AI Investment

South Korea

2026-07-19 08:26:02

Meritz Securities says Middle East sovereign AI investors are in talks with Korean suppliers as Q3 server DRAM contract prices may rise more than 15%

A report from South Korea’s Meritz Securities said Middle Eastern sovereign AI investors, including those tied to Saudi Arabia, have recently started discussing mid- to long-term memory procurement plans with Korean memory chip makers. The firm said stronger demand is already pushing up prices in the server DRAM spot market, with gains particularly pronounced in high-end products running at 6400Mbps bus speeds. Meritz added that as supply shortages deepen, competition for investment between cloud service providers and frontier model developers is increasingly centered on products that can maximize performance. It also pointed to a sharp move in 64GB DDR5 server DRAM spot prices, which have climbed to $3,100 to $3,400 since mid-July. At the high end, that is about 146% above the contract price of roughly $1,380 seen at the end of June. The brokerage said server DRAM contract prices in the third quarter of 2026 could rise by more than the market’s current expectation of around 15% quarter over quarter. It also noted that suppliers that adopted more flexible, customer-friendly pricing in the second quarter may see especially notable price increases in the third and fourth quarters.

1840

macro

2026-07-19 02:15:00

Next Week’s Macro Calendar Shifts Focus to Earnings and the ECB Rate Decision

PANews said next week is unlikely to bring any U.S. data releases strong enough to materially sway the Federal Reserve’s rate-setting meeting, leaving markets to focus on a busier earnings calendar and key events in Europe. After a week in which gold, the U.S. dollar, crude oil and U.S. equities drew the most attention, dozens of companies are set to report second-quarter results. On Wednesday after the U.S. market close, Alphabet, Tesla, AT&T, IBM and Texas Instruments are scheduled to release earnings, followed by Intel on Thursday after the bell. The calendar also includes the U.S. Conference Board Leading Economic Index for June on Monday at 22:00, and the ADP employment change for the week through July 4 on Tuesday at 20:15. In Europe, the European Central Bank will announce its interest rate decision on Thursday at 20:15, and ECB President Christine Lagarde will hold a monetary policy press conference at 20:45. PANews also cited analysis saying some investors in artificial intelligence have started preparing for a slowdown in the nearly trillion-dollar spending boom, with some active fund managers already trimming exposure.

1800

Federal Reser

2026-07-15 16:58:41

Fed Governor Cook says inflation may keep cooling, but risks to price pressure remain

Federal Reserve Governor Cook said there are reasons to believe inflation will continue to cool, according to a report cited by ChainCatcher from Jinshi. At the same time, Cook warned that several factors could keep price pressures in place. She specifically pointed to tariffs, conflict in the Middle East, and investment tied to artificial intelligence as sources of ongoing risk. The remarks indicate that while the inflation outlook may be improving, uncertainty around future price dynamics has not disappeared. The comments were reported as a policy-related update.

1840

Federal Reser

2026-07-14 16:29:20

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh opens first congressional testimony with hard line on inflation and a spotlight on AI investment

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh used his first semiannual congressional testimony since taking office in May to set a firm tone on inflation, saying the central bank has “zero tolerance” for persistently high price pressures and remains committed to restoring price stability. Warsh declined to offer specific forward guidance on the rate path, saying future decisions will be data-dependent and that markets should price policy based on incoming economic indicators rather than explicit signals from the Fed. In his remarks, Warsh pointed to June CPI, which he said posted the largest monthly decline in recent years at 0.4%, while noting that inflation measured by the personal consumption expenditures price index remains around 4.1%, still well above the Fed’s 2% long-run target. He said that level continues to place an unnecessary burden on U.S. households and businesses. Warsh also described the current boom in artificial intelligence investment as the most striking feature of the U.S. economy, while warning that AI-related infrastructure demand could lift semiconductor and power prices. He separately reaffirmed the Fed’s independence from political pressure and said the central bank has formed five task forces to review communications, balance sheet reduction, data usage, and the inflation framework.

1820

Federal Reser

2026-07-13 16:38:33

Waller says sticky core inflation could put a near-term Fed rate hike back on the table

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the Fed may need to consider a near-term rate hike if core inflation data due this week stays elevated. He said recent strength in core inflation is a concern and pointed to tariffs, higher energy prices, and demand tied to artificial intelligence investment as the main drivers. Waller expects headline inflation to start easing this week, but said core inflation will remain the key metric to watch. At the same time, he said holding rates steady would still be a reasonable option if core inflation continues to cool. Waller also reiterated that the Fed is trying to bring inflation back to its 2% target without tightening policy so much that it pushes the economy into recession. He added that the U.S. labor market remains solid and close to the Fed’s maximum employment goal, while consumer spending and business investment are still strong. He expects AI-related investment to keep growing.

1780

ByteDance

2026-07-10 23:26:13

ByteDance 2025 Net Profit Falls Over 70% as AI Spending Surges

ByteDance's 2025 net profit reportedly dropped more than 70% year over year despite revenue growth, as heavy spending on AI chips, foundation models, and infrastructure weighed on margins.

610

Treasury yiel

2026-07-10 22:26:13

30-Year U.S. Treasury Yield Nears Critical 5% Level Amid Geopolitical and AI Investment Pressures

The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield is approaching 5%, a level last seen in July, as bond market strain persists. Geopolitical risks (potential Strait of Hormuz closure) and surging AI investments fuel inflation fears, potentially limiting Fed rate cuts.

1350

Anthropic

2026-07-10 22:13:13

Anthropic to Invest $200M in Private Equity Venture, Expanding Beyond AI

According to the Wall Street Journal, AI company Anthropic plans to invest $200 million in a new private equity-focused entity, signaling a strategic move into capital markets to diversify its portfolio and capture emerging opportunities.

360