Shares

The markets are souring on artificial intelligence, but is this the bubble being burst? Meanwhile, California proposes a tax on billionairesHello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m Blake Montgomery, US tech editor at the Guardian, writing to you after fending off sunburns at the beach. Today, we’re discussing a rocky week for the AI industry’s finances and how California’s proposed billionaire’s tax is changing the political posture of the state’s governor.Impact of social media ban for under-16s in UK hinges on how firm it isUK under-16s social media ban: which apps will be blocked and how will it work?‘Tech firms are losing the public’: social media age bans near tipping pointOpenAI staggers AI model release after Trump administration requestMeta pauses employee tracker for AI training amid privacy concerns‘It’s dangerous and it’s going to erode trust’: redesign of US government websites stokes surveillance fearsCalifornia billionaire tax will appear on ballot after deadline for deal passes | Technology | The Guardian Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets trended mostly higher on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following positive momentum from Wall Street gains. • South Korea's stock market saw a notable rebound after previously suffering sharp losses triggered by a significant tech sector sell-off. • The upward trend was mirrored in Japan, where the benchmark Nikkei 225 index was monitored alongside the Japanese yen's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar.

• Microsoft shares are on track for their worst monthly performance since 2000, plummeting 17% in June. • The decline has erased approximately $570 billion in market value, driven by investor anxiety over massive AI capital expenditures and delayed financial returns. • Market sentiment was further dampened by weaker-than-expected growth in the Azure cloud platform and a high outlook for future spending.

• Global stock markets showed mixed results, with U.S. futures advancing following a period of relative stability on Wall Street last week. • Tech stocks in Japan and South Korea continued to see losses as investors grew concerned over the valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) assets. • In contrast, Taiwan's Taiex rose 1% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 1.6% to 23,026.68, while the Shanghai Composite added 1.2% to 4,073.90.

• Teyana Taylor was honored as the Icon of the Year at the 2026 BET Awards. • During her acceptance speech, Taylor reflected on the weight and meaning behind the title of "icon." • The recognition highlights Taylor's significant contributions to music and culture, cementing her legacy within the industry.

• Asian stock markets showed mixed results on Monday as benchmarks in Japan and South Korea declined due to a sell-off in artificial intelligence-related shares. • The downturn in tech stocks followed a broader market rout on Friday, though losses were partially offset by gains in other sectors. • Oil prices saw an increase, though they remain near the levels recorded before the onset of the Iran war.

• Shares of chipmakers fueling the AI boom experienced massive growth in the first half of 2026, with some companies seeing their valuations triple. • This surge in semiconductor stock prices has driven a sharp upward trend across Asia Pacific stock markets. • The growth highlights the critical role of hardware infrastructure in sustaining the global artificial intelligence expansion.

• Asian stock markets showed mixed results following a significant sell-off in technology shares on Friday. • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 2.1% to 23,153.89, and the Shanghai Composite index increased by 0.2% to 4,034.08. • The overall market volatility was driven by declines in tech stocks specifically within Japan and South Korea.

• A global selloff in US tech and semiconductor stocks has spilled over into the London market, putting pressure on UK AI-linked shares. • Companies such as ARM and Sage are currently in the spotlight as investors react to the volatility in the chip sector. • The downturn reflects growing investor anxiety regarding the sustainability of massive AI spending and overall market sentiment in late June.

• South Korean stocks opened lower on Monday, June 29, as investors reacted to renewed geopolitical instability. • Market sentiment was dampened by uncertainty surrounding the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, which contributed to rising oil prices. • Investors are closely monitoring the situation alongside upcoming investment plans from major tech giants Samsung and SK hynix.

• Australian shares closed 0.7% higher on the S&P/ASX 200, driven primarily by gains in the technology and financial sectors. • The market rally followed a temporary easing of geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, which provided immediate relief to global investors. • Indian markets mirrored this positive trend with a strong opening, signaling a broader global shift toward risk-on sentiment.

• Global markets are exhibiting cautious optimism as the US and Iran reportedly move to avoid further conflict escalation, with diplomatic talks scheduled in Qatar. • Market reactions are mixed, with Asian shares slipping while US equity futures climbed amid hopes for regional stability and strong quarterly tech sector performance. • Investors remain on edge due to rising oil prices and persistent inflation concerns, which continue to pressure global economic outlooks.

Value of some chip manufacturers have tripled, or more, driving Asia Pacific stock markets sharply higherShares in chipmakers have surged in the first half of this year as investors piled into companies that make the hardware underpinning the AI boom, according to analysis.Investors have driven up the value of semiconductor and memory chip manufacturers, whose profits have soared during 2026, at the expense of some large software companies, which have fallen out of favour this year. Continue reading...

• Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the NYSE, is currently trading significantly below optimistic analyst price targets. • Zacks has assigned the company a Rank 3 "Hold" rating, citing a balance between favorable growth estimates and valuation compression. • The company is facing slower-than-expected growth and integration benefits following its acquisition of Black Knight.

• Gulf nations and Western leaders are expressing concern over Iran's continued ability to project power and influence through proxy militia groups. • Despite existing deals between the US and Iran, analysts believe Tehran will likely increase its support for these armed groups to maintain regional leverage. • In January, the US and Israel attempted to mobilize ethnic minority groups, including Arabs in the southwest and Baloch in the southeast, to destabilize Iran from within.

• Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO) shares have experienced a significant sell-off following a poorly received earnings report and a general shift in market sentiment. • The decline is part of a broader market panic affecting several artificial intelligence stocks that had seen strong growth through early June. • Despite the current volatility, the stock is positioned as a strong buying opportunity due to its status as an AI powerhouse.

Analysts and western leaders believe Iran will increase support of militia groups despite deal between US and IranAs Marco Rubio ended his brief visit to the Middle East on Friday, he sought to cast in the best possible light his discussions with leaders of the Gulf states. Those leaders are deeply anxious that the deal agreed earlier this month between Iran and the US fails to address their worries about continued Iranian efforts to project power and influence throughout the region.“They’ve shared with us some very concrete concerns,” the US secretary of state admitted, and insisted that any definitive agreement will require Tehran to not only restrict its nuclear programme but also halt its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, militia in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. Continue reading...

• Asian shares declined on Friday following a strong quarter, driven by a dip in tech sentiment after Apple implemented significant price hikes. • The price increases highlighted the potential downsides of booming chip demand, weighing on technology stocks across the region. • Simultaneously, the Japanese yen was prevented from hitting 40-year lows due to the looming threat of government intervention.

• Asian stock markets experienced a significant slide, driven primarily by a slump in technology shares. • South Korea's Kospi index faced extreme volatility, requiring trading to be halted three times in one week to curb panic selling. • Major regional indexes in Taiwan and mainland China also saw sharp declines, reflecting a broader downturn across the region's financial markets.

• On June 25, 2026, top insiders at RBC Bearings ($RBC), including Director Dolores E., engaged in a significant "cash-out move" by selling shares of the company. • Despite these insider sales, the company's overall score remains positive due to strong profitability, balance-sheet improvements, and a constructive earnings outlook. • The positive trend is further supported by a healthy backlog and positive guidance, although some short-term technical indicators suggest the stock may be extended.

• Asian stock markets plunged on Friday, with Taiwan's Taiex dropping 3.6%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng losing 1.7%, and the Shanghai Composite slipping 1.4%. • The sell-off was driven by traders locking in profits following recent rallies in AI-related stocks, particularly after record highs in Japan and South Korea. • This volatility follows a surge of investment into AI data centers and strong earnings reports from chipmakers Qualcomm and Micron Technology.

• Global stock markets in Europe and Asia experienced a significant downturn as traders sold off shares to lock in profits from recent artificial intelligence-driven rallies. • Major losses were seen in South Korea's Kospi (-5.8%), Japan's Nikkei (-4.2%), Taiwan's Taiex (-3.6%), and China's Shanghai Composite (-2.3%), while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slightly gained 0.2%. • This volatility follows a period of record highs for Japanese and South Korean shares, fueled by strong earnings reports from chipmakers Qualcomm and Micron Technology.

• Asian stock markets experienced a significant slide, driven primarily by a slump in technology shares across the region. • South Korea's Kospi index faced extreme volatility, resulting in trading being halted for the third time this week to curb panic selling. • Other major regional indexes, including those in Taiwan and mainland China, also recorded sharp declines.

• Asian stock markets plunged on Friday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 dropping 4.4% and South Korea's Kospi crashing 7.7%. • The sell-off was driven by traders locking in profits following a period of significant rallies in stocks tied to artificial intelligence. • Other regional markets were also affected, including Hong Kong's Hang Seng, which lost 1.9%, and the Shanghai Composite, which slipped 2.1%.

• Asian stock markets experienced a sharp retreat from record highs, with South Korea’s KOSPI tumbling 8.2% and Japan’s Nikkei slumping nearly 5%. • The selloff was triggered by concerns over Apple price hikes impacting the chip sector, while Nasdaq futures skidded 1.7% and the yen remained near 40-year lows. • Despite the volatility, the KOSPI recorded a massive 62% gain for the quarter, while Chinese blue-chips and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 2.9% and 2.4% respectively.

• Global markets rose as a rebound in tech shares drove gains across Europe and Asia, particularly in Japan and South Korea. • South Korea's Kospi index reached a record high of 8,930.30, surging 5.4% following significant jumps in Samsung Electronics (+5.3%) and SK Hynix (+13%). • Other Asian markets saw mixed results, with modest gains in Taiwan (+0.5%), India (+0.7%), and Shanghai (+0.2%), while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 1.4%.

• South Korean stocks opened sharply higher on June 25, driven by significant gains in the semiconductor sector. • The rally was triggered by a stronger-than-expected earnings report from U.S.-based chipmaker Micron Technology. • This surge is critical as it boosts investor confidence in the global AI-driven chip market and supports major local tech firms.

• Asian stock markets rose, driven primarily by a strong rebound in tech shares in Japan and South Korea. • South Korea's Kospi reached a record high, surging 5.9% to 8,968.22, fueled by gains of 5.4% for Samsung Electronics and 11.6% for SK Hynix. • Other regional markets saw modest growth, with Taiwan's Taiex up 0.8% and India's Sensex up 0.6%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.4%.