Investment and Partnerships - Chinese businesses have pledged hundreds of millions of pounds in investments in the U.K. during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit, leading to significant bilateral business activity [2][3] - Starmer's visit resulted in £2.2 billion ($3 billion) worth of exports and £2.3 billion in market access for British businesses [3] - Pop Mart plans to establish a regional headquarters in London and open 27 new stores across Europe, creating over 150 jobs in the U.K. [8] - Chery Commercial Vehicles intends to set up a regional headquarters in Liverpool, potentially partnering with Jaguar Land Rover [8] - Asymchem is planning a major expansion in the U.K., adding 150 jobs in advanced research and development over the next five years [9] - HiTHIUM has pledged to invest £200 million in the U.K. and create 300 jobs, focusing on energy storage technologies [10] Market Access and E-commerce - The U.K.-China agreement includes promises from Beijing to broaden access for British businesses into the Chinese consumer market [12] - JD.com will assist British brands in selling to Chinese consumers and will launch its online retail platform Joybuy in the U.K. [13] - British companies have reported a deteriorating business environment in China, but a third of respondents plan to increase investments, particularly in operations and partnerships [14][15] Industry-Specific Developments - AstraZeneca announced a $15 billion investment in China to expand local R&D capabilities and increase its workforce [11] - British asset manager Schroders signed a memorandum with CATL to develop battery energy storage systems in Europe [11] - Birmingham Biotech expects around £20 million in sales in China as it scales its operations [16] - Octopus Energy Group plans to form a joint venture with China's PCG Power to trade renewable energy [17]

Market Overview - Bitcoin was trading at $77,494.65, having fallen as low as $74,876, marking a decline of about 12% over the last seven days, which equates to a loss of more than $200 billion in market value [1] - This decline represents Bitcoin falling below $80,000 for the first time since April 2025 [1] Market Dynamics - The recent drawdown in Bitcoin's price coincided with a broader risk-off sentiment across global markets, influenced by thin weekend liquidity rather than specific crypto developments [2] - U.S. stocks, particularly in the tech sector, experienced declines, with Microsoft shares dropping 10% following disappointing earnings, which contributed to the negative sentiment [2] Global Impact - The negativity from the U.S. market extended to European and Asian stock markets, with gold and silver also experiencing losses [3] - Silver saw a significant drop of 30%, marking its worst day since March 1980 [3] Liquidation Effects - Bitcoin's price decline was exacerbated by forced liquidations, with over $2 billion in long and short positions liquidated since Thursday [3][4] - Liquidations can create a cascading effect in crypto markets, leading to rapid price declines as traders' positions are closed [4] Investor Sentiment - Digital asset investment products recorded outflows totaling $1.7 billion for the second consecutive week, with year-to-date outflows reaching $1 billion, indicating a deterioration in investor sentiment towards cryptocurrencies [5] - Analysts suggest that the recent selloff in Bitcoin is driven by rising geopolitical risks, declines in tech equities, and a breakdown in precious metals, which have been considered safe-haven assets [6]

Core Viewpoint - The hyperscaler industry is experiencing a surge in data center investments, with Oracle planning to raise up to $50 billion to expand its capacity amid a competitive AI infrastructure landscape [1][3]. Group 1: Investment Plans - Oracle intends to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion in gross cash proceeds during the 2026 calendar year to meet the demand from cloud customers such as Nvidia, Meta, OpenAI, AMD, TikTok, and xAI [3]. - The funding will be sourced through a combination of debt and equity [3]. - Oracle has previously raised $18 billion in a bond sale and secured a $300 billion deal with OpenAI, indicating its commitment to AI infrastructure [4]. Group 2: Layoff Considerations - An analyst note indicated that Oracle is contemplating laying off between 20,000 to 30,000 employees, which could generate an additional $8 billion to $10 billion in free cash flow [2]. - Layoffs are considered one of several strategies to improve cash flow, alongside asset divestitures and vendor financing [4]. Group 3: Stock Performance and Investor Sentiment - Oracle's stock has declined by 50% since its peak in September, with an 11% drop following disappointing quarterly results in December [5]. - Concerns have been raised regarding Oracle's aggressive investment in AI and the associated debt, leading to investor dismay [6]. - The current investment strategy is seen as a high-stakes gamble, with analysts suggesting that investors must choose to either support or divest from these stocks [6].

Core Viewpoint - Precious metals and oil prices are experiencing significant losses, primarily triggered by U.S. President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the successor to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell [1][11]. Precious Metals Market - Spot gold prices fell 3.2% to $4,713.39 per ounce, following a historic drop of over 9% on Friday, marking the sharpest one-day decline since 1983 [2]. - Spot silver prices decreased by 2.7% to $82.29 per ounce, having dropped over 31% on Friday, which is its worst daily performance since 1980 [2]. - Analysts suggest that the recent downturn in precious metals is part of a broader market decline, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index reflecting losses from Asia-Pacific markets [3]. Investment Strategies - JPMorgan's global investment strategist, Grace Peters, emphasizes the importance of geopolitical hedges and safe-haven assets, asserting that gold remains the best geopolitical hedge [4]. - Peters maintains a forecast of $6,500 per ounce for gold by year-end, driven by factors such as central bank buying and institutional investor support [5]. - The current allocation of gold in institutional and retail portfolios is around 3%, indicating potential for increased investment in gold [8]. Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The sell-off in precious metals began due to fears regarding the Federal Reserve's independence and expectations of a declining U.S. dollar [10]. - The nomination of Warsh has led to a reevaluation among investors, as he has advocated for reducing the Fed's balance sheet, creating uncertainty in the market [11][12]. - Some analysts view the recent sell-off as a "healthy correction," suggesting that prices may stabilize and recover in the coming months, with expectations of gold reaching $5,020 per ounce and silver at $88 per ounce by year-end [15][16]. Oil Market - Oil prices also declined, with Brent crude futures falling 5% to $65.88 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures down 5.3% to $61.76, marking the steepest single-session decline in over six months [18]. - The decline in oil prices is attributed to signals of de-escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions, as President Trump indicated that the two nations are "seriously talking" [17].

Core Insights - OpenClaw has rapidly gained attention as a leading open-source AI agent, previously known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, launched by Peter Steinberger [1][2] - The rise of OpenClaw reflects a growing interest in AI agents capable of autonomously completing tasks and making decisions without constant human oversight [2][3] Functionality and Features - OpenClaw is designed to automate various tasks such as managing emails, calendars, and web browsing, requiring installation on a server or local device and integration with large language models [4] - It features "persistent memory," allowing it to recall past interactions and adapt to user habits for personalized functions, and is open-sourced for developer modifications [6] Adoption and Market Impact - The open-source nature of OpenClaw has facilitated its adoption, with over 145,000 GitHub stars and 20,000 forks, indicating significant developer interest [7] - Initial adoption was strong in Silicon Valley, with expansion into China, where major AI companies are integrating OpenClaw into their services [9][10] User Experience and Perspectives - Early users report significant time savings on routine tasks, with some experts suggesting it could lead to AI agents managing entire companies [3][12] - However, there are concerns regarding its complex installation and high computational demands, with some experts labeling it as overhyped [11] Security Concerns - Security experts have raised alarms about potential risks associated with OpenClaw, including access to private data and the ability to execute commands that could lead to data leaks [13][14] Related Developments - The launch of Moltbook, a social network for AI agents, has generated buzz and debate about the future of AI autonomy and human-AI interactions [15][16] - Discussions around Moltbook have influenced public perception of AI agents, with some viewing it as a significant step towards AI autonomy [17][18]

Kevin Warsh, former governor of the US Federal Reserve, during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring meetings at the IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, U.S., on Friday, April 25, 2025.Markets got what they wanted.U.S. President Donald Trump tapped Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, and investors exhaled. Markets were reassured by Warsh's experience in the central bank — he served between 2006 and 2011, a period marked by the Global Financial Crisis — and the perception that he w ...

Market Overview - European stocks are expected to open lower, with the U.K.'s FTSE index down 0.5%, Germany's DAX down nearly 1%, France's CAC 40 down 0.8%, and Italy's FTSE MIB also down by a similar amount, reflecting concerns over artificial intelligence and volatility in precious metals [1] - Asia-Pacific markets experienced declines, particularly in South Korea, as investors monitored gold and silver prices following significant drops [2] Precious Metals - Silver prices, which have more than doubled over the past 12 months, fell approximately 30% on Friday, marking the worst one-day performance since 1980, while gold dropped around 9% [3] Cryptocurrency - Bitcoin fell below $80,000 for the first time since April, indicating a shift in investor sentiment as they moved to reduce risk following the declines in precious metals [2][3] Corporate Developments - Nvidia's plans to invest $100 billion into OpenAI have stalled, with executives expressing doubts about the deal, raising questions about the sustainability of the artificial intelligence boom [3] Economic Data - Earnings reports are expected from Julius Baer Group, alongside data releases for German retail sales and Spanish new car sales [4]

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices are experiencing volatility due to geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with recent military threats and diplomatic communications influencing market sentiment [1][3][4]. Group 1: Oil Price Movements - Oil prices rose more than 1.5% in Asian trade amid concerns of a potential U.S. military attack on Iran, which could disrupt supply from the region [1]. - Recently, oil prices reached a six-month high due to fears of a military strike against Iran, with Brent crude falling as much as 6.4% to $66.15 per barrel [3]. - The U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures also saw a decline of 4.75% to $62.11 per barrel [3]. Group 2: Geopolitical Context - President Trump has warned Iran of possible intervention if it does not reach a nuclear deal or continues to suppress domestic protests, which Iran claims are influenced by Western powers [2]. - Diplomatic communications between Washington and Tehran are ongoing, raising hopes for de-escalation of tensions [4]. - The U.S. administration's sensitivity to rising oil prices could prevent further escalation, especially with midterm elections approaching [5]. Group 3: Supply Dynamics - Additional supply from Venezuela is entering the market, contributing to available oil barrels despite global production exceeding demand [6]. - OPEC+ has decided to maintain current production levels, extending a three-month supply freeze, which is expected to support oil prices [7].

A jeweller shows gold and silver bars at his shop in downtown Kuwait City on Jan. 12, 2026.Gold and silver extended their sell-off Monday, deepening losses from last Friday's rout as a firmer dollar and profit-taking drains momentum from a rally that had propelled the precious metals to record highs just days earlier.Spot gold lost around 5% to $4,616.79 per ounce, having crashed nearly 10% on Friday, when prices plunged below $5,000 an ounce. Silver, which had surged alongside gold on safe haven demand and ...

A study of affluent Chinese released this month by consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that 22% of respondents were negative about the economy when surveyed in May. It just exceeds the 21% seen in October 2022, just before Beijing announced plans to ease its stringent zero-Covid policy.Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday as investors assessed private data for China's factory activity in January, while gold extended losses from Friday.China's factory activity gathered speed in January, according to a pri ...