households could intensify further. On the supply side, the EU will launch a strategic dialogue on European refineries to reduce costs and ensure energy supply, including meeting supply needs for the defense sector. On the demand side, the EU will establish a new working group to aggregate member states' energy demand and further upgrade the joint procurement mechanism. 【Fed's Daly: Further Rate Hikes May Be Needed If AI, Tariffs, and Energy Shocks Persist】 San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said that the chip demand driven by the AI boom may spread from high-end AI chips to the broader semiconductor market, with some companies already locking in memory chip supplies in advance and even redesigning products to reduce chip usage. She believes the price pressures from this AI boom may not be a one-off shock, and the time needed to ease them could exceed the one to three years the Fed typically assumes. Daly said she fully supports the Fed's September rate hike, and whether further action is needed will depend on whether shocks such as AI, tariffs, and energy prices pushed up by the Middle East conflict can subside. If these factors persist longer or compound each other, further policy tightening may be needed, but if the shocks are only temporary, further rate hikes may not be necessary. 【EIA Raises Oil Price Forecasts for WTI and Brent for This Year and Next】 The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook shows that the average WTI crude oil price is expected to be $88.21 per barrel in 2026, compared with the previous forecast of $84.65, and $79.74 per barrel in 2027, compared with the previous forecast of $69.74. Brent crude is expected to average $96.32 per barrel in 2026, compared with the previous forecast of $91, and $83.74 per barrel in 2027, compared with the previous forecast of $73.74. From Cailian Press
2026-10-07 -
View detailsTrump Says Bombers Withdrawn from UK Due to Threats; Russia's Finance Ministry to Dramatically Increase Gold Purchases | Global Markets
Overnight Markets On Monday, U.S. stocks closed higher across the board. The Nasdaq rose 1.05% to a record closing high, the Dow gained 0.18%, and the S&P 500 rose 0.66%. As the Nasdaq hit a new high, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury rose to 5.31%, briefly approaching 5.35% during the session, still near the highest level since 2002. Higher Treasury yields could weigh on the economy by pushing up borrowing costs and also reduce investors' willingness to buy stocks and other assets at elevated valuations. Despite higher Treasury yields, strong corporate earnings expectations continue to support U.S. equities. The market currently expects third-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies to grow nearly 30% year over year. If the forecast materializes, it would mark the third consecutive quarter of earnings growth exceeding 25% for the S&P 500. Strong earnings performance is helping investors absorb multiple pressures such as high valuations, interest rates, and geopolitical risks, keeping major indices at elevated levels. On the economic data front, the U.S. services sector continued to expand in September, but at a slower pace than economists expected. Data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed that prices paid by services firms for materials and services accelerated, indicating that inflationary pressures have not fully subsided. Commodity Markets U.S. WTI crude oil futures settled at $89.43 per barrel, down $1.68, or 1.84%. Brent crude futures settled at $100.32 per barrel, down $1.93, or 1.89%. COMEX gold futures rose 0.13% to $4,167.6 per ounce; COMEX silver futures rose 1.63% to $61.4 per ounce. Market News [Yemen's Houthis Warn International Airlines to Stop Operating Routes via Saudi Airspace] Yemen's Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea issued a statement on the 5th, saying that Saudi Arabia's airspace has become a "theater of operations" for the Houthis, warning all international airlines operating relevant routes through Saudi airspace to suspend flights. In a statement posted on social media that day, Sarea said Saudi airspace is no longer "safe" and that the Houthis "will not bear any responsibility for the consequences of ignoring this warning." However, the warning does not cover airspace over Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to the warning. [Yemen's Houthis Say They Carried Out Three Rounds of Military Operations Against Multiple Targets in Saudi Arabia] In a statement late on October 5, Yemen's Houthi group said that in response to Saudi military operations against Yemen over the past 24 hours, the Houthis conducted three rounds of military operations that day, using large numbers of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to strike Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, the Rabigh Aramco refinery, as well as Abha Airport, Khamis Mushait base, the Al-Ajifa military camp in Asir province, and multiple sensitive targets in Najran and Jizan provinces. [Yemeni Government Forces Say They Recaptured Red Sea Port City of Mokha] Yemeni government forces said on the 5th that after fierce fighting, they had recaptured the Red Sea port city of Mokha in Taiz province from the Houthis. The Houthis have not yet responded. According to earlier reports, the Houthis took control of Mokha on September 10. [Trump Says Bombers Withdrawn from UK Due to Threat] Regarding the U.S. military's withdrawal of all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in the UK, on the afternoon of October 5 local time, a reporter asked U.S. President Trump at the White House whether a specific threat caused the U.S. to withdraw the bombers from the UK. Trump answered in the affirmative. He said: "I think we can say that, they weren't withdrawn for no reason." ['Makkah Defense Alliance' Decides to Activate Collective Defense Mechanism] Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey held an emergency meeting of the Strategic, Political and Defense Committee of the "Makkah Defense Alliance" in Riyadh and issued a joint statement announcing the activation of the collective defense mechanism. The statement announced that the committee decided to immediately promote the implementation of collective defense commitments and take necessary measures to provide support to agreed military forces and related capabilities, ensuring their rapid deployment inside Saudi Arabia in accordance with approved arrangements and the domestic laws of member states. The statement said this aims to enhance readiness, military integration, and the three parties' joint capability to respond to and deter threats. The statement said the three sides mainly discussed the security situation and threats facing Saudi Arabia. As part of the alliance's institutional development, the committee decided to appoint retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Numan Mahmood as the alliance's first Secretary-General for a three-year term. The three sides also strongly condemned attempts to attack Mecca and Medina, as well as continued attacks on Saudi civilians and economic facilities, and reiterated their firm opposition to any attack or threat against Saudi security and territorial integrity. [UK Maritime Trade Operations Office: 3 Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz] According to multiple notices issued by the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office on the 5th, three ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, and one tanker was turned back by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Three of the notices showed that two tankers and one LPG carrier were hit by "unknown projectiles" in the Strait of Hormuz on the 3rd and 4th. Relevant authorities are currently investigating. [Russia's Finance Ministry to Dramatically Increase Foreign Currency and Gold Purchases] Russia's Finance Ministry said on October 5 local time that it will increase its foreign currency and gold purchases by five times the September level from October 7 to November 6, allocating 279.42 billion rubles for this purpose, with an average daily purchase volume of about 12.7 billion rubles. The purchases are carried out under the budget rule, aiming to channel additional oil and gas revenues into the National Welfare Fund. [New York State Declares Disaster Emergency Over Measles Outbreak] On October 5 local time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued an order declaring a disaster emergency in New York State over the measles outbreak, effective from October 5 to November 4, 2026. As of October 3, 2026, New York State had reported 108 measles cases. [Musk's Net Worth Returns to Trillion-Dollar Level] SpaceX shares rose nearly 8% on Monday, reaching their highest level since mid-June. As the stock surged, Musk's net worth once again exceeded $1 trillion. Over the weekend, SpaceX completed multiple historic launch missions in a single day, including launching a crewed spacecraft to the International Space Station for NASA and sending Google's AI chips into orbit. Morgan Stanley analysts advised investors to buy SpaceX shares before the next planned test flight of the giant Starship rocket and to position ahead of the third-quarter earnings report expected to be released at the end of October. Reprinted from Cailian Press
2026-10-06 -
View detailsSources: flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Israeli airport terminal
According to Israeli sources on October 4 local time, Hammam Hammami, the Omani co-pilot who attacked the captain on a flydubai aircraft on September 30, confessed during trial in the UAE that he had planned to fly the airliner "directly into" Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.The sources said that Hammami chose to attack the captain when the plane was flying over Jordan, and originally planned to let the aircraft fly normally until it was about to reach Ben-Gurion Airport, when Israeli military aircraft would have no time to intercept, and then crash the plane into the airport terminal. The injured captain opened the cockpit door at all costs and thwarted Hammami's attempt.Israeli sources said that during interrogation, Hammami stated that he had planned the attack before being hired by flydubai. He had researched which airlines operated routes to Tel Aviv and attempted to apply, and was eventually hired by flydubai.On September 30, a safety incident occurred on flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai, UAE, to Tel Aviv. According to UAE sources, the flight's co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain with a knife in the cockpit, causing the aircraft to suddenly plunge. After other crew members and passengers subdued the attacker, the flight crew regained control of the aircraft. After the incident, the airliner was diverted and safely landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.From Cailian Press.
2026-10-05
