Opening Recap
Market Pulse: Equities drifted while bonds rallied on fresh inflation jitters and tech held its sway, giving risk assets a chance to catch their breath.
Key Movers: Nvidia’s Groq deal is under fire, Horizon Quantum’s Nasdaq debut turned heads, and semiconductor fabs are sweating a helium shortage.
Macro & Politics: Senators Warren and Blumenthal grilled Nvidia execs, the White House unveiled a national AI framework, and Middle East tensions halted Qatar helium exports.
What’s Next: Watch for Washington’s next move on AI M&A and any further flare-ups in the Middle East that could tighten supply chains.
Market Commentary
Everyone’s focused on Nvidia’s $20B Groq deal and the helium squeeze, but few are talking about the knock-on effect on medical imaging and photonics research—this isn’t just a chip problem. When Qatar’s helium exports stall, you’re driving semis production off a cliff, and the ripple extends into labs and hospitals.
At first glance, the White House’s national AI framework and India’s push to become a product nation look unrelated. But here’s the thesis: top-down regulation tightening in the US is driving innovation offshore, and India’s developer army is primed to leap into the void. You’re seeing policy-driven arbitrage in real time.
Action time: rotate into frontier tech plays and emerging markets, but don’t neglect defense against geopolitical risk. Position for quantum computing gains—Horizon Quantum’s Nasdaq move is your signal—and stash a hedge against Middle East supply shocks before the next headline hits.
📈 Breaking Financial News
Irish-founded Horizon Quantum raises $120m with Nasdaq listing
Quantum computing business goes public after Spac deal
MA-tek secures top 3 global SiPh orders, eyes US-Japan growth in 2026
With silicon photonics (SiPh) demand surging, MA-tek chairwoman Yong-Fen Hsieh announced the company has secured major orders from the world's three largest customers, driving revenue contributions. Following the booming AI chip market, SiPh and co-packaged o…
Hong Kong FilMart 2026: Six Takeaways From Asia’s Buzzy Film and Entertainment Content Marketplace
Thirty years in, and FilMart still knows how to fill a room. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre hummed with a density that attendees said felt more like the market’s pre-pandemic peak than anything seen in recent years – a buzzing, deal-hungry cro…
Iran war halts Qatar helium output, threatening global tech supply chains
The Iran war is tightening global tech supply chains by cutting off helium from Qatar, a key source of the gas used in advanced industries like chipmaking
Geopolitical tensions rising; diversify globally and rebalance toward defensives, says LGT Wealth’s Nikhil Advani
Nikhil Advani of LGT Wealth India advises investors to prioritise resilience amid rising geopolitical risks and market volatility. He recommends global diversification, defensive sector allocation, and phased investing, while highlighting opportunities in inf…
🔍 Market Analysis & Insights
Why the Iran War May Have Just Killed the AI Boom
The stock market spent the first week of the Iran war doing something strange: mostly shrugging. Oil spiked. Insurance markets effectively collapsed. Amazon had two data centers blown up. And the Nasdaq dipped, steadied, and the conversation shifted within da…
The dummy server and the chip war
The indictment of Super Micro’s co-founder exposes not just a $2.5 billion scheme, it exposes a system that was never built to stop one. Somewhere in a rented warehouse in Southeast Asia, a man was using a hair dryer on a server box. Not to dry it. To loosen …
We Really Are Facing An “Economic Armageddon” Scenario In The Middle East
When this war with Iran erupted, everyone knew that it would have an impact on the global economy. But very few anticipated that it would be this bad. We are facing the worst oil disruption in history, the worst natural gas disruption in history, the worst he…
One TRiiBE, divided?
*Disclosure: Chicago Reader social justice reporter Devyn-Marshall Brown is a unionized employee represented by the Chicago News Guild, which currently represents workers who are unionizing at the TRiiBE. What do the Christian Bible and the National Labor Re…
Global shares fall as bonds rise on inflation worries
Irish market ends week in the red
💰 Investment Opportunities
Why AI could finally make India a product nation
India has a unique chance to lead in Artificial Intelligence. Leveraging its digital infrastructure and talent, the nation can develop and deploy AI solutions. This will boost sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education. India must invest in its ow…
White House outlines national AI framework, calls for unified federal approach
The legislative recommendations highlight six policy areas, including copyright, energy and workforce development, while signaling a lighter regulatory stance.
Nvidia's $20 billion Groq deal queried by senators Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal
Two Democratic senators are probing Nvidia Corp.’s $20 billion licensing deal with AI startup Groq over possible antitrust concerns. Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal said the deal may have been structured to avoid merger review, warning it could stifle…
Yes, AI could boost productivity, but work is about more than maximising output
Work needs to deliver security, fairness and social value as well as efficiency.
Blowouts, quince curls, and 27 years of miracles at Margarita’s Hair Design
In October 1998, Margarita Duarte did not know that a short walk with her husband would lead her to the hair salon that would shape nearly 27 years of her life. She thought they were headed to the corner store near their home in Avondale. Instead, he opened t…