Harley-Davidson cut to junk 🏍️, Nigeria tops stock-market returns 📈, Trump ties troops to Greenland 🇬🇱

S&P Global Ratings cut Harley-Davidson Inc.'s credit grades to junk status on Wednesday, citing the company's strategy to start selling lower-cost motorcycles to boost revenue.

Spglobal · 3 minute read

Leveraged ETFs linked to South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix now account for over 70% of market trading value, sparking volatility and criticism from regulators. As market concentration increases, concerns grow over the reliance on these products amid AI investment uncertainties.

Com · 3 minute read

President Donald Trump stated that U.S. troop levels in Europe will be contingent on NATO allies addressing his issues concerning Greenland and the Iran conflict, during a press conference at the NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara, Turkey. His remarks have heightened concerns among NATO members about his commitment to collective security, amid ongoing military tensions and the U.S. military's review of its force posture in Europe.

Nationalpost · 6 minute read

A former banker, previously sentenced to prison following a fatal accident involving a Ferrari, is facing new legal proceedings in court. Details of the current charges or legal matters being addressed were not specified in the title.

Mensjournal · 3 minute read

PepsiCo's second-quarter net revenue rose 6.4% to $24.2 billion, surpassing the $23.9 billion expected by Wall Street, despite a 4% drop in North American beverage volumes due to rising gas prices linked to the Iran war. The company's international sales were stronger, with snack volumes up 3% and beverage volumes up 2%, aided by World Cup-themed products. Adjusted net income more than doubled to $2.98 billion, and PepsiCo plans to continue offering affordable products and expand shelf space to enhance sales in the latter half of the year.

Apnews · 3 minute read

Starbucks is developing AI-driven in-house software to replace some applications from Microsoft and IBM, aiming to cut costs as part of a larger turnaround strategy. The coffee giant spends around $400 million annually on software and plans to roll out some internally developed systems by the end of next year after testing.

Yahoo Finance · 3 minute read

Nigerian equities have outperformed global stock markets, overtaking South Korea's stock market with a 67% return in dollar terms driven by economic reforms and improved foreign exchange liquidity. South Korea's Kospi index slipped into a technical bear market, and the South Korean won weakened, whereas Nigeria benefited from a stronger naira and gains led by financial services companies.

Thecable · 2 minute read

Semiconductor stocks experienced a 12% decline over two sessions due to a shift of investor focus from AI chip makers to enterprise software companies, leading the Dow to reach a record high. The sell-off was exacerbated by reports of slowing high-bandwidth memory production and a weak jobs report, which decreased the likelihood of a Fed rate hike.

Thenextweb · 5 minute read

Starting July 4, 2026, Trump Accounts will provide $1,000 government-funded investment accounts for every eligible American child under 18, primarily invested in the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) with a 0.02% expense ratio. The program, part of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could see up to 6 million accounts opened, totaling $6 billion in government contributions.

Cryptobriefing · 3 minute read

The U.S. is increasingly relying on foreign equity inflows instead of debt, as geopolitical shifts reduce demand for U.S. Treasurys and foreign investments target U.S. equities due to technological advances. Deutsche Bank's Mallika Sachdeva warns that the short-term volatility of equity flows could pose risks to the dollar, with additional concerns about Asia's currency strategies challenging dollar stability.

Morningstar · 4 minute read

Gold prices increased by 0.7% as renewed military conflict between the U.S. and Iran, coupled with concerns about sustained elevated inflation, drove investors to seek safe-haven assets. The Federal Reserve's June meeting minutes revealing ongoing inflation concerns and potential future policy changes also supported the increase in gold prices.

Yahoo Finance · 3 minute read

Copper prices increased by 0.9% in London, boosted by optimism over demand from AI-driven data centers, despite recent US strikes on Iran stoking fears of disrupted energy supplies from the Strait of Hormuz.

Yahoo Finance · 2 minute read

Oil and gas transport through the Strait of Hormuz has stopped after missile exchanges between the US and Iran and the end of a ceasefire, leading to oil price spikes and halted tanker movements.

Oilprice · 3 minute read

Ukraine announced it struck 12 Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov, which were allegedly supplying fuel to Russian troops, while Donald Trump declared that the U.S. would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missile interceptors, leading to negative reactions from Moscow.

Co · 1 minute read

Deutsche Bank strategist Mallika Sachdeva highlights a shift in the U.S. financial landscape where foreign equity flows are surpassing debt flows, impacting the dollar's stability. This shift is driven by U.S. technological appeal and changing global economic strategies, while also suggesting potential risks due to the volatile nature of equity inflows compared to the traditionally stable debt investments.

Morningstar · 4 minute read

American Bitcoin Corp., co-founded by Eric Trump, has seen its shares slump over 95% from their peak, erasing more than $600 million from its market value, as it remains committed to crypto mining despite a shift in investor preference towards AI-focused data centers. The company executed a 1-for-15 reverse stock split to maintain its Nasdaq listing amidst the downturn in the crypto market.

Yahoo Finance · 3 minute read

Lyzr, an AI enterprise firm backed by Accenture, is using its AI agent, Agent Sam, to assist in a $100 million Series B fundraising round, aiming for a $500 million valuation. The company's AI agent handled interactions with over 130 investors and helped draft investment memos, demonstrating Lyzr's product capabilities as interest in agentic startups grows.

Thenextweb · 4 minute read

Energy Substantiation Partners introduced $WTIC, a tokenized representation of West Texas Intermediate crude oil, backed 1:1 by physical barrels, allowing holders to avoid futures contracts and trade continuously. Concerns have arisen over governance due to a Texas Railroad Commissioner on the board, highlighting potential conflicts of interest in regulation and company management.

Cryptobriefing · 4 minute read

ChatGPT Work, powered by the new GPT‑5.6 model, allows users to manage complex workflows, create materials, and handle repetitive tasks across web, mobile, and desktop platforms. It integrates with apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams to automate processes, aiming to enhance productivity in various sectors including finance and sales.

Openai · 10 minute read

The total supply of USDT on the Tron blockchain has surpassed $90 billion, and Tron has become the leading blockchain for USDT transfer volume, reaching $4.2 trillion year-to-date.

The Block · 3 minute read

Kalshi seeks regulatory approval to expand its derivatives offerings beyond cryptocurrencies by introducing perpetual futures contracts in gold, currencies, and energy markets. This move intends to position Kalshi as a direct competitor to traditional exchanges and potentially reshape competitive dynamics within the U.S. derivatives landscape.

Moneycheck · 4 minute read