01 Stock Market
As of May 26, U.S. stock index futures performed as follows: Dow Jones futures rose about 0.54%, S&P 500 futures climbed roughly 0.67%, and Nasdaq 100 futures advanced around 1.07%, reflecting a solid risk-on tone driven largely by enthusiasm for the semiconductor complex ahead of the opening bell.
Notable Stock Movers: MU up 7.10% at $804.30 after reaffirming plans for a multibillion-dollar U.S. memory-fab build-out; NVDA up 1.37% at $218.27 amid continued AI hardware demand; AMD up 3.16% at $482.27 following upbeat industry momentum; TSLA up 1.00% at $430.28 as investors eye a potential SpaceX listing; and Taiwan-based foundry leader UMC up 14.86% at $20.93, extending a global chip rally.
Beyond individual names, leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL gained 9.24% in pre-market dealings, while inverse peer SOXS fell 9.18%, underscoring bullish sentiment toward the sector. Memory, foundry, and AI-linked hardware plays dominate the leaderboard, suggesting traders are positioning for robust demand in data-centric technologies despite lingering macro uncertainties.
02 Other Markets
• 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 1.56%, to 4.49%.
• U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.11% to 99.10.
• WTI crude oil futures fell 3.91% to 92.82 USD/barrel; COMEX gold futures fell 0.30% to 4,509.80 USD/ounce.
03 Key News
1. Micron confirmed a long-term U.S. expansion plan worth up to $100 billion for a New York megafab, reinforcing domestic chip-supply ambitions. The memory maker broke ground earlier this year and aims to start production by 2030, positioning itself to capture surging AI-driven demand and earning public praise from former President Trump, which helped boost its shares in early trading.
2. Pony AI reported a 145% jump in quarterly revenue and lifted its robotaxi growth targets. The autonomous-driving firm now expects 2026 robotaxi revenue to exceed three-and-a-half times 2025 levels and plans to expand its fleet to more than 3,500 vehicles, up from an earlier goal of 3,000, as it accelerates international partnerships across Europe, Qatar, Singapore, and South Korea.
3. Ouster signed a strategic supply agreement with ARGUS Interception to embed its Rev8 digital lidar in counter-drone systems. The pact designates Ouster as the preferred near-range 3-D perception provider for ARGUS’ A1-Falke interceptors, enhancing precision in non-kinetic drone-capture missions and lifting Ouster shares in pre-market trade.
4. Xiaomi’s first-quarter adjusted profit fell 43% as higher memory-chip costs weighed on smartphone margins. The company still increased investment in electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, highlighting 5.1% year-over-year EV revenue growth despite a wider operating loss tied to new business lines.
5. SK hynix unveiled “iHBM,” a high-bandwidth memory package with integrated cooling elements aimed at next-generation AI accelerators. The structural redesign reduces thermal resistance by about 30%, allowing stable operation under heavy workloads and reinforcing the company’s competitive edge in advanced memory solutions.
6. The U.S. military conducted additional precision strikes on targets in southern Iran, escalating regional security tensions. Officials described the actions as defensive responses to mine-laying and missile threats, prompting renewed market focus on potential energy-supply disruptions.
7. Iranian state media rejected reports of a pending memorandum of understanding with the United States on a broader peace framework. The denial underscores ongoing diplomatic uncertainty, tempering earlier optimism that talks mediated by Qatar might lead to a near-term de-escalation.
8. SpaceX advanced preparations for a June public offering that could raise a record $75 billion and value the company near $2 trillion, according to multiple reports. The prospective mega-IPO would mark the largest U.S. listing on record and could reshape capital-markets dynamics for late-stage private technology firms.
9. The Ethereum Foundation plans to scale back operations, reduce scheduled ETH sales, and concentrate resources on core principles dubbed “CROPS.” Co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the move aims to ensure long-term sustainability by focusing on censorship resistance, openness, privacy, and security within the blockchain ecosystem.
10. Samsung Electronics’ general union filed a court injunction to halt a bonus ballot for semiconductor-division workers, intensifying labor tensions at the tech giant. The dispute centers on performance-pay terms amid booming chip demand, raising questions about cost structures as the company navigates a record industry cycle.
Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not investment advice.
