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Meta's AI spend shows 33% revenue growth as $125B capex nears earnings test
Edgen Stock·Jul 17 2026, 17:37Share to
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[1] 3 AI Spend Metrics That Keep Me Buying Meta Leading Up to July 29 Earnings Report (https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/07/17/3- ...)[2] Meta’s Biggest Spending Worry Could Turn Into Its Next Big Payday (https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/artic ...)[3] Meta’s biggest spending worry could turn into its next big payday (https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/me ...)[4] Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript (https://seekingalpha.com/article/4922796-netf ...)
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Jul 17 2026, 19:36
US expands Iran strikes to bridges as 13 more troops wounded
**The US-Iran conflict has entered a more destructive phase, with Washington targeting infrastructure and Tehran retaliating against Gulf allies.** The United States expanded its air campaign against Iran by striking bridges and collapsing a tower at Chabahar port, while acknowledging 13 additional service members were wounded, as the four-month conflict over the Strait of Hormuz enters its most intense phase since the February ceasefire collapsed. "The strikes on bridges and power infrastructure represent a qualitative shift in targeting strategy, moving beyond military assets to degrade Iran's domestic logistics and energy grid," said Elena Fischer, geopolitical risk analyst at Edgen. "This mirrors the playbook used against infrastructure targets in other conflicts, but carries significant legal and escalation risks when applied to a nation-state with Iran's retaliatory capacity." The US military's Central Command said it hit dozens of targets in the sixth consecutive night of strikes, which concluded at dawn Friday. Iranian state television reported at least seven people killed in strikes on Bandar Khamir, a city on Iran's coast along the Strait of Hormuz. The highway and railway bridge strikes appeared aimed at cutting off Bandar Abbas, Iran's main port, from roads leading to Tehran. Iran's Energy Ministry issued a public call for reduced power consumption in southern provinces, acknowledging attacks on electrical infrastructure for the first time. The Pentagon disclosed Friday that 13 additional US personnel — 10 Army soldiers and three Navy sailors — had been wounded since Monday, without specifying locations or circumstances. Total US casualties since the war began on Feb. 28 now stand at 14 killed and 427 wounded, according to Defense Department figures. Iranian authorities reported at least 46 civilians killed and more than 400 wounded in recent US strikes alone, with the overall toll since February reaching into the thousands. **Oil at $86 as Strait Crossings Hit Three-Week Low** Brent crude traded above $86 a barrel Friday, near its highest level in a month, as vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz fell to just eight ships Thursday — a three-week low, according to MarineTraffic.com. The waterway, which handled about a fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas before the conflict, remains effectively closed to commercial shipping after Iran imposed its blockade in late February. The price of oil has surged more than 40% since the war began, though pipeline shipments have partially offset the supply gap. Iran retaliated Friday by launching missile barrages at US-allied Gulf states. Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire talks, warned residents twice to take shelter as air defenses intercepted incoming missiles; falling debris wounded a child, the Interior Ministry said. Kuwait reported damage to a water desalination plant that supplies about 90% of the country's drinking water. Jordan's military said it intercepted three Iranian missiles, while strikes in northern Iraq's Kurdish region killed at least nine people at a facility used by the Iranian Kurdish dissident group Komala. **A Conflict Without Exit** The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has fully collapsed, with neither side showing willingness to de-escalate. President Donald Trump, in a prime-time address Thursday, insisted "we are winning big in Iran" without offering a timeline or exit strategy. The conflict, now in its 20th week, has seen more than 13,000 US strikes on Iranian targets, according to Central Command figures, yet Iran's leadership has neither capitulated nor been dislodged. The last time the US engaged in sustained strikes against a nation-state's infrastructure at this scale was the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, which lasted 78 days and ended with a negotiated settlement. That campaign targeted bridges, power grids, and dual-use facilities — similar to the current targeting set — but faced far less retaliatory capacity than Iran possesses. Tehran's ability to strike US allies across the Gulf, disrupt global oil flows, and sustain its military command structure despite months of bombardment suggests the conflict may have no near-term military resolution. For markets, the key variable remains the Strait of Hormuz. Each week the waterway stays closed adds roughly $5-$7 to the global oil price risk premium, according to shipping data. Defense sector stocks have gained 12% to 18% since the war began, while Gulf equity markets have underperformed emerging-market peers by a wide margin. The next inflection point comes as the US midterm election cycle approaches, potentially narrowing Washington's political runway for an open-ended conflict. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Jul 17 2026, 19:22
National Team ETFs draw 29 billion yuan in four-day buying spree
**China's state-backed funds poured 29 billion yuan into domestic equities over four sessions, the most aggressive buying in 15 months, signaling Beijing's resolve to support a struggling market.** China's "National Team" exchange-traded funds absorbed a net 29 billion yuan ($4 billion) in the four sessions through July 16, the largest such inflow since April 2025, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. "This is the most concentrated state-backed buying we've tracked in over a year," said Kinger Lau, chief China equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, in a July 17 note. "It signals that authorities view current valuations as a buying opportunity." Goldman's proprietary tracking metric captured the inflows across a basket of ETFs managed by China's state-owned asset managers, including ChinaAMC, E Fund and China Southern Asset Management. The 29 billion yuan tally over four trading days eclipses any comparable stretch since April 2025, when the National Team last intervened during a market downturn. The buying spree comes as the CSI 300 Index has struggled to hold gains above 3,800 points amid a slowing economic recovery and persistent deflationary pressures. State-backed purchases provide a short-term floor for equities, but their effectiveness depends on whether retail and foreign investors follow — or use the liquidity to exit positions. The People's Bank of China has kept its 1-year medium-term lending facility rate at 2.5% since a 20-basis-point cut in September 2025, while the 1-year loan prime rate stands at 3.0%. The latest ETF buying represents a separate policy tool — direct equity market intervention through state-owned fund managers — rather than monetary easing. The offshore yuan traded near 7.25 per dollar during the inflow period, little changed from the prior week, suggesting the buying has not yet spilled into currency markets. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rose 1.2% over the same four days, partly tracking the mainland rally. Historical precedent suggests these interventions can stabilize markets temporarily. During the previous large-scale National Team buying in April 2025, the CSI 300 rose about 4% in the two weeks following the inflows before giving back half those gains over the subsequent month. The sustainability of any rally hinges on fundamental catalysts — fiscal stimulus, property sector stabilization or a turnaround in corporate earnings — none of which have materialized decisively. For global investors, the signal is twofold. First, Beijing is willing to deploy capital to defend equity valuations, reducing the tail risk of a disorderly selloff. Second, the need for such intervention underscores the underlying weakness in domestic demand and investor confidence. The next key data point is the July 31 official manufacturing PMI, which will show whether the economy is gaining traction entering the second half. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Jul 17 2026, 19:15
Apple hikes Music and One prices by up to $3 as costs rise
Apple raised Apple Music and Apple One subscription prices globally on July 17, with the Family plan climbing $3 to $19.99, as rising licensing costs push the company to extract more revenue from its more than 2.2 billion active device install base. "As a result of rising licensing costs, Apple Music is increasing its subscription price beginning today," the company said in a statement, marking its first price hike for the service since October 2022. Apple Music Individual rose $1 to $11.99 per month, while the Student plan increased $1 to $6.99. Apple One Individual held at $19.95, but the Family tier rose $2 to $27.95 and Premier climbed $2 to $39.95. Apple TV+ costs $12.99 following an August 2025 increase, and Apple Arcade remains at $6.99. The increases strengthen Apple's Services segment, which generated $26.3 billion in the March quarter and carries gross margins above 70%, compared with roughly 36% for hardware. With licensing costs rising across the music industry, the price hikes could add an estimated $1.5 billion to annual Services revenue, according to analysts. Apple One bundles still offer savings for subscribers who use multiple services. The Individual tier, at $19.95, includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud+ — services that would cost $32.96 separately, a $13.01 monthly saving. The Family plan, at $27.95, saves up to $15.01 versus $42.96 purchased individually. The Premier tier, at $39.95, adds Apple Fitness+ and Apple News+ with 2TB of iCloud+ storage, saving $32.99 monthly versus $72.94 for separate subscriptions. The value depends on usage patterns. Subscribers who do not use Apple Arcade or Apple News+ may save more by buying services individually, especially with annual Apple TV+ and Fitness+ subscriptions offering discounts. Apple's installed base of more than 2.2 billion active devices provides a recurring revenue stream that investors value at a premium to the company's hardware business. Spotify, Apple's main rival in music streaming, charges $11.99 for its Individual plan in the US, matching Apple's new price. Amazon Music Unlimited costs $10.99 for Prime members, while YouTube Music Premium is $10.99. Apple shares, trading at roughly 32x forward earnings, have gained 18% this year as the market prices in Services growth. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.