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 ...

Group 1: Alphabet - Alphabet is expected to report strong earnings, with a focus on its self-driving ride service Waymo, valued at $110 billion, which could attract consumer interest [1] - Ruth Porat, Alphabet's president and chief investment officer, is recognized as a highly effective executive, contributing to the company's positive image and performance [1] - The reversal of a previous antitrust ruling has strengthened Google's market position, allowing it to maintain its dominance in the internet space [1] - The launch of Gemini 3 has positioned Google favorably in the consumer AI market, enhancing its competitive edge against other AI products [1] - YouTube and Google Cloud are highlighted as key growth drivers, with YouTube becoming a leading video platform and Google Cloud gaining traction as a viable alternative to AWS and Azure [1] Group 2: Amazon - Amazon's upcoming earnings report is anticipated to impact market sentiment, with analysts expressing mixed feelings about the company's performance [2] - The company has successfully navigated challenges posed by the pandemic, but Wall Street remains skeptical about its consumer-focused business model [2] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is facing scrutiny regarding its growth rate, but recent improvements may help regain investor confidence [2] - The potential for Amazon to outperform expectations hinges on its ability to deliver a strong earnings report amidst broader economic indicators, such as the upcoming jobs report [2]

Core Viewpoint - Corporate earnings and geopolitical concerns have influenced investor sentiment, but dividend-paying stocks remain an attractive option for consistent income in a volatile market [1] Group 1: Viper Energy (VNOM) - Viper Energy, a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, focuses on mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian in West Texas, offering a dividend yield of 5.53% [3] - Analyst Leo Mariani from Roth Capital maintains a buy rating on VNOM with a price target of $48, citing its high organic growth rate, solid and growing dividend, and strong free cash flow even at lower oil prices [4] - Viper is expected to produce 66,552 barrels of oil per day in Q4 2025, slightly above estimates, with total production of 129,424 barrels of oil equivalent per day, also above consensus [4] - A cash distribution of $0.57 per share is anticipated for Q4 2025, reflecting a 2% decline, alongside an increase in share buybacks to $95 million [5] - Viper is considered more insulated from drilling cuts due to weak oil prices, as Diamondback operates 60% of its production, allowing for scaled-back activity outside VNOM's mineral acreage [6] Group 2: SLB (SLB) - SLB, an oilfield services provider, reported better-than-expected Q4 2025 results and announced a 3.5% increase in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.295 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.41% [8] - Analyst Arun Jayaram from JPMorgan reiterated a buy rating on SLB, raising the price target to $54, noting that the company's 2026 guidance aligns with consensus expectations [9] - SLB is expected to benefit from growth in international markets, particularly in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, while facing a modest revenue decline in Europe and Africa [10] - The company anticipates generating approximately $4.2 billion in free cash flow in 2026 and returning nearly $4.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [12] Group 3: EOG Resources (EOG) - EOG Resources offers a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 3.68% [14] - Analyst Gabriele Sorbara from Siebert Williams Shank reaffirmed a buy rating on EOG with a price target of $150, expecting strong Q4 results in line with estimates [15] - EOG is projected to return at least 70% of free cash flow to shareholders annually, supported by strong free cash flow generation and a robust balance sheet [16] - The company plans opportunistic buybacks, with $4 billion available under an existing authorization, estimating $457.4 million in Q4 2025 share buybacks [17]