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The US dollar has firmed against major currencies as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran lifted oil prices and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer. Rising energy costs add to inflation concerns, boosting bets on a hawkish Fed stance and supporting the greenback. Markets are watching closely for further developments in the standoff.

The US dollar held near a two-month high as the standoff between Washington and Tehran pushed oil prices higher and investors increased bets that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. Traders are weighing geopolitical risk in the Middle East against expectations of tighter US monetary policy, both of which are supporting the greenback against major currencies.

The US dollar held steady as rising tensions between the United States and Iran pushed oil prices higher and strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated. Markets are weighing the inflationary impact of costlier oil against the risk of a wider Middle East conflict, with traders positioning for a hawkish Fed stance.

The British pound has rebounded against both the US dollar and the euro, with traders betting that the Bank of England will tighten monetary policy. The recovery in sterling is being read as a sign that markets expect the central bank to keep interest rates higher for longer, lifting demand for the currency.

Gold prices have dropped to their lowest level in seven weeks as rising oil prices stoke inflation concerns, prompting markets to bet on higher interest rates. Because gold pays no yield, expectations of rate hikes typically weigh on the metal. Traders are watching how oil-driven inflation shapes central bank policy next.

Gold prices fell more than 2% as investors bet the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. Higher rates boost bond yields and the dollar, making non-yielding bullion less attractive to buyers. The drop marked one of the sharper daily declines for the metal, with traders watching upcoming Fed signals for direction.

Kalshi, the US prediction market operator, is expanding into sports betting, a move that regulators and industry watchers say stretches the legal boundaries of what prediction markets are allowed to offer. The company argues its contracts are regulated financial instruments, while critics view them as unlicensed sports wagering. The dispute could shape the future regulatory treatment of event contracts in the United States.

Prediction market operators are moving toward offering US stock-based contracts, drawing scrutiny from regulators who see potential overlaps with securities law. The expansion could blur the line between event betting and regulated trading, raising questions about oversight, investor protection and which agency — the CFTC or the SEC — should supervise these products as they reach mainstream investors.

Venture capital firms that once prioritised carbon-cutting climate technologies are increasingly directing money toward companies that supply power for artificial intelligence, according to The Wall Street Journal. The shift reflects surging electricity demand from data centres, which has made energy generation and grid technologies a hotter bet for investors than emissions reduction itself.

Big Tech is betting its next wave of growth on smart glasses and AI-powered gadgets, but the products face mounting privacy challenges. Always-on cameras and microphones, combined with AI analysis of everything users see and hear, are drawing scrutiny from regulators and the public over surveillance risks and data collection.

Reports circulating online claim an AKINCI combat drone, the Turkish-built unmanned aircraft, shot down another UAV in an air-to-air engagement over Sudan. If confirmed, it would be a rare instance of drone-on-drone combat. Observers are debating the circumstances, who operated the aircraft, and which faction on either side of Sudan's conflict deployed it.

Republicans are emphasizing immigration policy as part of a strategy to court young conservative male voters, according to U.S. News & World Report. The party is aiming to energize this demographic heading into upcoming elections, betting that hardline immigration messaging will resonate with a group seen as increasingly influential in conservative politics.

Ahead of this year's Nobel Peace Prize announcement, commentator Haakon Gjerløw argues the award should not go to the big names favoured by betting markets, such as Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Writing in the Guardian, he contends the most vital peace work is being done quietly by people far from the public spotlight, and urges the Nobel committee to recognise them.

German-language commentary is asking why there is little or no footage of a reported return visit by China's president to the United States, contrasting this with the elaborate reception Donald Trump received in Beijing in May, complete with gun salutes, an honour guard, a military band and flag-waving children. The quip 'Betsy who?' suggests the claim circulated alongside another story that dominated attention.

A close look at the Taipei City mayoral contest frames it as a battle between a well-connected KMT candidate from a political family and a DPP outsider. Although Taipei has long been considered a KMT stronghold, support for the DPP's candidate Puma Shen is rising sharply and unexpectedly, prompting debate about whether the race is more competitive than previously assumed and what that could mean for the party's hold on the capital.

Updated 2026 Super Bowl odds show the Los Angeles Rams remaining the betting favorites even after losing a game, while the Green Bay Packers have dropped sharply down the board. Bookmakers appear to be looking past the Rams' defeat and penalizing Green Bay more heavily as the season's picture becomes clearer.

Elon Musk says SpaceX's plans for orbital computing, delivered via Starlink satellites, will be 'way better' than analysts' predictions by 2028. The claim points to data centers in space as a next step beyond Starlink's internet business, though SpaceX has not released technical or financial details to support the timeline.

A new German-language study finds that the mobility of researchers in Ukraine shifted markedly after 2014, with conflict-affected regions losing academics both internally within the country and to emigration abroad. The research examines the intersection of science, migration and war, documenting how hostilities have reshaped where Ukrainian scholars work. The findings underline a growing concern about brain drain and regional loss of scientific capacity.

Paris Fashion Week is under way, drawing intense enthusiasm from audiences while also carrying an undercurrent of tension across the industry. FashionNetwork reports the event is marked by both fervour and strain, reflecting pressures facing designers and brands. The edition is being watched closely as a bellwether for the state of global fashion.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how funds are managed, with asset managers increasingly using it to analyze data, screen companies and support decisions. The open question, highlighted in industry discussion, is whether AI can actually select better-performing stocks than human managers, or whether its impact remains limited to efficiency and research rather than superior returns.

Major institutional investors are divided on where Bitcoin heads next, with large market bets shifting in both directions. Reports highlight a split in positioning among big players, leaving the market without a clear directional consensus as volatility and uncertainty continue around the cryptocurrency's near-term outlook.

An Air France Airbus A321 operating a special flight between Lourdes and Metz was escorted by French Air Force fighter jets, an exceptional arrangement to accompany the papal journey through French airspace. Aviation commentators highlighted the rarity of a military escort for a commercial aircraft, underscoring the significance of the Pope's visit to the Marian shrine of Lourdes.

South Korean retail traders have placed roughly $1.6 billion in bets against the market as the KOSPI index falls. The move puts individual investors on the opposite side of institutional money, a contrarian position that is drawing attention as the benchmark index slides. Commentators are watching whether the crowd-prompted sell-off will prove the retail traders right.

Commentary argues that Europe stands at a crossroads: it can pursue genuine strategic power or accept continued dependence on others, but cannot have both. The piece frames the continent's security, energy and economic decisions as a single choice about sovereignty, prompting debate over whether European nations are willing to pay the costs of true independence.