Quick Take
US markets opened firmer as Big Tech accelerates AI spending, precious metals hit fresh records, and investors digest a Fed pause signal from Chair Jerome Powell.
Key Market Drivers
Federal Reserve held rates steady at 3.5%–3.75%, with Powell signalling no urgency for further rate cuts
Big Tech exploring up to US$60B investment in OpenAI, implying a US$730B valuation
Gold and silver hit new all-time highs amid safe-haven demand
Tesla and Microsoft beat earnings expectations, reinforcing AI-led growth themes
Before the Bell: Futures Snapshot
E-mini Nasdaq 100: +0.19%
E-mini S&P 500: +0.19%
E-mini Dow: +0.06%
Safe-haven assets continued to rally:
Gold (XAU/USD): +2.29%
Silver (XAG/USD): new record highs
Fed Update: Rates on Hold
Key takeaway: Markets see June as the next potential cut, but momentum has cooled.
Big Tech & AI: OpenAI in the Spotlight
NVIDIA, Microsoft and Amazon are reportedly discussing a combined US$60B investment in OpenAI
Nvidia may commit up to US$30B
Amazon could invest over US$10B, potentially expanding cloud and commercial partnerships
Separate talks with SoftBank also underway
Implied valuation: ~US$730B, underscoring how central AI has become to Big Tech strategy.
Corporate Earnings Highlights
Tesla
Q4 EPS: US$0.50 (beat expectations, -17% YoY)
Revenue: US$24.9B (-3.1% YoY)
Non-auto revenue now 28% of total
Announced US$2B investment in xAI
Microsoft
Q2 revenue: US$81.3B (+17% YoY, beat)
Gross margin dipped to 68%, but exceeded expectations
Alibaba
Secured XPeng and State Grid of China as AI chip clients
Cainiao unit merging autonomous-driving arm with Zelos Technology in a deal valued around US$2B
Crypto Check
Bitcoin: -1.43% to US$88,026
Ethereum: -2.35% to US$2,939
A crypto whale reportedly closed a US$4.5M BTC short, booking US$84,900 profit.
What to Watch: Key Earnings
Before Market
Lockheed Martin: Revenue US$19.86B, EPS US$5.75
Visa: Revenue US$10.69B, EPS US$3.12
After Market
Apple: Revenue US$138.52B, EPS US$2.67
Western Digital
SanDisk

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