Apple is evaluating DRAM from China’s CXMT for use in iPhones and MacBooks, according to reports from August 9, while bipartisan US senators warn against sourcing chips from Chinese suppliers.
Posted inMarkets
Brent Rises Above $84 as Iran Demands Sanctions Relief Before Hormuz Can Reopen
Brent crude climbed past $84 a barrel on August 10 as Iran’s foreign minister ruled out any Strait of Hormuz deal without US sanctions relief and war reparations, keeping a risk premium in oil prices.
Posted inEconomy
BOJ Board Splits on Rate Pace as One Member Calls for Faster Hikes Than Markets Expect
The Bank of Japan’s July meeting summary, released August 10, shows one board member arguing the pace of rate hikes could exceed market expectations as core inflation nears 2%.
Posted inGeopolitics
Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill 86-11, Targeting Oil Buyers in China and India
The US Senate voted 86-11 on August 7 to pass sweeping Russia energy sanctions named after the late Lindsey Graham, authorising 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.
Posted inWorld
Houthi Missiles Kill Seven at Yemen’s Port of al-Makha
Iran-backed Houthi forces struck Yemen’s Red Sea port of al-Makha on August 10 with missiles and drones, killing seven and wounding thirty in a second barrage within 24 hours.
Posted inTech
Google’s $1.5 Billion Mechanize Bid Follows Its Playbook to Skirt Antitrust
Google is in talks to pay $1.5 billion to license AI startup Mechanize’s coding-agent benchmarks and hire its team, using a structure designed to sidestep antitrust review of outright acquisitions.
Posted inMarkets
Gold Climbs 2.1% to $4,342 as US Jobs Shock Revives Rate-Cut Bets
Spot gold rose 2.1% to $4,342 on Friday after US payrolls fell 23,000 in July, reviving rate-cut bets and lifting the metal from a three-month low.
Posted inEconomy
Canada Adds 75,000 Jobs in July as Unemployment Drops to 6.4%
Statistics Canada’s July Labour Force Survey showed 75,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 6.4%, led by Ontario’s strongest monthly gain of the year.
Posted inGeopolitics
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mecca Defence Pact
The three nations signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, pledging collective defence in language explicitly modelled on NATO’s mutual defence clause.
Posted inWorld
Europe’s Fourth Heatwave Puts All 27 Italian Cities on Maximum Alert
Italy placed all 27 monitored cities on maximum heat alert simultaneously for the first time on Thursday, as temperatures passed 40°C from Austria to Spain.