Oil rises as Iran rules out MoU extension, threatens to escalate
Crude oil prices edged higher Monday as Iran ruled out talks to extend the memorandum of understanding with the U.S. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would shift to offense rather than relying on defense if diplomacy with the U.S.…
OpenAI’s Brockman brushes off concerns about leadership changes in CNBC exclusive
OpenAI President Greg Brockman on Monday brushed off concerns about executive turnover at the artificial intelligence company, stating that he doesn’t think the wave of exits are «actually that atypical.» «I actually think that the difference…
VIX: Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ hits 2026 low — here’s why
Wall Street’s so-called «fear gauge» has fallen to its lowest level of 2026 so far, reflecting relative market tranquility in a year marked by geopolitical turbulence — but the calm appears unlikely to last. Strategists warn that rock-bottom…
Alibaba challenges Meta with new laptop-ready AI model
A man walks past the Alibaba logo displayed at its booth during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, China July 16, 2025. Florence Lo | Reuters Meta wants to lead in open-source AI. China’s Alibaba just reminded the U.S. tech giant…
Ukraine war: Russia targets Danube port after major attack on Moscow
A firefighting helicopter prepares to drop a load of water during a fire at Russian e-commerce firm Wildberries’ logistics complex near the town of Podolsk, outside Moscow on August 16, 2026. Tatyana Makeyeva | Afp | Getty Images Russia launched an…
Treasury yields edge lower as investors look ahead to latest FOMC minutes
Treasury yields moved lower on Monday as traders looked ahead to the latest FOMC minutes due later in the week. The 10-year Treasury note yield — the main benchmark for mortgages, auto loans and credit card debt — was more than 2 basis points lower at…
Strait of Hormuz shipping slows as U.S.-Iran ceasefire nears end
Ships are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz on August 10, 2026 off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Ali Saeedi | Getty Images Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a halt over the weekend ahead of the expiry date of the 60-day ceasefire…
China’s economy slows across the board in July as retail sales barely grow
BEIJING, CHINA – 2026/07/18: Shoppers stroll along a landscaped path near the POLÈNE luxury goods store in Sanlitun, carrying bags and enjoying the bustling scene. Sheldon Cooper | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images China’s economy lost…
Japanese automakers vulnerable to one-two punch of Iran war, yen rally
A lot of cars are lined up for importing and exporting cars to the port. Kokouu | E+ | Getty Images Japanese automakers are looking vulnerable to fallout from the Iran war and any turnaround in the yen. Toyota, Honda and Nissan benefited in their most…
Japan GDP climbs 1.1% annualized, missing estimates
This photo taken on April 21, 2025 shows a customer walking past a display of instant noodles at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote, also known overseas as Don Don Donki, in the Shibuya district of central Tokyo. (Photo by Richard A.…