Real-time News

1. SpaceX's IPO filings show that the first batch of next-generation, more powerful Starlink V3 satellites are scheduled for launch in the second half of the year. 2. GameStop may submit an acquisition offer for eBay as early as this month. 3. Spirit Aerospace is expected to cease operations around 3 a.m. ET on Saturday. 4. The U.S. Department of Defense has reached agreements with seven AI companies. 5. Apple's (AAPL.O) market capitalization increased by $200 billion in a single day. 6. SanDisk shares rose more than 8%, with multiple institutions significantly raising their target price for SanDisk, some by as much as double to $2,000. 7. Nebius has agreed to acquire Eigen AI. 8. Bank of America: Global hyperscale cloud computing companies' AI capital expenditure may reach $1 trillion by 2027.

On May 2nd, local time, Trump declared in a speech on May 1st that the United States could "almost immediately" take over Cuba. He also stated, "We'll deal with one target (Iran) first—I've always liked to get things done." Trump also indicated that the United States would deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the Cuban coast. These remarks came earlier that day after Trump signed an executive order expanding U.S. sanctions against the Cuban government.

According to Axios: The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that the U.S. blockade has cost Iran $4.8 billion.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports a significant decline in Angolan oil production, with the fiscal and external situation expected to worsen further in 2025.

Spirit Airlines is currently expected to cease operations around 3 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.

S&P: A prolonged and effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could put pressure on Qatar’s finances and external situation until 2027.

S&P: (Regarding Qatar) The decline in liquefied natural gas (LNG) production caused by damage to infrastructure in the Ras Lafan industrial city may take several years to recover.

S&P: Qatar's economy is expected to contract by 5% in real terms in 2026.

S&P affirmed Qatar's rating at 'AA/A-1+'; outlook stable.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 152.87 points, or 0.31%, at 49,499.27 on Friday, May 1; the S&P 500 rose 21.11 points, or 0.29%, to 7,230.12; and the Nasdaq Composite gained 222.13 points, or 0.89%, to 25,114.44 on Friday, May 1.

May 2 - Preliminary vessel tracking data from LSEG shows a significant jump in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia in April. As conflict in the Middle East constrained production in the region, U.S. producers effectively filled the gap left by reduced supply from Middle Eastern exporters. Nearly a quarter of total U.S. LNG exports went to Asia that month. Data shows that since the U.S. and Israel's strikes against Iran, U.S. LNG shipments to Asia have increased by more than 175%; specifically, exports climbed from approximately 970,000 tons in February to 1.99 million tons in March, and further increased to 2.71 million tons in April.

According to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in the week ending April 28, equity fund managers reduced their net long positions in the S&P 500 CME by 21,368 contracts to 999,182 contracts. Equity fund speculators reduced their net short positions in the S&P 500 CME by 5,811 contracts to 396,442 contracts.

According to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in the week ending April 28, speculators reduced their net short positions in CBOT U.S. 2-year Treasury futures by 34,090 contracts to 1,709,263 contracts. They increased their net short positions in CBOT U.S. 10-year Treasury futures by 48,166 contracts to 839,137 contracts.

On May 2nd, Federal Reserve's top banking regulator, Bowman, stated that regulators must consider how best to regulate new technologies like Anthropic's Mythos. "On one hand, this capability allows companies to address vulnerabilities they identify themselves, thereby enhancing cybersecurity," Bowman said. "But on the other hand, if used maliciously, it could be used to identify and exploit weaknesses." Anthropic has limited the release of its latest artificial intelligence model as it assesses safeguards against this powerful new technology. This model has also prompted Trump administration officials to consider the possibility of cyberattacks threatening financial stability.

US President Trump: No authorization is needed for action against Iran.

European Commission: If the United States takes measures inconsistent with the trade agreement, the EU will retain all options to protect its own interests.

The European Commission: It has maintained full communication with the US government throughout the process.

The European Commission: It has maintained full communication with the US government throughout the process.