💥 Today’s Top Headlines
- Fed Chair Powell warns of “bumpy disinflation” ahead → markets waver as rate-cut bets cool.
- Apple unveils AI-powered iPhone 17 → shares pop ~3% premarket.
- Bitcoin tops $70,000 again → driven by institutional inflows.
- Biden announces fresh China tech export curbs → hitting AI chips & semiconductor tools.
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Tensions flare at the India-Pakistan border as clashes erupt, raising fears of wider escalation.
📈 Corporate Action Highlights
- Uber → Posted first-ever annual profit, powered by delivery and ads.
- Amazon → Announces 20-for-1 stock split, first in over two decades.
- Boeing → Delays 737 Max deliveries again due to supply chain snarls.
- Meta → Starts $50B buyback program, aiming to restore investor confidence.
- Tesla → Elon Musk teases $25,000 EV for 2026, stock surges 6%.
🌎 Economic Snapshot
- US Jobs Report (April) → +260k jobs added, unemployment holds at 3.8%.
- Eurozone GDP → beats estimates at 0.4% Q1 growth, easing recession fears.
- China → Services PMI at 51.2, signaling modest expansion.
- Oil prices → Dip below $80/barrel as demand concerns outweigh OPEC cuts.
- Gold → Near record highs at $2,400/oz, safe-haven demand stays strong.
🏛 Political & Geopolitical Moves
- U.S.-China Tensions → White House curbs AI chip exports; Beijing promises “strong response.”
- UK Elections → PM Sunak trails in polls as Labour gains ground.
- Middle East → Israel-Gaza ceasefire holds; U.S. pushes for regional de-escalation.
- India → Modi kicks off final phase of national elections, massive voter turnout expected.
🔥 Market Themes to Watch
- AI stocks mania → Nvidia, AMD, Microsoft keep rallying as AI demand soars.
- Fed pivot timeline → Investors dialing back June/July rate cut bets.
- Retail earnings season → Watch Walmart, Target, Home Depot this week.
💡 Quick Takeaways for Investors
✅ Tech & AI remain market leaders.
✅ Geopolitics = short-term risk, long-term buying opportunity.
✅ Rate cuts likely later in 2025, not summer.
✅ Commodities: stay nimble; gold shines, oil struggles.
📅 Mark Your Calendar
- Wednesday → U.S. CPI inflation report.
- Thursday → Bank of England rate decision.
- Friday → U.S. consumer sentiment index.
✅ Final Thought:
Markets are balancing soft-landing hopes with sticky inflation and global tensions. Stay diversified, stay patient — and don’t chase every AI headline.