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Finance — Monday, August 10, 2026

Finance,
briefly.

17 stories, written and narrated in a calm newsroom voice. No sirens, no outrage bait — press play and let the edition carry you through.

Finance

FinanceBloomberg

Intel to Sell $15 Billion in Stock After AI Boosts Demand

Intel's stock had climbed sharply this year on hopes that artificial intelligence demand would revive the chipmaker's fortunes after years of competitive losses to rivals like AMD and TSMC. That momentum gave the company room to move. Today, Intel announced a fifteen billion dollar stock offering. The sale will help fund its manufacturing expansion and reduce debt as it races to regain market share in AI processors. The company's shares fell in after-hours trading on the news, a typical reaction when companies dilute existing shareholders by issuing new stock. Intel's turnaround remains unproven, but the capital injection signals confidence in its comeback plan.

Bloomberg ↗

FinanceCNBC

S&P 500 is little changed as traders await possible Hormuz deal, Intel shares fall: Live updates

The trading floor sits in a kind of waiting stillness this morning. Screens glow with small red and green shifts — nothing dramatic, nothing that moves the needle much at all. The S&P 500 is essentially flat as markets hold their breath over a potential deal involving the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints. Oil prices have climbed, which is weighing on some sectors. Intel shares are down notably today. Traders are also watching for fresh economic data that could shift sentiment before the close. The quiet here is deliberate. Markets know something may move, but not yet.

CNBC ↗

FinanceReuters

North Korean hacking group builds AI tools for cyberattacks, report says

North Korea's Lazarus Group, one of the world's most active state-sponsored hacking operations, is now developing artificial intelligence tools to automate and refine its cyberattacks. First, the group's use of AI appears designed to increase the speed and scale of intrusions — letting them target more organizations with less manual effort. Then, security researchers have observed these tools being deployed against financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges, sectors where the group has historically focused its theft operations. And finally, the sophistication suggests North Korea's hacking capabilities are evolving faster than many Western defenses can adapt to, which means organizations in the financial sector face a narrowing window to shore up their protections. The Lazarus Group has been linked to some of the largest cyberheists in history, including the 2014 Sony Pictures attack.

Reuters ↗

FinanceWSJ

U.A.E.’s Adnoc Gas to Invest More Than $8 Billion in Expansion Push

In the shallow waters off Abu Dhabi, drilling rigs are moving into position for a project that's been months in the planning. The United Arab Emirates' national oil company, Adnoc, is committing more than eight billion dollars to expand its gas operations. The investment includes a fourteen-well drilling contract and work at the Habshan complex, which was damaged in an April attack but has since recovered to eighty-five percent capacity. Adnoc Gas reported a profit decline of fifty-two percent in the second quarter, though it did beat its own guidance. The expansion reflects the company's bet that global gas demand will remain strong for years to come.

WSJ ↗

FinanceAP News

Watchdog for $46 billion tribal gambling industry can’t enforce the law without a chairperson

In a federal office tasked with overseeing Native American gaming operations, enforcement actions sit unsigned. The National Indian Gaming Commission has no chair—and without one, it can't legally compel tribes to comply with regulations or levy fines. The commission oversees a forty-six billion dollar industry across the country. Its three-member board has operated without a permanent leader for months, leaving violations unaddressed and compliance reviews stalled. A chair requires Senate confirmation, a process that's moved slowly. The gap matters because tribes themselves appoint the other two commissioners. A vacant chair means no independent voice to break ties or push back when tribal interests conflict with federal oversight. Enforcement, in effect, has paused. The administration's next move will determine whether this gap widens or closes.

AP News ↗

Financewkyc

Winning Powerball numbers for the $856 million jackpot on August 8, 2026: See all the prizes hit in Ohio

The winning numbers for Wednesday's Powerball drawing were twenty-three, thirty-two, sixty-one, sixty-three, and sixty-eight, with a Powerball of thirteen. The eight hundred fifty-six million dollar jackpot went unclaimed, but Ohio saw multiple smaller winners across the state. A single ticket in Texas matched five numbers without the Powerball, taking home two million dollars. The prize pool grows larger with each drawing that passes without a winner, which is how the jackpot climbed this high in the first place. The next drawing will push the prize even further, as it always does when the numbers simply don't align.

wkyc ↗

FinanceReuters

US Senate advances landmark crypto bill before heading on August recess

For months, the Senate's so-called Clarity Act has sat in limbo—a bill meant to clarify which regulator oversees cryptocurrency. The crypto industry spent over two hundred million dollars lobbying for it. Progress stalled repeatedly. This week, the Senate moved forward. Before the August recess, lawmakers advanced the bill through committee, a procedural step that keeps it alive for the fall session. The vote wasn't unanimous, and significant questions remain about how the final language will divide authority between the SEC and CFTC. The bill now faces a narrower window to pass before the election cycle intensifies.

Reuters ↗

FinanceFox Business

SpaceX and Tesla choose Texas for AI chip manufacturing plant that will be world's largest building - Fox Business

SpaceX and Tesla are building a chip factory in Grimes, Texas, that'll supply processors for their own operations at scale. The plant, called Terafab, will manufacture AI chips specifically for Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots and Cybercabs, along with processors destined for SpaceX's space-based data centers. The facility itself is designed to be the world's largest building by floor area, a choice that signals the sheer volume of chips these companies expect to need. What's notable here is the vertical integration—rather than relying on external suppliers like TSMC or Samsung, both companies are essentially betting they can control their own semiconductor destiny, at least for their most critical applications. The timeline and investment figures haven't been disclosed yet.

Fox Business ↗

FinanceCBS News

Powerball grows to $856 million, largest drawing of the year

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to 856 million dollars ahead of Saturday's drawing, the largest prize of the year so far. The figure reflects weeks of rollovers without a grand prize winner. Two Connecticut players won six-figure amounts in recent drawings—one from Windsor, another from Wallingford—but neither matched all six numbers. The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was in October. Saturday's drawing will determine whether that streak continues or a new winner emerges.

CBS News ↗

FinanceCNBC

Berkshire earnings rose last quarter and CEO Greg Abel is starting to deploy Buffett's massive cash hoard

Berkshire Hathaway reported stronger earnings last quarter, and new CEO Greg Abel is now moving the company's accumulated cash into the market after years of restraint. First, Berkshire deployed ten billion dollars into Alphabet stock, a significant shift from the cautious stance of recent years. Then, the company repurchased four and a half billion dollars of its own shares, signaling confidence in its valuation. And finally, this marks a departure from the holding pattern that defined the Buffett era's final phase—Abel appears willing to put capital to work where his predecessor preferred to wait. The question now is whether this tempo continues.

CNBC ↗

Financepolitico

Crypto faces a setback in the Senate

The Senate delayed a vote on the Clarity Act this week, leaving crypto's biggest legislative push in limbo. The bill, which would clarify how digital assets are regulated across federal agencies, had momentum through the spring. But Banking Committee chairman Tim Scott couldn't secure enough votes to move it forward before the recess. The crypto industry had pinned significant hopes on this bill—it's been their priority for months—and the delay suggests the political math remains difficult even with Republican support. For now, the sector's waiting to see if the window reopens when Congress returns, or if this becomes another stalled effort in a crowded legislative calendar.

politico ↗

FinanceCNBC

China's exports growth beats estimates in July, as AI-driven shipments surge - CNBC

China's exports rose faster than forecast in July, driven by surging demand for semiconductors and artificial intelligence components. The country shipped goods worth roughly 260 billion dollars that month, a gain of more than five percent year-on-year. High-tech products, particularly chips and AI-related hardware, accounted for a disproportionate share of the increase. This marks a shift from earlier in the year, when China's export growth had stalled amid weak global demand. Economists will watch August figures closely to see whether this momentum holds or whether it reflects temporary restocking by overseas buyers.

CNBC ↗

FinanceBloomberg

Investors Clamor to Bet on AI Whiz Kid's Fund After Situational Awareness Turmoil

In a San Francisco office, spreadsheets are being redrawn. Money that fled a hedge fund months ago is flowing back in. Situational Awareness, the artificial intelligence fund run by Connor Leahy, imploded last year after he bet four hundred million dollars on a stealth chip startup that never materialized. Investors lost heavily. Now, with Leahy promising a restructured strategy focused on AI safety research, capital is returning. What's striking isn't the comeback itself—it's the speed. Hedge funds rarely recover this quickly from that scale of loss. The fund is betting its second act on a narrower, more defensible thesis. Whether that discipline holds remains the open question.

Bloomberg ↗

FinanceBloomberg

Fed Split on Rate Hikes Deepens as Five Years of High Inflation Tests Patience

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady this week, but divisions within the central bank over whether to cut or raise rates are widening as inflation remains stubbornly above target after five years. Three Fed officials signaled openness to rate cuts in coming months, while others argued for holding longer. The persistent gap between the Fed's two-percent inflation goal and current price pressures has stretched patience among policymakers who've kept rates elevated since 2022. Markets will parse the next inflation report closely for clues about whether the Fed's next move comes in the spring or later.

Bloomberg ↗

FinanceCNBC

Rockstar Energy founder builds Celsius stake, wants to take over as CEO

Russ Savage, founder of Rockstar Energy, has taken a significant stake in Celsius Holdings and is calling for the company's CEO John Fieldly to step down. First, Savage's investment signals confidence in Celsius's core business—the energy drink maker has grown rapidly in the sports and fitness market, though it's faced recent earnings pressure that sent shares lower. Then, Savage isn't simply buying and holding; he's publicly demanding leadership change, arguing the current C-suite isn't executing at the level the company's potential demands. And finally, Celsius stock jumped on the news of his stake, suggesting investors see his involvement as a potential catalyst for operational or strategic shifts. Activist investors in consumer brands often push for faster growth or cost discipline.

CNBC ↗

FinanceCNBC

Whatnot valued at $20 billion as live shopping continues to boom

A host sits before a camera in a sparse studio. Behind them, a grid of faces fills a screen—dozens of people watching, bidding, typing in real time. Someone holds up a vintage baseball card. The bids climb. That's Whatnot, the live shopping platform. It's just raised five hundred and forty-five million dollars in a new funding round, valuing the company at twenty billion dollars. The platform lets sellers broadcast auctions and product demos to thousands of viewers simultaneously, who bid and chat in real time. It's become one of Silicon Valley's quietest unicorns—valued higher than most household retail names, yet rarely discussed outside investor circles. The company's growth reflects a broader shift. Live commerce, which barely existed in the West five years ago, is now where serious retail money flows.

CNBC ↗

FinanceMarketWatch

Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq point to a steady start ahead of jobs data; oil rises with gold and silver also climbing

Futures are pointing to a steady open this morning, with investors waiting on the jobs report. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq are all positioned near their recent highs ahead of that data release. Oil's climbing alongside gold and silver, which often move together when there's uncertainty about the broader economy. The week's shaping up to be the market's best since April, though the Nasdaq gave back some gains yesterday. Right now, it's a holding pattern—traders are cautious but not pessimistic. The real test comes when the employment numbers land.

MarketWatch ↗

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