📈 Stocks / Finance

IBM slips despite beat as software growth lags expectations

Investor’s Business Daily

IBM stock dropped over 4% in after-hours despite beating Q2 earnings and revenue forecasts. Software sales missed estimates slightly, growing 10% to $7.39B vs. $7.43B expected. Strong infrastructure and consulting segments offset the shortfall, but high expectations weighed on shares.

US stocks hit record highs after Japan trade deal

AP News

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq set new records after the US-Japan trade deal reduced proposed tariffs from 25% to 15%. The Dow rose 507 points. Japan’s Nikkei surged 3.5%. Gains were broad despite earnings pressure from tariffs on firms like Hasbro and Texas Instruments.

Texas Instruments drops 13% on weak guidance, tariff risks

CNBC

Texas Instruments stock fell 13% after Q3 EPS guidance of $1.36–$1.60 missed estimates. CEO cited tariff-related demand pull-forwards and geopolitical uncertainty. Despite a 16% YoY revenue gain, concerns over auto sector recovery and future demand weighed on shares.

🪙 Crypto

SEC halts Bitwise ETF over altcoin exposure

AInvest

The SEC reversed its approval of Bitwise’s BITW ETF under Rule 431(e), citing concerns over altcoin holdings like XRP and ADA. The pause mirrors Grayscale’s GDLC reversal and signals regulatory caution around multi-asset crypto products despite rising Bitcoin/Ethereum ETF activity.

🌎 Global Economy

Economic choke points emerge as 21st-century power levers

Discovery Alert

Nations are weaponizing financial systems, trade routes, and tech supply chains as economic choke points. The BIS and IMF note a surge in sanctions and controls, with the U.S. dollar, SWIFT, semiconductors, and rare earths becoming key instruments in non-military global power projection.