Nvidia Tops $5 Trillion, Intel’s Best Day Since 1987

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Nvidia’s shares closed at a record on Friday for the first time since October, as investors poured into the AI chip trade ahead of next week’s earnings from tech’s hyperscalers, pushing the company’s market cap over $5 trillion.

The stock closed at $208.27, up 4.3 percent. NVIDIA has grown more than 14 times since the end of 2022 due to the skyrocketing demand for AI models and services.

Model developers OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon, depend on Nvidia’s graphics processing units. Chipmaker Intel, which has largely stayed out of the AI market until recently, reported better-than-expected earnings late Thursday, spurring Friday’s rally. Intel’s stock saw its best performance since 1987 with a 24% increase,

Qualcomm, a manufacturer of chips for mobile devices, increased 11%, while Advanced Micro Devices, a rival of Nvidia and Intel, increased 14%. investors had been reducing their holdings of large-cap technology stocks because of the Iran War and rising oil prices,

However, technology has recently gained popularity, and there is no indication that the demand for AI infrastructure will decline. With a 15% increase in April, the Nasdaq is on track to have its best month since April 2020. Alphabet, a significant Nvidia client, has revealed new chips that will compete with Nvidia’s products when they become available to cloud users later this year. NVIDIA does face growing competition in AI.

US Government Accuses DeepSeek of Stealing American AI Tech

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The US State Department has ordered a global campaign to draw attention to what it claims are widespread attempts by Chinese businesses, including AI startup DeepSeek, to steal intellectual property from US AI labs.

“Warn of the risks of utilizing AI models distilled from US proprietary AI models, and lay the groundwork for potential follow-up and outreach by the US government,” according to the cable.

Distillation is the process of training smaller AI models using output from larger ones to reduce the cost of training a potent new AI tool. China’s increasing independence in the field was highlighted on Friday when DeepSeek, the Chinese startup whose low-cost AI model stunned the world last year, unveiled a sneak peek of a highly anticipated new model tailored for Huawei chip technology

Chinese AI companies Moonshot AI and MiniMax were also mentioned in the cable. Beijing “attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights,” according to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, which referred to the White House’s similar accusations this week as “baseless allegations.”.

The cable instructs diplomatic personnel to discuss “concerns over adversaries’ extraction and distillation of US AI models” with their foreign counterparts. It was sent to diplomatic and consular posts worldwide on Friday.

According to the document, “a separate demarche request and message has been sent to Beijing for raising with China.” The unreported cable indicates that the Trump administration is paying attention to worries about the Chinese distillation of US AI models. “Foreign actors can release products that seem to perform comparably on specific benchmarks at a fraction thanks to AI models developed from covert, unauthorized distillation campaigns.”.

China’s Record Silver Imports Smash Seasonal Norms, Igniting Bullish Outlook

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

China’s silver imports hit a record high in March, well above the seasonal average amid the nation’s massive solar industry and retail demand. China, the world’s biggest consumer of silver, imported roughly 836 tons last month, continuing a strong run of inbound shipments this year, according to customs data.

On the other hand, over the previous ten years, the March seasonal average has been roughly 306 tons. Retail investors are buying tiny silver bars in place of pricey gold, and solar manufacturers are front-loading production in preparation for the export tax rebates’ removal on April 1.

Analyst projections vary widely due to silver’s dual role (industrial and monetary metal), volatility, and sensitivity to macro factors like the strength of the USD, interest rates, and industrial activity. China’s record imports raise bullish pressure through physical tightness, even though they are a bit of an anomaly (solar front-loading is unlikely to repeat at this scale

(JP. Morgan, LBMA/Reuters poll): The average price per ounce is between $79 and $81 for the full year. The quarterly averages for Morgan are roughly $84 (Q1), $75 (Q2), $80 (Q3), and $85 (Q4). This is based on persistent shortages as well as some moderation of solar demand due to rising prices and substitution/thrifting.

The solar industry, which is primarily based in China, uses about one-fifth of the annual supply. It is unlikely that the high rate of imports will persist, though.

Traders shipped silver as strong demand drove Chinese prices well above global benchmarks to profit from the arbitrage opportunity.

A large portion of the metal passed through Hong Kong. Non-yielding precious metals like silver and gold have seen their prices decline from their January highs amid worries about inflation caused by the Iran war’s energy crisis.

Additionally, retail-driven demand, which comes after significant price momentum, has stagnated.

Beijing’s pledge to reduce overcapacity in the solar industry, which results in lower output, puts pressure on industrial use in China. Additionally, the industry may choose to replace less expensive base metals with silver due to persistently high prices.

Silver Eyes $84 as China’s Record March Imports Crush Seasonal Average

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The solar industry, which is primarily based in China, uses about one-fifth of the annual supply. It is unlikely that the high rate of imports will persist, though.

Traders shipped silver as strong demand drove Chinese prices well above global benchmarks to profit from the arbitrage opportunity.

Intel Jumps as Analysts Hike Targets to $100 on AI Surge

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The stock surged to the $82-85 range intraday (hitting new highs, surpassing its .-com era peak in some sessions) after closing around $66.78 pre-earnings. The volume was very high. Citing AI CPU momentum, foundry advancement, and turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, some companies raised their ratings and targets following (or before) earnings: Roth Capital: Upgraded to Buy, target $100 (from $50). HSBC: Increased to $100 (from $95), on server CPU growth, buy rating.

The positive outlook indicates that CEO Lip-Bu Tan is moving forward with a difficult recovery plan. He is now fulfilling a pledge to enhance operations after securing significant investments in Intel last year, which strengthened the company’s balance sheet.

Great Hill Capital Chairman Thomas Hayes, an Intel investor, stated on Bloomberg Television that “everyone is starting to direct orders to Intel, and I think we are in the early days.” In a very short time, this has transitioned from hopelessness to exhilaration. The earnings report demonstrates the necessity of a data center.

. According to the earnings report, demand for Intel’s flagship Xeon server processors is rising because of the need for data center chips to support the massive expansion of AI. The central processing unit, or CPU, is a type of general-purpose semiconductor that businesses attempting to transform their AI software into profitable services are focusing on again. Tan stated in an interview that Intel produced a “solid result” that exceeded its expectations.

He stated that the company is “laser-focused” on boosting output from Intel’s factories, which are still unable to produce enough to fulfill all of its orders, and he anticipates that the robust demand for processors used in AI systems will grow.

Google Plans to Invest Up to $40 Billion in Anthropic

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Google will invest $10 billion in Anthropic PBC, with an additional $30 billion possibly to come. This will strengthen the partnership between two businesses that are competitors and partners in the race to develop artificial intelligence. Google’s stock increased by more than 1% on Friday, closing at $341.

According to Anthropic, Google has committed to investing $10 billion in cash at a $350 billion valuation, the same as its valuation in a February funding round, excluding the recent funds raised. Alphabet Inc. -owned business will support a major expansion of Anthropic’s computing capacity and invest an additional $30 billion if Anthropic meets performance goals, the startup announced on Friday

Anthropic has increased its fundraising efforts in response to the breakthrough success of Claude Code, an AI agent that accelerates software development. Earlier this week, the startup announced that it had received an additional $5 billion from Amazon at a $350 billion valuation, with the option to add $20 billion over time. In February, Anthropic raised $30 billion.

Anthropic is a significant consumer of Google’s chips and cloud services, which the company is working to expand as its primary source of revenue, search advertising, matures. Over the next five years, Anthropic will receive five gigawatts of processing power from Google Cloud; several more gigawatts may be added.

The agreement is an extension of one that Anthropic, Google, and Broadcom Inc. announced earlier this month. Approximately 750,000 US homes can be powered at any time by a single gigawatt.

Google’s tensor processing units, or TPUs, are a rare and valuable resource since they are among the best substitutes for Nvidia’s chips

China Slams Door on US Investors in Strategic Tech Companies

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Chinese regulators intend to prohibit technology companies, including some of the nation’s best-known AI pioneers, from accepting US capital without government approval.

The contentious purchase of startup Manus. According to people familiar with the situation, agencies such as the National Development and Reform Commission have instructed several private companies in recent weeks to reject US-origin capital in funding rounds unless specifically authorized.

Moonshot AI, which is considering going public, was among the companies that received advice from the influential state planner. Another person claimed that StepFun, a fellow Chinese startup, was given similar instructions and asked to remain anonymous to discuss a private matter.

Regulators have also decided to impose comparable limitations on ByteDance Ltd. The most valuable startup in the nation, according to the people, is the owner of TikTok.

The main goal of the most recent regulations is to keep US investors from investing in delicate industries where national security is a top concern. The $2 billion Manus buyout earlier this year, which prompted a Beijing investigation into illicit foreign investment and tech exports soon after its December announcement, is the source of the previously unreported action.

Critics have since bemoaned the loss of important AI technology to a geopolitical rival, despite the deal’s initial praise as a model for startups with international goals. According to the people, the commission, a potent state planning agency with extensive policy-making authority, is currently leading a multi-agency investigation into the deal and its consequences that involves the Ministry of Commerce.

The new regulations run the risk of further cutting off China’s rebounding tech industry from the venture capital funding that has supported it for the past 20 years, a portion of which came from American endowments and pensions. Beijing’s decision to prohibit “red chips,” or Chinese companies incorporated abroad, from pursuing initial public offerings in Hong Kong threatens to disrupt a decades-old strategy that allowed Chinese businesses to access foreign capital by floating abroad.

Elon Musk Drops Fraud Claims Against OpenAI, Sam Altman Before Trial

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Elon Musk narrowed the scope of his lawsuit against his business rivals by dropping his fraud claims against OpenAI and co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. Only two of the 26 claims in Musk’s November 2024 complaint will go to trial after US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers granted his request to “streamline” the case on Friday.

In federal court in Oakland, California, jury selection is scheduled for Monday. Musk claims that after receiving billions of dollars in funding from Microsoft, the artificial intelligence startup abandoned its original goal of serving humanity as a nonprofit. and intended to reorganize it as a for-profit company

If he prevails in court, Musk wants up to $134 billion in damages, which he has requested be given to OpenAI’s charitable division. In addition, he wants a judge to order Altman and Brockman to resign from their positions and to restore the firm’s status as a nonprofit research organization.

OpenAI accused the richest person of a “legal ambush” and complained to the judge that Musk’s proposed remedies were an 11th-hour surprise. OpenAI, Altman, Brockman, and Microsoft have all refuted any misconduct, calling Musk’s allegations harassment. There will be two stages to the trial.

A jury will hear arguments and testimony regarding Musk’s accusations, which now center on two claims: breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.

Gonzalez Rogers, who will ultimately determine whether Musk has proven his claims, will not be bound by the panel’s “advisory verdict.”. Gonzalez Rogers will hear arguments regarding the remedies Musk is requesting and render a decision during the second phase of the proceedings.

Along with Altman and others, Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015. However, in recent years, the former business partners have turned into fierce rivals. After leaving the OpenAI board in 2018, Musk co-founded the company in 2023.

Meta, Microsoft to Trim Thousands of Jobs Through Buyouts and Layoffs

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Meta and Microsoft are planning layoffs or announcing buyouts that could impact up to 23,000 jobs to streamline operations and counteract significant spending on artificial intelligence. In an internal memo on Thursday, Meta informed staff that it intended to lay off 10% of its workforce, or about 8,000 workers, beginning on May 20.

Additionally, the social media company stated that it would not fill 6,000 open positions. Microsoft offered thousands of its US employees voluntary buyouts in a memo it released earlier in the day. A person familiar with the planning estimates that the buyouts will be available to about 7% of the US workforce.

The source, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss an internal issue, stated that the company has never carried out buyouts of this magnitude before. As of June 2025, Microsoft employed 125,000 people in the United States. Approximately 8,750 workers would then be qualified for the program.

Microsoft announced new AI investments in Australia and Japan this month as part of its race to build data centers worldwide. In the meantime, Meta has announced multiple multibillion-dollar agreements with AI partners in recent months and has predicted record capital expenditures this year. In recent years, both businesses have implemented multiple rounds of layoffs. The memo, written by Chief People Officer Janelle Gale, referenced Meta’s AI expenditures.

She stated in the note, “We’re doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making.”. The Reality Labs division and other teams have already experienced job cuts, which caused Meta employees to worry. According to Gale, the company was making the layoffs public early because information about the plan had already leaked. Earlier this month, Meta’s planned workforce reductions were first reported by Reuters.

Intel Shares Soar as AI Outlook Powers $80 Price Target

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The long-struggling chipmaker is benefiting from the massive build-out of artificial intelligence computing, as evidenced by Intel’s spectacular sales forecast that exceeded Wall Street expectations. Following the release of the results, Intel’s stock shot up 20% in extended trading, setting new records. It had increased by 81% this year, before the report closed at $66.78.