Here are the key global financial news stories that captured attention overnight and this morning.
1. US Launches Additional Strikes on Iran as Trump Reiterates Tehran Seeks Talks
The United States conducted further airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday. This action follows a pledge by US President Donald Trump to intensify bombing until Iran halts attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and agrees to open the waterway.
The US military carried out a 90-minute operation early Wednesday afternoon local time in Iran, targeting missile storage and launch facilities on Greater Tunb Island in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated a second round of strikes was launched at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
This marks the fifth consecutive day of US strikes against Iran. Strikes on multiple military targets Tuesday night prompted retaliatory attacks by Iran on US military bases in Gulf Arab states such as Kuwait and Bahrain.
2. Fed's Waller: AI-Driven Price Effects May Not Necessarily Fuel Inflation
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller stated that price increases stemming from artificial intelligence infrastructure build-out do not necessarily have to stimulate inflation.
While discussing the impact of the AI boom with lawmakers, Waller noted that policymakers will debate the degree of inflation it might cause. He acknowledged that related investments have already pushed up the price of computer chips.
"I don't think a one-time change in prices necessarily raises inflation because the supply side will respond," Waller said Wednesday while testifying before the Senate Banking Committee. "In that sense, it's different from a conflict abroad and the effects it might have, which tend to reduce the supply side of the economy."
3. IPO Nears: Anthropic Reportedly Plans Investor Meetings Within Weeks
According to informed sources, Anthropic is arranging meetings with investors in preparation for a potential large-scale initial public offering.
The sources indicated that banks underwriting the IPO will organize meetings between investors and the developer of the Claude chatbot in the coming weeks. Previous reports suggested Anthropic could launch its IPO as soon as October.
If the listing proceeds as planned, Anthropic would move ahead of rival OpenAI. OpenAI currently plans to go public in 2027, a delay from a previously considered timeline of fall 2026. Both companies have confidentially filed for public listings.
4. Surging AI Chip Demand Drives ASML Holding NV to Sharply Raise 2026 Outlook
ASML Holding NV, a global leader in lithography systems, released its second-quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday. Benefiting from the continued surge in demand for AI chips, the company's revenue and net profit exceeded market expectations, leading to a significant upward revision of its full-year outlook.
The financial report shows ASML Holding NV achieved net sales of 9.326 billion euros in the second quarter, an increase of approximately 21% year-over-year, surpassing the company's previous guidance of 8.4 to 9.0 billion euros. Net profit reached 2.918 billion euros with a gross margin of 54%, both exceeding market expectations. CEO Christophe Fouquet stated that ongoing AI-related investments are driving demand for advanced logic and memory chips, with customers accelerating capacity expansion plans, giving the company greater visibility into future market demand.
5. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Denies Product Delay Rumors, Says Vera Rubin on Track for Delivery
Addressing claims that manufacturing issues could lead to product delays, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang stated that the company's next-generation AI accelerated computing system has entered production and will be delivered to customers as scheduled.
Huang told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday that the Vera Rubin hardware is on track for "massive" production, though he did not provide a specific timeline.
Research firm SemiAnalysis reported earlier this month that the launch of NVIDIA's next-generation AI server rack systems could be delayed due to difficulties in manufacturing a specialized circuit board used to connect electronic modules.
6. SpaceX Shares Fall Below $135 IPO Price for First Time
SpaceX shares fell for a fourth consecutive trading day on Wednesday, briefly dipping below the $135 per share initial public offering price for the first time since listing, as market hype around the reusable rocket manufacturer begins to fade.
The stock has experienced significant volatility since the reusable rocket maker completed its historic IPO last month. That IPO raised a record $86 billion and made its founder, Elon Musk, the world's first trillionaire.
The stock fell about 1% on Wednesday, closing at $135.27 per share.
Comments