News

According to Mizuho News: Mizuho Financial Group will cooperate with Nvidia (NVDA.O) to build internal AI computing infrastructure.

Nasdaq Technology ETF Invesco: Trading will be suspended from the opening of the market on July 16, 2026, and trading will resume at 10:30 on July 16, 2026. During the suspension period, the redemption business of the fund will be handled as usual.

OECD: UK fiscal discipline remains critical.

OECD: Risks to the UK economy remain tilted to the downside.

OECD: UK economy expected to grow by 0.9% in 2026 and 1.1% in 2027

Alibaba (BABA.N) rose more than 5% before the market opened; on the news, Alibaba Qianwen will be integrated into Apple Smart as an AI capability.

The monthly rate of industrial production in the euro zone in May will be released in ten minutes.

Alibaba (BABA.N) pre-market gains expanded to 4%.

European Central Bank Governing Council member Panetta: Multiple indicators show that the stock market's rise after the Iran conflict was due to an underestimation of risks.

ECB Governing Council Member Panetta: Risks related to rising energy prices, tightening financial conditions and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty appear to be only partially reflected in market assessments.

European Central Bank Governing Council Member Panetta: The integration process of Italy’s financial sector can strengthen individual institutions and the overall system, encourage investment and improve efficiency.

ECB Governing Council Member Panetta: When considering future interest rate decisions, the ECB's goal is to keep inflation expectations stable and limit the indirect and secondary effects of shocks.

ECB Governing Council Member Panetta: Eurozone inflation is currently hovering around 3% and is expected to remain above this level until early 2027.

European Central Bank Governing Council member Panetta: Continued hostilities in the Middle East, coupled with increased pressure on energy markets, may lead Italy to be more cautious and tighten credit standards.

Alibaba (BABA.N) rose more than 3% before the market opened.

Council of the European Union: EU countries agreed to extend the temporary protection period for Ukrainian refugees until March 2028.

Aaron Blake, CNN's senior correspondent in Washington, D.C., said that in the past four and a half months, Trump and those around him had confidently made many predictions about the Iran war, but they were quickly beaten by reality. Trump himself, in particular, often seems clueless about the war he is waging. Mistake 1: The United States will control the Strait of Hormuz. Trump made a shocking statement on Monday, confidently announcing that the United States will soon "take over" the Strait of Hormuz and serve as its "guardian", charging 20% ​​tolls from passing ships. The problem is, This is completely contrary to the previous position of his own government, and it also means that the United States needs to maintain a long-term military presence in the strait, which is obviously unrealistic. Mistake 2: The war will end soon. Trump repeatedly predicted in the early stages of the war that the war would take "just four to five weeks." Now four and a half months later, an armistice is still far away. Mistake 3: Iran’s leaders suddenly became “rational”. After the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last month, Trump and Vice President Vance spoke as if the Iranian leader had suddenly enlightened. Trump said on June 16, "The people we are dealing with are very rational," adding that Iran's leaders are "easy to get along with" and "not radical." It quickly became a joke. Mistake 4: The Strait of Hormuz is not a problem. When Iran used the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip, the US government initially ignored it, claiming that the blockade could not be sustained. But the strait has never been truly safe. Although Iran's blockade has a greater impact on other countries, it has also caused significant damage to the U.S. economy. It also gives Iran greater leverage in negotiations with the United States. Mistake 5: Gasoline prices will soon fall below $3 per gallon. The blind optimism regarding the Strait is also reflected in the misjudgment of oil prices. U.S. Energy Secretary Wright once said that "it won't be long before" the price of gasoline will be back below $3. Now more than four months have passed, and oil prices have still not fallen below $3. Mistake 6: The United States has absolute control over Iran’s airspace. At the beginning of the war, Trump and Hegseth claimed that Iran had been completely defeated militarily. The U.S. military can basically fly over its airspace at will without risk. But by early April, Iran successfully shot down two US military aircraft. Mistake No. 7: Iran is eager to reach a deal. Trump has claimed dozens of times that Iran is "begging" for a deal. But the past three months have gone in the opposite direction, with Iran not only insisting on substantial concessions but also rejecting what appeared to be generous terms in last month's memo.

HSI closed up 340.37 points, or 1.4%, at 24681.1 points on July 15 (Wednesday);Hong Kong's Hang Seng Technology Index closed at 4740.49 points, up 61.03 points, or 1.3%, on July 15 (Wednesday); The state-owned enterprise index closed up 81.3 points, or 1.0%, at 8184.38 points on July 15 (Wednesday); The red chip index closed at 3944.54 points, up 9.14 points, or 0.23%, on July 15 (Wednesday).

Apple (AAPL.O) rose slightly before the market opened, and is now up 0.1%.

Before the U.S. stock market opened, SK Hynix ADR (SKHY.O) fell 4.6%.