01 Stock Market
The U.S. major indexes closed as follows: Dow Jones down 0.13% at 46,504.67; S&P 500 up 0.11% at 6,582.69; NASDAQ up 0.18% at 21,879.18. A modest tech rebound helped the S&P 500 and NASDAQ eke out gains, but renewed geopolitical tension and a slide in blue-chip industrials kept the Dow in the red by the closing bell.
Semiconductors, energy plays and select optical names delivered the day’s widest swings. Among chipmakers, Intel (INTC) jumped 4.89 % at $50.38 after a surprise €14 billion fab buyback, while Nvidia (NVDA) rose 0.93 % at $177.39 and AMD (AMD) gained 3.47 % at $217.50. Conversely, Tesla (TSLA) fell five-point-four-two percent at $360.59 after disappointing delivery figures, dragging leveraged peer TSLL down ten-point-nine-six percent at $11.37. In optical networking, Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) vaulted 20.34 % at $103.91 and Lumentum (LITE) surged 8.14 % at $826.88 on bullish demand signals. Energy tracker United States Oil Fund (USO) leapt 11.15 % at $137.92 as crude prices climbed, while Blue chip Microsoft (MSFT) edged up 1.11 % at $373.46.
Trading volumes swelled around geopolitical headlines: defense, energy and select value names attracted fresh bids, whereas profit-taking hit parts of big tech. Options activity spiked in both bullish and bearish semiconductor exchange-traded products—SOXL up 0.94 % at $52.75 and inverse SOXS down 0.91 % at $35.93—revealing a tug-of-war over the sector’s near-term direction.
02 Other Markets
U.S. 10-year Treasury yield fell by 0.10%, latest at 4.31%.
USD/CNH rose 0.0044%, at 6.90; USD/HKD fell 0.0055%, at 7.84.
U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.0030%, at 100.00.
WTI crude futures rose 0.47%, at 112.06 USD/bbl; COMEX gold futures rose 0.49%, at 4,702.70 USD/oz.
03 Top News
1. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck an Amazon cloud facility in Bahrain. State media said the attack was retaliation for recent strikes on Iranian targets. Amazon has not confirmed damage, but the report highlights rising cyber-physical risks to global tech infrastructure.
2. Iran and Oman drafted a protocol to jointly monitor shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s deputy foreign minister said the accord aims to ensure safe navigation through the critical waterway. The move seeks to ease tensions even as regional conflict persists.
3. Intel agreed to repurchase the 49 % stake it sold in Ireland’s Fab 34 for about $14.2 billion. Management said the 2024 sale provided flexibility, and reclaiming full ownership reflects stronger finances and confidence in CPU demand for artificial-intelligence workloads.
4. Tesla’s first-quarter vehicle deliveries undershot analyst forecasts, sending the stock lower. The company handed over 358,023 cars, hurt by the phase-out of a key U.S. tax credit. Analysts warn that intensifying competition and demand headwinds could lead to a third consecutive annual delivery decline.
5. Blue Owl Capital restricted redemptions from two retail-focused credit funds after a surge in withdrawal requests. Investors sought to redeem more than 40 % of shares in its technology income fund, far above the 5 % quarterly limit. Shares of Blue Owl fell sharply as liquidity concerns mounted.
6. Initial U.S. jobless claims slipped, signaling continued labor-market resilience. Weekly filings dipped to 202,000, remaining near this year’s lows. Economists caution that protracted Middle East conflict could eventually cool hiring by lifting energy costs and uncertainty.
7. The U.S. trade deficit widened by 4.9 % to $57.3 billion as imports rebounded. Rising shipments of capital goods and crude oil boosted import values, while exports also hit record highs. Economists expect trade to subtract from first-quarter GDP growth.
8. In a televised address, President Trump pledged “extremely hard” strikes on Iran over coming weeks. The commitment dashed hopes for a quick resolution and propelled crude prices above $110 per barrel. Investors worry extended conflict could entrench higher inflation.
9. Amazon is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire satellite operator Globalstar. Sources say the talks focus on integrating Globalstar’s low-Earth-orbit constellation with Amazon’s planned broadband network. Shares of Globalstar soared on the speculation.
10. SpaceX confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering that could value it near $1.75 trillion. Proceeds would support Starship projects and expansion of the Starlink satellite network. The filing reignited interest in space-related equities, boosting peers such as Rocket Lab and Planet Labs.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data Disclaimer: This content is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice.
