BUSINESS

The VIX index rose slightly as investors anticipate tech earnings and assess geopolitical risks, indicating cautious sentiment despite historically low volatility levels.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened modestly higher Wednesday morning, building on the previous session's gains as investors braced for closely watched earnings reports from Alphabet and Tesla after the market close, while rising oil prices and ongoing tariff developments remained in focus.

South Korea's KOSPI index briefly surpassed 7,000 points before retreating due to profit-taking and geopolitical tensions. Foreign investors drove gains, while domestic investors sold off.

Sydney leads the world in top steak restaurants for 2026, with 22 Australian venues on the global list. The city's steak scene thrives on premium beef, innovative grilling, and a rich dining culture.

The South Korean won has sharply strengthened, reversing a months-long decline. Factors include easing U.S. monetary concerns, foreign investment, and policy changes aimed at internationalising the currency.

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $707 million, the ninth-largest in history, after no ticket matched all numbers in Tuesday's draw. The next drawing is scheduled for Friday night.

Light introduces the Light Flip, a retro-inspired flip phone designed for users seeking a minimalist alternative to modern smartphones, featuring a T9 keypad and no external display.

Australia's ASX 200 index rose 0.39% as mining stocks led gains, supported by a strong session on Wall Street. Energy shares also showed promise amid global oil price surges.

Vivakor's stock surged 145% following the announcement of new crude oil trading agreements, significantly expanding its marketed volumes and revenue potential amid recent stock volatility and restructuring efforts.

AMD shares jumped 8.04% as investors reacted to an expanded Microsoft partnership and anticipated the Advancing AI 2026 event, highlighting AMD's strategic moves in AI and semiconductor sectors.

Anthropic's Claude AI chatbot experienced brief service disruptions over two days, with minor incidents affecting specific models. Despite these issues, the service remained largely operational and reliable for most users.

Aehr Test Systems' stock surged 25.70% due to strong AI chip demand and impressive fiscal results, with a 320%-420% increase in 2026. The company projects continued growth in AI and semiconductor markets.

Samsung Electronics shares surged 6.15% as South Korean semiconductor stocks rebounded, driven by bargain hunters and strong export data, following a sharp selloff linked to AI valuation concerns.

Micron Technology's stock surged nearly 8% due to strong demand for AI memory chips, reinforcing its growth narrative. Despite recent volatility, analysts remain bullish with high price targets.

SK Hynix shares surged as the company capitalised on AI demand and celebrated its Nasdaq listing, enhancing its global visibility and market position in high-bandwidth memory products.

Nike has launched a special edition Mercurial Superfly 11 boot to celebrate Kylian Mbappe's Golden Boot win at the 2026 World Cup, marking his record-breaking goalscoring achievement.

The Dow Jones climbed as semiconductor stocks rebounded, driven by easing U.S.-Iran tensions and anticipation of major tech earnings. Investor focus shifts to forward guidance amid market volatility.

Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 model has disrupted global markets, challenging assumptions about AI infrastructure and sparking volatility among tech stocks, while boosting Chinese semiconductor and memory suppliers.

South Korea's KOSPI index surged 3.56% as semiconductor stocks rebounded, supported by strong export data and easing geopolitical tensions, following a two-day losing streak.

The FTSE 100 index remained stable as global tech stocks rebounded, offsetting weak UK employment data. New PM Andy Burnham's cost-of-living measures and geopolitical tensions also influenced market sentiment.

Nvidia's Synthetic Video Detector, part of its AI for Media platform, helps newsrooms identify AI-generated videos, preserving trust in journalism as synthetic content becomes harder to distinguish from real footage.

Ryman Healthcare's shares rose nearly 8% as the company benefits from a strategic turnaround, marked by improved sales, positive cash flow, and increased insider and institutional investor confidence.

Huawei dominated the foldable smartphone market in Q2 2026 with a 48% share, surpassing Samsung. Despite Samsung's growth, Huawei's stronghold in China and new models drove its success.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro on September 9, following its consistent September keynote pattern. The analysis predicts a staggered release, including a potential foldable iPhone.

The ASX 200 index rose slightly as mining and tech stocks recovered from early losses, despite global tech selloff pressures and rising oil prices due to U.S.-Iran tensions.

Nvidia's stock struggles amid rising competition from Chinese AI developers and internal chip development by major customers, despite strong AI demand and strategic global partnerships.

Cipher Digital's stock rose 14.41% as it nears a key AWS milestone, reflecting its shift towards AI infrastructure and long-term revenue stability, despite ongoing market volatility and regulatory challenges.

IREN Limited's stock surged 17% after the company raised its year-end revenue target to over $4 billion, driven by new multiyear AI cloud contracts, reversing a recent losing streak.

SpaceX shares have dropped nearly 23% since their IPO, with investor concerns over growth, capital needs, and operational setbacks contributing to the decline. Analysts remain optimistic about long-term prospects.