No Doubt

Russian forces struck a Ukrainian power plant shortly after Donald Trump announced that the US had secured an 'energy ceasefire' agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The attack directly undermines the announced deal, casting doubt on whether Moscow is honouring the truce on energy infrastructure. The timing has intensified scepticism about the ceasefire's credibility and Russia's willingness to abide by it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has already violated an energy ceasefire brokered in a surprise deal with US President Donald Trump. The claim came shortly after the agreement was announced, casting doubt on whether Moscow intends to honour the halt on strikes against energy infrastructure. It adds to deep scepticism about Russia's willingness to de-escalate, with Kyiv warning that violations undermine trust in any broader peace process.

A sell-off of AI-linked shares is accelerating across global markets, with chip makers and major tech investors such as Samsung and SoftBank among the biggest losers. Investors are worried about persistent US inflation and the possibility of further interest rate hikes, as well as mounting debt used to fund artificial intelligence infrastructure. Commentators say the slide reflects growing doubts about how quickly massive AI spending will pay off.

Shares of major Asian semiconductor and technology companies, including SK Hynix, Samsung and Softbank, fell amid a broader regional tech selloff. Investors are increasingly concerned that heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure may not be supported by sustainable funding, prompting a pullback from chip stocks that had rallied on AI optimism.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index dropped 5% on Thursday, hit by interest-rate worries and doubts over AI-related stocks. The decline follows a tech-stock sell-off that began in the United States after a higher-than-expected inflation reading, raising concerns that central banks may keep rates elevated for longer and dampening appetite for high-valuation technology shares.

Ukraine is set to resume its campaign of strikes on Russian oil refineries, following an overnight drone attack that drew an accusation from Moscow that Kyiv is violating US-brokered peace efforts. The development signals a possible end to a pause on targeting Russia's energy infrastructure and raises fresh doubts about the durability of American-mediated negotiations between the two countries.

Technology shares are sliding across global markets as investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence stocks shows signs of faltering. Traders are reassessing the valuations of AI-linked companies that had driven much of the recent rally, prompting a broad pullback in the sector and raising questions about whether the AI-fuelled bull run can continue.

Drone strikes have hit two ships in the Black Sea, throwing the future of Russian and Ukrainian grain exports into doubt at a time when world food markets are already struggling. With no viable alternative EU route to move shipments out, the Black Sea has become a fresh front in the war over grain, raising concerns about supply chains and global food prices.

Technology stocks extended their decline as investors grow skeptical about the massive spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Reports from major outlets say doubts are mounting over whether heavy AI investments by big tech companies will deliver returns fast enough to justify the cost, adding pressure to a sector that has led global markets.

Russia and Ukraine have resumed attacks on each other's energy infrastructure, ending the partial halt on energy strikes that the US administration had presented as a step toward a broader ceasefire in the three-year war. The breakdown leaves Washington's mediation effort facing renewed doubts, with both sides continuing large-scale strikes and no clear path back to negotiations.

Vladimir Putin says Russia will retaliate against Ukraine for strikes on Russian oil refineries, declaring "they started this". His comments disregard the energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, raising doubts about whether any truce on energy infrastructure can hold. Observers see the threat as a sign of escalating rhetoric and continued attacks between the two countries.

Shares of major semiconductor companies extended a sell-off as investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence stocks showed signs of strain. The decline spread across global chipmakers, raising questions about how long AI-driven market momentum can hold. Traders are watching for signs of whether this is a brief pullback or the start of a broader reassessment of AI-related valuations.

Bitcoin is falling as uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve's interest rate path weighs on risk assets, while South Korea's Kospi stock index plunged 8% in a broad selloff. Traders are retracing expectations of rate cuts, pressuring cryptocurrencies and equities alike, and investors across Asia and crypto markets are reacting sharply to the shifting outlook.

Global stock markets suffered their worst day since July, hit by a combination of concerns about high valuations in artificial-intelligence shares and renewed fears that central banks may keep interest rates higher for longer. Investors sold off technology stocks in particular, and traders are watching upcoming economic data and earnings for signals on whether the pullback will deepen.

Reports say OpenAI's annualised revenues are about $20 billion lower than figures previously signalled, according to a CNBC report linking the shortfall to its commercial ties with Nvidia, Oracle and CoreWeave. The gap is drawing attention to how much of the company's projected growth depends on circular deals with its own compute suppliers and investors, and to wider questions about AI sector valuations.

A stronger-than-expected US consumer price inflation report has sparked a sharp selloff in artificial intelligence stocks. Hotter inflation data dampens hopes of near-term interest rate cuts, hitting high-valuation technology shares hardest. Markets are now reassessing whether the AI-driven rally can withstand persistent price pressures, with investors rotating out of tech positions.

SK Hynix shares dropped 10% as a broad selloff swept Asian technology stocks. Investors were rattled by fears of further US Federal Reserve rate hikes and growing concerns about the durability of AI-related funding, with chipmakers and other AI-linked firms bearing the brunt of the losses. The slide highlights how sensitive the region's tech sector has become to US monetary policy and doubts over the pace of AI investment.

Character.ai, the chatbot startup once valued at roughly a billion dollars, has filed for bankruptcy, and court filings show how heavily its costs outweighed its revenue. Reports of the case are being shared widely, with commentators arguing the documents show that consumer AI products cannot yet cover expensive compute and infrastructure bills, casting doubt on the wider AI business model.

US stock markets fell, with the Nasdaq hit hardest, as a hotter-than-expected inflation report rattled investors and heavy selling swept through so-called neocloud companies, the upstart data-center and AI infrastructure firms that had driven much of the market's recent gains. The report put fresh pressure on tech valuations and raised doubts about how quickly interest rates might come down.

Technology stocks declined as concerns grow over how the artificial intelligence investment boom will be financed, according to Yahoo Finance's AlphaCheck. The report says investors are shifting money into bonds, seeking safety amid doubts about the sustainability of heavy AI-related spending and borrowing.

Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan has compared investors pouring money into artificial intelligence stocks to casino gamblers, a striking remark from the head of one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom. His comments come shortly after co-founder Henry Samueli sold roughly $750 million worth of Broadcom shares this year. Investors and analysts are weighing whether the remarks signal caution about AI valuations or simply candor about speculative market behavior, with the stock sale adding to the unease.

Norwegian alpine skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde ruptured his Achilles tendon in a training crash, dealing a major setback to the former overall World Cup runner-up as he works his way back from previous injuries. The injury puts his participation in upcoming World Cup races and the Olympic season in serious doubt, and fans have been quick to wish him a full recovery.

The Athletic reports that Lisandro Martinez's future at Manchester United is in doubt following an outburst. Details of the incident and the club's response remain limited, with the report raising questions about the defender's standing under the current management. Fans and pundits are debating what the fallout could mean for his place in the squad.

DR Congo's foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner has condemned Formula 1's planned African Grand Prix in Rwanda, calling the race 'morally indefensible'. Her objection centres on alleged links between Rwanda and the M23 rebel group active in eastern DR Congo. The criticism puts fresh political pressure on F1's return to Africa, with Rwanda reportedly a leading candidate to host the event.