Tinsel Talks Finance - June 25, 2026

Tinsel Talks Finance - June 25, 2026

Micron Technology's massive Q3 earnings ($41.46 billion) and $50 billion Q4 guidance sparked a major rally in tech and semiconductor stocks, reigniting the AI investment trade. The May PCE inflation report came in hotter than expected, with core PCE hitting 3.4%—the highest reading since October 2023. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 3.50%-3.75% in mid-June, but new Chair Kevin Warsh's first policy decision shifted market expectations toward a potential rate hike. Brent crude oil prices fell below $74 per barrel, reaching their lowest level since the start of the Persian Gulf conflict, despite U.S. inventories dropping to their lowest since 1984. U.S. stock futures rebounded on Thursday following Wednesday's tech selloff, while gold prices remained near $4,300 as investors sought safe-haven assets amid geopolitical and inflation concerns.

Tinsel Talks Finance - June 24, 2026

Global markets digest a semiconductor-led tech selloff, the Fed holds rates but signals possible hikes ahead, SoftBank pursues a major energy acquisition for its AI ambitions, SpaceX stabilizes after a volatile public debut, China's refiners cut output to a nine-year low amid supply disruption, and the US opens a trade probe into German drug pricing.

Tinsel Talks Finance - June 23, 2026

Global markets face pressure as a tech sell-off drags US futures lower and South Korea’s Kospi plunges over 6%, while SpaceX shares continue to tumble post-IPO. The US has waived Iran oil sanctions for 60 days and will release $12 billion in frozen funds amid nuclear talks, though shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has stalled again. Bank of America has sharply pivoted to a hawkish stance, forecasting three Fed rate hikes in 2026 as inflation worsens, while Goldman Sachs outlines hedges for a rate-shock scenario. In corporate news, global M&A activity is on track to reach $4 trillion in 2026, and Meta has invested $900 million in Indian fintech Cred while hiring its founder to lead WhatsApp. Elsewhere, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has died at age 100, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned, and China’s 618 shopping festival reveals persistently weak consumer spending.

Tinsel Talks Finance - June 22, 2026

Asian equities rallied as Iranian negotiators reported progress in US-Iran peace talks, building on the tentative deal to ease tensions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil prices surged to a three-week high near $77.50 a barrel despite the diplomatic news, driven by ongoing Middle East conflict and recent destruction of critical LNG infrastructure. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 3.50–3.75% but flipped its dot plot to signal a potential rate hike by year-end, marking a hawkish shift under new Chair Kevin Warsh. The ECB hiked rates by 25 basis points to 2.25%, its first increase since 2023, and raised its inflation outlook for the euro area citing spillover from Middle East energy prices. Intel announced a foundry partnership with Taiwan's UMC for advanced chip manufacturing, while the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) pulled back 5% after surging 145% since its April launch.

Tinsel Talks Finance - June 19, 2026

The U.S. and Iran signed an interim peace deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices sharply lower and pushing U.S. gasoline below $4/gallon for the first time since March. U.S. stocks closed the week at record highs on Thursday, with the S&P 500 hitting a new all-time close, before markets shut Friday for the Juneteenth holiday. The Federal Reserve held rates steady but signaled a possible rate hike instead of cuts, marking a sharp policy pivot under new Chair Kevin Warsh amid lingering inflation concerns. SpaceX completed the largest IPO in history at $75 billion, with shares surging nearly 19% on debut to value the company at roughly $2.1 trillion. Amazon is in talks to sell its custom Trainium AI chips to outside firms, directly challenging Nvidia's dominance, while Bitcoin trades around $64,000, down 48% from its October peak.